One Person Dead In Two-Vehicle Wreck
1/31/14 – One person was killed in a two-vehicle, head-on collision in the Town of Oak Grove. The accident occurred around 1pm on Highway 33, just east of County I, about two miles northwest of Juneau. Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann the deceased was the sole occupant of one vehicle. There were two people in the other vehicle and both were transported by EMS to a local hospital. At the time of the crash, the roadways in Dodge County were snow-covered and slippery. Ninmann says road conditions are believed to be a factor but were not the only cause. The accident remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. Highway 33 was closed down in both directions for nearly three hours yesterday afternoon.
Highway 33 Closed Down Following Two Vehicle Wreck
1/31/14 – Highway 33 was closed down in both directions twice on Thursday. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle accident around 6:45pm near Dakota Road in the Town of Herman. Both drivers were transported to the hospital. All lanes of Highway 33 were opened within 90 minutes. There were 14 run-offs reported to the sheriff’s department during the dayshift yesterday while the evening shift recorded another seven runoffs.
Fatal Snowmobile Crash in Fond du Lac County
1/31/14 – There was a fatal snowmobile crash in Fond du Lac County Thursday afternoon. Sheriff’s officials got a call at 1:06pm about the accident on a snowmobile trail off County Highway S in the Town of Auburn. A 47-year-old man crashed into a tree and died at the scene. The Department of Natural Resources is investigating the accident.
Wylesky To Be Exhumed Next Week
1/31/14 – The body of a Beaver Dam man will be exhumed next week to collect new evidence in his murder. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office re-opened the death investigation of Curtis L. Wylesky last summer. The 42-year-old was found in a ditch near his truck on County Highway Z just outside Fall River on April 23, 2001. Detective Sergeant Daniel Garrigan says the case was re-opened after investigators revisited evidence and autopsy reports from the past investigation. That evidence was analyzed by the State Crime Lab. A person of interest was identified and interviewed this past summer. Wylesky lived with his girlfriend near Beaver Dam at the time of his death. Garrigan says the body will be exhumed from the Leipsig Cemetery on Tuesday. Wylesky will then be transported to UW Hospital in Madison for testing on Wednesday by a forensic pathologist. The Sheriff’s Office continues to seek information about the death. Anyone with information is asked to call Columbia County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Daniel Garrigan at 608-742-4166 Ext. 3316 or Columbia County Crimestoppers at 1-800-293-TIPS (8477). Tipsters can also use the “Submit A Tip” link on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office website.
Beaver Dam Man Sentenced for Seventh OWI
1/31/14 – A Beaver Dam man will spend three-and-a-half years in prison for his seventh OWI. Thomas Voigt entered a “no contest” plea yesterday to a felony count of Operating While Intoxicated and had two other felonies and a misdemeanor dismissed. The 44-year-old was observed last February swerving all over the road while pulling a trailer with a snowmobile. The trailer detached and came to rest in a driveway but the snowmobile landed in the middle of the street. Witnesses caught up with Voigt and told him about the lost snowmobile but he just waved them off and kept driving. He returned to the scene a short time later and told police that he knew the snowmobile fell off but planned on returning after picking up his kid from the babysitter. Voigt had a blood alcohol over twice the legal limit for driving at point-one-seven (.17). In addition to 40 months in prison, Voigt was sentenced to five years of extended supervision, lost his license for three years followed by three years of blowing into a tube to start his car.
Watertown Man Bound Over On Fleeing Charge
1/31/13 – A Watertown man will proceed to trial on charges that he led Dodge County Sheriffs Deputies on a drunken high-speed chase. Matthew Schroeder waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on a felony count of Fleeing a Traffic Officer. The 22-year-old was reportedly speeding last June around 1:30am when a traffic stop was attempted. Schroeder allegedly fled at a high rate of speed before his car came to an abrupt street in the front yard of a Town of Lebanon residence, four feet from the structure. Deputies drew their guns on him as he fumbled to get his keys out of the ignition. He apparently admitted to having seven beers and a shot at a nearby tavern and told the deputy he didn’t see him until the last minute. His blood-alcohol level was allegedly over twice the legal limit for driving at point-one-eight (.18). The felony Fleeing charge carries a maximum prison sentence of three-and-a-half years. Schroeder will be arraigned next month.
Miracle Proceeds To Trial on Burglary Charge
1/31/14 – One of the men accused of breaking into the concession stand at Brandt Quirk Park in Watertown appeared in Dodge County court yesterday for a Preliminary Hearing. Bryan Anthony Miracle of Watertown will proceed to trial on two felony Burglary charges. The 20-year-old faces up to 25 years in prison if he is convicted. Prosecutors say Miracle and two other men rode their bicycles to the park last May, kicked in the gate and stole candy and drinks. The trio was arrested in August and reportedly admitted to the break-in. When asked about their motivation, 19-year-old suspect Mark Humfleet of Watertown allegedly told investigators (quote) “times are tough.” A judge will decide in March if there is enough evidence to order a trial against Humfleet. A third suspect, 21-year-old James R. Carter of Watertown, was supposed to be in court yesterday for a preliminary hearing but that was delayed because of the weather. Miracle will be arraigned next month.
Appeals Court Refuses To Halt John Doe Probe
1/31/14 – A secret John Doe investigation will continue into alleged campaign finance law violations in the Wisconsin recall elections of 2011-and-’12. The state appeals court in Madison unanimously decided Thursday to throw out an effort to halt the probe. This comes three weeks after the judge in the case, Gregory Peterson, quashed subpoenas in which prosecutors were seeking evidence from conservative groups. Previous media reports said the John Doe was zeroing in on alleged illegal coordination between outside conservative groups and the campaigns of G-O-P recall candidates — including Governor Scott Walker and State Senator Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau. Dean Strang, the attorney for a group of unnamed petitioners who’ve been trying to halt the John Doe, says he might appeal yesterday’s ruling to the State Supreme Court. Numerous documents in the case were unsealed yesterday (Th), showing that the probe centers on five individual targets — most of whom are from the counties that surround Madison. Also, it was revealed that Republican state Attorney General J-B Van Hollen turned down a request to be the chief prosecutor. He thought about it for five months before deciding it would not make him look impartial, and possibly undermining public confidence in the investigation as a whole. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat, was asked to lead the probe at the start of last year. He arranged for former federal prosecutor Francis Schmitz to take the lead role.
Public Hearing Held For Seven Day Work Week
1/31/14 – A committee vote might come within two weeks on a controversial bill to let Wisconsin retail-and-factory employees work seven days a week if they choose. A public hearing on the measure was held Thursday on the measure, which would drop the mandatory requirement that stores-and-factories give all workers at least 24 hours off each week. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend said it would have to be voluntary on the workers’ part — and it would give them extra money while boosting production for their companies. Senate Democrat Fred Risser of Madison said it looks nice on paper — but in the real world, it would let employers intimidate their people into working longer. Unions pointed out that employers can already get state waivers so their people can work seven days if they want. The state received almost 170 such waiver requests last year — and they were all approved. Grothman chairs the Senate’s labor committee, which held yesterday’s hearing — and he promises to have his panel vote on the bill next month. The bill is being sponsored in the Assembly by State Representative Mark Born of Beaver Dam. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has not said if his house would take it up. Senate [Majority Leader Scott] Fitzgerald of Juneau says he’ll wait for the committee vote, and then discuss it with his fellow Republicans before any possible action.
First Installment Property Taxes Due Today
1/31/14 – Property taxes are due Friday at your local municipal treasurer’s office. Taxpayers mailing after today’s deadline are subject to interest and a penalty of one and a half percent (1.5%) of the total amount for the first month, and that increases by 1.5% percent for every month the tax remains unpaid. Also, if you are late the entire tax bill is due immediately. The second installment payments are due at the county treasurer’s office by July 31. Taxpayers mailing after today’s deadline are subject to interest and a penalty of one and a half percent (1.5%) of the total amount for the first month, and that increases by 1.5% percent for every month the tax remains unpaid. Also, if you are late the entire tax bill is due immediately. Hilker says Watertown is the only Dodge County community that allows property taxes to be paid in three installments but all three payments have to be made in the city.
