Mayville Mayor Questioning Commission Spending
7/15/16 – At Monday’s common council meeting, Mayville Mayor Rob Boelk said he would veto a sewer rate increase the council approved on a three-two vote. It called for a four percent increase in 2017 with additional one percent jumps each year from 2018 through 2021. The city’s sewer commission had proposed four-percent rate increases for both 2017 and 2018. In addition to questioning the data used in the rate study, Boelk is also concerned that the commission has not been efficient in its recent spending. In addition to the $15,000 rate study, Boelk cites a $3,000 bonus that was given to the former department head, an $1,800 metal detector purchase, and a new department vehicle purchase. Burt Bushke is the president of Mayville’s Water/Wastewater Commission. He recommended the sewer increase after looking at the results of the rate study and says the city has run a deficit in its wastewater utility for back-to-back years. In spite of that, Bushke says the commission has saved the city money in recent years through things like sludge removal and combining the utility director and city engineer positions into one. Bushke commented on the vehicle purchase, stating the previous one was old and in need of replacement. At its August meeting, the council could override Boelk’s veto with a two-thirds majority. Mayville’s current sewer rate is $4.86 per 100 cubic feet in addition to a flat $12.20 monthly service charge per meter.
Watertown Man Pleads Not Guilty To Supplying Overdose Death Drugs
7/15/16 – The 49-year-old Watertown man accused of supplying the drugs that caused an overdose death pled not guilty at arraignment yesterday. Terence Jannke is facing felony counts of First Degree Reckless Homicide, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin. Jannke allegedly provided the drugs that killed Holly Nehls, and a July 1 search of his residence reportedly found syringes, heroin packaging, and a drug ledger in his bedroom. If he is found guilty on all counts, Jannke faces up to 64 years in prison. Jannke is due back in court August 16.
Probation For Watertown Man Responsible For Home Break-In
7/15/16 – A Watertown man will spend 18 months on probation for breaking into a friend’s house last November. Jubal Bischoff pled guilty to four counts yesterday. The court found him guilty of three amended misdemeanors: two Theft counts and one Criminal Trespassing. Guilt was withheld on a felony Burglary count. The 18-year-old and an alleged co-conspirator stole electronics and blank checks. They reportedly tried to sell the stolen goods and cash a couple forged checks. Bischoff also has to complete counseling.
WCI Inmate Accused Of Attacking Corrections Officer
7/15/16 – A Waupun Correctional Institution inmate is accused of attacking a corrections officer. Joshua Braithwaite is facing one felony Battery count for allegedly causing lacerations to the officer’s lip, left eye brow, and left arm during the May incident. If he is found guilty, the 25-year-old faces up to ten years in prison. His initial appearance is August 16.
Warrant Issued For Watertown Man Who Failed To Appear
7/15/16 – A bench warrant was issued yesterday for a Watertown man who failed to show for his preliminary hearing in Dodge County. Jerome Baker is facing felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft counts for allegedly breaking into his neighbor’s apartment. The 27-year-old reportedly stole $90 in change from his neighbor in April to support his heroin addiction. If he is convicted, Baker faces over 13 years in prison.
Former Corrections Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Assaults
7/15/16 – A former officer at Fox Lake Correctional Institution charged with sexually assaulting three inmates over a period of several months last year waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday. Alex Andre Wouts of Poy Sippi is facing five felony counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff. In December, officers were told to conduct an investigation at the institution after allegations were sent to the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office. Three inmates went into detail about the sexual acts, and a pair of one of the men’s underwear was tested and reportedly contained Wouts’ DNA. The 33-year-old denied the assaults, stating he would not risk his job and family by doing something like that within the prison system. If he is found guilty on all counts, Wouts faces up to 90 years in prison. He will be arraigned July 27.
Former Lomira Man Heading To Trial On Child Abuse Charge
7/15/16 – A Dodge County judge found probable cause for a former Lomira man to proceed to trial on charges that he injured a three-month-old. Andrew Freeman of Milwaukee is facing one felony Child Abuse count for allegedly fracturing an infant’s leg and caused bruising to the face and tongue last October. When the child’s mother left for work he was said to be smiling and happy but when she returned he was blue and lethargic. The infant was taken to a local hospital before being Med-Flighted to Milwaukee. The 42-year-old Freeman told investigators that the child was fussy but denied any physical contact. A doctor’s report from Children’s Hospital says the injuries were likely caused by a bottle, spoon or finger being forcibly inserted down the child’s throat or by a blow to the face. That resulted in a one-centimeter laceration in his throat. The left leg fracture was likely caused by a yank or twist or the force from violent shaking. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Freeman will be arraigned August 3.
WCI Inmate Waives Preliminary Hearing On Assault Charge
7/15/16 – An inmate at the Waupun Correctional Institution accused of attacking a corrections officer waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday. Paul Hendler is facing felony counts of Battery by Prisoners and Substantial Battery, both as a repeat offender for allegedly punching an officer in a cell hall last December. The officer sustained a fractured jaw, broken tooth, and needed two stitches to the right eye. If he is convicted, the 43-year-old faces over 17 additional years in prison. Hendler will be arraigned August 3.
175th Anniversary Parade To Detour Beaver Dam Traffic
7/15/16 – Motorists in Beaver Dam will see a detour on some of the city’s major thoroughfares tomorrow for the 175th Anniversary Parade. There could be as many as 140 entries in tomorrow’s 175th Anniversary Parade in Beaver Dam, a process which requires manpower and the coordination of multiple agencies. Police Sgt. Craig Retzlaff says in addition to regular police staff, officers are getting help controlling intersections from the fire department, auxiliary police, the Dodge County Emergency Response Team and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department Explorer Post. Retzlaff says organizers checked with the railroads and parade attendees will not have to wait for any trains to come thru the city. The parade begins at 10am at the corner of University and North Spring streets. Entries will line-up on Beichl Avenue and will exit from there onto North Spring Street. The primary streets along the parade route – North Spring and Front streets – will shut down at 9:30am. There will be no parking allowed on Spring or Front streets during the parade. No new parade entries are being accepted. The route runs from Beichl Avenue along North Spring Street beginning at University Avenue, then right on Front Street and left onto Center Street where the entries disburse. The detour: westbound traffic on Highway 33 will start seeing detour signs leading motorists down Highway 151 to Industrial Drive and back to Highway 33; reverse for eastbound traffic. In-town traffic on the south side of town should use South University and East Mill Street while those on North Spring Street north of the parade route will be directed to Dodge Drive.
Lautenschlager Knows Past Will Be Mentioned
7/15/16 – Former State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager is back in the public eye as chair of the state’s new Ethics Commission. She knows a drunken driving ticket and use of a state vehicle during that incident will be something detractors will bring up about her serving on the commission. Lautenschlager also brings to the commission experience as a former state attorney general, state representative, and more.
No Charges Against Antigo Officer Involved In Prom Shooting
7/15/16 – The state Justice Department says no charges will be filed against Antigo police officer Andrew Hopfensperger, who killed an armed teenager who opened fire outside a high school prom in April. The state released the results of its investigation of the incident Thursday, one day after the Antigo City Council honored Hopfensperger for his quick response. The officer returned to work last Friday after being on administrative leave for more than two months for his killing of Jakob Wagner. Police Chief Eric Roller says the officer saved four students’ lives, when Hopfensperger rushed to the front of the school as he was patrolling the parking lot for drugs. Hopfensperger says he only did what he was trained to do.
Governor Walker’s Approval Rating Still Low
7/15/16 – Wisconsin voters continue to not like the job Governor Scott Walker is doing. His approval rating is at 38-percent in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll. It was around 50-percent when Walker ran for a second term two years ago but dropped when he launched his bid for president last year.
Baldwin Hopes Legislation Will Combat Poverty
7/15/16 – U-S Senate Democrats Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Cory Booker of New Jersey are introducing legislation in an effort to fight poverty. “The Stronger Way Act,” calls for the creation of a transitional jobs grant program at the Department of Labor. It would also expand Earned Income Tax Credits and revise the Child Tax Credit to allow low-income families to capture more of the $1,000-per-child maximum. Baldwin says the three policies together reflect the shared responsibility of lifting people out of poverty with respect, opportunity and recognizing the dignity of work.
Milwaukee Police Chief Speaks On Racial Tensions
7/15/16 – Milwaukee’s police chief says disadvantaged neighborhoods of color need officers the most even though those same residents don’t trust the police. Ed Flynn appeared on an A-B-C town hall meeting at the White House Thursday night on community policing and criminal justice, in the wake of recent shootings by and toward officers. President Barack Obama presided over the meeting, and Flynn said the challenge is how to have a conversation about the conflicting need and distrust of police “without acting like we’re blaming the African American community for their victimization, or that we’re assuming that all police are racially biased.” Flynn says the police provide the only real presence in minority neighborhoods and in his words, “there’s no cavalry coming.” After his meeting, the president said progress has been made in the administration’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing — but the president says the group is “not as close to where they want to be with communities of color.”
