Horicon Man Flown To Hospital Following Two Vehicle Crash
7/17/15 – A Horicon man was taken by Flight for Life to Summit Hospital following a two vehicle crash yesterday morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Highway 33 and Noble Road at 8:25 am. 20-year-old Robert Babiak of Horicon was driving his Chevy Malibu west when he reportedly crossed the center line and collided with a semi driven by 56-year-old Carl Wintheiser of Oconomowoc. The semi and its tank trailer full of ethanol rolled over and started on fire. Wintheiser was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Babiak’s condition is unknown. Highway 33 was closed for roughly 9 1/2 hours. Assistance was provided by Beaver Dam, Mayville, and Horicon EMS; Flight for Life; Dodge County’s Emergency Response Team; Horicon, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, and Juneau Fire Departments; and Horicon Police. The Dodge County Crash Investigation Team is continuing to look into the accident.
DCEM Director Nehls on Storm Response: ‘Very Good’
7/17/15 – The Dodge County Emergency Management Director Amy Nehls says she was proud of the response to Monday damaging storms. Nehls says she would rate emergency responder’s actions as “very good.” She says you can’t stop nature you can only prepare for it and Monday’s incident made her more aware of how the community and emergency officials come together to get the job done. A lot of media attention has been directed to the concentrated damage citywide in Columbus but Dodge County suffered its share of issues including downed trees and power lines, along with damage to homes and vehicles. When an incident occurs during the overnight hours, Nehls says it presents its own set of challenges. Because it happened under dark of night, you cannot see tornadic conditions. The Weather Service spotted radar-indicated rotation over Columbus and was able to trigger the warning for Dodge County after the high winds struck in Columbus. Nehls is joining county officials and the insurance adjuster today in touring the storm damage at Astico Park. The park in southwestern Dodge County sustained substantial tree damage in Monday’s storm forcing the cancellation of camping reservations at least for this weekend. The Highway Department with assistance from Huber inmates spent this week clearing downed trees blocking the roads in Astico Park.
Almost Every Home In Columbus Has Power Restored
7/17/15 – Power has been restored to almost every home in Columbus. That’s according to City Administrator Patrick Vander Sanden who says crews have done a great job in the four days since damaging storms hit Columbus on Monday morning. Utility crews are on standby waiting for the few remaining homeowners to reach out about getting their power back. The Columbus Area Aquatic Center reopened yesterday at noon and should be back to its normal schedule. Vander Sanden says Advanced Disposal expects to be caught up with all this week’s garbage pickup by the end of the day. Anyone who has not had their garbage picked up this week should place it out on the curb.
BDPD Assessing Points Be Assessed Against Statz Ale
7/17/15 – The Beaver Dam Police Department is assessing demerit points against a bar that was not even open when the violations occurred. In recent years, it’s been called Touchdowns and Moonshiners. When the owner got approval for a liquor license last month, the tavern was being called the Sand Bar and Grille. When it opened its doors recently it was called Statz Ale House, even though the sign out front still says “Perfect Mix,” from the previous operator. Regardless of the name, the establishment on Madison Street is being assessed 150 demerit points. Police Chief John Kreuziger says he handed down the points because the individuals inside refused to cooperate. Kreuziger says officers saw three people sitting at the bar on July 5 around 9pm. When the officers knocked on the window, two of the subjects dashed into the kitchen while the third spoke to the officers through a window. The owner was off-site and when contacted by phone he said the underage kids were helping to paint and said there was no liquor in the building. Kreuziger says the officer suspects that there was drinking going on but the points were assessed because the individuals were uncooperative. The city’s demerit point system identifies liquor license holders who break the law. The city adopted the ordinance in 2009, allowing points to be assigned to bars for such violations as serving minors, excessive noise or failing to notify the police of a fight. Taverns that accumulate 200 points in a rolling 12-month period could have their license suspended or revoked.
Beaver Dam Man Accused Of Sex Assault Pleads Not Guilty
7/17/15 – A 24-year-old Beaver Dam man accused of impregnated a minor pled not guilty at arraignment yesterday. Robert A. Reichwald is facing one count of felony Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 16. The 14-year-old girl told authorities that she had contact with Reichwald in February 2014. She became pregnant and gave birth this past November. Reichwald’s DNA sample allegedly shows him to be the likely father. If he is found guilty, Reichwald faces up to forty years in prison. He has further court activity on September 2.
Conservatives On Supreme Court End John Doe
7/17/15 – Governor Scott Walker will have no longer have an ongoing investigation dog him as he runs for president. The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday put a definitive halt to the state’s John Doe probe into the 2012 election in which the Republican Walker fought off a furious recall attempt. On a 4-to-2 vote, the court cited free speech in determining that Walker and others did nothing wrong after allegations that G-O-P recall candidates illegally coordinated fund-raising and other campaign activities with outside conservative groups. Conservative justice Michael Gableman wrote that the campaign finance law on which the probe was based is “unconstitutionally broad and vague.” In a dissent, liberal Justice Shirley Abrahamson said yesterday’s ruling weakens the state’s campaign finance law. The Walker camp praised the decision, and said it’s time to move past what it called an expensive and “unwarranted” investigation.
Wisconsin Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
7/17/15 – Wisconsin’s new unemployment rate is the same as the month before. It’s at four-point-six percent for June, same as in May when the seasonally-adjusted rate rose by two-tenths of a point. State labor officials reported a preliminary loss of 300 private-sector jobs last month. But that’s based on a survey of only 35-hundred employers statewide, and the figures are often heavily revised later on. Wisconsin’s jobless rate is still below the national rate for June of five-point-three percent.
Johnson Questioning Investigation Of Voucher System
7/17/15 – U-S Senate Republican Ron Johnson is trying to find out why the nation’s attorney general continues to investigate Wisconsin’s private school voucher program. Johnson, who chairs the Senate’s governmental affairs committee, says the Justice Department has avoided his requests for information. He alleges that the probe is driven by the Obama administration’s policy opposition to the voucher program. Parents and advocacy groups filed a complaint in 2011, alleging that Milwaukee’s private schools with tax-funded low-income voucher students were violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. They said the schools discriminated against disabled youngsters. The voucher program prohibits discrimination in admissions, but critics say disabled kids are discouraged from applying. Johnson plans to hold a hearing on the matter on Monday night in Milwaukee.
