Dodge County Poverty Rates Below State, National
5/10/14 – Poverty in Wisconsin continues to drop — but the rates are still higher than before the recession. That’s according to a new U-W Madison study, which found that ten-point-two percent of state residents were in poverty as of 2012. That’s much lower than the federal government’s official rate of 12-point-eight percent. The difference is that the U-W study considers the impact of tax-funded benefits, like food assistance and refundable tax credits which don’t require certain levels of income. The study said ten counties in northwest Wisconsin had poverty rates higher than the statewide figure — and so did Milwaukee and Dane counties. Most counties in the eastern third of the state were better off than the state as a whole, along with much of west central Wisconsin. Dodge and Jefferson counties had poverty below the state and national average at 7.3-percent. Columbia and Sauk counties poverty rates were even lower at 6.7-percent. Fond du Lac and Calumet counties reported a poverty measure of 5.2-percent. Washington and Ozaukee counties were at 4.9-percent. The U-W said the 2012 poverty rate for children was eleven-percent statewide, and just over six-percent for the elderly. Timothy Smeeding of the U-W Institute for Research on Poverty says Wisconsin has a safety net that enhances low earnings for families, puts food on the table, and encourages self-reliance. But the report said the safety net has shrunk due to the recovery, and cutbacks in recession-related tax credits.
Still Time Left To Thank A Corrections Officer
5/10/14 – Today is the last day of “National Correctional Officer/Employee Week” and officials say you should take time to thank a corrections professional. Dodge County has over 100 correctional officer staff members. Sheriff Patricia Ninmann is congratulating all corrections professionals for their hard work and dedication. She says she cannot say enough about the great staff they have working at the jail so this week is in honor of them and the hard work they do each and every day. Throughout the week the officers are provided cookies and continual recognition for their hard work. Ninmann says these are true professions in law enforcement, who really don’t get the recognition that they deserve. She says the difference between them and others is they are coming to work and they are dealing with a criminal every day. Each officer interacts with 56 inmates a day, making sure they meet the needs of the inmates and provide care for each individual. Ninmann reminds the public that they are invited to the dedication of Law Enforcement Memorial honoring fallen law enforcement officials and corrections officers at the Administration Building in Juneau next Wednesday at 11am.
Watertown Man Gets Jailed For Police Chase
5/10/14 – A Watertown man was sentenced Friday to four months in jail for sparking a drunken police chase on a revoked license. Chad Buss pled to a felony count of Fleeing an Officer and Operating with a Restricted Alcohol Content and has several other traffic charges dismissed but read into the record. The 43-year-old was clocked driving eleven miles over the 35-mile speed limit in January when Watertown police attempted a traffic stop. Prosecutors say Buss fled at a high rate of speed down Spaulding Street, stopping to let a woman out of the car before accelerating down North Church. Officers terminated the pursuit after getting his license plate and recognizing him from previous contacts. The woman had apparently just gotten into the car minutes before the pursuit and said she had no idea why he was running. Buss borrowed the car from a friend. It was abandoned in Union Park. A five-year prison sentence was imposed and stayed pending the successful completion of probation.
Two Charged In Fountain Prairie Burglary
5/10/14 – Two people have been charged in connection with a burglary in Fountain Prairie. 42-year-old Todd Dittberner of Beaver Dam and 20-year-old Amber Hopp of Brandon are each charged with felony Burglary and a handful of misdemeanors. The two stole electronics from a home on Columbia County Highway DG on April 27. Prosecutors say Hopp pawned the items that same day. She had a signature bond set at $1000 while Dittberner is being held on a $1500 cash bond. Both have court activity on the calendar next month.
River Market Is Today in Downtown Beaver Dam
5/10/14 – It’s the beginning of year four for the Beaver Dam River Market in the downtown Tower Parking lot. Michael Firchow with the non-profit group “Downtown Beaver Dam Inc.” says the River Market will be held again this year on the second Saturday morning of the warmer weather months. The theme today is “The Great Race” and will feature hot rod racers on display and a scavenger hunt. Vendors will be selling everything from food and produce to crafts and health and products. There will also be live music. The River Market is held from 8am until noon.
Mercury Marine Sees Change At The Top
5/10/14 – There’s been a change at the top at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac. Mercury President Mark Schwabero has been promoted to the newly created position of president and chief operating officer for Mercury’s parent company the Brunswick Corporation. Mercury vice president of global operations John Pfeifer succeeds Schwabero as Mercury president. The changes take effect immediately Schwabero will be responsible for all of Brunswick’s day-to-day operations.
Kenny Loggins Performing At Air Venture
5/10/14 – Hits like “I’m Alright,” “Footloose,” and “Danger Zone” propelled Kenny Loggins to the top of the charts and now he will soar again, so to speak, when he kicks off evening entertainment at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh this July. Loggins is the headliner for the fly-ins popular opening night concert on Monday, July 28th. The concert presented by Ford Motor Company, is free to all who attend AirVenture that day and will be held on the EAA Plaza after the afternoon air show.
Jump Around Theme Planned At UW Madison Graduation
5/10/14 – It was supposed to be a surprise — but U-W Madison confirms that the Badger anthem “Jump Around” will be played at the school’s graduation on May 17th at Camp Randall Stadium. This is the first time in about 25 years that the U-W’s flagship campus is holding a single commencement program in the 80-thousand seat football stadium — instead of four identical ceremonies in the much smaller Kohl Center. Graduates will be not be called to the stage to be recognized individually — there’s too many of them for that — so the students began an online petition to have “Jump Around” played so they can jump if they can’t walk. The House of Pain hit has been a staple at Badger football games at Camp Randall since 1998. U-W officials said they were planning for months to play the song — and they were hoping it would surprise the grads.
Sin ‘n Innocence Back On The Track
5/10/14 – A Milwaukee roller derby competitor will return to the track Saturday night for the first time since she was robbed and shot last fall. 30-year-old Christina Huth — who’s known as “Sin ‘N Innocence” in the Milwaukee Roller Derby League — was shot in the chest October 27th when she was held up in Milwaukee’s south side Bay View neighborhood. Police have still not found the person who did it. Huth said re-building her endurance has been a long road — and she credits her family, friends, and derby mates for getting her back to a normal life much faster than she otherwise would. Huth learned that a person must always be aware of her-or-his surroundings — no matter how safe they feel. Huth is a member of the Crazy Eights’ team that’s going for its fifth city championship. They’ll play Maiden Milwaukee tonight at the U-S Cellular Arena.
