Born, Fitzgerald Plan To Change Way Sex Offenders Released
6/20/15 – Two local state legislators are looking to change the way violent sex offenders are released back into society. Representative Mark Born told us yesterday on WBEV’s Community Comment that he and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald are working on the matter after a recent case in Dodge County that they feel was mishandled. 29-year-old Jonathan Miller and 57-year-old Robert Larson have been living at W2691 State Highway 49 in Brownsville since they were released nearly three weeks ago. Larson was sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on a charge of First Degree Sexual Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Miller was designated a sexually violent person in 2005 when he was 19-years-old. Born says the Department of Health Services is acting on the concern by sending a letter to the judge in the case that expresses their concerns, along with those of Born and Fitzgerald. They feel two pieces of key information were left out of the case, the offenders were placed directly next door to two 11-year-old girls and there is no full-time law enforcement in the area. The Beaver Dam Republican views the Brownsville placement as a failure and says it is time for lawmakers to get involved. Born says the bill will address how 980’s, which is a sexually violent offender with a mental disorder that has been determined to be a danger to others, is put into public supervision. He says the department is allowed to make rules until they make a mistake. Born says now that it’s happened, it’s time for lawmakers to step in to help right a new policy to correct the problem.
Hustisford School Board Gives Sub Teachers Pay Bump
6/20/15 – The Hustisford School Board approved a pay increase for substitute teachers at its meeting this week. The ten dollar bump gives teachers $95 per day instead of $85. Once teachers have subbed for twenty days in a single school year, the payment used to go up to $95 per day. That’s now $105. Superintendent Doug Keiser calls this a step in the right direction since it has been a number of years since a raise was given. While he says Hustisford does compete to a certain degree, Keiser notes that neighboring districts still pay higher amounts for subs. He says getting to that level will be target over the next few years. The final numbers have not been released, but administrators say there were upwards of 300 instances that a sub was used in the past year. They say the total was higher than normal due to some longer sick leaves as well as multiple pregnancies. The school also tries to give its staff a number of professional development opportunities throughout the year which also results in a sub being needed. In its preliminary 2015-2016 budget, Hustisford has set aside nearly $30,000 to pay substitute teachers.
Relay For Life Holding Closing Ceremony This Morning
6/20/15 – Relay for Life is holding its closing ceremony this morning during the eight ‘o clock hour. The event kicked off at the Beaver Dam High School track and has been going ever since. Event Organizer Kristin Fabisch encourages people to come to the closing event to hear the team and event fundraising totals announced. This year is relay’s 30th year of existence and 20th year in Beaver Dam. The theme is ‘Beat It: Flashback to the 80’s, and the fundraising goal is $110,000.
Part Of South Spring St. To Be Blocked Off For Afternoon Event
6/20/15 – Part of South Spring Street from Henry Street to Mill Street is expected to be closed to traffic until about 6 pm today. That’s the location of this year’s Taste of Wisconsin, which was moved a tad from its normal spot due to the downtown construction. The event will run from Noon to 4 pm and offer unlimited tasting of 100 beers and 60 cheeses. Representatives from at least twelve breweries are expected to be on hand, and event organizers say cider will also be offered, a first for the festival. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $35 each. The Chamber of Commerce is advising folks to park in the lot behind Interquest.
Waupun Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting A Child
6/20/15 – After a three-day jury trial, a Waupun sex offender was found guilty on charges that he assaulted a 15-year-old boy. Jesse Madison was convicted in a Dodge County courtroom yesterday on three felony assault charges. The boy’s mother learned he was with the 31-year-old and called Waupun police. The boy was found hiding in Madison’s home. He had met Madison about a month prior in Fox Lake. Madison told investigators he did not know the boy was under 18. A date has not been set for his sentencing hearing.
Beaver Dam Man Accused Of Exposing Himself To A Minor
6/20/15 – A Beaver Dam man is accused of exposing himself to a minor on the internet. Fredrick Grignon was arrested Wednesday morning after a search warrant was executed at his North Lincoln Avenue residence. A joint investigation by the Beaver Dam and Sun Prairie Police Departments allegedly found an explicit online conversation and an exchange of photographs between the 43-year-old Grignon and a 16-year-old girl. He is charged with a felony count of Exposing Intimate Parts to a Child, which carries a maximum prison sentence of three-and-a-half years if he is convicted. Cash bond was set at $5,000 during an initial appearance Thursday in Dodge County court and a judge will decide next week if there is enough evidence to order a trial.
Rio Man Found Guilty Of Stealing Tools
6/20/15 – A 26-year-old Rio man was found guilty of stealing tools. Michael Bredeson pled no contest to a misdemeanor count of Receiving Stolen Property as a party to a crime and repeat offender in a Columbia County courtoom. During an overnight burglary, tools were taken from a mechanic’s shop in the Town of Courtland in Columbia County last fall. The tools were traced to a pawn store in Madison. The 26-year-old admitted to pawning the stolen tools and said they were brought to him by 36-year-old Shane Cook of Randolph. The pawn store receipt was found in Bredeson’s pocket. Bredeson had his sentence withheld and will be on probation for two years. He will also be on four years of probation for felony Drug Possession and Bail Jumping counts to which he also pled no contest. Each case will be reviewed in six months. Cook was found guilty of three misdemeanor counts last month and also had his sentence withheld.
Walker’s Presidential Announcement Could Precede Budget
6/20/15 – For the first time, Governor Scott Walker has publicly indicated that he might make an announcement about his likely presidential bid before he signs the new state budget. Since last fall, Walker has insisted he would not make a national announcement until the state budget for the next two years is passed and signed. But that was before his fellow Republicans in the Legislature reached an impasse on major parts of the budget, thus making it unlikely it would be passed on time by June 30th. Most speculation has Walker making his national announcement on July 13th.
