News – April 12, 2019

 

(Beaver Dam) Over $70-thousand dollars in pledges for the Watermark in Beaver Dam will likely go uncollected. The $2.1-million-dollar community and senior center opened its doors in January of 2016. Watermark supporters raised $1.14-million dollars through 236 pledges of money and in-kind donations. According to the latest numbers from the city finance department, requested by Common Council President Robert Ballweg, just over $1-million dollars has been collected to date. There is an outstanding balance of $137-thousand dollars. There are donations from five businesses and four individuals that Ballweg says are potentially uncollectable; either nothing has been paid or only a partial payment. The reasons range from a donor who is deceased to a business that is no longer in operation to a business that is still open that does not intend to fulfill their pledge.

(Portage) Officials in Columbia County say they are shocked by the allegations outlined in the resignation letter of former Columbia County District Attorney Tristan Eagon. She cited “strong arm” tactics and intentional efforts to keep her office under-staffed.  Eagon had been on the job for just less than three months when she unexpectedly quit on Tuesday. County Board First Vice Chair Dan Drew says he does not think anybody in county government understands what she’s talking about.  Drew says the county does not make hiring decisions for the DA’s office.

(Madison) Legislative Republicans are calling on an appeals court to immediately rehire Walker appointees that were fired by the Governor. Attorney Misha Tseytlin (sate-lin) filed a motion to the court asking for an order to put Republican appointees back into place immediately. Those people were fired in the lag time between a Dane County court tossing out all actions that took place during the lame duck session and then the appeals court stayed that ruling.  The court ruled this week that Evers was within his right to fire the appointees.

(Juneau) The Dodge County Sheriff says spoofing is a growing issue that is not going away anytime soon. The scam involves a conman who deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID to mask their identity. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says there is one simple piece of advice everyone should follow when receiving a suspicious phone call, (quote) “hang up.” Schmidt says there is no need to continue the phone call and if you cannot identify who is calling just hang up because it is not legitimate. Schmidt also encourages people to block suspicious numbers and to never give money – or gift cards – to anyone that you do not know over the phone.

(Beaver Dam) April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and officials with Dodge County’s only domestic violence shelter are using the occasion to remind victims of the services that are available. PAVE Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Bobbi Jo Benz says some of the services their organization offers includes a 24-hour shelter, crises line and texting line plus options counseling, active listening and self-esteem building. Benz says sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact – like assault and rape – but also harassment, catcalling and the non-consensual sharing of private images. She encourages anyone experience such acts to reach out to PAVE. Contact information is available at DailyDodge.com.

(Clyman) Two men charged with burglarizing a bar in Clyman are heading to trial. Twenty-one-year-old Kaleb Reardon and 19-year-old Matthew Schneider, both of Clyman, have waived their right to preliminary hearing on charges of felony Burglary. Reardon and Schneider allegedly broke into Mercer T’s on March 31 and took over $400 worth of alcohol, cigarettes and a money jar. The two will be arraigned next month.

(Janesville) A close call in Janesville yesterday (Thursday), where two children had only minor injuries after a car crashed through the wall of their day care center. Police Sergeant Dean Sukus (SUE-kiss) says the incident just before noon at KinderCare resulted in only bruises and a few small abrasions. The parents opted to take the children to the hospital as a precaution. The other kids were taken to a church next door to wait for their parents to pick them up. Police believe driver may have mistaken the gas petal for the brake. Sukus said she wasn’t injured, but was pretty shaken up.