(Horicon) Horicon School District’s superintendent is retiring. The school board accepted Rich Appel’s retirement letter this week. His last day is July 1st. Appel has spent 37 years in education working in Tipton, Iowa for seven years; then as principal at Chilton for 21 years; and the last nine years in Horicon as superintendent. He says he and his wife will remain in the area and will continue to support the Horicon community.
(Beaver Dam) Beaver Dam’s 2025 budget was recently approved by the Common Council. Next year’s tax levy is down roughly $1.6-million-dollars from the current budget year, to $14-million. The approved mill rate of $8.04-per-one-thousand-dollars of assessed value is $1.46 lower than what taxpayers saw in 2024. General fund expenditures total $18.3-million next year.
(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Unified School District is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Wall of Fame Awards. Honors are given in two categories: Friends of Education and Outstanding Alumni. Friends of Education are individuals or organizations who have given distinguished service to the district and its students. Outstanding Alumni are graduates of the high school recognized for exceptional accomplishments, outstanding leadership, historical significance, and prominence on the local, state, national or international stage.
(Beaver Dam) Beaver Dam Fire Chief Michael Wesle says the addition of a fire inspector position in 2025 will help the department moving forward. The fire chief says the position will help alleviate the current staffing issues due to the increased number of calls and being unavailable at times to do the inspections. Wesle hopes to have the position filled by April.
(Juneau) The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has recently created a second recreational officer position. The position was created after the switch from eight to 12-hour shifts. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says that Deputies Ben Goulden and Luke Luther work hand in hand when patrolling snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs and boats. He adds that the biggest violation they look for is vehicles who stray off the designated trail.
