(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam School Board voted Monday night to convert Wilson Elementary School into a early learning center. School Superintendent Mark DiStefano says the process will take about two or three years to complete and would primarily be caring for toddlers and infants. He says that there might be preschool type services at the learning center, and it will continue to have 4k classes. In addition to those changes, there will be no new 5K classes beginning in Fall 2024 with remaining grades transitioning out in 2025.
(Lowell) Authorities throughout Dodge County spent Monday night tracing the odor of natural gas. Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies and Beaver Dam Police officers were dispatched to various locations around 9:30pm. The strongest smell was initially pinpointed in the village of Lowell. In a message from Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, no leak was ultimately located.
(Beaver Dam) The deadline to sign up for the Beaver Dam Police Department’s annual Citizen’s Academy is February 15th. This will be the 19th year for the academy which has given 222 local residents an inside look at real police training tactics. It would have been the department’s 20th annual academy, but Lieutenant Jeremiah Johnson says COVID paused their program for one year. He says there are possible plans in the works to hold a special graduation this year for the occasion. The program begins on March 2nd and ends on June 1st. Information about applying can be found with this news story at DailyDodge.com.
(Rubicon) A Neshkoro man is facing his Ninth OWI Offense after getting stopped by a Dodge County sheriff’s deputy earlier this month. Brandon Matke was allegedly under the influence when he was pulled over in the town of Rubicon. A preliminary breath test reportedly returned a reading of point-two-zero-eight. Matke has prior OWI convictions dating back to 1999 to as recent as 2011. If convicted, the 45-year-old faces up to 12-and-a-half years in prison.
(Columbia County) The state of Wisconsin has revoked the dealer license for a wholesaler in Columbia County for selling a dealer plate. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles issued the order against Lorenzo Lamas Auto Sales for offering a dealer plate to another individual. The business is located at 101 Skyline Drive in Arlington.
(Juneau) The Dodge County Emergency Management Department is highlighting an upcoming training opportunity that focuses on severe weather safety. Organized by the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the course will teach participants how to be severe weather aware. The storm spotter training is on March 15th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. It will be held at the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau. It is open to the public and pre-registration is not required.
(Winnebago) Sturgeon spearing slowed down on the second day of the season Sunday. Only 261 fish were taken on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. On Lake Winnebago, 211 sturgeon were registered, and on the Upriver Lakes only 50. The Pipe registration station continues to see the highest harvest of the season, with a daily total of 59 fish. Five fish taken Sunday were over 100 pounds.
