News – June 17, 2019

(Juneau) As summer approaches and travel becomes more frequent, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help in reducing crashes. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says with increasing speed, drivers increase their stopping distance when an obstacle suddenly presents itself. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, take extra time at intersections, wear their seatbelts, avoid distractions while driving and not drive after consuming alcohol or prescription medications. Schmidt says the most impactful thing a motorist can do is simply follow the law. Dodge County has experienced eight traffic fatalities this year, the same as all of last year; the five-year average is 13.

(Juneau) Officials with Dodge County Emergency Management are reminding residents of the best way to prepare for severe weather. Emergency Management Director Amy Nehls recommends creating an emergency plan and to practice that plan. Nehls says citizens should also prepare an emergency kit with the four P’s: pills, pets, purses and phones. More information is available on the Dodge County Emergency Management website, a link can be found with this news story at DailyDodge.com.

(Madison) State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald thinks the budget completed by the Joint Finance Committee last week is a good one. Now the Juneau Republican has to convince his members of that. Republican Senators Dave Craig and Steve Nass both have concerns over the level of spending in the plan. Fitzgerald says it’s not uncommon to engage in a back-and-forth with individual legislators to see how leadership can get them comfortable with the document. The Senate and Assembly are likely to take up the budget next week. Once they finish, it goes to Governor Tony Evers who could veto parts of it or all of it.

(Rubicon) Authorities identified the person killed in a head-on crash that occurred Wednesday evening in the Town of Rubicon as Marsha Horner of Baraboo. Authorities say the 65-year-old crossed the center line on State Highway 60 and crashed head-on with a vehicle driven by 63-year-old Karen Lichtenberg of Hustisford who sustained apparent non-life-threatening injuries.

(Mayville) A former Mayville police officer was charged Friday with having inappropriate contact with a minor. Mark Forster is facing felony charges of Child Enticement and Misconduct in Office after information came to light about an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old during her senior year of high school in 2016.  An internal investigation resulted in Forster resigning from the police department; it eventually sparked a civil lawsuit against the city that was resolved earlier this month in favor of the city.  If convicted on the criminal charges, the 30-year-old Forster is facing up to roughly 49 years in prison.

(Fox Lake) The ribbon will be cut this weekend on a new park in Fox Lake made possible through community donations. The Crocker Street Park Renewal Project had a fundraising goal of $35-thousand dollars when the effort began one year ago. Most all of the previous playground equipment was installed in 1998 and was no longer safe for children to play, showing signs of deterioration and neglect. The new park features a new sign made by the Waupun High School Fabrication Department.  The ribbon will be cut on Saturday, June 22 at 8:30am.

(Waupun) A ten-year-old Waupun boy learned if you get in trouble for lying not to compound it with another lie. Last Tuesday afternoon, police responded to the 700 block of West Spring Street for a report that a boy had escaped from an abductor. The youth claimed his abductor had a gun. Investigators learned the boy had made up the story. He was in hot water with his mother for stealing money and lying about it. He has been referred to Fond du Lac County Juvenile Intake.