Radiothon 6pm Total: $45,039.94
6/24/16 – The 27-hour marathon WBEV/WXRO Children’s Radiothon raised $45,039.94 in its first 12-hours. It began with a live on-air auction Thursday morning at 6am and is continuing through 9am Friday morning. We are collecting cash donations on the roof of the Stoddard Street radio station. Award-winning journalist John Muir is the “News Guy in the Sky” on the roof for the entire duration of the Radiothon. He was joined by local celebrities including Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy, Fox Lake Mayor and million dollar-lottery-winner Tom Bednarek, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt and Ryan Klavekoske with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. As of 8pm, $3639.12 was raised. The Angel Walk raised $9091 which brings the eight-year total to $100,750. The nine organizations benefiting from the Children’s Radiothon are People Against A Violent Environment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County, Green Valley Enterprises, YMCA of Dodge County, Clothes for Kids, the Watertown Family Center, ARC of Dodge County, Community Care Preschool and Child Care and – new this year – the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association.
For more information on the WBEV-WXRO Children’s Radiothon, follow the link toward the top of this webpage or go to:
http://goodkarmabrands.com/radiothon-events/
Beaver Dam Man Charged In Heroin-Fueled Crime Spree
6/24/16 – A Dodge County judge will decide next week if there is enough evidence to order a trial against a Beaver Dam man charged in connection with a series of heroin-fueled crimes. Kyle Nehmer is charged with felony Take and Drive Vehicle Without Consent and misdemeanor Criminal Damage To Property, Theft, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. Police received a call Tuesday afternoon from a couple who said that they let an old friend spend the night on their couch. When they woke up the friend was gone – though someone else was sleeping on their couch – and their car was missing. It turns out that Beaver Dam Police reportedly stopped Nehmer that morning in the stolen vehicle, noted that he was acting erratically but release him after he passed a field sobriety test. Two hours later, around 9am, police were called by a person witnessing Nehmer breaking into vehicles in the city parking lot at Front and Center. A brick was thrown through one car. Items stolen and allegedly found on the suspect included cash, jewelry and electronics. Police made contact with Nehmer as he was attempting to kick out the rear door of a Front Street antique store. The 26-year-old allegedly fled on foot but was apprehended a short time later after being subdued with a taser gun. The stolen vehicle was found nearby. Nehmer was reportedly combative with the arresting officers, using profanities, stating that he cannot take his addiction any longer and telling the officers that he wanted them to shoot him. Nehmer is being held on a $2000 cash bond. If convicted, the charges carry a combined maximum of nine-and-a-half years in prison.
Former BDHS JV Coach Charged With Child Sex Crime
6/24/16 – A former Beaver Dam High School soccer coach is facing child sex charges. Schools Superintendent Steve Vessey says he was contacted Thursday by the City of Oshkosh Police Department regarding the arrest of Colin Stringer. On Wednesday evening, Stringer was taken into custody on charges of Using a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime and Possessing with Intent to Deliver Marijuana. Stringer was the Beaver Dam High School girls’ Junior Varsity coach during the 2015 season and was also a WIAA high school soccer official and youth soccer coach. Superintendent Vessey says a full background check was conducted when Stringer was hired in Beaver Dam and it did not identify any prior convictions. No victims have been identified in the Beaver Dam area but Vessey notes that the investigation is ongoing by the Beaver Dam Police Department in cooperation with the district. Vessey extended his heartfelt apology over the situation saying the safety of students is the district’s top priority. Parents who have concerns about their children’s interaction with the suspect should contact the Beaver Dam police and those with questions can call the superintendent’s office in the Educational Service Center. Beaver Dam Police: 920-885-4613 ext. 501, Beaver Dam Unified School District: 920-885-7300 ext. 1111 or vesseys@bdusd.org.
Defendant’s Brother Testifies At Brantner Murder Trial
6/24/16 – The 62-year-old Kenosha man standing trial for the murder of Berit Beck tried to run as law enforcement was strengthening its case against him. Several witnesses testified Thursday that they were concerned after Dennis Brantner’s brother Michael got a call in March of 2014 from Brantner’s employer that he did not show up to work. Michael Brantner testified when he did get a hold of his brother by phone, Dennis told him he was in Iowa and was in a lot of trouble. Diane Epping who lived with Dennis Brantner at the time read from text messages she sent him after Michael Brantner told him Dennis had missed work. In one exchange she said (quote) “Why don’t you answer I know your hurting, but so are we.” He replied in a text (quote) “I just don’t know what to say. I’m in shock. I’m freaking out!” On cross examination Brantner’s lawyer, Craig Powell, asked Epping if she though he ran because police were accusing him of murder. Beck was murdered in 1990, he body was found in a ditch outside Waupun. Today is Day Ten of the murder trial in Fond du Lac County.
Bond Set For Man Accused Of Leading Officer On High-Speed Chase
6/24/16 – Cash bond was set at $5,000 this week for a Deforest man accused of leading an officer on a high speed chase through multiple Dodge County towns. Christian Barry is facing one felony count of Attempting to Flee a Traffic Officer. The 25-year-old allegedly fled at speeds up to 130 miles per hour when an officer tried stopping him Wednesday on Highway 33 for a busted tail light. The chase led to Highways 151 and S before Barry crashed his vehicle into a pole’s guide wire on Highway T. Barry reportedly said he fled because his license is suspended. If he is found guilty, Barry faces three-and-a-half years in prison. A preliminary hearing is set for June 30.
Former Beaver Man Enters Plea To Multi-County Burglaries
6/24/16 – A former Beaver Dam man implicated in a multi-county crime spree had had two years added to his current prison sentence. Andy Huth of Neilsville pled “no contest” this week to four felony counts: two charges of Theft and one each of Burglary with a Dangerous Weapon, and Felon Possessing a Firearm. Seventeen other felonies and nine misdemeanors were dismissed but read into the record. The 35-year-old stole a number of items including: a tractor, an ATV, cash, guns, and a safe. The business and residential burglaries occurred in Green Lake, Marquette and Clark counties in addition to Dodge County where break-ins were reported in Beaver Dam, Mayville and the towns of Westford and Leroy. Police found many of the missing items in four different searches of his and his family’s properties. Huth will serve the additional two years in prison after he completes a prison sentence in Wood County, followed by four years of probation. A ten-year prison sentence was imposed and stayed.
Bank Robbed In Columbia County
6/24/16 – A bank was robbed yesterday in Columbia County. Lodi Police Chief Scott Klicko says it happened around 3:45pm at the Associated Bank at the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 113. The subject demanded money from a teller but did not display a weapon. He fled with an unknown amount of cash east on Portage Street / Highway 60, entered a small red car and took off east on Highway 60. The suspect is described as a white male with an athletic build, minimal facial hair, wearing a white t-shirt, black sunglasses, black wind pants, a green and white hat and white tennis shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and ask for the Lodi Police Department at 608-742-4166 x 1.
Names Released In Fond du Lac County Double Fatal Wreck
6/24/16 – The State Patrol has released the names of those injured and killed in a three-vehicle accident on I-41 in Fond du Lac Wednesday morning. Twenty-six-year-old David Button and an eight-year-old boy from Neenah were killed in the accident. Twenty-three-year-old Alysha Button of Neenah was driving the Chevy Cruze they were in. She and 32-year-old Travis Wollersheim of North Fond du Lac who was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee were taken to St. Agnes Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Flight for Life flew 35-year-old Matthew Will of Eldorado to ThedaCare in Neenah with severe injuries. He was a passenger in the Jeep. The semi-truck driver, 60-year-old David Schneider of Hilbert, was not injured.
Slinger Representative Seeks To Discourage Gun Bans
6/24/16 – Wisconsin businesses that ban concealed weapons would have to pay triple damages for any gun incidents under a bill proposed for next year’s session. Assembly Republican Bob Gannon of Slinger says he wants to discourage businesses from banning guns to give people a better chance to defend themselves in what he calls a “scourge of terrorist activity.” The proposal comes in the wake of the 49 shooting deaths at a gay nightclub in Orlando. All 50 states allow concealed weapons, but Gannon says Wisconsin could likely be the first to have such strict liability requirements for businesses that ban guns. Gannon, who’s unopposed for reelection this fall, also wants to discourage businesses from having signs at their doors banning concealed carry — and those which don’t ban it are currently immune from liability for gun incidents.
