News – May 18, 2022

(Juneau) Dodge County has an interim administrator. Current Administrator Jim Mielke is retiring on June 1st. To facilitate the search for his replacement, the county hired Public Administration Associates. Jon Hochkammer, who works at the firm, was named as a candidate for the interim role which was approved by the county board last night. He has county board experience and was the mayor of Verona for 12 years. The county hopes to have the position permanently filled by August.

(Juneau) Tuesday night was the final Dodge County Board meeting for longtime Administrator Jim Mielke who had been in the position since 2008. Board Chairman Dave Frohling thanked Mielke for his dedication to the job. Mielke says it is time for his next chapter in life.

(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Fire Department responded to the old Pick ‘n Save building Tuesday night. Crews were dispatched around 10:20pm following reports of a three-foot-by-three-foot bush on fire adjacent to the structure on North Spring Street. Reinforcements were cancelled en route as personnel arriving first on scene extinguished the blaze and the last of any smoldering embers. No word yet on the cause.

(Juneau) Members of the Dodge County’s Drug Treatment Court will be recognized Thursday and the public is welcome to attend. May is National Drug Court Month, held to share the successes of participants and educate the public about this important program. A graduation ceremony is scheduled for 1:30pm, followed by a recognition event featuring past and current drug court members and several speakers. Tomorrow’s event will be held in Branch 1 at the Dodge County Courthouse in Juneau.

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and was placed on extended supervision for five years Tuesday for his Fifth OWI Offense. Kevin Laufenberg’s vehicle was pulled over last October by Beaver Dam police with a defective headlamp. Officers quickly noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Laufenberg. The 52-year-old had a blood alcohol concentration of point-three-zero-one (.301).

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man was found guilty Tuesday with possessing illicit content of children. Matthew Haase uploaded several files that were suspected to be child porn to Snapchat in October of 2020. When questioned by authorities, Haase admitted to his actions. Haase faces 75-years in prison. A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered, and the 41-year-old is due back in court on August 16th.

(Fond du Lac) A six-year-old Fond du Lac child is recuperating from non-life threatening injuries at Children’s Hospital after being hit by a vehicle while bicycling Monday evening. Police say the child was on a sidewalk on Forest Avenue just after 7pm and without warning rode across the terrace into traffic mid-block and was struck by a westbound vehicle. A 32-year-old Fond du Lac resident was behind the wheel.