News – May 19, 2021

(Lomira) Cash bond was set at $30,000 yesterday (Tuesday) for a Fond du Lac man accused of stealing gas while fleeing Dodge County authorities. Travis Bruemmer, while on a motorcycle, allegedly fled law enforcement twice Monday while deputies fielded multiple reports of the individual acting suspiciously and stealing gas between Lomira and Leroy. He eventually crashed in the City of Fond du Lac and was taken into custody. If convicted, the 32-year-old faces up to 32 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 27th.

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man charged with injuring another motorist in a hit and run rollover crash made his initial appearance in court this week. Chase Fletcher was allegedly driving when he struck another vehicle on Highway 33 in the Town of Beaver Dam in February. The victim’s vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to a rest on the driver’s side door. If convicted, the 32-year-old faces up to nine months in prison. A signature bond was set at $1,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24th.

(Juneau) Sheriff Dale Schmidt says his office has received multiple reports that the “grandparent scam” is making the rounds again. The scam involves two approaches: one where the scammer pretends to be the grandchild and acts like they are distraught by crying or they impersonate a doctor, police officer, or court official with information about a grandchild. Schmidt says the scammers will tell a grandparent that the grandchild was arrested while on vacation, injured in a car accident, or in a foreign country or jail and needs money. Several tips to avoid getting scammed include staying calm and asking the caller questions the imposter could not possibly answer, never wire money based on a phone call, and remember hospitals, jails, attorneys, and court systems do not accept gift cards as payments.

(Madison) A package of police accountability bills got their first public hearing at the Capitol yesterday in front of the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability. The major portion of these bills would require police departments to post their use of force policies and would require all police officers to report those incidents. Other bills would require the state to collect and present those use of force incidents to the public and would ban the use of chokeholds by police. – WRN

(Juneau) Dodge County Public Health is hosting youth Pfizer COVID vaccine clinics the rest of the week. The clinics will begin today for those aged 12 and up and will run through Friday. Each clinic will be open from 3:30pm to 6pm or until doses run out. Today’s clinic will be at the Human Services and Health Department Building in Juneau. Tomorrow’s will be at the Hustisford High School Gymnasium with Friday’s at the Mayville High School Gymnasium. A parent or legal guardian must be present for those aged 18 or younger.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials reported 13 COVID deaths yesterday bringing that number to 6,971. Dodge County is reporting 165 deaths and 123 active cases. Thirty-two-point-two-percent (32.2%) of Dodge County residents are fully vaccinated while 36.4-percent have had at least one dose.

(Juneau) The Dodge County Board is looking to fill a vacant Village of Lomira seat. The seat was held by Larry Schraufnagel, no reason was given for the vacancy. The District 16 seat consists of Wards Two and Three in the Village of Lomira and runs through April 19 of 2022. Residents of the district interested in filling the vacancy should submit a letter of interest to Russell Kottke by Friday, June 4th.