News – November 12, 2021


(Beaver Dam) A Dodge County domestic abuse organization will be applying for a $3.2-million-dollar grant to help pay for the renovations of a shelter in Beaver Dam. PAVE – which stands for Protect, Advocate, Validate and Educate – serves Dodge and Jefferson counties with its existing shelter in Beaver Dam and an outreach office in Watertown. The non-profit has already raised over $1.2 -million-dollars during their capital campaign to help cover the costs of building a bigger facility on East Burnett Street. The Dodge County Board this week approved to be a conduit for the organization to apply for the grant funded by the American Rescue Act. In order to be eligible, applicants must go through a government entity who will disperse the awarded funds if the organization is selected.

(Fond du Lac) Fond du Lac County supervisors Tuesday night unanimously approved spending $150,000 to purchase a double-wide housing unit to place sexually violent offenders. The unit will be on the County Highway Department grounds in Fond du Lac. The money for the purchase will come out of the county’s general fund.

(Fox River) The teen charged in a fatal shooting at the Fox River Mall last January has pleaded to two charges. A plea deal for 18-year-old Dezman Ellis lowered one of the charges from First Degree Intentional Homicide to Second Degree while a First-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety charge remained the same. The reduced charge means instead of facing life in prison Ellis could get 40 years in prison and possibly be out in 20 years. A sentencing date is scheduled for February 1st. Ellis killed Jovanni Frausto and injured another person during a dispute at the mall on January 31st.

(Beaver Dam) On Veterans Day, we had an opportunity to speak with Lt. Col. Luke Sustman of the Florida Air National Guard, who joined the Air Force shortly after graduating from Beaver Dam High School in 1997. Sustman logged 3000 combat hours piloting the CV-22 Osprey. He recounted the loss of a friend in one of his many missions while also noting the great work of the non-profit organization at specialops.org, which fully paid the college tuition of the two children his fallen friend left behind. You can find that link at DailyDodge.com, along with audio and video of yesterday’s program which also featured the Dodge County Veterans Service Officer and Badger Honor Flight.

(Beaver Dam) Do not plan on parking on the street overnight in Beaver Dam until spring as winter parking rules are now in effect. No vehicles can park on the street between 2am and 6am without a permit until April, unless the ban is lifted earlier. City ordinance prohibits overnight parking starting on November 1st, but the mayor traditionally waits for the first snowfall before enforcement begins.

(Beaver Dam) At stops around the state Wednesday, Governor Tony Evers announced $15-million-dollars for local tourism organizations. Four groups in the Dodge County-are will receive grant funds. Evers says the industry pulled in $17-billion-dollars last year and supported 115-thousand jobs. Receiving grant funds include the Beaver Dam Chamber who will get $46-thousand-dollars, the Watertown Chamber will get $20-thousand, the Columbus Chamber is in line for $7,970, while the City of Columbus Tourism Commission will receive $8,684. – WRN