News – November 13, 2016

Beaver Dam Man Charged With Drunken Injury Accident

 

11/13/16 – A Beaver Dam man is accused of seriously injuring another motorist in a drunk driving crash. Raymond Cody is charged with four felony counts, including Injury By Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle and fourth offense Operating While Intoxicated.  The 35-year-old allegedly had a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit for driving at point-two-five (.25). Prosecutors say he refused to submit to a blood test and a search warrant was required. The accident happened in January on Highway G in the Town of Westford.  Cody was driving a southbound Ford truck and he collided head-on with an 18-year-old Beaver Dam man driving a northbound car.  The victim was flown to UW Hospital in Madison with life threatening injuries while Cody, and a passenger in the 18-year-old’s vehicle, were both taken to the Beaver Dam hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The charges carry a combined maximum of 43 years in prison. Cody is scheduled to make his initial appearance in a Dodge County courtroom next month.

 

Oconomowoc Man Flown Following Gardening Mishap

 

11/13/16 – A 65-year-old Oconomowoc man was injured when he was struck in the head by a falling tree branch Friday. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say the man and his wife were on a property on Hillside Road in the Village of Richfield cutting firewood. The man was cutting down a dead tree when a large branch broke off the trunk and fell on him causing significant head trauma. Flight for Life flew him to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The accident was reported at 8:10am.

 

Beaver Dam School Board To Discuss Referendum Passage

 

11/13/16 – The Beaver Dam School Board will be discussing the referendum approved this past week when they meet for their regular monthly meeting tomorrow night. Beaver Dam voters approved the school referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot.  The $48.9-million-dollar referendum will result in a number of improvements at the high school as well as create safe, secure entrances in all district buildings. The referendum passed by a 68-32 margin and officials say it will create new opportunities for high school students, especially through the expansion of the school’s career-readiness program.

 

Kennedy Holding Listening Sessions Tuesday

 

11/13/16 – Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has his regular listening sessions scheduled Tuesday. Kennedy opens his door for city residents to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. The Beaver Dam Common Council will vote a week from tomorrow on the 2017 city budget. Copies of the budget are available at City Hall. The listening sessions are held in Room 158 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am-Noon and again from 5pm-to-6pm.  Kennedy is also available for private meetings.  Appointments can be made by contacting the mayor’s office.

 

Fitzgerald Not Wanting ‘Rash’ Action On Obamacare 

 

11/13/16 – State Senator Scott Fitzgerald is calling on Congress to not take “rash” action to abolish the Affordable Care Act. The comments come as the Juneau Republican was selected again to helm the state Senate. Fitzgerald noted that more than 20-million people have their health insurance as a result of President Obama’s signature legislation. Republicans have expanded their majority in the chamber, helped by voters backing Donald Trump for President.  Trump, who was the first Republican to win the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984, has also indicated that he would like to see certain provisions of the health care act stay in place.

 

Feingold Faces Uncertain Political Future

 

11/13/16 – Russ Feingold’s political future is uncertain after he lost his bid to win back the U-S Senate seat he held for 18 years. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the 63-year-old Middleton Democrat raised some eyebrows when he told younger supporters on Election Night it would be up to them to heal the political wounds and bring people together. And since his loss, Feingold thanked supporters and said, “Never stop fighting.” Feingold has also been a state lawmaker, a visiting professor, and a U-S envoy in Africa before embarking on nearly a two-year campaign to try and unseat the man who defeated him for the U-S Senate post in 2010, Republican Ron Johnson. Johnson was reelected to a second six year term this week.

 

Barret Rejects Amendments In Milwaukee Budget Prior To Passage

 

11/13/16 – Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett vetoed four budget amendments added by aldermen, then signed the city’s one-and-a-half-billion dollar spending plan Friday.  He got rid of changes that would have eliminated funding for children’s college savings accounts, cut three police investigator positions, created funding for a community disparity study and moved the emergency communications director position to another department.  Aldermen haven’t indicated if they will try to override the vetoes.  The mayor kept several amendments.  The 2017 spending plan is slightly smaller than last year’s budget, but it includes an additional 25-million for the police department.

 

Highway 151 Bypass In Fond du Lac County To Open

 

11/13/16 – The state Department of Transportation says the Highway 151 Bypass in Fond du Lac will open this week. Highway 45 at Highway 151 will open to traffic on Wednesday morning. The new frontage road connecting Highway 45 to the Highway 151/County Highway V interchange, the interchange, and the County Highway T overpass over Highway 151 all open Friday night. The Park and Ride at Old County Highway V will also open that evening.

 

Dodge County ATV Class Inaugural Graduates

 

11/13/16 – Twenty-one people recently graduated from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office’s first annual ATV Safety class. They ranged in age from children to adults.  The ATV Safety Class consisted of six hours of classroom and observation of field demonstrations.  It covered topics such as “Knowing Your ATV”, ATV operation, first aid and survival, as well as Wisconsin ATV laws.  The lead instructor was Deputy Scott Petrack. It was held on October 24th and 25th.

 

Lomira Student Wins County 4-H Award

 

11/13/16 – A Lomira High School student was recently presented with one of the 4-H program’s most prestigious awards.  Benjamin Buske of the Lomira Clover Leaves 4-H Club won the Dodge County 4-H Crowley Leadership Award for 2016.  Buske was chosen for his dairy project along with a record book evaluation conducted by the Dodge County 4-H program.  He received a commemorative engraved medallion and the chance to compete for state-level awards, including two $500 scholarships awarded for students who plan to continue their dairy education in college.

 

BDCH Hosting Career Fair On Tuesday

 

11/13/16 – The Beaver Dam Community Hospital is hosting a Career Fair on Tuesday. Officials say the fair is an excellent chance to discover the career opportunities available in health care. Those attending will be able to talk to hospital employees and leaders, tour the campus, apply for open positions and enter a drawing for a free Fitbit. The Beaver Dam Community Hospital Career Fair runs from 2pm to 6pm in the Conference Center. For more information, call 920-887-4100. To learn more about career opportunities at BDCH, visit www.bdch.com/jobs.

 

Final Day For Beaver Dam Leaf Pick-Up Is November 21

 

11/13/16 – Officials in Beaver Dam have announced the final day for curbside leaf pick-up by the Department of Public Works. DPW officials says leaves — along with lawn grass rakings resulting from leaf gathering, garden vines and stalks – may be placed in the terrace areas of the street edge in loose piles no later than Monday, November 21. Yard waste cannot be placed in the street or gutter, or in any containers, and residents should avoid piling around tree’s, light poles and street signs when possible. Leaves, rakings and garden debris cannot be mixed with other forms of waste like brush or shrubbery cuttings.  Fruits, nuts and vegetables are not acceptable and should be disposed of as garbage. After city crews begin leaf pick-up on Tuesday, November 22 they will make only one more round in no particular order.  That means that – after the 22nd – once the crews have picked up leaves at your residence that is your final pick-up for the season. Leaves can also be dropped off at the City Garage on South Center Street weekdays between 7am and 3:30pm.