News – November 21, 2019

(Juneau) The Dodge County Sheriff says a select few county board supervisors do not appropriately communicate with department heads. Sheriff Dale Schmidt called out the supervisors following last week’s adoption of the county budget, which saw $75-thousand cut from his budget. Schmidt says he has offered many times to answer questions or provide information but the invitation has not been accepted by this group of board members. One of those supervisors, David Guckenberger says he takes issue with the sheriff’s comments and the implication that four elected officials are controlling the actions of the entire county board. Guckenberger says he and the other three supervisors do not share committees and to imply that some sort of collusion is taking place is below the dignity of most elected officials.

(Waupun) A Fond du Lac teen was placed on probation for two years yesterday (Wednesday) for stealing a truck from Beaver Dam that was involved in a police chase. 18-year-old Tyler Rodgers and three other teens ran after abandoning the truck. Two passengers were determined not to be involved while another, 17-year-old Kaden Solano of North Fond du Lac, is also facing felony charges. Rodgers admitted to investigators that the truck was stolen and also confessed to the theft of a second vehicle taken in Fond du Lac that wound up in Beaver Dam Lake.

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man accused of having inappropriate contact with a minor entered a not guilty plea during arraignment yesterday. When questioned by authorities, Robert Lee Haley said the girl told him she was 18-years-old and that any contact between them was consensual. They reportedly met on a dating app and her profile said she was 19. If convicted, the 29-year-old Haley faces up to 40-years in prison.

(Beaver Dam) A Reeseville man charged with attempting to flee police while in custody entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment hearing yesterday. Ricky Hardy allegedly ran from a residence in Reeseville when officers came to arrest him on a parole violation. After being taken into custody, Hardy was transported to the Beaver Dam Hospital where he again reportedly fled but gave himself up a short distance later. If convicted, the 41-year-old faces over six years in prison.

(Waupun) A Waupun man accused of running from police with a revoked license entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment hearing yesterday. Damian Vande Zande allegedly refused to stop for Waupun Police in June before parking and fleeing on foot. The 25-year-old was apprehended a short time later, hiding in an alley.

(Fond du Lac) Bond was set at $1,000 cash when a Berlin man suspected of leading Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies on a high speed chase made his initial court appearance this week.  According to the criminal complaint, Joseph Walker told deputies when he was taken into custody (quote) “I just saw bright lights and panicked.” He was wanted for a domestic incident and taking a vehicle in Green Lake County. Fond du Lac County charges include fleeing an officer and resisting or obstructing an officer. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

(Madison) Eights bills became law in Wisconsin on Wednesday. Governor Evers added his signature to bills that span a wide array of issues.  One bill sets a five-year minimum for an OWI homicide, which a judge can create an exemption to if there is a compelling reason.  Other bills end the Miller Park sales tax by next September, allows attorneys to communicate with clients by e-mail, and increases the penalties against those who trespass onto utility properties for vandalism.  The Governor also vetoed one bill, which would have reduced the number of training hours needed for nurses during their education.

(Madison) All sexual assault test kits submitted to the state Department of Justice have been tested.  Attorney General Josh Kaul says the 4-thousand-471 took over three years to analyze for potential evidence in investigation.  So far they have resulted in a dozen criminal cases.

(Madison) A group that promotes student voting has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s student voter ID requirements. The Andrew Goodman Foundation alleges that requirements that students present IDs that contain the issuance date, the holder’s signature and an expiration date no later than two years after the issuance date are too onerous.

(Washington DC) The president has the backing of 53-percent of voters who do not believe he should be impeached and removed from office. Forty-percent are in support, down four points from last month.

(Madison) Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will be joining a group from the U-S Climate Action Center to attend the United Nation’s climate talks in Madrid next month.   Barnes is expected to meet with foreign governments and businesses to discuss how Wisconsin will continue to pursue a goal to reach 100-percent clean energy by 2050, and other goals set by the Paris Agreement.

(Madison) A hepatitis A outbreak in three states, which includes Wisconsin, has been traced to fresh blackberries sold in Fresh Thyme grocery stores.  The Food and Drug Administration is asking people not to eat this fruit when it was bought between September 9th and September 30th.  11 cases of the virus have been confirmed.