News – November 28, 2019

(Dodge County) While most highway construction has wrapped up for the year, Thanksgiving holiday travelers will still need to monitor the weather, watch for deer and deer hunters, and be prepared for the potential of heavy traffic along key travel corridors. Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission Coordinator Joel Kiesow says this holiday season will see hazardous travel conditions and he is reminding the motoring public that seat belts save lives. He says buckling up gives you the best defense against injury or death in a crash. The facts do not lie, Kiesow says, when you wear your seat belt as a front-seat occupant of a passenger car, your risk of fatal injury goes down by 45-percent. For light-truck occupants, that risk is reduced by 60-percent. Kiesow recommends everyone to go slow in ice and snow; stay focused by putting the cell phone down; and keep a safe distance of 200-feet behind snowplows.

(Beaver Dam) For the third straight year, a Beaver Dam park will be decorated for the holidays. Christmas lights and a host of related holiday decorations are going up all over Swan City Park. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who chairs the Beaver Dam Rotary Lights in Swan Park Committee, says their display continues to grow. Citizens are encouraged to head to Swan Park tomorrow (Friday) at 5pm which is when the lights will be turned on. Schmidt says there will be an opportunity to donate to the Beaver Dam Food Pantry as well. He says last year over 200 pounds of items were donated. Schmidt says on December 14 Santa Clause will make an appearance at Swan Park from 6pm to 8pm. He says hot chocolate will be served and students from the Beaver Dam High School will sing Christmas carols.   carols.

(Mayville) A Hustisford man charged with attempting to flee police custody is heading to trial. Patrick Kocha waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday (Wednesday) on a felony Escape charge and misdemeanor Obstruction. Kocha allegedly hit an officer in the face while he was being detained for a traffic violation. The 43-year-old took off on foot but was later arrested when he tried to return to a property on German Street. If convicted, he faces over six years in prison. Kocha will be arraigned next month.

(Beaver Dam) A plea hearing was added to the court calendar yesterday (Wednesday) for a Sun Prairie man accused of having inappropriate contact with several minors in Beaver Dam. It all started when a 16-year-old told police that she was in a relationship with Albert Gonzales in 2017. The 25-year-old is also accused of being with a 13-year-old. The victims reportedly provided incriminating social media messages and a search warrant of his Facebook page allegedly uncovered numerous other attempts to lure young girls. If convicted, Gonzales is facing a combined maximum of 352 years in prison. The plea hearing is scheduled for January 17.

(Waupun) A convicted sex offender made his initial appearance by video Tuesday on charges that he assaulted his cellmate at the Dodge Correctional in Waupun. Donald Coughlin, who is now at Boscobel, allegedly denied assaulting the other prisoner in 2017. Tests of the victim reportedly confirmed the presence of his DNA. Coughing is serving a 48-year sentence for assaulting numerous children in Juneau County. If convicted, the 62-year-old could face up to an additional 80 years in prison. Coughlin is due back in court for a preliminary hearing in January.

(Herman) A Beaver Dam man accused of burglarizing a residence in the town of Herman was arraigned yesterday (Wednesday). Doty Broadnax entered a not guilty plea to a felony charge of Burglary as a Repeat Offender. the 55-year-old allegedly attempted to take a snowblower from the home on Highway 33 in September. Broadnax reportedly sped away when a relative of the property owner showed up. He was eventually arrested by authorities in Washington County. Numerous power tools and equipment from the property were allegedly found in his vehicle along with scrap parts apparently taken from Countryside GM in Beaver Dam in October. If convicted on all charges, he faces 14 years in prison. Broadnax remains jailed on a $50-thousand-dollar cash bond.

(Dodge County) Thanksgiving meal prices remain stable this year according to Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s annual Marketbasket survey. This year’s survey rang in at roughly a dollar-and-a-half more than last year at this time. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Spokesperson Sarah Hetke says the survey’s total price of $61.57, when divided by 10 people, shows a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal can cost approximately $6.15 per person. The national average for a Thanksgiving meal came in at $62.32.

(Dodge County) With folks across the country and state busy preparing that Thanksgiving feast, Alliant Energy is pointing out that regardless of what’s on the table, everyone will be using the same ingredient: energy. Alliant Energy Vice President of Customer Operations Linda Mattes says when compared to all the other ingredients for the big holiday meal, energy is one of the lowest cost items. Creating a typical Thanksgiving meal including a 16-pound turkey stuffed and roasted, a pan of mashed potatoes with gravy, handmade dinner rolls, a green bean casserole, and two pumpkin pies this year requires only about $1.43 in electricity costs, up five cents from last year. If you use natural gas, that cost is averaging 40-cents to prepare, up around three cents. Alliant Energy has a list of energy saving tips that you will find with this story at DailyDodge.com

(Wisconsin) It’s never too late to start hunting, even if you’re over 100. 104-year-old Florence Teeters headed out to the Ball Petroleum gas station in Phillips last week to get her very first deer license. Wardens were on hand to commemorate the event, but weren’t ready for her to bag a buck along with members of her family on Opening Day. Florence got herself a spike buck, and is now the oldest person on record to register a deer in any hunting season.