News – November 3, 2021


(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Common Council has approved a series of personnel changes to complement a restructuring of city government. Current Deputy City Clerk Tracey Ferron is now the city clerk. Cheryl Lohry was promoted to deputy clerk. Under the recently adopted city administrator form of government, the role of mayor will be reduced to part time in 2023. The current director of administration position is being reorganized with the bulk of the responsibilities absorbed into the new city administrator role, a vacancy that could be filled by January.

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man was charged Tuesday with having inappropriate contact with a minor. Kyle Schwantes is facing a felony count of Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. According to the criminal complaint, the 13-year-old victim reportedly said that Schwantes had touched her inappropriately while at his residence in March. If convicted, the 35-year-old faces 40 years in prison. An initial appearance is scheduled for November 22nd.

(Fond du Lac) The Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office responded early Wednesday morning to a report of a two vehicle accident on County Highway D near Hunter Lane in the town of Fond du Lac.  Initial reporting was that a vehicle had struck a semi-tractor with attached milk tanker with the driver of the vehicle being unconscious but breathing.  Preliminary investigation shows that the semi, driven by a 70 year old Fond du Lac man, was attempting a backing maneuver into a driveway blocking the southbound lanes when a southbound vehicle proceeded to the right and struck the tanker-trailer.  The driver of the vehicle, identified as a 33 year old male from Lomira, was extricated from the vehicle and flown by Lifenet Helicopter to a trauma center for treatment, and has been arrested for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.  The crash remains under investigation.

(Fox Lake) A Wauzeka woman made her initial appearance in court on charges she mailed in an illegal drug into Fox Lake Correctional. Angelica Pitzer is facing a felony count of Deliver Illegal Articles to an Inmate. Correctional staff at the prison intercepted an envelope addressed to an inmate that contained three suboxone strips. According to the criminal complaint, recorded phone calls between the inmate and Pitzer suggested she was responsible for sending the envelope. When questioned by investigators about the incident, Pitzer said (quote) “I don’t have anything else to say.” If convicted, the 33-year-old faces three-and-a-half years in prison. A signature bond was set at $1,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 9th.

(Juneau) The Dodge County Health Department will be hosting several upcoming COVID vaccine clinics this week. Health officials say they will be offering the Pfizer and Moderna shots tomorrow (Thursday) between 3pm and 5pm at the Dodge County Public Health Building located at 199 County Road DF in Juneau. On Friday, the Moderna as well as the one-and-done Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available for those 18 and up between 1pm and 3pm in Juneau. Booster doses will be available at each clinic. Those interested in getting a vaccine shot should call ahead of time to guarantee a dose. Contact information can be found with this news story at DailyDodge.com.

(Dodge County) Dodge County continues to remain in the “very high” COVID activity level along with Fond du Lac, Washington, Jefferson, Columbia, and Green Lake Counties. There are currently just over 41-thousand people in Dodge County who have received at least one dose of the vaccine, or 47.4-percent of the population. While 39-thousand people, 45.3-percent, have completed the vaccination series.

(Wisconsin) Governor Tony Evers makes the latest move, in the state’s ongoing redistricting battle. Evers on Tuesday confirmed what he’s been signaling for weeks — maps drawn by Republican legislators will be vetoed. Once Evers vetoes the Republican maps, the issue will be decided either by a panel of federal judges or the Wisconsin Supreme Court. – WRN