“News – September 15, 2009”

Coop Warns of Con Artists

 

9/15/09 – Con artists are targeting customers of electric coops.  Keith Wohlfert with the Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative says there have been reports from several state’s, including Wisconsin, where utility customers receive telephone calls from someone posing as a coop employee and asks for credit card or other financial account information.  Wohlfert says there appears to be two variations: in one instance, the customer is told that the money is owed on their account and service will be shut-off without immediate payment.  In the other cases, the caller claims the consumer can receive federal stimulus dollars to pay their utility bills, if they first provide personal information like a social security number. Wohlfert says the Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative has established policies and procedures in place for collections, service shut-off or for helping members with private and government payment assistance programs.  In addition, he says the coop has undertaken extensive measures to protect personal information and they would never solicit personal information over the phone or electronically.

 

 

BDPD Investigates Several Thefts

 

9/15/09 – The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating a variety of residential and business thefts.  On Friday, it was reported that a change machine at Super Wash on the 1500 Block of North Spring Street was broken into. Over $300 in quarters was stolen during the overnight hours. Hacksaws were found at the scene. On Saturday, a theft of “high end” liquor was reported at Piggly Wiggly on Park Avenue.  Around $340 worth of booze was stolen earlier in the week. The suspect may have been driving a Chevy Avalanche.  On Sunday, a garage break in was reported on the 600 block of South Center Street.  A variety of power tools were taken.

 

The Beaver Dam Police Department is also investigating several thefts from unlocked vehicles that were reported Sunday.  A wallet was stolen from a parked car on the 800 block of South Lincoln.  Cell phones were stolen from vehicles on the 400 block of South Lincoln and the 800 block of North Street.  In one of the incidents, there was a witness however that witness was arrested on an outstanding Dodge County warrant.  Also yesterday, a resident called police after witnessing two subjects rifling through a vehicle on the 1000 block of Lawndale; but nothing was missing.

 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

 

Lowell FD Gets $13K Grant

 

9/15/09 – All 23 volunteer firefighters with the Lowell Fire Department have new turnout gear.  The Lowell Department’s Grant Administrator Andy Caine says the department was recently awarded a $13,374 Assistance To Firefighters Grant through the Department of Homeland Security.  Caine says this is the third such grant they’ve receiving since 2003 and allows the department to augment previous awards so that all members are equipped with state-of-the-art personal protective gear and related equipment.

 

Historical Sites To Be IDed In Jefferson County

 

9/15/09 – History buffs in Jefferson County are being to identify important locations of historical significance. The Wisconsin Historical Society recently awarded an $18,000 grant to the Jefferson County Historic Site Preservation Commission to begin a survey of rural historic sites. The statewide organization will hold a public hearing and Power Point presentation later this month to explain the program.  The hearing will be held Thursday, September 24 at the UW Extension Office in Jefferson.

 

Accused Barrett Attacker Pleads Insanity

 

9/15/09 – The man accused of attacking Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett with a tire iron pleaded insanity Monday morning.  The plea was expected.  The attorney for 20-year-old Anthony Peters said a few weeks ago his client would plead innocent by reason of mental disease to felony charges of reckless injury and bail jumping.  Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Hansher ordered a psychological exam for Peters, and he wants the results back by October fifth.  His lawyer said Peters suffers from bi-polar disorder and a long history of other mental health concerns.  And he said it’s prevalent in Peters’ family.  Authorities said Peters was fighting with the grand-mother of one-year-old child on August 15th when Barrett came along – and she asked him to call for help.  When he did, Peters told police he “freaked out” and hit the mayor with his tire iron, breaking his hand and causing numerous head injuries.  Barrett was heading back to his car after leaving the State Fair at the time.  Peters pleaded innocent earlier to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

 

Oshkosh Corp Gets $189 Million Contract

 

9/15/09 – The U-S Army has placed a third order with the Oshkosh Corporation to build the next generation of military field vehicles in Afghanistan.  The award gives Oshkosh 189-million dollars to deliver another 352 M-R-A-P all-terrain vehicles by next March.  Since June, the Army has ordered almost 43-hundred M-R-A-P’s with a total value of two-point-three billion dollars.  Oshkosh C-E-O Robert Bohn says his firm is committed to meeting the Army’s urgent need for a more highly mobile vehicle.  He says it will help troops in Afghanistan operate better on the country’s rough terrain.

 

Juneau Bulk Pick-Up Thursday

 

9/15/09 – Bulk garbage pick-up in the city of Juneau will be held this Thursday.  Mayor Ron Bosak says all items are to be placed on the curb alongside regular trash containers.  Home appliances, construction materials and hazardous waste will not be accepted.

 

Horicon Man Wins $350,000 in Super Cash

 

9/15/09 – A Beaver Dam business sold a winning Super Cash Jackpot ticket to a Horicon man over the weekend.  Russell Poritz bought the ticket from the Kwik Trip store on North Center Street Saturday and claimed the $350,000 prize yesterday.  After taxes Poritz will collect a little more than $235,000.  Kwik Trip will get a $7,000 commission for being the store where the ticket was sold.

 

Cambria Creates Ad-Hoc Committee to Study Police Protection

 

9/15/09 – The Cambria Village Board created a seven-member ad hoc committee that will be responsible for coming up with the pros and cons of different option for police protection.  The village did away with their police department last month in an effort to deal with a budget shortfall.  In its place the village contracted with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department for them to patrol the village 65-hours per month.  That agreement runs through the end of February.

 

WI National Guard Soldiers to Tailgate with their Families via the Internet

 

9/15/09 – Wisconsin soldiers in Iraq will enjoy a Packer tailgate party with their families next month – but they won’t be coming home for it.  A volunteer group called “Serving the 32nd” is putting on the event October 18th, in which troops and their families will be connected on-line.  Members of the National Guard’s 32nd Red Arrow Brigade will watch the Packers play the Detroit Lions from their bases.  And they’ll see their families watch the game from the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  The relatives back home will also see the troops at the same time.  T-D-S Tele-communications is setting up T-One broad-band lines to make the connections possible.  Private family visits are also being arranged for that day, while the lines are set up.  The deadline to register is Thursday, and more information is available on-line servingthe32nd.org.

 

Researchers Expect Average Temperatures to Rise in WI

 

9/15/09 – U-W Madison scientists say Wisconsin’s average annual temperatures will jump by four-to-nine degrees by 2055.  They released a study yesterday that’s being touted as the first detailed research on climate change that was done locally.  Researchers say the big difference will be seen in the winter, when the average state temperature rose by two-and-a-half degrees from 1950-to-2006.  In summer, the average reading went up just one-half degree in that time.  Environmental sciences professor Chris Kucharik says Wisconsin has not gotten hotter – but it’s become less cold.  State climatologists say one reason might be the heat-trapping caused by greenhouse gases.

Developer Sets Sites On Lakeview Hospital

 

9/15/09 – A developer is interested in turning the shuttered Lakeview Hospital in Beaver Dam into an assisted living facility.  Marty Sell with MSA Professionals says his client, Gene Kirschbaum, recently retired from the military and is interested in purchasing the building from Dick Powell. Kirschbaum has an option to purchase the property, which is dependent on city council actions related to a street extension and other zoning matters.  Not all of the hospital would be utilized; Sell says they would use the newer wings and demolish the older portions like the garage and boiler sections.  Sell told the city’s Operations Committee last night that a developer’s agreement will be drawn up for consideration which would allow the developer’s to move forward with the street extension. If approved, the design and engineering work would be completed this winter with ground broken as early as the spring of next year.  The soonest the new facility would be open would be the end of next year or the beginning of 2011.

 

Pardeeville Woman Not Charged With Pedestrian Fatality

 

9/15/09 – The Pardeeville woman struck and killed by a car Saturday afternoon has been identified as 69-year-old Marguerite Wisniewski.  The Pardeeville woman was struck by a car on Vince Street. Wisniewski was pronounced dead at the scene by the UW Med Flight physician. Charges are not expected against the 45-year-old Pardeeville woman who was driving the vehicle.

 

Mayville Woman Changed With Stabbing

 

9/15/09 – A Mayville woman could spend up to 15 years in prison for stabbing a man in the chest.  Beverly Jean Tiegs is charged with Aggravated Battery. Authorities responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up call in April and when they conducted a safety sweep of the residence they found the victim hiding in the closet. He said he went to the residence to fix Tiegs window and she accused him of stealing cash so she stabbed him.  According to the criminal complaint, the victim said the 43-year-old Tiegs was acting “crazy goofy” and had been drinking and taking prescription medications. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and Tiegs will be back in court October 29.

 

Firefighters Respond To Didion

 

9/15/09 – Firefighters responded to a small fire at the Didion Ethanol plant in Cambria yesterday afternoon.  Randolph Fire Chief Bruce Miller says his department was called in to assist Cambria around 1:30pm yesterday.  Miller says the fire was contained inside an incinerator.  Censors on the incinerator had indicated a high temperature at the end of a filtration process. Firefighters sprayed the outside of the unit to cool it down. Miller said once the censors indicated the unit was stable, the incinerator was opened and everything checked out fine. There were no injuries.  Firefighters were on the scene for about 90 minutes.