(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam woman is facing reckless homicide charges in her son’s death after methadone was found in his system. Amanda Trost found her two-year-old son not breathing on February 23 and performed CPR until first responders could arrive. The 27-year-old denied giving the drug to her son. She reportedly said that she spilled some of her methadone, used a paper towel to clean it up and disposed of it in the trash. If convicted, Trost faces up to 60-years in prison. An initial appearance is scheduled for October 21.
(Iron Ridge) An Iron Ridge man is accused of contributing to a fatal opioid overdose. 28-year-old Timothy Sedlmeier is charged with First Degree Reckless Homicide in the October 2017 death of Samantha Mattila of Waupun. Sedlmeier says he found the 19-year-old slumped over the bathtub. Heroin that he put in a drawer for himself was missing. He reportedly told investigators that he bought the heroin that she used but did not supply it to her. Toxicology tests later confirmed that Mattila died of the synthetic opioid Fentanyl. If convicted, Sedlmeier is facing a maximum prison sentence of 40 years. An initial appearance is scheduled next month.
(Oak Grove) A Beaver Dam man was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday) to 60 days in jail with work release privileges for seriously injuring a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident. Colin Biel pleaded no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge and was also placed on one year of probation. Biel admitted to leaving the scene of the October accident on County Road I near Highway 33 in the Town of Oak Grove when he turned himself the following morning. The 41-year-old told investigators that he first thought he hit a deer but later returned, saw emergency lights and left.
(Columbus) Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner says a recent overnight crime spree has targeted Columbus, Arlington, Lodi, Pacific and West Point. The items stolen include weapons, money, electronics and multiple credit cards, all tied back to unlocked vehicles. Brandner says the suspects are using garage door openers in unlocked vehicles to enter homes. A suspicious passenger car was observed during the most recent incident yesterday around 2am in Pacific Township. Brandner says anyone who observes suspicious vehicles or people should contact authorities immediately as (quote) “time is of the essence.” He says get a good description of the suspicious activity along with vehicle make, model and color, license plates, and a possible direction of travel.
(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Community Development Committee yesterday (Tuesday) voted to end the city’s downtown façade improvement grant program, which provides up to $5000 to beautify a business. The grant money comes from a downtown TIF that is expected to generate over a half-million dollars in the next 16 years. Mayor Becky Glewen says each project should be looked at individually. The grant program is not legally required as the city has the authority to distribute money generated by the TIF as part of the original TIF project plan. The common council will vote to end the façade program next month. Meanwhile, a grant was approved yesterday for Tranquil Healing at 109 Front Street which is getting $20-thousand dollars to compliment $59-thousand dollars being spent on exterior renovations.
(Madison) Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he thinks the Wisconsin Legislature will be able to cut taxes next year. The Juneau Republican says lawmakers could use the additional tax revenue which has been projected to fund the cuts. His comments on W-I-S-N come less than a week after the Republican announced he’s running for Congress in the 5th District. Democratic Governor Tony Evers has suggested additional revenue should be kept in reserve in case the economy goes through a downturn.
