Watertown Man Implicated In Ponzi Scheme
11/17/14 – A Watertown man has been implicated in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. Criminal investigators with the IRS say Lore Holzhueter scammed several people out of at least $7.5 million dollars. The 69-year-old runs several companies out of his Watertown office, and investigators believe he accepted money from customers who thought they were putting funds into “legitimate investment accounts” such as mutual funds. Instead, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that investigators believe Holzhueter used the bulk of the money to support his companies, pocketed some and ran a Ponzi scheme since at least 2009. Court records were made public last week. Holzhueter – who owns a group of family-owned business including Holzhueter Farms and Quality Tax and Accounting Services – denies any wrongdoing. He said the money that investigators accuse of using in the Ponzi scheme were actually funds his company borrowed from clients. The loans were used to finance expansion of his Insurance Service Center, an agency with nearly a dozen offices throughout Wisconsin. His lawyer denies his client committed any wrongdoing, saying it was a misunderstanding about where client money went and is a matter for civil resolution.
Town of Lebanon Barn Destroyed By Fire
11/17/14 – A weekend fire destroyed a Town of Lebanon barn. Crews were called to the Jim Kulke residence on Davidson Road around 9pm Saturday. Fire Chief Brent Boyd tells us the owner noticed the glow of the fully involved fire reflecting through the window and called 911. Roads were snow-covered and slippery and Boyd says it hampered response efforts. Firefighters saved a nearby shed which sustained minor exterior damage. The owner evacuated 35 head of cattle safely; there were no losses. The dairy cows were moved on trailers to a neighboring property while firefighters were battling the blaze. There were no injuries. The barn was filled with hay. Heavy equipment was brought in to attack hotspots. The structure was a total loss. Crews were on scene for nearly five hours. Lebanon received mutual assistance from Hustisford, Neosho, Ashippun and Ixonia.
Two Teens Killed In Fond du Lac County Crash
11/17/14 – Two teenagers were killed over the weekend in a one-car crash in Fond du Lac County. Sheriff’s deputies learned about it Sunday morning around 7:15. Deputies said a 19-year-old Fond du Lac man lost control of his vehicle on a curve, and it rolled over in a farm-field. The driver died, along with a 19-year-old Fond du Lac woman. Their names were not immediately released. The area received about an inch of snow. The crash is believed to have happened late Saturday night or early yesterday.
Beaver Dam To Vote Tonight On 2015 Budget
11/17/14 – The Beaver Dam Common Council is slated to vote on the 2015 budget at their regular meeting tonight. The $15-million document includes a tax levy of $9.6-million dollars, and is approximately eight-percent (8%) higher than last year. The levy increase can be partially attributed to three years of retroactive pay following an arbitration settlement with the city’s police union. The budget also includes a one-point-five-percent (1.5%) increase in wages for non-protective city employees and a ten-percent (10%) increase in the cost of health insurance coverage. The Beaver Dam Common Council meets at 8pm tonight at the city’s Municipal Building.
Public Hearing On Sewer Rate Tonight
11/17/14 – The public will have a chance to weigh in on increasing sewer rates at a hearing tonight. Rates are set to go up by $8 per quarter beginning in the new year. Mayor Tom Kennedy says that the recommendations based off the findings of a rate study led to the increase. Kennedy notes that this is the first rate increase in Beaver Dam since 2009 and still keeps the city’s rate as the lowest in the county. Two reasons are cited for a need to increase billing rates. Kennedy says that the first reason, increased loss in some of the city’s wastewater endeavors, led to a complete loss of revenue from those sources. The increase of costs in treating companies waste, instead of the anticipated decrease, led to the end of working with these companies, thus causing revenue loss. Kennedy says it was difficult to project the numbers for the projects as he claims it was like assigning random figures for the costs as a precedent was not available. The Beaver Dam Common Council meets at 8pm tonight at the city’s Municipal Building.
Fritsche Encourages Local Participation In ‘Future Wisconsin’
11/17/14 – Wisconsin is making an effort to develop its first twenty-year state economic development plan. The Future Wisconsin Project is being led by the state’s chamber. It is combining input from those of the education and business communities with that of government officials. President Elect of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Association Phil Fritsche says that the first event pertaining to the project will be held on December 3rd in Milwaukee. The first few items on their list of topics that need to be discussed will be covered. Fritsche, who is also the Beaver Dam Chamber president, says that residents in the city are encouraged to attend and can do so at a discounted rate of one-hundred dollars. This is due to Beaver Dam having been identified as a ‘prototype future Wisconsin community.’ Fritsche says that there are a number of topics pertaining to the project that need to be addressed. While the first few will be discussed at the December meeting, the others will be deliberated at future gatherings.
Deadline Today For Annual Chamber Luncheon
11/17/14 – Today is the deadline for make reservations for next weeks Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce Annual Economic Update Luncheon. Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson is the keynote speaker. Mayor Tom Kennedy will provide a “state of the city address” while County Board Chair Russ Kottke will provide an update on the county. Cost is $30 per person. The event will be held at the Beaver Dam Country Club next Wednesday (11/26) from 11:45am to 1:30pm. Secretary Newson will also join us on a special late edition of Community Comment that afternoon around 2pm.
Johnson Receives Major Committee Chairmanship
11/17/14 – After just four years in the U-S Senate, Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson is about to win something his Democratic predecessor never had in 18 years — a major committee chairmanship. Johnson is in line as the head of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, despite being 78th in seniority among the 100 senators. Soon after he was elected in 2010, Johnson joined a committee with very few Republican members. Now that the G-O-P won the majority in the Senate this month, Johnson expects to move up from Number-three Republican spot on the governmental affairs panel to its chairman. One of those ahead of him, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is retiring. The other, John McCain of Arizona, wants to chair a different committee. He’s taking over the Armed Services panel. Johnson was interviewed by the Associated Press last week, in which he vowed to move forward a Republican immigration bill early in January. Johnson will certainly appreciate the publicity, as he’s about to run for re-election in two years. The Washington Post recently called Johnson the most vulnerable senator for 2016. Johnson joked to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “It’s great to Number-One.” Unlike 2010, Johnson will run in a presidential year when more Democrats typically vote. No Wisconsin Republican has won a U-S Senate seat in a presidential year since Bob Kasten in 1980.
Highway 33 / North Center To Close Today
11/17/14 – A portion of State Highway 33 on North Center Street in Beaver Dam will be closed beginning today (11/17/). The closure is between Front Street and West Maple Avenue and is needed so that utilities can be installed prior to the 2015 street reconstruction. The roadway is expected to re-open by December 10.
Waupun Hospital Earns National Distinction
11/17/14 – Waupun Memorial Hospital has earned the Joint Commission 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures distinction. The hospital is one of 1,224 hospitals nationwide to get the recognition. Waupun Memorial was recognized for its achievement on pneumonia and surgical care. It’s one of 712 hospitals to achieve the distinction for the past two consecutive years.
BDCH Tree of Lights Planned For December 1
11/17/14 – The Beaver Dam Community Hospital Tree of Lights program will mark a quarter century this year. The event provides citizens an opportunity to purchase a tree light in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one for the cost of five dollars. All lights purchased will be placed on a tree on the hospital campus. The event is sponsored by the Partners of BDCH and to date has raised over $400-thousand for the hospitals Hillside Lifeline and Hospice Care programs. The Tree of Light will be held on Monday, December 1 at 7 pm in the hospital’s cafeteria. Lights can be purchased through the end of December.
Blaze Orange Reminder From DNR
11/17/14 – Wisconsin’s gun-deer hunting season is six days away, and officials are reminding hunters that their hats must be at least half blaze-orange. A 1980 law requires hats to be at least 50-percent orange, but wardens say they run into sizable numbers of people who don’t meet the mandate. Wardens plan to give out orange-knit hats to hunters with the phrase, “Hunt Safe in Wisconsin.” The Badger State has had an impressive safety record in recent years. No hunters have been shot to death during the nine-day gun season in three of the past four years — and the only other year on record with no shooting deaths was in 1972.
