Several Raceway Fans, Drivers Donate Refunds To Family
9/22/14 – A driver who died Saturday during a practice run at the Beaver Dam Raceway “violently flipped” before the crash. That’s according to the press release from the Town of Beaver Dam Police Department, which is investigating the accident. Scott Semmelmann was driving around the third corner when his sprint car crashed, flipping into the concrete wall. The 47-year-old Brookfield man was pronounced dead as the result of injuries sustained in the crash. Track officials decided to cancel the rest of the race and fans, drivers and crew members were offered a refund. They had the option to donate the money to the family, which most did. Beaver Dam Raceway General Manager Carolyn Mueller and Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series President Steve Sinclair expressed their condolences to the family and say they plan to donate any remaining proceeds from the evening to the family.
Suspects Expected To Appear On Prostitution Charges
9/22/14 – Thirteen people are expected to appear in a Dodge County courtroom Monday in connection with a prostitution operation that was allegedly being run out of a Beaver Dam home. 45-year-old Debbie Walters is facing three felony counts of Keeping a Place of Prostitution and 28 misdemeanor prostitution charges. Her husband, 36-year-old Daniel Walters is charged with three felony counts of Allowing the Use of a Place of Prostitution. According to the criminal complaint, the contacts were made through a therapeutic massage website while meetings were arranged by email. The investigation was conducted by Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske who says the world wide web has made it easier for type of crime to occur in our neighborhoods. He says the investigation opened his eyes to how much of this activity is out there and Dodge County is not immune to this type of behavior. Eleven other men face a total of 29 misdemeanors for soliciting Walter’s services. They are from Beaver Dam, Kewaskum and Columbus and as far away as Madison, Wausau, and Mequon. Klavekoske says the investigation is still active and the suspected clients making initial appearances today may not be the only ones facing charges. He says it is a pending investigation and while not immediately imminent it could “absolutely” yield more arrests in the future. According to a ledger taken as evidence, Walters reportedly made $130-thousand dollars during a two-year period ending last September.
Saukville Man Killed In Ultra-Light Crash
9/22/14 – A 51-year-old from Saukville is among two men killed in the crash of an ultra-light plane during an approach to an Indiana airport. Russell Kotlarek died in Saturday’s crash, along with 72-year-old Thomas Saccio of North Carolina. The coroner in Monroe County says the preliminary cause of death for both men is trauma, but the final causes are pending toxicology test results. A mechanical issue, possibly involving the plane’s fuel pressure, had been reported as it got close to the airport in Bloomington. It crashed and burned in a wooded area just short of the runway.
Domestic Assault Suspect Arrested After Cell Phone Trace
9/22/14 – Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies traced a cell phone call to rescue a victim of domestic violence over the weekend. A woman called 9-1-1 on Saturday night around 8pm but was disconnected. Dispatchers called her back she told them that she was in her boyfriend’s car and he is trying to break her fingers. The phone company plotted the cell phone signal to County Road S and Main Street Road south of Horicon. When authorities came across the vehicle, they discovered the woman had blood on her face. She was taken to Hartford Hospital. Her boyfriend took off on foot and was not located. He is facing charges of Domestic Battery, Domestic Criminal Damage to Property and Strangulation.
Three Arrested In Domestic Incident
9/22/14 – A Hartford man called police on his wife following a domestic incident and wound up getting arrested too. Dodge County deputies were called to a Town of Ashippun residence early Sunday morning after the 38-year-old called to report that his wife struck his mother. He escorted the woman outside the house with a gun and she was promptly arrested for Domestic Battery. Deputies say her husband was drunk and he was taken into custody for being armed while intoxicated. A third person at the residence is also facing charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
700 Complaints Filed Against Madison Veterans Hospital
9/22/14 – One veteran says he couldn’t get an appointment at Madison’s Veterans Hospital for six weeks after he discovered blood in his urine. Records obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal show there have been nearly 700 formal complaints about the time it takes to get health care at the Madison V-A. The records don’t appear to indicate anyone died due to the delays, but one man with kidney cancer wondered why it took three weeks for his treatment to start after he had been diagnosed. A town hall meeting is being held tomorrow to give veterans and their families an opportunity to voice their concerns. Most of the complaints found in the newspaper’s review were about getting prescriptions filled, the time required to get test results, waiting times at clinics and having appointment canceled.
Thousands Sign Petition Against Highway 151 Memorial Removal
9/22/14 – Nearly three-thousand people have signed an online petition asking that a roadside memorial be allowed to remain along a Highway 151 off-ramp. Maureen Mengelt was hit and killed while she was jogging last year. A former Lutheran bishop is serving 10 years in prison for causing her death. An elevated bronze plaque was placed about 20 feet from the accident site on state-owned land. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation ordered the plaque to be removed recently, pointing to rules that say memorials must be taken down if even one person complains.
BDUSD Seeking Volunteer PALS
9/22/14 – The Beaver Dam School District is looking for volunteer tutors for their Partners Are Learning program. The Pals program unites members of the community with elementary school-age students to provide academic support and serve as a positive role model, friend and mentor. Pals generally meet twice a week between Monday and Thursday for between 40 minutes to one hour either before or after school spending one-on-one time helping a child with activities that might include reading, spelling, flash cards, worksheets, homework or educational games. Each child’s classroom teacher helps decide the direction. The Pals program begins October 13 and continues through May. Those interested should contact Pal Coordinator Rebecca Glewen through the school district. Rebecca Glewen (920) 885-7300 extension 1135 or by email glewenr@beaverdam.k12.wi.us or through the district website: www.beaverdam.k12.wi.us.
Weather Good For Yield, Bad For Prices
9/22/14 – The Wisconsin weather has been good for farming, promising the possibility of record corn and soybean crops. Some experts are warning that a productive harvest could do more harm than good. The U-S Department of Agriculture is projecting farm incomes to drop by 14-percent. The record crops could drive already-low prices even lower, meaning farmers could face taking a loss. Diversification offers some protection. Wisconsin farms produce more than grain. Livestock, dairy and fruits and vegetables help to balance things out when one segment faces low prices. Livestock sales are expected to outpace grain for the first time in a decade. There is at least some good news – the lower prices should start showing up at grocery stores when consumers go there this fall.
North Spring Resurfacing Delayed Until Monday
9/22/14 – Plans to resurface North Spring Street in Beaver Dam on Saturday were delayed until today (Monday). Northeast Asphalt milled the existing asphalt between Mackie and Burnett streets on Friday. Entry points remain open today during the resurfacing, but officials are encouraging customers of businesses along North Spring Street to use side streets for access.
