Local News Monday 4/8/13

Two Hurt In Beaver Dam Crane Collapse

 

Two people were hurt yesterday afternoon when a crane collapsed at the Beaver Dam Family Center. Officials say it happened as lights were being removed following a children’s figure skating performance. The two Beaver Dam men injured in the mishap were on or near the crane when it fell. The two fell from about 15 feet when a tire on the crane buckled. Flight for Life flew one of the men to the UW-Hospital in Madison and the other was taken to Beaver Dam Community Hospital.

 

Elkhart Lake Woman Hurt In Accident

 

An 85-year-old Elkhart Lake woman was injured in a one vehicle accident last Friday morning on Highway 67 in the Town of Rhine. Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say Pat Krauss failed to negotiate a curve and entered a ditch. Her vehicle hit several small trees, vaulted over a driveway and struck a large tree. She was taken to Calumet County Hospital in Chilton.

 

Calumet County Missing Boy

 

Calumet County officials say a 12-year-old boy was reported missing Saturday night. A search was organized and the boy was found and safely returned home. In addition to the Sheriff’s Department, Hilbert Fire Department, Hilbert/Potter First Responders, 2 City of Manitowoc K9 units, Brillion and Chilton Police Officers, Chilton and Potter Fire Departments, Gold Cross Ambulance and a number of volunteers conducted the search.

 

Pipe Bombs Found At Washington County Residence

 

Washington County Sheriff’s officials following up on an abandoned 9-1-1 call Friday morning in the Town of Farmington found pipe bombs and bomb making components. A 22-year-old West Bend man had burned his face making the pipe bombs the day before at the residence on Lakeview Road. He was arrested and the devices were collected as evidence once it was determined they were safe. The Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation with the aid of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect is being charged with manufacturing of explosive devices charges, which are felonies.

 

Trial Set In Negligent Homicide Case

 

A five day jury trial is scheduled in Fond du Lac County Court next month for a 32-year-old Fond du Lac man who ran into another car in Fond du Lac killing one elderly woman and seriously injuring another. Several motions were denied when Joseph Morales recently appeared in court setting the stage for next month’s jury trial, which is scheduled May 6th through May 10th a little over a year since the accident.  Seventy-nine-year-old Lorraine Ryan died from the injuries she suffered and 76-year-old Alice Wood was seriously injured. Both women are from Eden. The two-vehicle accident happened on Pioneer Road near Grove Street. Police say Morales may have been reaching for a cell phone at the time of the crash.  He’s charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and knowingly operating while revoked causing a death and injury charges.

 

Church Elder Accused Of Embezzlement

 

Charges have been brought against an Ashippun man suspected of stealing $162,000 from a church endowment fund. Dodge County prosecutors recently charged 62-year-old Jim Schlieve with 14 different theft and misappropriation charges. According to the criminal complaint Schlieve oversaw the endowment fund for Zion Lutheran Church. He told investigators he used the money to pay bills and help struggling relatives. His initial court appearance is scheduled for April 22nd.

 

Clerks Given More Time To Update Info For Voter Registration System

 

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says she’s glad clerks across the state were given more time to enter information into a statewide voter registration system. She says due to the huge turnout last November some municipalities weren’t able to enter the information when they should have. The state Government Accountability Board gave them through the rest of this year, which allowed them to find out whether those voters who didn’t vote in November did in this past week’s election. People who haven’t voted in more than four years are removed from the registration list. Freiberg says they have to do their due diligence and find out why people were taken off the list. She says they also contact people to let them know they are going to be removed from the voter registration list. Freiberg notes there are people who only vote during the presidential election. 

 

State Budget Hearings Continue This Week

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee continues its tour of Wisconsin today, with a stop in Green Bay for the second public hearing on Governor Walker’s proposed state budget. Mike McCabe with the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says it is a chance for the people of the state to weigh in on the proposal. Still, McCabe doubts the hearings will have much impact of the process, since they all take place on work days and it can often be difficult for people to travel to them. Today’s hearing is at Lambeau Field, with another Wednesday in Wisconsin Dells and the final meeting a week from Thursday in Baldwin.

 

Road Funding A Concern In State Budget

 

Funding for highway and road improvement projects is something State Representative Joan Ballweg says people ask her a lot about as the state works through another budget process. She says a lot of bonding is being done for highway and state building projects in the Governor’s proposed budget. She says residents are also concerned about getting projects like Highway 41 completed. She says there are also proposals to increase funding to Counties to maintain state highways that run through them. Ballweg says residents of the 41st State Assembly District can offer their comments on the proposed state budget during a public hearing at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

NFDL Refuse Policy Discussed

 

The North Fond du Lac Village Board is taking a look at a policy regarding the collection of refuse from duplexes. If the duplex is owner occupied the refuse is picked up by the village and if not the landlord has to contract a private firm to have the waste hauled away. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says a resident who had recently purchased a duplex in the village wanted to discuss the policy with the board, which he didn’t think was fair. Hornung says he’s not sure which way the board is leaning about the recent discussion. He says it will be scheduled for more discussion during an upcoming meeting.

 

Spring Fish And Wildlife Rules Hearings Tonight

 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Conservation Congress will hold their annual spring fish and wildlife rules hearings tonight in all 72 counties. Each of the meetings begins at 7 p.m. In Fond du Lac County the meeting will be held at the Theisen Middle School. For more information click here.