News 2008-06-06 Andanh.com

PHOTOS: Waupun wins sectional final baseball 2 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:36:00 CST

PHOTOS: Waupun wins sectional final baseball Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:27:00 CST

PHOTOS: Community photo gallery May 21-28 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:32:00 CST

Police officer last one to see man before he was struck by train Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:51:00 CST
The last person to see a 25-year-old Fond du Lac man before he was struck and killed early Wednesday by a train was a police officer who saw him stop his bike at the railroad tracks. Randy Schwebke stopped at the tracks on Scott Street near Highway 45, waiting for a northbound train to roll through, said Major Dennis Fortunato of the Fond du Lac Police Department. About an hour later around 3:37 a.m. Wednesday Schwebkes body was found a short distance away on the tracks between West McWilliams and West Scott streets, said Lt. Steve Klein. Schwebke was struck by a freight train. Investigators do not believe foul play contributed to his death and have not ruled whether the incident was a suicide or an accident, Fortunato said. They also have no indication that the man was intoxicated at the time of his death, he said. There is nothing to point one way or the other. No one saw anything, Fortunato said. There was nothing in the past that shows any type of suicide attempts. With no witnesses and the results of an autopsy and toxicology reports still to come, police are asking the public to step forward with information that might aid the investigation. Investigators are putting together a timeline to figure out where Schwebke was prior to the discovery of his body, Klein said. We are looking to talk to anyone who has information on the incident or anyone who witnessed it, he said. Anyone with information should call Detective Dan Razner at 322-3724.

NFdL site added to summer free lunch program Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:36:00 CST
Brown Bag Lunch delivery for children who depend on the subsidized school lunch program through the school year and need lunch during the summer months is scheduled to start Tuesday, June 17. Packed by Salvation Army volunteers under the direction of volunteer Barb Thill, an army of 30 will prepare more than 700 lunches every Tuesday and Thursday, and deliver them to children of low-income families in the Fond du Lac area, according to a Salvation Army press release. The program will feature a new North Fond du Lac drop-off site, the ball park at 300 Winnebago St. Lunches will be delivered to the parking lots at Maplewood Commons, Franklin School or the Salvation Army Corps Center, 237 N. Macy St. For the 12th consecutive year, more than 1,400 lunches per week will be handed out by The Salvation Army. Each lunch is packed with a meat or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a piece of fresh fruit, carrots, cookies (or a sweet treat), chips and a juice drink. The 17,000 brown bags are donated by the Fond du Lac AW. Lunches will be distributed from the trunks of vans and SUVs until they run out, starting at 11:15 a.m. At noon, the doors open at the Salvation Army Corps headquarters where children in the Macy Street area can receive brown bag lunches. The program has continued for 12 years because the need is real, and is growing, said Salvation Army Capt. Jamie Winkler. The economy is tighter than ever and money buys less food. That means families simply must get along on less. Its no joke when you hear Am I going to feed my car or feed my kid We know that this program makes a difference, and well keep on making lunches for kids as long as there are children waiting in parking lots to receive them. Anyone interested in helping with the program should call 923-8220.

Man, 28, guilty in crash that killed Marian student Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:58:00 CST
SHEBOYGAN A 28-year-old Howards Grove man was convicted Wednesday of killing a Marian University honors student in a drunken driving crash and fleeing the scene. Jeffrey A. Niesen will face up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced in July. He was found guilty of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and hit-and-run resulting in death, according to the Calumet County District Attorneys Office. Authorities say Niesen had a blood-alcohol level of 0.27 more than three times the legal limit when he hit the car of 21-year-old Tori L. Heimann of Kiel as she waited for traffic at a town of New Holstein stop sign on Feb. 11, 2007. Heimann, a Marian University student who was scheduled to graduate in May 2007 with highest honors in social work and psychology, died at the scene. At the time of her death, she had been interning at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. The verdict was handed down about noon Wednesday by Judge Robert Wirtz, who presided over the 2-day trial in Calumet County Circuit Court. Niesen requested that Wirtz decide his fate instead of a jury. Niesen, who had been free since the crash on a $10,000 cash bond, had his bond revoked and will be in jail until the July 21 sentencing hearing, court officials said. Niesens attorney, Andrew Mishlove, said Niesen did not know he hit another car, a point he argued in court Wednesday in disputing the hit-and-run charge. There was never any question about the homicide charge the issue was whether Jeff knew he was running from the scene of an accident, Mishlove said. He never saw the victims car. That was because of his condition as well as the way the accident happened. The force of the collision caused Heimanns car to flip several times and come to rest in a ditch, where Mishlove said it was out of Niesens view. The impact also pushed the rear of Heimanns car entirely into the passenger area, said Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider. Schneider prosecuted the case because Niesens stepfather is New Holstein Police Chief Robert Niesen. Wirtz, a Fond du Lac County judge, was brought in for the same reason. Heimann, a 2003 graduate of Kiel High School, was stopped at a stop sign on westbound Kiel Road at County Trunk A just north of the Sheboygan County line when Niesens 2006 Chrysler 300 rear-ended her 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, according to the criminal complaint. Niesen fled on foot immediately after the crash, and was found in woods about two miles away with the aid of a thermal imaging camera, the complaint said. When asked if he had been drinking, Niesen responded, What do you think Im plowed, according to an account in the complaint. Niesens past run-ins with police include being caught going 100 mph on a motorcycle in 1998, being cited for criminal trespassing in 2002 when he wandered into a home drunk and passed out there, fleeing a friends car when the friend was caught driving drunk in 2004 and being cited for speeding in 2005, Schneider said.

AG joins fight to stop frivolous prisoner lawsuits Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:14:00 CST
MADISON Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has joined 39 other attorneys general in asking members of Congress to retain key tools used to eliminate frivolous lawsuits by prisoners. The Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) was enacted in 1996 to provide relief to a federal court system so over burdened by frivolous prisoner litigation that legitimate cases were delayed for years, said Van Hollen. What Congress is now considering would eviscerate the tools that had been provided to courts to protect the rights of our citizens. Forty attorneys general sent a letter this week to Congressman Robert Scott, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security opposing provisions in H.R. 4109 that would eliminate the requirement of a physical injury before an inmate could recover any money in a lawsuit change the 3-strikes provision which currently makes an inmate pay court filing fees in total and up front if the inmate has abused the system in the past and would eliminate the requirement that a prisoner bring any complaint they may have about their confinement to prison authorities first before burdening the court system. When prisoners are allowed to flood the court system with frivolous lawsuits, litigation brought by law abiding citizens is given less attention and time by the courts, said Van Hollen. The most important reason for the passage of the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act was to ensure that law abiding citizens who are involved in litigation were given the proper time and attention by the court system. The Prison Litigation Reform Act is a proven, effective tool which reduced the number of frivolous prisoner filings by almost 50 percent within one year of its enactment, said Van Hollen. Current criticisms of the Act can be addressed without defeating the spirit of the law and without sacrificing the benefits it provides to the courts and our citizens.

PHOTOS: 2007 Walleye Weekend gallery IV Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:58:00 CST

Police release identity of man killed by train Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:42:00 CST
A 25-year-old Fond du Lac man struck and killed early Wednesday by a train has been identified. Randy Schwebkes body was found on the Canadian National railroad tracks between West McWilliams Street and West Scott Street around 3:37 a.m. Wednesday, according to a Fond du Lac Police Department news release. Schwebkes death continues to be investigated by police. Investigators are putting together a time line to try and figure out exactly where he was prior to being discovered on the tracks, said Lt. Steve Klein of the Fond du Lac Police Department. With foul play not suspected, investigators will be focusing on whether the death was a suicide or an accident, Klein said. Anyone who mightve witnessed the incident or has any information that might aid the Police Departments investigation may contact Detective Dan Razner at 322-3724.

Man charged with sexually assaulting sleeping woman Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:32:00 CST
JUNEAU A Waupun man accused of sexually assaulting a Beaver Dam woman while she was asleep has been bound over for trial. Joshua Beske, 28, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon in Dodge County Circuit Court. Beske is charged with third degree sexual assault. If convicted, Beske faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine. A 22-year-old Beaver Dam woman told investigators she was among a group, including Beske, visiting several taverns in Dodge County Aug. 24, 2007. The alleged victim told police Beske drove her home to her Lincoln Avenue apartment early Aug. 25, according to the criminal complaint. The woman said she entered her apartment and went to bed fully clothed. When she woke up she discovered that Beske was touching her in a sexual manner. An arraignment hearing has been set for July 2.

States recovers $1.8 million in Walgreen suit Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:34:00 CST
MADISON 8213 Walgreen Co. (Walgreens) has agreed to pay $1,883,363.86 to the Wisconsin Medicaid Program to settle allegations of improper billing, Attorney General Van Hollen announced today. The payment, part of a $35 million settlement with the United States, 42 states, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, resolves claims that Walgreens violated various state and federal statutes and regulations by switching dosage forms of three medications commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients, thereby causing Medicaid programs nationwide to pay substantially more for these drugs than they otherwise would have. Companies must provide state Medicaid programs with the best price for their product, said Van Hollen. In the interest of enforcing the law and protecting taxpayer dollars, my office will take action to ensure that state taxpayers are only paying what they should. We will continue to work with attorneys general in other states to investigate and prosecute improper practices to protect the public treasury, said Van Hollen. Walgreens, which currently operates retail pharmacies in 48 states and Puerto Rico, furnishes pharmacy services to Medicaid recipients in Wisconsin. Todays settlement is the result of a joint federal-state investigation arising from the filing of a false claims act lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 2003. The whistleblowers complaint in that action alleged that Walgreens filled prescriptions for numerous Medicaid recipients by aggressively switching dosage forms of ranitidine (the generic form of Zantac, a commonly prescribed anti-ulcer medication) fluoxetine (the generic form of Prozac, an anti-depressant) and selegiline (the generic form of Eldepryl, used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease and senile dementia), and that this conduct violated various federal and state statutes and regulations. Government investigators contend that these improper switching practices continued from July 2001 through 2005, and that the wholesale substitution of alternate dosage forms of these drugs resulted in higher payments under the automated Medicaid reimbursement system, with no corresponding medical benefit to the individuals receiving the prescriptions. Todays settlement also resolves allegations that Walgreens made these wholesale switches without physician involvement and therefore violated numerous state regulations governing pharmaceutical dispensing. This settlement is the third and final in a series resulting from investigations of similar conduct by pharmacy providers nationwide. Together, the three cases have brought back more than $120 million to Medicaid programs around the country. In addition to the payment of cash settlements to the state and federal governments, Walgreens has agreed to the terms of a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The CIA will include provisions that will ensure that Walgreens does not switch dosage forms of medications if the result would increase the costs to third-party payers, including Medicaid, and will subject the companys billing practices to ongoing federal scrutiny. The settlement was the result of negotiations jointly conducted by the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, with representatives of the attorneys general of Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida and Texas leading the effort for the states.

Early morning storms cause damage in Mayville Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:02:00 CST
MAYVILLE Thunderstorms rolling through Dodge County this morning left their mark in Mayville.

Alliant signs agreement for wind turbines with Vestas Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:51:00 CST
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa June 2, 2008 Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT) entered into a master supply agreement (MSA) with Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. (Vestas) effective June 1, 2008. The agreement provides Alliant Energys wholly owned utility subsidiaries, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), with a total of 303 units of Vestas V82 1.65 megawatt wind turbines to support Alliant Energys utility-owned wind generation plan, according to a company press release. The turbines will have a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts and will be delivered in three groups. Under the terms of the MSA, Vestas will begin delivery of the initial group of turbines in 2009, with delivery for the final two groups of turbines beginning in 2010. The total purchase price for the wind turbine equipment under the agreement is expected to be approximately $817 million, subject to adjustments. The company expects the wind turbine equipment to meet the utilities-owned wind generation plan, including IPLs Whispering Willow Wind Farm - East project, which is a 200 megawatt site located in Franklin County, Iowa, and also support a portion of other anticipated utility-owned wind generation projects. Our company is pleased to partner with Vestas, who is a recognized leader in the wind generation industry, said Kim Zuhlke, Alliant Energy Vice President New Energy Resources. Vestas will play an important role in our companys next step in expanding its renewable energy supply portfolio. Given our companys aggressive wind generation expansion plans, we believe it is important that we procure the infrastructure necessary to complete the generation build-out on-time and at a reasonable cost to customers. We are extremely proud to supply the wind turbines to Alliant Energys projects and to continue our long-standing working relationship with Alliant Energy, says Jens Sby, President of Vestas Americas A/S. A total of 500 megawatts of wind generating capacity will make a significant contribution to the companys power supply in the states where the turbines will be installed. As such, this order is further proof that wind is poised to become a major player in the national energy mix. What we have seen so far in the USA is just the beginning. With a stable federal political framework in place that will allow for planning in the medium and long term, the industry can start to fully utilize the abundant wind resources in this country. We are committed to providing our customers with balanced energy solutions that are environmentally responsible, reliable and cost effective, adds Zuhlke. Combined with our investments in hybrid baseload generation and energy conservation, we believe expansion in renewable energy resources is the right choice for our customers, environment and economy.

Take care with pets on hot, humid summer days Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:35:00 CST
MADISON With temperatures in the mid-80s and high humidity predicted starting Thursday, Wisconsins state humane officer reminds pet owners that hot weather can be fatal for cats and dogs. Number one: Never -- never under any circumstances -- leave an animal in a vehicle in warm weather, says Dr. Yvonne Bellay, a veterinarian with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Even when temperatures arent extreme, the sun reflecting off metal and shining through glass turns the car into an oven. Your pet is not only uncomfortable, but at risk of dying in those conditions. The temperature in a parked car may hit 120 degrees within minutes, so even a 10-minute stop is dangerous for the pet left in the car. Opening the windows a few inches doesnt provide enough cooling and leaves animals vulnerable to vandals or thieves. Heat stroke is a very real threat to animals, and can be fatal even with prompt treatment. Pets that have already suffered heat stroke once are more susceptible, as are animals that are very young or very old, have health problems, are overweight, or are snub-nosed. Signs of heat stroke include panting, staring or stupor, breathing difficulty, an anxious expression, refusal to obey, warm dry skin, fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and collapse. Animals that recover may suffer permanent health problems. If you see any of these signs, call your veterinarian immediately, Bellay says. Get the animal out of direct heat and get it wet. Apply towels soaked in cool water to parts of the body with less hair, like the belly and legs. With a dog, you can hose it down or put it in a wading pool or bathtub. You need to bring the body temperature down. Even if the animal seems to revive after a few minutes, get it to a veterinarian, because its temperature may rise again or fall well below normal, she adds. The best course, though, is to avoid such serious measures by taking a few simple precautions: No matter how much a dog begs, leave it home when youre running errands. Put it in a cool basement, an air-conditioned room, or a shaded yard with a wading pool. If youre traveling with a pet in hot weather, make your pit stops at places where your pet can get out of the vehicle. Provide fresh, cool drinking water at all times including in your vehicle when youre traveling. Outdoor kennels must be well-ventilated and shaded, with water in bowls that will not tip. Dont exercise pets on hot days or warm, humid nights. They may beg to go for a walk or run, but remember they cant foresee consequences its your job to do that for them. Groom your pet. Clip long coats to about an inch shorter clips or shaving can leave dogs vulnerable to sunburn. Brush cats daily in hot weather, when they shed profusely, to help keep them comfortable by preventing hairballs. Good grooming can prevent summer skin problems, too. The bottom line is that if its hot enough to make you uncomfortable, its hot enough to kill your pet if you dont take care of it, Bellay concludes.

Fox Lake man arrested in abduction attempts Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:09:00 CST
JUNEAU A Fox Lake man has been arrested in connection with two attempted abductions near this Dodge County community. Acting on a tip, Dodge County Sheriffs Department investigators took a Fox Lake man in his 30s into custody they believe was involved in the abduction attempts. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls said the suspect admitted to being in the locations at the time of the reported abduction attempts and acknowledged speaking to the victims. Right now hes being very cooperative with investigators, Nehls said. Area parents have been on edge since learning of the abduction attempts that occurred on rural roads in the township of Fox Lake. On May 31, the Dodge County Dispatch Center received a report of an attempted abduction that occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on Spring Road just south of the city of Fox Lake. Two girls were walking along the rural roadway when a white male driving a dark blue or black minivan with a light interior pulled along side of them. Nehls said the man initially asked the girls if they were all right and needed a ride. A while later the man returned, stopped the van, opened a door, reached out and tried to grab one of the girls. Around 4 p.m. the next day, a teenage girl in the vicinity of Canada Island Road, northwest of Fox Lake, said a man matching the description from the first incident, rode up on an older gray and white 10-speed bike and began talking to her. While there was no physical attempt to grab the girl, Nehls said the conversation between the two was perceived as an enticement. The girls involved in the attempts were ages 8 to 14. Nehls credits the victims for providing an accurate description to Sheriffs Department sketch artist Hannelore Mueller. It is stunning how close the description provided by the victims, the composite drawing by Hanna and the suspects booking photo are. A tremendous job by several people, said Nehls in a press release. We received several tips from the public that really assisted us and focused our investigation. We could not have done it without our citizens, Nehls said. Nehls said the investigation is continuing. We will be working with the Dodge County District Attorneys Office today to determine what charges will cover the attempted abductions as well as other drug charges, Nehls said.

State told to deliver newsletter to Waupun inmate Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:50:00 CST
MADISON Prison inmates have a First Amendment right to read commentary critical of their captors, a federal judge has ruled in a free speech case. Wisconsin prison officials were wrong to stop inmates from receiving a newsletter that criticized their policies and the state parole board, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled. The newsletter in question, The New Abolitionist, was produced by the Prisoners Action Coalition, a defunct group which advocated for prisoners rights. It contained news and commentary related to Wisconsin prisons and was once distributed to 1,100 inmates, publisher Frank Van den Bosch said. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections blocked delivery of the March 2007 newsletter. Its security officials said the document contained some inflammatory material that would cause inmates to distrust prison guards and grow hopeless. In particular, they claimed the newsletter contained inaccurate information about conditions at the prison formerly known as Supermax, unfair criticism of state parole policies and false characterizations of prison disciplinary procedures. One of the inmates, Lorenzo Johnson of the Waupun Correctional Institution, filed a federal lawsuit claiming the action violated his First Amendment rights. He acted as his own lawyer. Crabb agreed with Johnson in a May 23 decision, ordering prison officials to immediately deliver him a copy of the publication. She ordered a trial on his request for $35,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. Crabb said prison officials had no legitimate justification for stopping delivery of the publication, which she said followed a long and proud history of dissent in the U.S. Most of the statements to which the department objected were critical of the states treatment of prisoners, she said. Each of those statements is made in the context of asking prisoners friends and family to take nonviolent action to bring about change, such as writing letters, blogging, electing sympathetic politicians and attending rallies, she wrote. Defendants may prefer that such activities not take place, but they have no legitimate basis for preventing them. If prison officials blocked the newsletter out of security concerns, that was an overreaction, she wrote. Van den Bosch said he changed the newsletters name to Wisconsin Prison Watch and continues to publish every two months. Prisons have routinely stopped his 300 inmate subscribers from receiving that newsletter, too, he said, including one distributed last month before Crabbs ruling. He hopes that stance will change. It does point out how the administration just cant tolerate criticism, he said. All the newsletter presented was criticism of the DOC, and it was barred for that. All the excuses they gave were pretty much just laughed out of court. Corrections spokesman Alec Loftus said Johnson has been given a copy of the newsletter. The department will consider whether to appeal after the case is finished, he said.

Bear kills alpaca on farm in town of Frankfort Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:20:00 CST
TOWN OF FRANKFORT -- A black bear is thought to have killed an alpaca last month outside of Stratford.

Oshkosh man injured in FdL rollover crash Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
A 59-year-old Oshkosh man was injured Tuesday night in a rollover crash on the citys west side.

Local Briefs Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
FdL area

No one injured when deer crashes through downtown FdL wine shop Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Sara Cujak doesnt typically sit outside her downtown shop during the early afternoon hours sipping her businesss wine.

Dodge County man, 27, placed on probation for domestic incident Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
JUNEAU A 27-year-old Dodge County man accused of trying to strangle his wife during a fight at their Beaver Dam apartment in May has been placed on probation for 15 months.

1 of 3 trains could have struck, killed FdL man Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
One of three trains that rolled through Fond du Lac early Wednesday may be responsible for striking and killing a 25-year-old Fond du Lac man.

CSA seeks donations for medical equipment purchase Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
An optometrist from Campbellsport and the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes are asking local people to help support their efforts to purchase a blood analyzer for the people of Waspam, Nicaragua.

Regents to freeze UW-FdL tuition Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
For the second consecutive year, University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac tuition will remain at 2006 rates this fall.

Water contamination is matter of concern across FdL County Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
The town of Byron is not the only municipality in Fond du Lac County with water contamination concerns.

Board could change Walleye Run rules to add wheelchair accessibility Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
A local mans lobbying could make it easier for those in wheelchairs to participate in The Reporter Walleye Run/Walk in future years.

Show benefits AIDS orphans Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Empowering womens futures is the theme of an AIDS orphans sewing project that is finding support from local people.

Lake View plans retirement program Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Lake View Estates, 517 Luco Road, will host an educational seminar on retirement at 2 p.m. Monday, June 23. Those nearing retirement age are encouraged to attend to learn the impacts of turning 65.

Fundraiser will help Nicaragua relief effort Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
United Hearts for Health, a health partnership linking Fond du Lac with Rosita, Nicaragua, will host a wine-tasting fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21, in the new Holy Family Parish Hall, 271 Fourth Street Way.

Motorcyclist injured in Highway 41 crash Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
A 24-year-old Oshkosh man was taken to the hospital after he lost control of his motorcycle Wednesday morning.

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