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ROBERT CALLAHAN pHOTO
ROBERT CALLAHAN pHOTOS
Editorial 9
guards’” - Ian Stepleton: Excellent use
of the law and documentation of the
process by the newspaper.
Second Award: Lake Geneva Regional
News: “Pastor can’t work for OWI
court” - Robert Ireland: Well done digging
to find the truth.
Third Award: Lake Geneva Regional
News: “Supreme Court backs paper in
records dispute” - Robert Ireland: Nice
job in the watchdog role.
Breaking News Coverage
Group A
First Award: Wisconsin State Journal,
Madison: “Hostage plotted, stayed
calm, during wild ride” - Rob Schultz:
Riveting story. Made me feel as if I
were there.
Second Award: Green Bay Press-
Gazette: “Aggressive arrest” - Doug
Schneider: Excellent investigation, but
officer’s first name spelled two different
ways in stories.
Third Award: The Capital Times,
Madison: “Second day of legal samesex
marriages in Dane County? ‘It’s
been amazing’” – Jessie Opoien.
Honorable Mention: Green Bay Press-
Gazette: “Leo Frigo bridge collapse” -
Nathan Phelps, Scott Williams:
Group B
First Award: The Reporter, Fond du
Lac: “New suspect emerges in Berit
Beck cold case” - Peggy Breister, Colleen
Kottke: Great lede in the initial stories
before the press conference. Nice coverage
from the family’s side. I also like the
easy-to-read how-to-help graphic accompanying
the second story. Gripping
story from the family. I cannot image
what they went through so many years
with leads not panning out.
Second Award: The Journal Times,
Run for Fun
Montfort’s Ethan McCracken shines in first
run of season/ Page 6
MR. KREUL
Former National Commander to be
honored this month / Page 3
SERVING THE “CITY ON THE MOVE” SINCE 1889
VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 9 THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014
ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
FENNIMORE, WISCONSIN
‘IT IS DEVASTATING’
Tornado strikes rural Fennimore Sunday evening
Two concrete (stave) silos once stood at the Rosell and Marilyn Kephart farm on Tormey Road. An EF1 tornado left one partially standing and destroyed the other Sunday night.
By RoBERT CAllAhAN
major damage. No one was injured. The
A swift-moving severe thunderstorm
Fennimore Fire Department assisted at
“I t happened really
fast and we The storm’s path of destruction
spawned a tornado east of Fennimore
the scene.
Sunday night, leaving devastation in
its wake.
didn’t know anything
was hap-
“It looks like a war zone down there,”
continued eastward on County
The National Weather Service issued
Highway Q.
a tornado warning for northeastern
Grant County just before 10 p.m. on pening. We just Napp said of the Paul and Paula Bender
June 29 in response to radar-indicated
property at 13515 County Highway Q.
thought it was another
storm. Then Baumgardt and a colleague with the
rotation in the Fennimore, Preston and
Science Operations Officer Dan
Castle Rock areas.
Tornado sirens sounded in Fennimore windows were National Weather Service in La Crosse
as strong winds toppled trees throughout
observed the damage at the Bender
the city.
breaking and stuff property Monday morning.
“There are a number of trees that like that, so we “We try to piece together what
were damaged to the extent that they knew something happened and what the path is,”
will probably have to be removed,”
Baumgardt said. “We look at the
Director of Public Works Dennis was going on. I t damage and basically, if it is a narrow
Biddick said. “On top of that, there are is pretty crazy. path, it is usually a tornado.
all kinds of trees that had large limbs
“We take a look at the debris and try
Just a couple of
come down.”
to rate how strong it is.”
Biddick had hoped cleanup related minutes and it is A camper, automobiles and several
to the storm would take a couple days. gone.”
trees were destroyed at the Bender
He learned Monday that will not be
property.
the case.
— paula Bender,
“These folks here got hit pretty
“Our guys will probably be out
County Q resident
hard,” Baumgardt said. “All the lumber
working all week trying to keep up,”
damage you see there, when the trees
he said Monday night. “They spent all
are snapped like that, it is indicative of
day today cleaning up trees.” Nancy Porter property at 13387 County a tornado.
A tree fell near a house in the 600 Highway Q. The storm tore a portion “But then you have strange things
block of Jefferson Street, but did not of the roof off the shed and felled an happening, like the power lines are
cause any structural damage. interior wall.
still up. You had a strong tornado on
Fennimore residents in the northeast As Napp and friends worked Monday the ground that came through here, but
quadrant of the city were without power to repair the wall, he was not yet aware didn’t touch the power lines.”
Sunday night for approximately 45 if it was a tornado or straight-line winds The Benders were unaware Sunday
minutes and were in the dark again that caused the damage.
night of the tornado’s approach.
Monday afternoon.
“I would sure think it was a tornado,” “It happened really fast and we didn’t
“A lot of the damage was confined to he said. “I have never been around one, know anything was happening” Paula
the north half of town,” Biddick said. but if it wasn’t, I would be amazed.” said. “We just thought it was another
Two semi-trailers were overturned Despite a sizable hole in the roof, storm.
by high winds at Bard Materials north the contents of the shed were mostly “Then windows were breaking and
of Fennimore. Several trees were unscathed.
stuff like that, so we knew something
damaged in Marsden Park.
“There is a truck that got scuffed up was going on. It is pretty crazy. Just a
“We were really, really fortunate,” a little bit and some stuff in the shop couple of minutes and it is gone.”
Biddick said. “Any trees that came got re-arranged, but other than that it The National Weather Service
down seemed to miss any structures.” made a big mess out of everything,” reported Monday an EF1 tornado
Biddick was among those thankful Napp said. “This old building has been originated on County Highway Q,
for a quick response from neighboring through a lot.”
approximately two miles east of
fire departments Sunday night.
A glance out the shed’s door across Fennimore. An EF-1 tornado is capable
“The Lancaster and Boscobel fire County Highway Q revealed a hillside of producing wind gusts 86-110 MPH.
departments were up here last night of trees broken in half.
“It is pretty devastating,” Paula said.
cutting up trees that were in the streets “Straight-line winds aren’t going to “If I think about it too long, I will start
before our guys got out there,” he said. cut a tree in half,” Napp said. “It will bawling.
The cleanup began Monday morning be blow them over, but it isn’t going to “It is devastating. You work your Top: A portion of roof from a storage shed on County Highway Q rests
in rural Fennimore as well.
cut them in half. It looks like they broke whole life for this and it is gone. But against fallen trees near the driveway of Michael and Nancy Porter’s
Joe Napp of Stitzer rents a large a toothpick over there. Wow. Unreal.”
residence. Middle: A volunteer works to deposit what was a camper into
storage shed on the Michael and Trees fell onto the Michael and Nancy
a dumpster at Paul and Paula Bender’s. Bottom: Gov. Scott Walker toured
see DEVASTATING, Page 6
Fennimore Times, First Award,
Group F, Breaking News Coverage
Porter home east of the shed, causing
the Rosell and Marilyn Kephart farm Tuesday morning.
times tidbits
Racine: “Absolutely High winds pummel area Monday deplorable, afternoon, destroys school It was
High winds, in excess of 78 miles an hour, were accompanied by heavy rain Monday afternoon as a storm front passed through Grant County, striking hardest in Lancaster, where downed
trees and power lines caused damage to homes, destroyed at least one car, and was likely the cause of an electrical fire in a home on Madison Street that took several hours to quell. Power
had been returned nearly two hours after strong winds blew through Lancaster just before 4 p.m. Monday, June 30. Authorities reported a funnel cloud near Highway 80 near Livingston
Monday afternoon. Storms destroyed trees and flattened crops east of Livingston at the home of Roger Schambow, according to published reports. Grant County Emergency Management
Director Steve Braun said power outages were reported in many areas in central Grant County, and several buildings were reported damaged. An Amish school was destroyed south of
just
Livingston, according
too
to Braun.
much, Animals comfortable
and safe, Shelter did not have state
license” - Aaron Knapp, Stephanie
Jones, Kristen Zambo, Gregory Shaver,
Scott Anderson: The description of
the stench hanging in the air puts the
reader there. Excellent follow up coverage.
Overall, terrific job on a horrific
situation.
Third Award: Kenosha News: “Zelich
charged in 19-year-old’s death, Timeline
of homicide case filed against Steven
Zelich” - Janine Anderson: Nicely
covered. It’s nice to see the timeline to
help readers know what led up to this
point. Nice lede and lead-up to the
man being charged.
Honorable Mention: The Gazette,
Janesville: “Murder and a missing
woman along Janesville riverfront”
- Frank Schultz, Neil Johnson, Nick
Crow: The staff did a great job piecing
together the information. The stories
also had good details. The subheads
(on Courtney jump) helped break up
what was a long story. It kept the story
from dragging on.
Group C
First Award: Baraboo News Republic:
“Babysitter guilty of murdering infant”
- Tim Damos: Unbelievable competition
in this category but the amazing
reporting and investigative journalism
put this over the top.
Second Award: Stevens Point Journal:
“Gay marriage protest ends in frustration”
- Sari Lesk, Jamie Rokus, Pete
Wasson.
Third Award: Portage Daily Register:
“Police: Victim shot in cold blood” -
Shannon Green, Lyn Jerde, Jen McCoy,
Craig Spychalla.
Honorable Mention: Herald Times
Reporter, Manitowoc: “Man killed in
‘road rage’ crash” - Suzanne Weiss.
Group D
First Award: Waukesha NOW:
“Stabbing chills even police” - Christopher
Kuhagen: Great, compelling
coverage. The photos and layout of
the first story kicked off the must-read
continuing coverage. You covered
several angles of this story as it twisted
and turned throughout the justice system.
I’m sure your readers appreciated
the time and energy spent.
Second Award: Ladysmith News:
“Tear gas ends tense police standoff
with barricaded suspect” - Luke Klink:
Good storytelling that made it easy to
follow, especially when describing how
school officials handled the situation
and the types of messages being blared
out over loudspeakers by negotiators.
As well as getting the story, the reporter
did a great job with photos. And it
doesn’t go without noting that all of
this happened on the eve of Election
Day, which likely was another long day
for the reporter. Great work.
Third Award: Door County Advocate,
Sturgeon Bay: “The real deal” -
Ramelle Bintz: Good in-depth coverage,
especially by getting an interview
with the first couple to apply to be
married. The close-up shot of them
holding hands helped tell the story
visually.
Group E
Overall comment: There were some
great entries in this category, which
made narrowing the selections very
difficult. The staffs represented in all the
entries are to be commended for the
way they handled major breaking news.
First Award: Ripon Commonwealth
Press: “Huge fire burns downtown:
Blaze likely began in basement of 300
block, Families forced to flee in the
dark of the night, It’s going to take
the whole block, We may never know
why, Displaced residents safe, have
immediate needs met, Will building
get rebuilt” - Ian Stepleton, Tim Lyke,
Aaron Becker, Jonathan Bailey: Nice
comprehensive job of covering the fire.
This was a major event to the community
and was treated as such.
Second Award: Lake Geneva Regional
News: “Two former city employees
face felonies” - Chris Schultz: Very
good job sorting out the details of a
complex subject.
Third Award: River Falls Journal:
“Cool-headed actions save 41 lives”
- Jill Dexheimer: Nice job of pulling
together various sources, and effective
use of art in the presentation.
Honorable Mention: Grant County
Herald Independent, Lancaster: “Youth
dies in farm accident” - David Timmerman,
Rob Callahan: A respectful
job of handling a tough subject - the
loss of a child.