Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

When you live in a small Wisconsin town, crime reporting may bring you news of everything from lost bicycles to ducklings in peril. And always, always, there are stories of kind cops.

Once again I bring you news of small-town crime, courtesy of the Markesan Regional Reporter. (I delete more serious reports; there are some)...

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

More notes from summer police calls in a small city, courtesy of Markesan Regional Reporter...

Friday, August 1 - Parking problem - Police were notified by a local gas station that a vehicle would be parked in the parking lot overnight because the owner was unable to get it started. The owner of the vehicle stated they would get the vehicle removed as soon as possible the following day.

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

It was a bad week for street poles and signs, but a good week for some clever detective work in the small city of Markesan, Wisconsin...(Thanks for reprinting from the Markesan Regional Reporter)....

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

Here's another installment of small-town crime details. I think the first report especially speaks of the kindness that lives in little cities. Remember to hum the march from "Dragnet" after you read each item... (Thanks again to the writers at Markesan Regional Reporter.)

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

Things have been hopping in the little city of Markesan, Wisconsin. Reading crime reports up there is kind of refreshing to those of us who hail from bigger towns. The report below is thanks to reporting in the Markesan Regional Reporter....

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

Here are some recent police calls in the small city of Markesan, Wisconsin, courtesy of The Markesan Regional Reporter (There were some more serious calls, but I'll omit those):

Saturday, June 28: LOST PROPERTY - A Markesan resident contacted police to report that he had lost his cell phone at some point the previous night when he was walking home from downtown Markesan. The complainant provided a description of the cell phone to police.

Friday, June 27: LOCKOUT - Police were dispatched to a N. Margaret Street address on the report of a vehicle lockout. Police confirmed the complainant's license and registration and safely gained access to the vehicle.

Same day: ANIMAL PROBLEM - Police received an anonymous complaint regarding a loose dog running in the neighborhood of West Vista Boulevard. Police were able to identify the dog's owner and provided a written warning.

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin - August 2013

Compiled and reported by Scott Mundro for Markesan Regional Reporter -

Tuesday, August 6 - Suspicious -  Police were notified by dispatch that a concerned caller had observed a driver of a vehicle who was being held at gunpoint as the vehicle was driving through Markesan. Police searched the area but were unable to immediately find the vehicle in question. Moments later, the driver of the vehicle called dispatch and stated he was at home and was fine. Police arrived on scene immediately. The driver stated the gun was on the front seat of the car, at which point, police discovered that the gun was a wooden toy gun. The individual who was waving the gun stated she didn't mean anything by it, but now knew that what she did was wrong. Additional sheriff's deputies arrived on scene but cleared the area once it was determined the gun was a toy and no one was in immediate danger.

Police Beat – Markesan, Wisconsin – July/August 2013

Reported by Scott Mundro for the Markesan Regional Reporter:

7/27/13 – Animal Problem – Police received a complaint of a dog barking on Hollander Street. Police traveled to the area and were able to identify the animal in question. Speaking with the owner, police asked that the dog be kept inside more, so as to prevent it from barking.

Police Beat - Markesan Wisconsin

I'm immersed in editing my new book, Dessert First, so I'll say hi to you by way of "Police Beat" (entries compiled by Scott Mundro for Markesan Regional Reporter):

7/07/13 - SUSPICIOUS - Shortly after 4:00 p.m., police were contacted regarding a suspicious vehicle that had been parked on North Margaret Street for approximately a half-hour with a male waiting inside. Police approached the vehicle and made contact with the owner who stated he was waiting to meet up with someone for work. Police made contact with the second individual, a local resident, who confirmed the man's story.

7/03/13 - SUSPICIOUS - Police were contacted by a concerned citizen who believed he had witnessed a "drug deal" take place. Police made contact with one of the individuals involved. The individual was cooperative during the conversation and allowed police to see the contents of his pockets. Police observed no money and no drugs. Police were unable to locate the second individual.

7/02/13 - CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - Police were approached by local resident who stated she believed that her house had been shot. Police arrived at the home and observed three small holes near the front door. Police spoke with neighbors who stated the home's previous tenant was very "rough" on the house, often shooting it with a pellet gun, bow and arrow, and even hitting it with a hammer. Police contacted the property owner who was unaware of any holes in the property from the previous tenant.

7/01/13 - TRAFFIC HAZARD - While on routine patrol, police observed a low-hanging branch over Manchester Street. Police contacted Public Works, and employees removed the hazard.

Markesan Police Beat - June 6, 2013

This week there were some serious postings about OWIs and such. I don't reprint them. Here are the lighter ones:

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

Here are some (belated) listings from the August 16 and September 20 issues of Markesan Regional Reporter:

8/11/12: LOCKOUT - Police assisted a Markesan resident in gaining entry to their vehicle without incident.

8/10/12: ORDINANCE VIOLATION - Police were dispatched to the area of Bridge and John Streets on the report of a barking dog. Police arrived on the scene and were able to locate the residence in question, which police have had previous contact with. Because the residence had been contacted previously, Police issued the dog's owner a noise ordinance citation with further warnings to register the dog within three weeks or face additional sanctions.

9/14/12: AGENCY ASSIST - Markesan police were contacted regarding a stop sign that had been knocked down at the intersections of County Roads X and O. Police contacted the Green Lake County Highway Department to fix the stop sign. A short time later, a sheriff's deputy arrived, followed shortly thereafter by a member of the Highway Department who put up a temporary sign.

9/12/12: FOUND PROPERTY - A concerned citizen dropped off a single key attached to a key ring to the Markesan Police Department. With no other identifying marks that would direct police to the owner, the key was placed into "lost and found" until someone comes to claim it.

9/10/12: OPEN DOORS - While on routine patrol, police observed multiple juveniles in the driveway of a business/residence on S. Main Street. Approaching the scene, police observed one juvenile rummaging through a dumpster on the property. Police found a door to the business/residence was open, but nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Police cleared the juveniles from the scene and contacted one of the key holders to apprise him of the situation.

Police Beat, Markesan, WI, Aug. 9, 2012

I'll continue to record the "Police Beat" feature of the Markesan Regional Reporter, the newspaper of the town where my husband and I own a house trailer on a lake. Reading "Police Beat" may help us all get through this Silly Season of candidate mud-slinging. Mike and I find that these listings are most fun if read aloud. We punctuate each item with loud "Dum - dum - dum -" to the tune of the music from "Dragnet"...

Police Beat - Markesan, Wisconsin

Nearly every weekend from April 15 through October 15, my husband and I take a mini-road trip to our estate – er, trailer – on Little Green Lake in Markesan, Wisconsin. For those of us who grew up on the concrete sidewalks of of Milwaukee, Markesan, pop. 1,479,  is “Up North.”

Wisconsin folks always argue about where Up North starts. I grant that Markesan is not True North like Minocqua, Wisconsin, separated from Canada by only a couple of hours of lonely road.

But it’s Up North for us, and paradise.

our trailer on Little Green Lake

This is our fourth year at the lake, and we’ve developed a tradition to start out the weekends. After the hour and a half drive through corn fields and cow pastures, our first stop, before we arrive at the lake, is the town gas station, where Mike jumps out of the car and purchases that week’s issue of the Markesan Regional Reporter.

The high point of the Regional Reporter is a weekly feature on page three. It's called “Police Beat.” This is the high point because after being subjected to a week of world, national, and city news full of murder, mayhem and misery, well…

… It’s a relief to read about “crime” in a little town. My favorite listing of all time was the account of the herd of pigs that got loose in the street in front of the post office.