Haiti Donations And Information click here.

Outdoors Thursday: Sturgeon Spearing Preview with the DNR's Ron Bruch: Click HERE

Winter Storm Warning

Area Sheriff's Departments and the State Patrol tell us roads are snow covered and slippery this morning. Plows are out working on the roads and we have some school cancellations. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. Total snow accumulations through tonight could range from 4 to 8 inches. You can check for closing and cancellations in the upper right corner on the  KFIZ.com homepage.

Investigation Into Explosion In Firefighters Death Nearing Completion

(Associated Press)-The investigation into a trash bin explosion that killed a 33-year-old firefighter could be done at the end of this month. Volunteer firefighter Steven Koeser was killed and eight other firefighters injured December 29^th while fighting a Dumpster fire outside Bremer Manufacturing in St. Anna. Investigators have said water from the hoses caused a burning container of metal byproducts to explode, but they have not said what started the fire. The Calumet County Sheriff's Department is investigating with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the State Fire Marshal's Office. Sheriff's Captain Paul Rusch said investigators hope to at least have enough information by the end of the month so they can consider closing the investigation. Authorities consider the fire accidental.

Convicted Animal Abuser Charged With Disorderly Conduct

Fond du Lac County authorities have charged a 46-year-old Fond du Lac man disorderly conduct for a November 2008 incident on Hickory Road. Sterling Rachwal has a documented history of mental illness and inappropriate contact with animals. According to the criminal complaint County Sheriff's officials were tipped by e-mail that Rachwal may have been the person they were looking for in an incident where an intruder visited a barn and told a witness that he had a fascination with horses. No horses were harmed, but Rachwal shared with investigators what he might have done had he not held himself back. During his initial hearing Monday a signature bond was set for Rachwal, but he's being held in the County Jail on a probation hold. At the beginning of the month the equine community shared e-mails warning horse owners about Rachwal, what type of vehicle he drives and a website where they could find out more. To get to that website click here. 

Waupun Stabbing Victim Uncooperative

Working with an uncooperative victim Waupun police haven't been able to find evidence for a stabbing incident early Sunday morning. Police say hospital staff at Waupun Memorial Hospital contacted them that morning about a 23-year-old man who was being treated. The man told officers he'd been stabbed while he was out walking. Authorities say that was the end of the man's cooperation. Areas where the stabbing possibly could have occurred were checked, but investigators couldn't come up with any evidence to confirm the man's claims. Waupun police are now asking that anyone who might have information about the stabbing to contact them at 324-7911.

Stalking Suspect Back In Court

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A Cedar Grove man convicted of stalking his neighbor was back in Sheboygan County Court Monday. Forty-nine-year-old Thomas Schultz appeared before Circuit Court Judge L. Edward Stengel and entered a plea of no contest after being charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Authorities conducted a routine search of Schultz's home last November almost two weeks after he'd been convicted of stalking his neighbor when they discovered a handgun. It was during that search when Detectives discovered the so-called "rape kit" consisting of handcuffs, leg restraints, duct tape, condoms, KY lubricant, a hunting knife and more. When confronted with that discovery, Schultz graphically detailed his plan for raping and murdering the neighbor he had previously been convicted of stalking. A trial on charges related to that portion of the case is set for March. Sentencing on the firearm possession conviction will occur after that jury trial is completed.

Man Who Threatened Judge Pleads

The 35-year-old Waukesha man who threatened to kill a Fond du Lac County judge and four other county workers will be sentenced in Waukesha County Court next month. On January 25^th Jeremy Uhlig pled no contest to a charge of battery or threat to a judge. A second charge was read into the record and dismissed. According to court documents Uhlig told a clinical therapist he had dreams about killing Fond du Lac County Judge Dale English. English presided over a case in which Uhlig's parental rights were terminated. Fond du Lac County Sheriff's officials learned of the threats last November and Waukesha County Sheriff's deputies arrested him. Uhlig's sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 29^th.

Dodge County Supervisor Arrested

A Dodge County supervisor was arrested over the weekend for an incident in Fox Lake. Forty-six-year-old Robert Ballweg faces misdemeanor charges for a confrontation at a residence that doubles as a repair shop. Ballweg allegedly went to the home in the 200 block of West State Street to confront a man about lewd comments that were allegedly made about one of Ballweg's family members. While there he got into a minor scuffle with the man. Formal charges are pending. Ballweg is also a Beaver Dam alderman. He's been released on bond.

Bond Set For Beaver Dam Man Suspected Of Possessing Child Porn

(WBEV-Beaver Dam)-A $1,000 signature bond was set Monday for a Beaver Dam man accused of possessing child pornography.  Brandon Alexander allegedly downloaded videos featuring pre-pubescent girls from a file sharing website.  Special Agents with the state Justice Department say they were able to use specialized software to identify the digital fingerprint of the illegal video and trace it back to all the users who downloaded the video. Alexander originally told investigators that he accidentally downloaded the videos because he could not tell based on the title alone that the files contained child porn. According to criminal complaint, he later conceded that he knew that terms like "12 y-o" means "12-year-old." Alexander will be back in Dodge County Court for a preliminary hearing on March 25. 

Seven Arrested During Drunken Driving Patrols

Fond du Lac police arrested seven suspected drunken drivers over a four hour period Friday. Police say it was part of a grant enforcement effort. The $26,000 grant came through the state's Department of Transportation and will be used to pay for overtime for special patrols that will occur through the Labor Day weekend.

Alzheimer's Patient Uses Walker In Attempt To Escape From Nursing Home

Aided by the use of her walker an 80-year-old Alzheimer's patient at a Fond du Lac nursing home tried to escape after slapping a nurse in the mouth early yesterday morning. Police Captain Steve Klein says the woman didn't get far. The nurse followed her as she made it across the street to the fire station at 4^th and National. The woman was fine and was returned safely to the nursing home.

Weather Contingency For FDL County Board Meeting

A contingency plan has been put together in case the snow storm leads to the cancellation of tonight's Fond du Lac County Board meeting in that case the Board and a couple of its committees will meet tomorrow. The Committee on Committees would meet at 4:50 p.m., the Finance Committee at 5 p.m., and the County Board would hold their meeting at 5:15 p.m. at the City-County Government Center. Supervisors will receive a phone call if the meetings scheduled for today are cancelled.

FDL School Board Considers Refinancing Some Debt

The Fond du Lac School District is looking at refinancing about more than $7.1 million in debt, which could save taxpayers some considerable money on interest rates. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says their business managers are always looking for ways of saving the district money, but only consider refinancing debt if the percentage of savings reaches a certain of level. He says that level has to be at least 2.5 percent and in this particular case it's about 3.4 percent. The savings is nearly $275,000 over the six years the refinancing would occur, which Sebert says is a substantial savings. The School Board will consider approving the refinancing next month.

Misdemeanor Diversion Program Would Create Another ADA Position

Under a federal grant program the Fond du Lac County District Attorney's Office has been awarded a $240,000 grant to create a non-violent misdemeanor diversion program. District Attorney Dan Kaminsky says those 25 or younger could take a no-contest plea and enter the one-year program. Under the deferred prosecution program their record of the crime would be wiped clean if they live up to terms of the program. However if they fail in the program they would go back before a judge and be sentenced for the crime. Kaminsky says terms of the program fit the particular crime the person committed. He says the program would create another Assistant District Attorney in his office that would be solely responsible for implementing the program. That would take some of the case load off of other prosecutors in his office. Each participant in the program would also pay a $25 monthly fee and a one-time $150 start up cost, which would help the program pay for itself. The County Board Tuesday night will be asked to accept the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Grant for the program and establish fees for it.

FDL County Dental Care Program Awarded $400,000 In Federal Funding

The oral health coordinator for Fond du Lac County says a dental program designed for children on medical assistance is having a positive impact on their health. Samantha Twohig says about 5,000 kids in the County are eligible for the Save a Smile program, which utilizes the services of about 38 dentists. Just under 800 kids participate in the program. Twohig says poor dental care can have a direct impact on your overall health. The County Board Tuesday night will be asked to accept and administer $400,000 in federal funds for the program. It's a direct result of the hiring of lobbyists to pitch for funding for the program. Meanwhile Twohig, a dental hygienist who assesses participants' needs, says she can't believe the poor dental health of some of the children she's seen. She says it's heart breaking that three and four-year-old children need surgical care to get caught up on their dental care.

Lawmakers Try To Close Gun Purchase Loophole

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-State lawmakers are being urged to make it harder for those with a mental illness to purchase firearms. Under federal law, a person who has been involuntarily committed for mental health reasons cannot purchase a gun. However, Wisconsin law does not require background checks for firearms sales to look for that information on the buyer's record. Scott Gelzer of Milwaukee says that loophole allowed his son to purchase a handgun, which he later used to commit suicide.Legislation at the Capitol is designed to prevent similar purchases in the future, by adding mental commitment information to the database used for background checks. However, Jeri Bonavia with the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort warns the bill falls short, because it doesn't change the rules for private firearms sales. The measure is being considered by a state Senate committee.

Law Of The Month: Passing On Right

The Fond du Lac Police Department's Law of the Month has to do with overtaking and passing a vehicle on the right. Police Captain Steve Klein says you can only to do that when a vehicle is making a left turn, there's sufficient width to allow two vehicles and your using and unobstructed pavement to do that. He says the problems they encounter is with people who try and pass on the frontage roads and use gravel shoulders to do it. Violations for illegally overtaking and passing on the right can result in a citation being issued with fines of $144 or more.

Hats Off Raises Money For Haiti

Hats off (or is it Hats on?) to Roberts Elementary School students for the over $1,346.17 they collected in a recent fundraiser at the Fond du Lac school. Hats of all kinds were seen in the hallways when students conducted their Hats for Haiti fundraiser.