Updated: Motorcycle Fatality

A 61-year-old Ripon man, Jay Clarke, was killed late yesterday morning in a motorcycle accident in the Town of Ripon. Just before 11 a.m. the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Department responded to the call in which the motorcycle was traveling north on Radio Road, south of County Road E. The bike slid off the road and struck a tree. Sheriff's officials say Clarke died at the scene. He wasn't wearing helmet.

Two Hurt In Dodge County Accident

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 175 in the Town of Theresa yesterday morning. Dodge County Sheriff's officials say 27-year-old Megan McLellan of Campbellsport crossed over the centerline and struck a southbound pickup truck driven by 51-year-old Randy Gagliano of Mayville. Flight for Life flew both to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles. The accident was reported just before 10 a.m.

Insanity Plea Rejected In Stabbing

First a Fond du Lac County jury finds a 27-year-old Texas woman guilty of 1st degree reckless injury in the stabbing of a 47-year-old Fond du Lac man, now a judge in the case rejects her insanity plea. Judge Robert Wirtz issued a directed verdict ruling in favor of the prosecution yesterday in the case of Mary Froust who stabbed Peter Doud three times in the neck and three times in back with a knife. She could get up to 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine when she's sentenced. The jury found her not guilty of first or second degree attempted murder charges. District Attorney Dan Kaminsky says the jury wasn't allowed to hear about Froust's criminal record in Texas, which included prior assault cases.

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff's Sergeant Indicted

The U.S. Justice Department has indicted a former Milwaukee County Sheriff's Sergeant on child pornography charges related to his alleged production of nude pictures of young girls while at a campsite in Campbellsport. Philip Wentzel has been indicted on six counts of production of child pornography and one count each of advertising distribution and possession of child porn. Wentzel allegedly shared the photos in a peer-to-per file sharing program. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Department could also bring sexual assault charges against Wentzel depending upon the outcome of the federal case.

Reward Being Offered In Arrow Incident

A $500 reward is being offered to find out who injured a 7-year-old Campbellsport girl by shooting her with an arrow. Aryanna Schneeberg was hit in the back while walking down Main Street in Campbellsport last Sunday evening. She's recovering from surgery at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. Sheriff Mick Fink says they want to make sure they are covering all their bases. He says they won't know until they have all the information whether it was an accident or intentional. Fink says he's using money from an investigative account to post the reward. Anyone with information is urged to call the Fond du Lac County Law Enforcement Tip Line at (920) 906-4777. Detectives Ryan Murphy and Nate LaMotte are leading the investigation and can also be emailed sheriff@fdlco.wi.gov.

Mountain Lion Seen In Washington County

Washington County Sheriff's officials say a caller from West Bend reported seeing an animal while walking his dog that looked like a Mountain Lion or Cougar walking in Ridge Run County Park. The animal was described as being the size of a Labrador retriever, with a long rope like tail and all tan in color. It walked 100 feet in front of the caller, but was not aggressive. The Department of Natural Resources responded to the park along with personnel from the Sheriff's Office. They weren't able to locate any signs of the animal.

FDL Man Sentenced To Jail Time

A 24-year old Fond du Lac man has been sentenced to 7 months in jail and four years of probation for two separate incidents last September. Nathaniel Verhasselt was recently sentenced on false imprisonment, endangering safety, felony bail jumping, and obstructing an officer charges. One incident involved domestic abuse and the other a fight at 1st and Main during which he displayed a knife. Police had to use a taser to take him into custody during the later incident. A total of 4 years in prison was imposed and stayed and 6 years of extended supervision was ordered should he end up serving the prison sentence.

Sheboygan School Locked Down

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Pigeon River School was locked down for about a half hour Wednesday afternoon while police searched the neighborhood for a man with a knife.  The Sheboygan Police Department says that around 1p.m., they responded to a woman being assaulted in the area near the school.  Officers learned a 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman had been arguing, and it escalated to the point where he was battering her and threatening her with a knife.  He fled into the woods near Pigeon River trail when witnesses heard the woman screaming for help.  The suspect was arrested after a search and is being held in the county jail. 

FDL City Council Adopts New Employee Pay Plan

By a 6 to 1 vote the Fond du Lac City Council last night approved an employee compensation plan. Councilman Mick Burroughs voted against the plan based on a study that was commissioned by the Council last fall. Union representative David Dorn urged the Council to take more time citing several concerns including transparency regarding the study. City Attorney and Human Resources Director Deb Hoffmann says no one will lose any pay and their will be step increases depending on if employees have reached the maximum. City Council President Rick Gudex says the Council has been working on the issue since March and the new pay system needed to be set before they began working on the 2013 City Budget, which they will next month. The new system goes into effect in 2013 for current employees and new hires.

New Pay Plan Adopted

Fond du Lac City employees will have a new pay system next year. The City Council last night approved option two of a compensation study, which includes 18 grades and 10 steps. Prior to their vote union representative David Dorn spoke out against the plan saying the Council should take more time and shouldn't settle for average pay for average services. City Attorney and Human Resources Director Deb Hoffmann said shooting for average employees isn't their goal. She also said Fond du Lac's compensation model will be different than Oshkosh's because it isn't a performance-based plan. Council President Rick Gudex says it's going to be a big change for the City. Hoffmann also said the Council will have to decide whether they want to approve an across the board wage increase for 2013, something that will be considered during budget time.

FDL City Council Notes

In other City Council notes last night the Council approved at two-year-agreement with the Fond du Lac Police Supervisory Association. The agreement, which is retroactive to the beginning of the year includes a 2-percent wage increase each year. The Council also approved the hiring of Colonel Joseph P. Moore as the next City Manager contingent on reaching a wage agreement. Also during the meeting Police Chief Bill Lamb gave the Council an update on the attendance of 17 members of the Department at National Law Enforcement Week in the Nation's Capitol last week. Lamb says without the community's generosity it wouldn't have been possible. He says it was an important step in the healing process over the shooting death of Officer Craig Birkholz in March of last year. He says during the course of the week he saw his officers transition from feelings of grief to ones of closure, honor and pride. Officer Birkholz's name was added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Also last evening 13 young men and women were sworn into military service at the beginning of the Council's meeting.

Senator King Kicks Off Reelection Campaign In FDL

State Senator Jessica King kicked off her reelection bid last night at the Lakeside Park Pavilion in Fond du Lac. Fellow Democratic Senators Mark Miller, Dave Hansen and Lena Taylor, State Representative Gordon Hintz and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's wife Kris were also on hand to give their support. King told the gathering like the other side of the aisle she's a patriot, doesn't like fraud and waste and believes in accountability, but says that's where most of the similarities stop. King says it's been quite a journey for the state over the last 15 months comparing it to the three-tour the ship and crew took on Gilligan's Island. King made note of the fact that she voted with the majority 78 percent of the time during the last session, but says she won't side with self or special interests. Fond du Lac City Council President Rick Gudex is her Republican opponent. King kickoff speech.

Use Of Waupun Quiet Room Suspended

(WBEV-Beaver Dam)-The Waupun School District has voluntarily suspended its use of a seclusion room at Rock River Intermediate for the rest of the year. The district came under scrutiny last week after a parent complained that the room was used to punish her autistic child. By law, seclusion rooms can be used to diffuse an outburst. Mandy Rennhack had asked special education teachers last fall to stop placing her ten-year-old son into the 5-by-7-foot padded plywood box when he was having discipline issues - and she'd pick him up from school instead. Rennhack said she was upset to learn that the box was used again in March. The Department of Public Instruction toured the school last week at the request of district officials. Waupun Interim Superintendent Donald Childs says the state made a number of recommendations, which will be incorporated. A report is being assembled and officials with the DPI say it will be made public once it is completed, which is expected in the next 60 days.

Boating Safety

Boaters are reminded to play it safe during this National Safe Boating Week. Paul Holland is with the Fond du Lac Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He says some safety tips are obvious, but others aren't such as keeping your battery terminals covered. A life preserver is required for each person in the boat, but Holland says to make sure they are in good condition before you go. He says always make sure you have enough fuel and they have a rule of thumb for that. Holland recommends a marine radio for big waters because cell phones aren't always reliable. Other tips include letting someone know where you're going and being mindful of the weather.  

NFDL Summer School

Students in North Fond du Lac will have the opportunity to have some fun and keep their minds sharp through some summer school offerings. District Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says they have a variety of offerings mostly for kindergarten through 8th grade students. He says one of their classes even incorporates the use of Legos. He says it helps kids with their creativity and keeps them involved. He says this summer a grant will help them provide free breakfast and lunch meals for kids going to their summer school programs. He says most of their summer school offerings run between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Bulky Waste Reminder

Fond du Lac's bulky waste disposal site located at 530 Doty Street will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to Noon. It will be the last Saturday the site will be open. In addition, the bulky waste site will be open during the noon hour, Monday through Friday until Labor Day.

Two MPTC Vice Presidents Named

Moraine Park Technical College has now named both Vice Presidents as two Executive Dean positions are being eliminated. Dr. James Eden will become the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dr. Stanley Cram will become the Vice President of Student Affairs on July 2nd. Eden is currently the Executive Dean of Instruction for MPTC. Dr. Cram most recently served as the Vice President for Student Development and Services in Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minnesota. Eden's annual salary will be $125,000 and Cram's $116,500. MPTC President Dr. Shelia Ruhland says, "Dr. Eden and Dr. Cram come with extensive experience in their respective areas that will allow Moraine Park to move forward in meeting the needs of our diverse student population and to ensure the highly skilled workers needed to meet the workforce needs."

Samariatan Health Clinic House Winner Takes Cash

Julie Sabel, of Fond du Lac (left), the grand prize winner of this year's Samaritan Health Clinic House Raffle, accepts a check for the cash prize of $137,500 from Pat Waisanen, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation development associate. Sabel has decided to take the cash prize in lieu of taking the Samaritan house. This presents a wonderful opportunity for individuals who may be interested in the purchase of the 2012 raffle house. For more information, call the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation at (920) 926-4965. All proceeds from the house raffle, sponsored by the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation, help provide patients with important basic health services, medications and urgent dental needs.

Agnesian HealthCare Volunteer Scholarships

Five area students who intend to pursue careers in healthcare have been awarded scholarships from the Agnesian HealthCare Volunteers. Scholarship recipients were chosen from among area high school seniors who plan to attend a college or university in Wisconsin to pursue a career in health care. Winners of the $1,000 scholarships for bachelor degrees are: Maria Scorcio, Miranda Brown, Olivia Ford and Becca Biddick all of Fond du Lac. The winner of the $500 scholarship for a technical college is Taylor Hartgerink of Waupun.