FDL County Sheriff's Department Investigates Woman's Death

Fond du Lac County Sheriff's officials say they are investigating the death of a 55-year-old Town of Calumet woman. No details were given about the nature of the woman's death in a press release issued by the Department. Deputies arrived at the scene just after 6 p.m. Tuesday night. Medical Examiner's Office personnel arrived a little later. Investigators say the cause of death hasn't been determined, however foul play is not suspected.

Eden Man Sent To Prison For 25 Years

The 31-year-old Eden man who allegedly tried to hire a cellmate to kill a 15-year-old girl he sexually assaulted is going to prison for a long time. Ralph Nickel was sentenced in Fond du Lac County court Thursday to 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision.  In separate court cases this May and June Nickel pled no contest to 2^nd degree sexual assault of a child and intimidating a victim charges respectively. Charges of possession of child pornography, bail jumping, and solicitation of 1^st degree intentional homicide were read into the record and dismissed. According to the criminal complaint Nickel was willing to pay a cellmate at the County jail $5,000 to make the girl "disappear." The man informed authorities of Nickel's offer feeling something might happen to the girl. Nickel claimed at the time that no threats were made. Judge Dale English presided over both cases.

Former Waupun Prison Inmate Files Lawsuit In Killer For Hire Case

A state prison inmate, who was being held at Waupun, has filed a $2 million federal lawsuit, saying he was punished for rejecting a prison guard's request to have her ex-son-in-law killed.  Twenty-five-year-old Jeffrey Rice of Milwaukee was doing time for robbery, when former Sergeant Lori Gross apparently asked him to help her with a child custody dispute between her daughter and her ex-husband.  Rice's lawyer said Gross was fired as a result.  The state wouldn't confirm that.  But they said she no longer works at Waupun, and the case was referred to the Dodge County Sheriff's Department for a criminal probe.  The lawsuit said Gross offered $2,500 and a plane trip to Hawaii, where she wanted Rice or a hit man to kill the ex-husband.  When Rice said no, she asked that the ex be falsely accused of rape.  Again, Rice declined - and he said he was later accused of prison violations, like having a razor blade in his cell.  Rice said he was unfairly put into solitary confinement, and was wrongly transferred to the prison formerly known as Super-Max in Boscobel in May of this year.  The lawsuit said Gross and two other prison officers violated his civil rights to due process and equal protection.  He also accused them of cruel-and-unusual punishment.  Gross's husband said she wouldn't comment on the civil rights suit until she gets an attorney.

(Courtesy of WBEV/WXRO, Beaver Dam)

Suspected Oshkosh Underwear Thief Will Undergo Evaluation

An Oshkosh man accused of breaking into women's homes, stealing their underwear and sending them threatening letters will now undergo a psychiatric exam. The exam comes after 43-year-old Christopher Sullivan pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to five counts of burglary during a Wednesday arraignment in Winnebago County court.   According to the criminal complaint Sullivan broke into women's homes, took lingerie and photographs and then sent the women threatening mail. Sullivan also told police he was close to committing more serious crimes, including rape and murder. He's being held in the Winnebago County jail on a $100,000 cash bond. His next court date is October 30th.

(Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Political Reporter Says Wisconsin A Key Battleground State In Presidential Race

Republicans are buzzing about the just completed National Convention in the twin cities, but they don't have much time to relish the speeches and camaraderie. Brian Moon covered the convention for the Wisconsin Radio Network. You heard some of his reports hear on News-Talk 1450 KFIZ. He says for many delegates Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's speech at the convention settled some doubts about Senator John McCain picking her as a running mate in the Presidential race. The candidates won't have time to bask in the afterglow of the conventions; they are hitting the ground running with McCain and Senator Barack Obama both making appearances around Wisconsin this weekend. Moon says the Badger State is expected to be one of the key battleground states in the Presidential election. McCain and Palin will make an appearance in Cedarburg late this morning.

Beaver Dam Man Runs For Congress

He's been a physical therapist for more than 20 years; now a Beaver Dam man would like to rehabilitate congress. Fifty-two year old Mark Wollum says he's heard enough over the years to spur him to run as a Democratic candidate for the 6^th Congressional District seat. He's especially displeased with how Congress has given in to the Bush Administration on a number of issues. Of course if he's elected Wollum wouldn't be dealing with the same presidential administration, but he says he'd still be able to make tough decisions when they are needed. Wollum faces fellow Democrat Roger Kittelson of Lomira in the primary election Tuesday. The winner will challenge incumbent Republican Tom Petri in November. You can hear more of Wollum's thoughts and Kittelson's under the You Decide tab above.

Former State Assemblyman Endorses 18^th State Senate Candidate

A candidate for the 18^th State Senate seat has picked up the endorsement of former State Representative Gregg Underheim (pictured). The former lawmaker from Oshkosh is endorsing Senate candidate Randy Hopper, a Republican businessman from Fond du Lac. Underheim says, "Randy's success as a small businessman is exactly the sort of fiscal management experience that is sorely needed in Madison right now." Underheim served eight terms in the state Assembly. Hopper is running against Democrat Jessica King, an attorney and Oshkosh City Councilwoman, in November.

Candidates Forum In Oshkosh

The Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans and the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups will host a candidates' forum in Oshkosh on Thursday, September 18^th. It will feature candidates for the 18^th State Senate seat, Republican Randy Hopper and Democrat Jessica King, and candidates for the 54^th State Assembly seat, incumbent Democrat Gordon Hintz and Republican challenger Mark Reiff. The forum will be held at the Oshkosh Senior Center at 200 North Campbell. The forum for the 18^th State Senate candidates will be at 9:30 a.m. and the forum for the 54^th State Assembly candidates and hour later at 10:30 a.m. The League of Women Voters will ask questions of the candidates.

Grand Opening For FDL County Republican Party Headquarters This Sunday

The Fond du Lac County Republican Party will have an open house and grand opening for their election headquarters in Fond du Lac this Sunday. Party Chairman Dan Feyen says they will have some brief speeches during the grand opening. Fine says they will be adding hours during the campaign, but to start with will be open Mondays through Saturdays. The grand opening will start at 6:30 Sunday night. The office is located in the old Sherwin Williams building at 501 West Johnson Street. You can visit them there or contact them by calling 920-922-4671. They also have a website. Find out more by clicking here.

Fondue Fest In Fondue Lac Tomorrow

Fond du Lac's unique Fondue Fest celebrates its second year tomorrow. Much of Main Street will be closed to traffic so the street can host a variety of activities, entertainment and food. It used to be called the Fall Festival, but Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Director Amy Hansen says they went to the name Fondue Fest and a related theme last year to set it apart and incorporate the area's cheese industry. Activities will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Hansen says there will be a lot to pick and choose from. You can find out more about the variety of activities at their website by clicking here. This year there will be no companion piece on Sunday. Organizers of the annual Marian University Heritage Festival of the Arts decided not to stage the event this year.