Local News Briefs 11/8/14

Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say a 25-year-old Oshkosh man who fled from the scene of an accident that injured a Ripon couple was responsible for the accident.  Brandon Kuehl’s extended cab pickup truck failed to yield at a stop signt and hit the Toyota Rav that 64-year-old William and 58-year-old Debra Childress were in causing it to overturn on Highway 44 at Clairville Road Wednesday morning. William Childress was taken to Berlin Hospital where he was treated and released. Flight for Life flew Debra Childress to Theda Clark Regional Hospital with serious life threatening injuries. A description of the vehicle posted on the Sheriff’s Facebook page led to several tips and Kuehl and his vehicle, which had heavy front-end damage. He has not been charged yet.

Sheriff’s Department Didn’t Have Much Of A Role In Wilde Investigation

Fond du Lac County Chief Deputy Sheriff Mark Strand says their department never really had much of a role in the initial search for Campbellsport native Amber Wilde. This week Green Bay Police searched a property in Portage County for the UW-Green Bay student who went missing in September of 1998. They did not disclose what they found. Strand says when she went missing she was attending the UW-Green Bay so Green Bay Police took the lead in the investigation and the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department didn’t have much to do with it. Wilde’s car was found parked outside a bar in Ashwaubenon with her purse still inside it.

NFDL Badger 5 Winner Still Hasn’t Come Forward

State lottery officials say a Badger 5 winner who bought a ticket at the PDQ in North Fond du Lac has yet to come forward to claim a $26,500 prize. That prize was half of a $53,000 jackpot this past Monday the winner split with a winner in Greenfield. It was also the first time in the 11 year history of the game that the numbers were consecutive, but weren’t drawn sequentially. The winning numbers were 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Ballweg Says Election To 6^th Term A Little Different

State Representative Joan Ballweg got 61 percent of the vote when she was reelected this week to represent the 41st State Assembly District. She easily defeated Democratic challenger Joe Kallas to win a 6th term in office. Ballweg says it was a little different this time because the last two year’s she’s been getting to know constituents in the western portion of her district because of redistricting. Ballweg is currently drumming up support from fellow Republican legislators hoping to be named the Majority Leader in the State Assembly.

United Way Contributions Up

The Fond du Lac Area United Way fall fundraising campaign is at 47 percent of its $745,000 goal. That works out to nearly $352,000. United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says that’s nearly $30,000 ahead of last year’s campaign at this time. She says industry and other contributions are up, but they appreciate all of those who continue to donate. United Way agencies will help out more than 36,000 people in the Fond du Lac area this year. 

Big Brothers Gets Donation Of Bikes From Habitat

The Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County says they couldn’t be more pleased with a donation Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County gave them. Tammy Young says Paul Osterholm called to inform them they had received some bicycles at their ReStore and wondered if they would be interested in some bikes, five in fact. Osterholm calls Big Brothers a wonderful community organization. He says, “Thanks to Dave Haase and his team at Attitude Sports for tuning up the bike, getting them ready to ride and donating a gently used bike of his own.” He says it’s another opportunity for Habitat to build community without a hammer.