Local News Briefs For Thursday 5/15/14

Washington County Sheriff’s investigators are sifting through the 600 plus items recovered from a series of storage facility break-ins. Search warrants were executed at four locations in the City of Milwaukee. A 54-year-old man and his 29-year-old nephew, both from Milwaukee were arrested. Items were taken from more than 100 storage units in Washington County during the first three months of the year. Among the items recovered were three trailers, three motorcycles, two all terrain vehicles and eleven guns.  Authorities are working with other jurisdictions including the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department who may have potential victims.  Pictures of the stolen property and an inventory list were distributed to other law enforcement agencies.

Oshkosh Church Burglary

Oshkosh Police are investigating a church burglary that occurred Tuesday night about 10:45 p.m. It happened at the Grace Lutheran Church. Church video shows a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap inside the building. Money was taken from a donation box. The suspect got in through an unsecured door.  Anyone who can identify the suspect or has information regarding the burglary, is urged to contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700 and speak with Detective Brett Robertson. To see the video click here.

Two Children Hurt In Sheboygan County Crash

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Two children were hurt Tuesday night in a single-car crash on I-43 south of Sheboygan in the town of Wilson.  The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department says it happened around 9:30 when 29-year-old Jennifer Morgan, of Sheboygan, northbound on I-43, swerved to avoid a deer and slammed into a guardrail.  Two girls, ages 7 and 13, were hospitalized for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Waupun Woman Will Be Committed On Arson Charge

The 43-year-old Waupun woman suspected of setting fire to her apartment last November has entered a “not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect plea to the arson charge she faces. A Dodge County judge this week accepted the plea from Jennifer Balisteri who authorities believe was trying to hurt herself when she set the fire. She was on the roof of the apartment when police and firefighters arrived. A dog and three small animals were rescued unharmed from the unit, but there was extensive damage to the living room and smoke and heat damage to the rest of the apartment. No one was home in the downstairs apartment. A hearing next month will determine how long she will be committed to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Former Waupun Man Gets Jail Time For Black Mail Attempt

The 27-year-old former Waupun man who tried to pass himself off as a police officer and a judge in an effort to black mail a Beaver Dam man has been sentenced to six month in jail. James Dunham, who now lives in Madison, was sentenced this week in Dodge County Court. Four years of probation was withheld. He was also ordered to pay $10,400 in restitution to the victim who he tried to black mail over two sexual encounters the victim had with two underage girls.  Charges stem from incidents that occurred last fall.

FDL City Council Approves Land Sale To Lomira Company

Last night the Fond du Lac City Council approved the sale of 9 acres in the Southwest Industrial Park to a Lomira company. Jor-Mac, a maker of metal fabrications and assemblies, will be building a 30,000 to 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility with the ability to expand in the future. Community Development Director Wayne Rollin says the company isn’t relocating to Fond du Lac, but expanding to it. They will build the facility next year. Rollin says they will pay their employees well and within three years will be adding 40 to 50 jobs to the labor force in Fond du Lac. The sale price for the nine acres was $234,000.

Mercury Marine Wins Environmental Award

Mercury Marine was presented a Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award on Wednesday in Pewaukee. The Business Friend of the Environment Awards highlights the actions Wisconsin companies are taking in the areas of pollution prevention, innovative technology and environmental stewardship. “Our passion for sustainability continues to evolve, not just in our products, but in our people and our processes,” said John Pfeifer, president of Mercury Marine. “We are honored to be given this award, especially as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary this year.”

For more click here.

To view Mercury’s entire sustainability report from 2013 click here.

Candlelight Vigil Police Memorial Ceremony

The Fond du Lac Police Department has added a twist to its annual observance of the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony. Police Lieutenant Jason Laridaen says the public is invited to the ceremony Thursday night at 7 p.m., which will feature a candlelight vigil. It will be held at the Public Safety Memorial in Hamilton Park. He says they got the idea from attending the ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. when they were there two years ago when Officer Craig Birholz’s name was added to the memorial. Over the years three Fond du Lac Police officers have been killed in the line of duty. Officer William Prinslow was shot pursuing three robbery suspects in November of 1898. Officer Nick Klaske was shot while investigating a robbery in October of 1961 and Officer Craig Birkholz was shot and killed in March of 2011 during a standoff incident.

Green Lake County District Attorney’s Position Opens Up

Green Lake County’s District Attorney is stepping down. Governor Scott Walker’s office announced the resignation of District Attorney Kyle Sargent who is resigning on June 14th. The Governor’s office is taking applications for the opening. The person appointed District Attorney will serve the remainder of Sargent’s term and would have to run for re-election in November of 2016. The deadline to apply for the opening is 5 p.m. on June 2nd.  To learn more click here.

Coffee With A Cop

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department will hold another “Coffee with a Cop” this week. They are partnering with the Juneau Police Department to hold the event at the Village Grove in Juneau from 8 to 10 a.m. today. Residents are invited to join officers and deputies for coffee and conversation.