Local News Briefs Friday 1/16/15

Oshkosh Police say a 25-year-old Iron Ridge man has been arrested for sending inappropriate photos in text messages. He was arrested Wednesday on four counts of causing a child to view sexual activity. Oshkosh Police says the pictures were sent in narrative form over text messages. The state’s Department of Criminal Investigation and Dodge County Sheriff’s Office aided in the man’s arrest and he was transported to the Winnebago County Jail.

Washington County Shed Fire

Six fire departments battled a shed fire Washington County’s Town of Jackson early Thursday morning. Sheriff’s officials say the 40 by 60 foot shed and its contents were a total loss. Some of the items lost in fire included a skid loader, motorcycles, a boat and various tools. The value of the shed and its contents were placed at $250,000. The origin of the fire is unknown. The time of the fire call was 4:10 a.m.

Former Sheboygan Mayor In Trouble Again

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Former Sheboygan mayor Bob Ryan is in trouble again with the law.  Ryan was cited for disorderly conduct for an incident outside the Final Lap Bar in Kiel in December. A police report indicates that Ryan and another person had an argument inside the bar that escalated when the men decided to take it outside.  Both men were cited for their alleged actions. Ryan has had a number of criminal incidents, most of them alcohol-related, which also caused him to be recalled from office in 2012.

Senator Johnson Town Hall Meeting In Green Lake

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson will be holding a town hall meeting in Green Lake this evening. He will be at the 680 North Restaurant at the Tuscumbia Golf Course from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. The Senator will be taking questions during the meeting.

Ruhland On Leaving MPTC Presidency

Moraine Park Technical College President Sheila Ruhland says she wasn’t really expecting to get another position when she applied for the presidency at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington. She says a couple trustees from the college visited the MPTC campus last month to talk with people and there were follow up interviews, but the job offer did come as a surprise. Tacoma Community College has 14,000 students, but it was the diverse make up of those students that appealed to her about the job. She says they have 600 international students and 49 percent of their students are students of color. She says she will miss the support the community and businesses give MPTC. She says MPTC will be in capable hands while the search for a new president is conducted. Bonnie Baerwald has been appointed interim president. She has been the vice-president of finance and administrative service at the college since 1993. A reception will be held at Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus at 3 p.m. on February 16th. Ruhland starts at Tacoma Community College on March 9th.

Vaccinations Ward Off Childhood Diseases

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says while County residents struggle with the flu the same can’t be said for measles and mumps. In fact she says only mumps has been popping up elsewhere in the state. She says childhood vaccinations usually afford a lifetime of protection against both. She says the most recent measles case was in California, which given the way we travel isn’t that far away. She says that’s why it’s important to make sure your being properly vaccinated throughout your life.

Ripon Common Council Approves Contract With Police Union

The Ripon Common Council this week approved a new two-year contract with the City’s Police Union. City Administrator Lori Rich says the old contract expired at the end of last month. She says the new contract calls for an hourly wage increase for each of the next two years. She says it will be a flat 66 cent increase for the officers. She says they have 12 officers in the union affected by the increase. She says in addition to those officers they have a number of other non-union employees connected with the police department including dispatchers, administrative personnel, the captain and the chief of police.  The Council unanimously approved the wage increase.

Tax Instruction Booklet Policy Changed By IRS Still Available At FDL Public Library

For many years, the Fond du Lac Public Library has been one of the only places in the area where the public can pick up free tax-preparation forms. However, the Internal Revenue Service recently informed the library that it would not provide printed copies of instruction booklets, citing budget cuts. Forms will be available – they likely will start arriving at the library in late January – but not instruction booklets for federal taxes.  To help, the library has a limited number of copies of the instructions for 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ available for seven-day checkout to library customers with accounts in good standing. Anyone without a valid library card can request one from any library branch; proof of address (like a driver’s license or state ID) is required. The instructions will be available for holds and checkout at all three library locations: Main Library downtown, FDLPL Express near Festival Foods and Journeys at St. Agnes. There are no changes expected in the delivery or availability of the Wisconsin tax forms and instructions.

FCEDC Annual Evening Coming Up

The Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation has found an appropriate speaker for its annual evening to fit in with the theme of building collaboration. FCEDC President Steve Jenkins says Thomas Sorel the past commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation would know all about that. Sorel was instrumental in getting the I-35 Bridge rebuilt after the August 1st, 2007 collapse that killed 13 people and injured 145 others. He says because it was a heavily-used road that needed to be rebuilt quickly, which would only be accomplished through collaboration. Sorel’s talk is entitled “How to Build a Bridge!” The annual meeting is Thursday, January 29th at the UW-Fond du Lac. Jenkins says in addition to a recap of the past year’s FCEDC activities and a look towards the future a couple of awards will be given out. He says there will be a lifetime achievement award for economic development and an annual award. Details on how to sign up for the FCEDC Annual Evening are available at their website.     

Former Packer Talks About Life After Football In New Book

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker George Koonce says players can make the transition after they retire from the game, but for some it’s not easy. Koonce, now the Vice President of Advancement at Marian University, has written a book on the subject “Is There Life After Football? Surviving the NFL.” He says leaving the game wasn’t easy and launched him into a bout with depression. He says he found a purpose in life through education and eventually got a Phd from Marquette University. He says being part of a Green Bay team that won the Super Bowl after the 1996 season was the highlight of his playing career, but getting his Phd was a big step in life after football. His book is available on Amazon.com or at Barnes & Nobles. On Monday, January 26th at 6 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Public Library Koonce will talk about his book. Copies of the book will be available for sale and to be signed.