Local News Briefs Friday 1/9/15

Fond du Lac area residents continue to have options for getting out of the cold with two warming shelters. A winter weather advisory expired at three this morning, but a wind chill advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The Solutions Center’s warming shelter at St. Paul’s Cathedral at 51 West Division Street is open 24 hours a day during this cold spell. Also the Salvation Army at 237 North Macy Street is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for people who need to get out of the cold.

Robbery And Battery Suspect Bound Over For Trial

The 43-year-old Milwaukee man suspected of hitting and robbing a Fond du Lac woman at knife point was bound over for trial during a preliminary hearing in Fond du Lac County Court Thursday. Antwon Brown also was arraigned and pled not guilty to the charges stemming from the robbery and attack at his ex-girlfriend’s residence on December 23rd. He allegedly believed she stole drugs from him and also stole jewelry from her during the attack. 

Ripon Man Sentenced On Battery Charge

A 31-year-old Ripon man has been sentenced to four months in jail and two years of probation for a domestic incident in which he allegedly broke a woman’s jaw. Ricardo Flores this week pled “no contest” in Fond du Lac County Court to battery and bail jumping charges. A substantial battery charge was dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion and three other charges were read into the record and dismissed.  The incident happened last September in the 200 Block of Scott Street of Ripon. Officers were called there after a neighbor heard a woman screaming for help in an upper apartment building. Officers also heard her when they arrived and had to force entry into the apartment. They found Flores holding the woman in a room. Police say she was beaten after asking Flores for money to get groceries.  He was also ordered to serve one day in jail for every $50 of unpaid court costs.  

Armed Robbery In West Bend

West Bend Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Jiffy Stop Thursday morning. No one was injured during the robbery at Pat’s Jiffy Stop, which was reported shortly after 6 a.m. The store’s owner told police they were robbed at knife point. Police did question one person in connection with the incident. Store surveillance video is being reviewed.

Senator Johnson On France Terrorism Killings

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-Following Thursday’s appointment of U-S Senator Ron Johnson as the 4th Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Wisconsin Republican reacted to the brutal slaughter of at least 12 people at a French satirical newspaper in France. Senator Johnson says one of the top priorities will be to look at the problem of home grown extremists. He says the U-S has improved its defenses, but more needs to be done. He says what happened in France was a barbaric, evil act and is a threat that we all face. Johnson blames Obama for the growth of such terrorists. He says President Obama should have left a stabilizing force in Iraq, which would have prevented the rise of Isis.

Lt Governor On State Budget

Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch says it’s going to be busy at the state capitol again as a new two-year state budget is fashioned. She told KFIZ News that the Governor will give a preview of what’s ahead during his State of the State Address next Tuesday. A Budget Address will be delivered sometime after that. She says once again they will take a look at cutting costs and reducing taxes while providing services taxpayers expect. The Governor recently announced his cabinet keeping it intact. Kleefisch says she expects that will continue to be the case, but they will take a look at collaborations to save money. She says once budget details are finalized and it’s introduced by the Governor she will begin touring the state in support of the budget.

More Downtown Apartments Being Developed In FDL

The executive director of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership says it will be an exciting year for development in the downtown. Amy Hansen says the redevelopment of the former Nielsen Building by Marian University for its nursing school and its leasers will mean hundreds of students and jobs. She says more apartments are being built to meet those students’ needs. She says she knows of at least 38. She says they are encouraging more property owners to develop their second and third stories. She says filling up the vacancies on the upper floors of downtown buildings makes things safer. Hansen says the annual meeting for the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership is on Thursday, January 22nd and they hope to have some exciting announcements at the meeting.

NFDL Schools Holds Grand Opening For Food 4 Thought Café

North Fond du Lac School District officials had a grand opening of sorts yesterday at the high school for their new Food 4 Thought Café and learning lab. District Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says kids are always trying to find relevance in what they learn and this will be one way they can find it. He says they will be serving food to students and staff and they hope to open it up to the public in a year or two. He says it will impact their kids in culinary arts, business education, special education and technical education. The school board gave Family and Consumer Educator Jill Lewinski a $30,000 loan to develop the former sewing room into a café. He says she will pay it back over the next seven years through catering jobs and other school and outside activities. He says they already have a pretty good culinary arts program. Among those who made donations of furnishings or money were Commonwealth Companies, John’s Refrigeration, the North Fond du Lac Optimists, Marine Credit Union and others.

Safety First In Using Space Heaters

The Division Chief of Fire Prevention for the Fond du Lac Fire Department is cautioning residents about using space heaters during bitterly cold temperatures. Troy Haase says people are tempted, but if you use one make sure you are doing so safely. He says it should never be near something combustible, if should be able to shut off if it tips over, and it should never be left on when you leave the room. He says you should never use a gas-fired heater in a confined space where carbon monoxide could build up and lead to poisoning. He says for instance a torpedo heater in a garage could result in carbon monoxide getting into your home. Haase also recommends backing your car out of the garage before you let it run to warm up the car.

State Rep Born Appointed To State Building Commission

State Representative Mark Born of Beaver Dam has been appointed to the State Building Commission by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. “I would like to thank Speaker Vos for appointing me to the State Building Commission,” said Born. “This is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward working with my colleagues to provide input on the development and improvement of our state’s facilities.” Created in 1949, the Building Commission oversees the state’s long-range building program. The commission is comprised of eight voting members, six of which are members of the Legislature.

Senator Johnson Will Hold Town Hall Meeting In West Bend

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson will hold a town hall meeting in West Bend this afternoon. The meeting will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Jug’s Hitching Post. Senator Johnson will take questions from the audience.