Local News Briefs Friday 10/16/15

FDL Police Involved In Operation Cross Country

The Fond du Lac Police Department was one of the law enforcement agencies participating with the FBI in a national effort to crack down on human trafficking that resulted in the recovery of 149 children, nine of the in Wisconsin. According to the FBI in Fond du Lac two females; one juvenile and one adult were freed. Also a pimp was arrested. Three adults were freed in Oshkosh and one pimp was arrested. The effort is known as Operation Cross Country.

Ripon House Fire

Fire damaged a home in Ripon Thursday morning not far from the Ripon Middle School. The Ripon Area Fire Department says smoke was coming from the roof of the home at 551 Metomen Street when they arrived and that turned to flames. The homeowners were not home when the fire broke out. Among the area fire departments providing mutual aid was Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue. No one was hurt during the blaze, which was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. The Red Cross assisted the family.

Oshkosh Police Admits Error In Not Getting Info Out Sooner On Escapees

Oshkosh Police says they should have gotten information about a pair of escapees from Winnebago Correctional Center out sooner. Austin Reynolds and Leland Larock escaped from a fenced yard at the center last Friday night, but information about the escape was not released to the media until Tuesday. The physical information and photos of the two led to Reynolds capture when an employee at a convenience store in Green Bay recognized him and called authorities Wednesday. Larock is still at large. Oshkosh Police says they were working with other law enforcement agencies in northeastern Wisconsin, but in the future will disseminate information more quickly about incidents affecting the community.

Highway 45 Tranfer Pros and Cons Weighed

The Fond du Lac City Council this week was briefed on the pros and cons of accepting a jurisdictional transfer of Highway 45 from the state. Public Works Director Jordan Skiff says it would be a section of the highway on City streets running from Highway 151 on the south to Highway 23 or Johnson Street on the north. He says for one thing it wouldn’t cost the City as much to maintain those streets when they need upgrading. He says the state has a lot more hurdles to go through and they figure projects would cost that state about 30 percent more. He says as part of the transfer the state would pay the City a total of $14.3 million between when they accept the transfer and 2025. Skiff says that financial commitment comes with a guarantee from the state. Skiff says on the other hand the City would loose what’s called connecting highway aid from the state for that section of Highway 45. He says the City would also be responsible for the entire cost of reconstruction of those streets. The transfer of Highway 45 goes before the City’s Plan Commission next Monday.

Child ID Kits Will Be Distributed In Coming Weeks

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Chief Peter O’Leary says they hope to distribute the first 17,000 Child ID kits by Thanksgiving. He says they have them at the Fire Department ready to distribute to area schools. He says they are working on a letter that will go out to all parents and guardians of children in the County about the kits. He says they will also make the kits available for children who are home schooled. He says they will be able to pick up the kits at the fire department. He urges parents and guardians of children who aren’t in kindergarten yet to have patience. He says Agnesian HealthCare Foundation has committed to funding the program into the future and will pay for the kits for those entering kindergarten each year.

Congressman Grothman On Speaker Race

Congressman Glenn Grothman says at this point nothing is too surprising about the race for House Speaker. He says when California Congressman Kevin McCarthy suddenly dropped out of the race it came without notice. Grothman was with others earlier that day listening to McCarthy talk about why people should vote him and a couple hours later McCarthy announced he wouldn’t run. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says there’s still a chance Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan will be speaker of the House, but he says Ryan also has reasons for not wanting that role. He says some of it has to do with family and some of it with being satisfied with the job he has now. Grothman says a lot of names have been tossed about including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He says it wouldn’t bother him if it turned out Romney got the job.

Dixie Street Closing

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department tells us Dixie Street will be closed between Hickory Street and Morris Street starting next Monday.  The street will be closed for approximately 1 week.  It’s being closed to allow the railroad to make temporary repairs to the crossing on Dixie Street.   Motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route. There will not be a signed detour.

United Way Update

The Executive Director of the Fond du Lac Area United Way says they are at about 22 percent of their $756,000 goal. Amber Kilawee says that works out to a little over $166,000.  She says they would be happy to speak with people thinking about a payroll campaign. She says one question they are constantly asked about is where the money goes. She says money raised in the community stays in the community and they fund 28 programs run by 25 United Way agencies. It’s expected that more than 31,000 people will be served this year in the area by United Way funded agencies.

Great Pink Pumpkin Run Walk Saturday

Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus will host the 2nd Annual Great Pink Pumpkin 5K Run and Walk this Saturday. MPTC Business Management Instructor Jeff Stueber says he came up with the idea for the event in January of last year and students helped it really take off. Money from the event pays for a retreat that allows women fighting the breast cancer battle to get together with others involved in the same struggle. He says they hope to donate close to $10,000 this year. He says those who would like to can register the day of the event. The Run and Walk steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

Boy Scout Food Drive Saturday

Area residents are asked to have their contributions to the Boy Scouts food drive out early Saturday morning. Bags were distributed earlier this week and the Scouts would like them placed outside your door by 8 a.m. Saturday. Only non-perishable foods should be placed in the bag. Suggestions of what to donate are listed on the bags.