Local News Briefs Friday 10/2/15

Teen Referred For Chilton Swatting Call

Calumet County Sheriff’s officials say a 14-year-old boy is being referred to juvenile authorities in Georgia for a “swatting call” in the City of Chilton this past May. The Calumet County SWAT team and Chilton Police were dispatched for an alleged shooting that turned out to be a hoax. Sheriff’s officials say their investigation was aided by the FBI office in Green Bay and U.S. Attorney’s office in Georgia. The teen has been referred to juvenile authorities in Georgia for similar acts in that state.

Former Lowell Woman Sentenced For Embezzlement

The former Lowell woman suspected of embezzling thousands of dollars from a Dodge County cemetery has been sentenced to a year in jail and five years of probation. Thirty-six-year-old Katie Norton of La Crosse was sentenced in Dodge County Court this week. She allegedly took over $24,000 from the bank account of the Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery Association in the Town of Trenton while working as their office manager.  Norton was convicted of theft from a business setting.  

Cedarburg Man Sentenced For Drunken Driving Homicide

A 43-year-old Cedarburg man who killed a 75-year-old woman in a drunken driving crash has been sentenced to prison. Scott McGee was sentenced in Washington County Court this week to 10 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision. McGee was drunk when he ran through a stop sign last April 19th with his SUV and hit a car. Janet Krause was a passenger in that car and died at the scene. McGee had been at a concert in Milwaukee prior to the crash. His blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit an hour after the crash.

Congressman Grothman On Speaker Position

Congressman Glenn Grothman says John Boehner did a good job as Speaker of the House. He says when Boehner became speaker nearly 40 percent of the federal budget was being borrowed. He says now only about 11 percent of the budget is based on borrowing. He says you also have to remember most of the time Boehner was speaker, President Obama has been in office and Democrats had a majority in the U.S. Senate. Grothman says Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan probably could have been speaker if he wanted, but doesn’t have the time to do it. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says California Congressman Kevin McCarthy seems to have the inside track on the speaker’s position, but there is plenty of campaigning going on. He says they will also have to vote on Majority Leader and Majority Whip so all 247 Republicans in Congress are being contacted by potential candidates. 

State Representative Thiesfeldt Office Hours Announced

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac will be holding open office hours on Monday, October 19th  at three locations around the district to discuss various state related constituent concerns and ideas. He will be at the Calumet Town Hall from 3 to 4 p.m. that afternoon, the Oakfield Village Hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and the Salvation Army Office in Fond du Lac from 6 to 7:30 p.m. that evening.

Salmonella Tainted Cucumbers No Longer On Store Shelves

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says the cucumbers that caused a salmonella outbreak should long since have been disposed of. More than 600 people in 34 states became ill from eating the tainted cucumbers. Mueller says the cucumbers in question were long removed for sale or recalled. She says it’s still a good reminder that we need to stay informed about the foods that we eat. She says you can take preventive measures in your kitchen by using different cutting boards for raw meats and vegetables. She says you should also wash your hands after cutting up each so you don’t run the risk of cross contaminating. In Wisconsin 38 people got sick from salmonella tainted cucumbers.

Gilgenbach Fundraiser Tonight At The American Legion

The American Legion’s Fox Hole Bar will host a fundraiser for a local man tonight who is in need of a heart transplant. Rick “Doc” Gilgenbach is well known in the Fond du Lac area. His brother Chip says after many years of living with a bad heart, Rick needs a new one. Paul Tolvstad says there will be good food, a silent auction and other fun throughout the evening. There will be fish fry from 4 to 8 p.m., a bake sale and $10 beer buffet from 8 p.m. to midnight and bartenders will be donating their tips. There’s a Give a Heart to Gilly website and Facebook page with more information. 

United Way Participating In Festivals Big Pumpkin Blowout

Festival Foods in Fond du Lac will hold their Big Pumpkin Blowout Saturday at the store. Marty Chy is the store manager. He says there will literally be thousands of pumpkins available for people to choose from. He says 7,000 pumpkins will be in the parking lot. Chy is also the Vice President of the Fond du Lac Area United Way’s Board of Directors. He says the United Way will have a table at the event. He says people can sign up for good bags, get temporary tattoos, and there will be other crafts and activities. He says there will be a lot of activities going on at the event. He says they will have a bounce house for kids, there will be free hot cider, the Whisper Hill Clydesdales will be doing carriage rides in the parking lot, and the Fond du Lac Fire Department will have one of its trucks there.