Local News Briefs Friday 5/13/16

FDL Woman Gets Probation For Forgery And Identity Theft Charges

A 34-year-old Fond du Lac woman has been placed on probation for forging and cashing more than $700 worth of stolen checks. Regan Garb this week pled no contest in Dodge County Court to forgery and identity theft charges. The checks were stolen from her brother’s girlfriend and were used at grocery stores in Juneau, Randolph, and Waupun. Seven other charges were read into the record and dismissed. 

IRS Scam

Several area police departments say a number of residents have gotten the IRS scam telephone calls in the past few weeks. Police departments in Ripon, Waupun, and Oshkosh issued warning to residents Thursday. The scam phone call begins with an automated message telling the person they are getting sued, arrested or possibly jailed if late payments aren’t made to the IRS. The message then gives the resident a phone number to call. Police advise hanging up the phone and eventually the calls will stop.

UW FDL Student Housing Proposals Move On To County Board

A Fond du Lac County Board committee this week approved resolutions for developer and operator agreements, and a land lease agreement for student housing at the UW-Fond du Lac campus. Director of Administration Erin Gerred says the resolutions go to the County Board next Tuesday for approval. She says they hope to break ground on the project soon that way it can be finished in time for students arriving for the Fall 2017 semester. She says the housing could be appealing to international students and those who commute. She says local students may also be interested in the student housing. Plans call for a three-story building with up to 122 beds.

Renaming Of FDL Post Office Will Take Place On Flag Day

Plans are still being finalized, but a date has been picked for renaming the Fond du Lac Post Office after WW II Hero and Fond du Lac native Lt. Colonel James “Maggie” Megellas. City Manager Joe Moore informed the City Council this week that the dedication ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 14th appropriately Flag Day. Both U.S. Senator Ron Johnson and Congressman Glenn Grothman sponsored legislation to rename the post office after Megellas who is 99 years old and lives in Texas.    

Project Grill Today

Entries in the annual Project Grill will be unveiled at Festival Foods in Fond du Lac today. Over 70 students from area high schools participated in fashioning grills that incorporate elements unique to the manufacturing partners their schools were teamed with. Bernadette Seefeld of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce says the students have been working throughout the year on their grill projects. Lisa McArthur of the Association says students take a lot of pride in their creations. The public can judge for itself and enjoy the brats that will be cooked up on the special grills. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with proceeds benefitting the Project Grill program.    

Food Drive Saturday

Fond du Lac city and rural letter carries will conduct their 21st Annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive Saturday. Drive Coordinator Mike Streetar says over the years area residents have contributed close to 600,000 pounds of food to the drive. In those 20 years over 585,000 pounds of food have been contributed. The five pantries that will benefit are Broken Bread, Fondy Food Pantry, Solutions Center, Salvation Army, and Church of Peace. He says they are asking for donations of non-perishable food and to make sure you put them out by your mailbox early. He says a lot of people go hungry in America. He says over 49 million people face hunger every day. Most needed items are: cereal, fruit juices, paper products, tuna, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, heat and serve pasta and rice meals.