Local News Briefs Friday 8/28/15

The name of the 49-year-old Omro man killed in a motorcycle accident on the Main Street Bridge in Oshkosh last Saturday night has been released. Oshkosh Police say Darwin Grignon was heading north when his bike hit a curb and a light pole. He was taken to Theda Clark Regional Medical Center where he died. Toxicology tests are pending and cause of the crash is still under investigation. The accident was reported at 10:45 Saturday night.

Lomira Woman Arraigned On Drug Charge

The 26-year-old Lomira woman whose 2-year-old daughter died of a drug overdose was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week. Danielle Kalmus pled “not guilty” to a narcotics possession charge. Her daughter died at a Brownsville apartment in July of last year. Kalmus told investigators she found the girl with an open pill bottle in the days prior to her death. Toxicology tests determined the toddler had morphine in her system. Kalmus will be back in court in October. 

West Bend Man Facing Separate Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety Charges

A 45-year-old West Bend man who allegedly drove the wrong way on I-41 made his initial appearance in Washington County Court this week. Brett Schemenauer was released on a $25,000 signature bond. He charged with 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety for the incident this past May. He allegedly told officers that he had taken ten shots of vodka and was on his way to check himself into detox. His blood alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit. He’s facing a similar charge for driving his hummer into the waiting room of a Jackson clinic in June.

Former Washington County Jailer Charged

Charges have been filed against a 26-year-old Milwaukee man who worked as a correctional officer at the Washington County Jail. Charges were filed Wednesday against Jonathan Scherrer. He’s facing five counts each of theft and misconduct in office. He was worked at the Washington County Jail from May of 2014 until his employment was terminated last month.   His initial hearing is scheduled for October 5th.

Highway 26 Reopens

Good news for motorists in Fond du Lac County the portion of State Highway 26 that’s been closed for a $10.6 million improvement project will reopen this afternoon. Approximately 16 miles of the highway were improved from Cattaragus Drive to County Road FF in the towns of Waupun, Springvale, Eldorado and the village of Eldorado. The project finished on budget and ahead of schedule.

FDL City Council Approves Land Swap

The Fond du Lac City Council this week approved a land swap in the West Industrial Park. Community Development Director Dyann Benson told the Council that wetlands developed over time on the lot Evaporator Dryer Technologies purchased from the City making it undevelopable. City Manager Joe Moore says he and Benson felt the City should make it right for the company. He says they came up with the solution of swapping land in the park that the company could develop. Benson says the land the company is getting does have some wetlands on it, but it won’t evolve the way the previous lot did. She says once development starts it interrupts the further expansion of the wetland. The company plans to build a 5,000 to 10,000 square foot building on the lot with the potential for future building expansion.

Friends Group Has Own Ideas For Improving McDermott Park

Fond du Lac Public Works Director Jordan Skiff says even though Winnebago Lutheran Academy has dropped negotiations for a lease of land in McDermott Park talk about potential improvements to the park is far from over. Jordan Skiff says the group Friends of McDermott Park opposed the proposed lease, but they also have their own ideas for ways to improve the park. He says they will be going back before the Advisory Park Board once they firm up some of their ideas. He says the group continues to meet and hope to get some help from a landscape architectural student from the U-W Madison to put some details to some of their ideas.

Revenue Caps Limiting

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says even though the district is receiving more aid from the state this year, they will still be dealing with a deficit. He says it will be from $124,000 to $150,000, which he says is manageable. He says it’s confusing to hear that a district is receiving more money, but is still dealing with a deficit. He says the fact is each district has to deal with a revenue cap, which limits how much money they can raise. He says costs keep going up for schools, but the revenue cap has remained the same for years. He says even the Governor received a 5 percent increase for the cost of running his office.

Ripon Will Hold Cookie Daze Next Year

There will be a Ripon Cookie Daze event in 2016. Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says the Cookie Daze organizing committee held their wrap up meeting this week and voted to stage a 21st annual Cookie Daze next August 6th. He says a couple of other organizations have stepped up to help out. He says even though ConAgra is closing one of the cookie plants in town, cookies still have their place in Ripon’s history and economy.