Local News Briefs Monday 1/20/14

A Dodge County supervisor was arrested at his residence last Thursday night for allegedly beating his wife. Dodge County Board member Donald Gunderson was arrested after the victim’s son reported the abuse. Officers found the victim in the kitchen with a bloody nose. The victim, who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, told investigators she was “shook up” but didn’t need medical attention. Donald Gunderson, who is 83-years-old, made his initial appearance Friday and was charged with battery and disorderly conduct. A competency hearing has been ordered. He was released on a $500 signature bond. Gunderson represents the Lomira area and chose not to seek re-election this year. 

Former Kohler Employee Sentenced For Stealing From The Company

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A former Kohler employee will spend 90 days in jail for trying to use company funds to start his own escort service and stealing items.  Sheboygan County Judge Timothy Van Akkeren Friday sentenced 47-year-old Kirk Riddle on two counts of theft. Riddle was found to have used company credit cards to spend over $117,000 towards advertising an escort service he wanted to start in Las Vegas, along with paying for six women from there to fly and stay in southeast Wisconsin.  Riddle was also found to have taken two toilets and a generator from the company and had them installed at his residence. In addition to the jail time, Riddle will spend three years on extended supervision.

Sheboygan Police Officer Injured In Two Car Crash

A Sheboygan police officer was one of two people injured in a two-vehicle accident on the City’s southwest side last Friday morning. Police say the 43-year-old officer was responding to an accident just before 11 a.m. when he tried to cross a street and a collision occurred with another vehicle. The officer’s right hand and thumb were injured and he was taken to St. Nicholas Hospital where he was treated and released. The other driver, a 36-year-old Sheboygan County man, was taken to Memorial Medical Center where he was treated and released.  The accident remains under investigation.

State Senator Leibham On LeMahieu Retirement Announcement

State Senator Joe Leibham of Sheboygan is among the state lawmakers praising State Representative Dan LeMahieu of Cascade for his public service in the wake of LeMahieu’s announcement that he’s retiring. Liebham says, “I want to take this opportunity to formally recognize and congratulate Representative LeMahieu on his 12 years of distinguished service in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Dan cares deeply about Sheboygan County and I have enjoyed teaming up with him on numerous occasions over the years to advance the interests of our area and the state of Wisconsin as a whole.” LeMahieu announced last Friday morning he is retiring after the current session. He has represented the 59th State Assembly District for six terms.

Goal To Contain EAB Spread When It Does Hit Town

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Director says when the Emerald Ash Borer does arrive in town they hope to contain its spread. It’s close, just south of the Fox Ridge Business Park. Jordan Skiff says it can spread rapidly because each female is capable of laying 50 eggs. He says if they can find ground zero for an infestation they may be able to contain it through the removal of ash trees and treatment. He says untreated nearly 100 percent of ash trees die, while if they are treated almost all survive. He says signs of EAB infestation in a tree include the upper canopy of branches dying off, woodpeckers that feed on the larvae, sprouting of shoots at the base of the tree, and D-shaped exit holes. He says anyone in having their ash trees treated should contact him at 322-3472.

GIS Puts Maps At Fingertips Of FDL City Employees

The Manager of Fond du Lac’s Information and Technologies Services Department says their Global Information Systems have benefitted the efforts of multiple City departments. Dave Zitlow says particularly when it comes to mapping systems for City sewers, water mains, signs and more. He says City employees equipped with mobile devices or laptops can easily access the map-based GIS. Zitlow says it particularly comes in handy in instances like a fire downtown last year that required a lot of water to put out giving firefighters information on hydrant locations and water supplies.

Plenty Of Activities At MPTC During Career And Tech Ed Month

Moraine Park Technical College campuses in Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and West Bend will have plenty of activities next month as part of National Career and Technical Education Month. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says that will include the Culinary Arts Students participation in a cooking competition at the Taste of Fond du Lac on Sunday, February 23rd. On Tuesday, February 11th at 11:30 a.m. on the Fond du Lac campus a Rwanda genocide survivor will be speaking. Ruhland says the Student Life Group is sponsoring her appearance. She says Discover Moraine Park events at all three campuses will allow prospective students to learn more about their programs, admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships and save $30 on the application fee. Discover Moraine Park will be held on the Beaver Dam and West Bend campuses on Tuesday, February 25th and on Wednesday, February 26th on the Fond du Lac campus. Times for each of those events are from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

FDL Native Launches Master Angler Program For Winnebago System

My Fishing Partner, LLC launched a Master Angler program specific to the Lake Winnebago System at the beginning of the month. Mark Schram is a Fond du Lac native and the founder of My Fishing Partner and its website. He says the state really doesn’t have a program that allows anglers to be recognized for catching fish that exceed the minimum standards of trophy game fish in the Winnebago system. The program consists of two tiers: one which is for adult anglers and a second for youth 15-years-old and younger. He says they go by fish weight or length depending on whether you keep or release your catch. He says applications for the program are available at Dutch’s Trading Post and the Riverhaus in Fond du Lac or you can apply on line at myfishingpartner.com. If you apply online you also need to include a photo. There is no cost and participants will receive a certificate marking the achievement. Schram says their website also includes a fishing report.

Drivers Reminded About Move Over Law

Weather-related traffic incidents are keeping emergency responders busy this winter. Wisconsin State Patrol Inspector Tom Tweedy says when drivers come upon an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road with warning lights on, state law requires that you slow down or move over.He says this winter there has been a fair amount of weather leading to slide-offs and crashes. The Move Over Law applies to law enforcement vehicles, tow trucks, fire trucks, ambulances and highway maintenance vehicles. Violating the law can result in a $263 fine and assessment of three demerit points.

Young Professionals Host Panel On State Of FDL

The Young Professionals of Fond du Lac will be hosting a panel discussion on the State of Fond du Lac Wednesday night. It will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Agnesian HealthCare in the plaza level conference center. Registration and Networking will take place from 5 to 5:30 p.m. with the panel beginning at 5:30 p.m. Panelists include Kevin Lichtenberg, Vice President and General Manager, Fives Giddings & Lewis; Steve Little, President and CEO, Agnesian HealthCare; Tim McFarlane, President and CEO, Hometown Bank; Joe Reitemeier, President and CEO, Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. The event is free for YPF members and $10 for general admission. To register for the event visit the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce website or call (920) 921-9500.

FDL School To Work Gets Additional Grant

Governor Scott Walker recently announced additional grant awards totaling over $226,700 to support Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program. Among those grant recipients is the Fond du Lac School to Work program, which is receiving $11,302. The Youth Apprenticeship program trains high school juniors and seniors for in-demand occupations with local employers around Wisconsin. Governor Walker’s announcement follows his signing in December of legislation to provide an additional $500,000 toward YA grant awards during the current fiscal year, and another $500,000 in fiscal year 2015. The measure garnered the state Legislature’s overwhelming bipartisan support, including unanimous passage by the Senate. The additional funds will go to existing YA consortiums that received $1.86 million in funds for the 2013-14 school year, bringing the total investment to nearly $2.1 million.

IRS Opens Up Free File System Early

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-The Internal Revenue Service is allowing some tax filers to get an early jump on preparing their returns. Federal tax returns cannot be filed until January 31st, but I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says those who qualify to use the Free File system can get a head start. He says if you make $58,000 a year or less you can get your taxes done early. Almost 70,000 Wisconsin residents used Free File last year. Miller says it can help get your return in order and submitted, although it will not actually be processed until the end of this month. The start of the filing season was delayed this year because of the need to do critical system testing after the government shutdown last fall.