Local News Briefs Monday 10/21/13

Washington County Sheriff’s officials are looking for a person who robbed Romie’s Service in Allenton Sunday afternoon. Authorities say they got a call from an employee at the service station in the Town of Addison at 5:46 p.m. The suspect had gun and when wearing a mask and all black clothing. The suspect left on foot and deputies were unable to locate the suspect. The employee told investigators the suspect demanded the cash drawer and pulled a black pistol when the employee refused. A couple patrons of the service station saw the suspect, but weren’t able to provide a good description.

Two Bound Over On Burglary Charges

Two Fond du Lac residents were recently bound over for trial during preliminary hearings on charges they are facing for burglaries in the Fond du Lac area.  Twenty-two-year-old Edward Uttendorfer and 21-year-old Allison Weber allegedly stole jewelry and money from relatives. Uttendorfer was bound over on burglary and theft charges and Weber on theft and receiving stolen property charges. She will be arraigned on those charges Friday. The two also face misdemeanor charges for breaking a window and floor lamp in a hotel room at the Boarder’s Inn in Ripon.

Champion Avenue Street Closure

Fond du Lac’s Department of Public Works advises us that Champion Avenue will be closed at East Division Street starting today. East Division Street will not be affected by the closure. The closure will remain in effect for approximately one week while concrete pavement is being replaced. 

FDL County Sheriff’s Dept Gets OWI Grant

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says the Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a grant for alcohol enforcement. He says the first night of the enforcement they ended up arresting a 43-year-old Fond du Lac man who led deputies on a chase into Lomira on Highway 41. He says a number of different factors goes into whether you get the grant including the number of fatal traffic accidents you’ve had, traffic volume and construction. Olig says they will also be participating in coordinated enforcement efforts with other law enforcement agencies. The grant period runs from October 1st to September 30th.

MPTC Tax Levy Certified

The Moraine Park Technical College District Board recently certified the tax levy for the 2013-14 budget year. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says it represents about a half percent increase in the levy or .53 percent. That’s an increase over the 2012-13 tax levy of $190,000.  She says the $36.3 million levy is spread out across the MPTC District. In July the District Board adopted an $86 million budget with a tax rate of about $1.57 per thousand dollars of assessed value on a property. By state law the tax levy had to be certified by the end of the month.

Elections Could Be Even More Closely Scrutinized

Speaking in terms of proximity elections will be more closely scrutinized than ever under a piece of state legislation. Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says it would allow election observers to sit only three feet away from elections officials at the polls. She says those observers are usually from the political parties or a grass roots group ensuring election protocols are being followed. Freiberg says if those observers were trained the way their poll workers are it would cut down on the number of questions they have. She says they do get complaints from voters who don’t know who the observers are and why they are there.

Limiting New Regulations On Sand Mining

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A state lawmaker wants to give sand mining companies more certainty about their operations in Wisconsin. The bill from state Senator Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst would limit the ability of local governments to impose new regulations on nearby sand mining operations. Those regulations include limits on operating hours and requiring payments up-front for possible damage to roads by trucks hauling the sand. Critics contend the bill would limit local government control, but Tiffany says it’s simply an effort to stop officials from creating a patch-work of ordinances across the state. Local governments would still be able to regulate mines using zoning ordinances, but that would not impact existing operations.

Donations Large And Small Appreciated By United Way

Fond du Lac Area United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says they appreciate all the fundraising efforts done on their behalf during the fall campaign. For instance the Fond du Lac Senior Center had an antique fair this past weekend. Some donations are larger than others. Canadian National Railroad recently presented them with a big check for $16,000. She says the United Way gives to a number of area agencies, which itself varies but helps those agencies budgets as well. She says that can range from 5 percent to 50 percent of an agencies budget. So far the campaign has received donations and pledges of $176,000 towards their $740,000 goal.

Cancer Now Claims More Lives Than Heart Disease

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-The number-one killer of people in Wisconsin is no longer heart disease. A report shows that cancer will claim more than 11,000 lives this year surpassing heart disease as the most common cause of death in the state. Allison Miller of the American Cancer Society says lung cancer is the state’s top cancer killer with an estimated 2,100 victims this year alone. Miller says early detection and treatment is helping more women survive breast cancer. She says the death rate from that disease dropped by 28 percent between 1995 and 2010.

FDL County Campgrounds Closed For The Season

Fond du Lac County campgrounds are now closed for the season. The Waupun County Park and Columbia Park campgrounds recently closed for the season. The 2014 camping season for the parks will run from the second weekend in May through the second weekend in October. Reservations for the 2014 camping season can be made after January 1st by contacting the Planning & Parks Department at 920-929-3135. Reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis.

Kelley’s Country Creamery Featured During Byron Historical Society Meeting Tonight

Award-winning ice cream entrepreneur Karen Kelley of Kelley’s Country Creamery in the Town of Byron will present a program at the Byron Historical Society meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the Byron Town Hall. The event is open to the public. Kelley will share insights on “The Ice Cream Dream,” the ups and downs of starting a business, the benefits, and life’s little surprises along the way. The family business was featured on Good Morning America in July. The Kelleys own and tend a 200-acre dairy farmstead that produces all the milk for the creamery operation. The farm has been in the Kelley family since 1861.  The evening will begin at 7:00 pm with a short meeting prior to Kelley’s program. The Byron Town Hall is located at N3097 Hwy. 175, Byron. For additional information or questions on the program, contact byronhistorical@att.net