Local News Briefs Saturday 1/17/15

The 26-year-old North Fond du Lac man who hit a house in Fond du Lac with his vehicle and led police on a short chase has been bound over for trial. Zachary Robbins was in Fond du Lac County Court this week for a preliminary hearing. He also was arraigned and pled not guilty to the charges he’s facing.  During the December 30th incident Robbins allegedly drove away from the scene with heavy front-end damage and a missing rear tire. He then lost a second tire trying to get away from police. Police eventually arrested him at gun point. The pursuit was a little over a mile. A 34-year-old woman who was a passenger in his vehicle was not charged.

Oshkosh Fraud Suspect Sought

Oshkosh Police are investigating the theft of a credit card that was used fraudulently at the Kwik Trip stores in Oshkosh in November of 2014.The suspect in the photographs is described as a male black being 6’-6’3”. You can see the photos at KFIZ.com. If anyone can identify this male suspect or has information regarding the theft, please contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700. If you have information and would like to remain anonymous, please contact Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 or text IGOTYA and you crime tip to 274637 or go to www.winnebagocrimestoppers.org  and submit your text via the web.  You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.


Senate Resolution Condemns French Terrorist Attacks

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson and a bipartisan group of senators this week introduced a resolution condemning the tragic terrorist attacks in France. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says when people from both parties can agree to condemn such violence it sends a more powerful message to the world. Johnson believes the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee and full Senate will unanimously support the resolution. The resolution also offers condolences to the families of the victims. The attacks on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket left 18 dead including two suspects.

Development Efforts Need Build Up Not Tear Down

Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Steve Jenkins says the City and County of Fond du Lac has a lot to be proud of. He says it’s discouraging to see hateful comments posted on social media sites like Facebook putting down effort to improve the City and County. He says instead people should appreciate the efforts and progress that are being made. Jenkins points to the recent rankings that showed the Fond du Lac Metro Area ranked 26th among the Best Performing Cities of 2014 a nearly 40 place improvement or its ranking in 2013.

Another Feather In The Cap Of FDL Schools Facilities Coordinator

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says the school district is fortunate to have a person of John Williams’ caliber overseeing its facilities. Williams is the coordinator of facility services for the district. Sebert says Williams and his crew do a nice job of maintaining the district’s facilities. He says depending on a district’s financial situation the same can’t be said for other districts in the state. Recently Williams received National Workers’ Compensation Specialist certification. Sebert says that’s another feather in Williams’ cap. He says given the manual labor that’s done with the facilities’ work it’s nice to have someone with that extra knowledge running the department.

Certain Ripon Ambulance Fees Going Up

The Ripon Common Council this week approved an increase in certain ambulance service fees. City Administrator Lori Rich says each year their EMS Chief reviews fees to see if they need to increase them to keep up with costs. She says they are also working on upgrading the type of ambulance service they provide. She says that effort to upgrade their paramedic service is being done in conjunction with Agnesian HealthCare. The fee increase for ambulance services will go into effect February 1st.

MPTC Reports Highlights Successes

Moraine Park Technical College recently mailed out its 2013-14 Annual Report. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says it’s a nice way to inform people in the MPTC District about what the school has accomplished at its campuses in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam and West Bend. It also includes information on the Moraine Park Foundation. She says it also includes a couple of stories about how a Moraine Park education affected a few individual students’ lives. Ruhland says if you didn’t receive a report in the mail you can access the annual report at the MPTC website.