Local News Briefs Saturday 10/19/13

The 50-year-old West Bend man who allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend with a knife in a Walmart parking lot in August was arraigned in Washington County Court this week. Craig Hron (ROAN) pled not guilty to the five felonies charges he’s facing, which includes an attempted 1st degree intentional homicide charge. A motion to modify his bail was also denied. He remains in the Washington County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond. Hron also was a suspect in the murder of 18-year-old Berit Beck in 1990. He was questioned, but never charged. Beck’s body was found in a ditch outside of Waupun.

Waupun Corrections Officer Waives Preliminary Hearing

A corrections officer at the John Burke Center in Waupun has waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Dodge County Court on charges that she had sexual contact with an inmate. Thirty-nine-year-old Andrea Teschendorf of Oakfield is charged with 2nd Degree Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff. She faces the same charge in Fond du Lac County Court where she has a jury trial scheduled in December. Detectives were called to a job site in March where an inmate on work release had left and gotten into a car similar to Teschendorf’s. The inmate reportedly told authorities that he and Teschendorf had contact on several occasions, including a job site in Fond du Lac County. Prosecutors say Teschendorf admitted to the relationship in an interview with detectives. She said she knew it was wrong but could not stop. Teschendorf will be arraigned in Dodge County Court next month.

No Required Reading List For Common Core

One of the question the State Senate and Assembly’s Select Committee’s on Common Core educational standards posed during a hearing in Fond du Lac this past week had to do with whether there is a required reading list. Tamara Maxwell of the state’s Department of Public Instruction told the gathering that there is no list. But she it does require the students increasingly complex text to reach college and career readiness. The committees are currently evaluating the math and literacy Common Core standards, which are meant to prepare students for college readiness. Two more hearings are scheduled before the end of the month in Eau Claire next Wednesday and Wausau on Wednesday, October 30th.

Plenty On The Ballot In 2014

After all of last year’s elections Fond du Lac County voters are getting a break this fall. However County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says there will be full slate of elections next year beginning in the spring with city, village and township races. She says there will school board races and Fond du Lac County Judge Dale English will be up for reelection.  All 25 County Board seats will also be up for election. Among the races next fall are elections for the Governor and Attorney General and at the federal level U.S. Senate and Congressional seats.

Prepping Franklin School For STEM Institute Was Major Project

Every summer while students are on vacation the buildings and facilities crews for the Fond du Lac School District are busy working on maintenance and upgrade projects. The Fond du Lac School Board this week got an update from the District’s Coordinator of Facility Services John Williams. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says the biggest project was preparing the former Franklin School for students who would be attending the STEM Institute. The building already houses the STEM Academy for 3rd through 5th graders. The STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Institute is for 6th through 8th graders.  

Antique Fair At FDL Senior Center Benefits The United Way

Area residents can benefit the Fond du Lac Area United Way by visiting an Arts, Antiques and Craft Fair at the Fond du Lac Senior Citizen Center today. Over 20 area crafts, arts and antique vendors will be participating in the event that runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says it will benefit for their Senior Outreach effort, but beyond that the center is a place where people can go who need the camaraderie. The event will also feature puzzles, door prizes and snacks.

Presentation On County Health Rankings At Marian University Monday

Marian University’s Social Justice Committee will be hosting a presentation on the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps for the state of Wisconsin on Monday at 4:00 p.m. at the Stayer Center, Room 217/218. Karen Timberlake the director of Population Health at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and an associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, will serve as the keynote speaker. She will present data about the health of Wisconsin, the effects of the Affordable Care Act and current program offerings in Wisconsin to improve the health of the state. The event is free and open to the public.

SMSA Open House Sunday

St. Mary’s Springs Academy in Fond du Lac is inviting all students in grades 5 through 11 to an open house Sunday. The open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the high school campus at 255 County Highway K. Students and their families will be able to take guided tours. Browse through a wide selection of course offerings and more. The event is open to the public. Registration is not required.