Local News Briefs Saturday 12/20/14

The 30-year-old Milwaukee woman suspected of killing a Randolph man has been bound over for trial for allegedly stealing the victim’s car. Kriscilla McHenry was in Dodge County Court this week for a preliminary hearing on the car theft charge. She hasn’t been charged for the murder of 43-year-old Michael Soeller last August, but was the last person seen with him. His landlord discovered his body in his apartment on August 24th. McHenry will be arraigned on the vehicle theft charge in February. 

Alliance Nominated For Manufacturer Of The Year Award

Alliance Laundry Systems of Ripon is one of the 62 companies nominated for the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award. The accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and the business association Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce sponsor the annual awards program. The sponsors will celebrate the nominees and reveal the winners at a ceremony February 26th at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

Zoning Change Will Allow New Childcare Center In Waupun

Action taken by the Waupun City Council this past week will pave the way for a new childcare center next year. The Council approved an amendment to a zoning code to allow the building of a childcare center to be incorporated as part of the definition.  Two City residents plan to open the childcare business and the Council’s action will allow that to move forward. Plans are to open the childcare center in a building located on the city’s west side at 1001 West Main Street that is currently unoccupied.

Germantown Company Getting Financial Help In $20 Million Expansion Effort

Cambridge Major Laboratories is investing more than $20 million in expansion of its research and development and manufacturing facilities in Germantown. The pharmaceutical ingredient maker will complete the project by the end of next year and it’s expected to create 75 new jobs. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is helping by authorizing up to $800,000 in Job Tax Credits. The state is also supplying a $400,000 worker training grant. The Village of Germantown and Washington County are providing a $280,000 loan that will be forgiven if job and new investment criteria are met. The County is also providing a $200,000 low interest loand and the village is providing incentives of up to $378,000.

Use Of CSOs Help FDL Police Dept

Fond du Lac City Council President Sam Meyer says the expansion of the Community Service Officer program has a blessing this year for the police department. Meyer says the program was expanded to include five new community service officers. He says the use of CSO’s on more routine calls frees up the department’s regular officers to handle more serious issues. It’s also helped a little with overtime issues as the department fills vacancies in its ranks.

Arc Of FDL Benefits From Packers Foundation Grant

The Arc of Fond du Lac recently received a $2,100 grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. Arc Executive Director David Boelter says it will help support their “Go Bananas” nutritional program. Boelter says he sat next to Packers President Mark Murphy during the awards presentation on Thursday, December 4th and Murphy seemed genuinely interested in their program. He says Mark was interested in the program because he was aware of it. The program services some people in Brown County. Altogether the Packers Foundation awarded $600,000 in grants to 223 civic and charitable groups throughout the state.

Mercury Marine Donates Museum Proceeds To Local Organizations

All proceeds generated by admission fees to the Mercury Marine Museum in Fond du Lac in 2014 – more than $2,000 – have been donated by Mercury to various local non-profit organizations. The organizations that benefit from the Mercury donations include Solutions Center, Fondy Food Pantry, Fond du Lac Public Library and Fond du Lac County Invasive Species Prevention. The Mercury Museum was open April through November and charged visitors $1 per visit. People from more than 25 countries visited the museum, which was located inside the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac. The museum also received rave reviews from the media and played host to various events while promoting the Fox Valley.