Local News Briefs Saturday 12/6/14

Fond du Lac Police would like to hear from anyone who might have seen something in the area of South Main and 7th Streets Thursday night when the Marathon Gas Station was robbed. A black man in dark clothing robbed the station shortly after 8 p.m. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says the man walked into the store and flashed a handgun he had tucked in his waistband by lifting up his shirt. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash. The clerk was not hurt during the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (920) 906-5555 or the Crime Alert line at 322-3740.

FDL Shooting Suspect Bound Over For Trial

The 19-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of shooting off a handgun in the parking lot of the West Johnson Street Taco Bell last month has been bound over for trial. Dao Vang was in Fond du Lac County Court this week for a preliminary court. He also was arraigned and pled not guilty to charges of 1st degree recklessly endangering safety, carrying a concealed weapon, and obstructing an officer. No one was hurt during the incident on November 17th.  According to the criminal complaint Vang fired the gun into the air after a disagreement over a marijuana deal.

Daytime Burglars Looking For Narcotics

The leader of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Detective Division says they are investigating a series of daytime burglaries that have occurred in the northwestern portion of the County. He says they’ve happened in the Rosendale and Ripon area and the burglars are looking for narcotics although they are also taking cash and other items too. There have been four burglaries in the last three weeks.  Lieutenant Cameron McGee advises residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity. He says the burglars are coming up to the door and knocking on it to see if anyone is home. If no one answers the door they go inside. He recommends locking windows and doors and at least giving the illusion that you are home.

Senator Gudex Receives Committee Assignments

State Senator Rick Gudex will chair the Senate’s Economic Development and Commerce Committee during the upcoming legislative session. It’s the second straight legislative session he’s served in that capacity. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac received his committee assignments in the Senate this week. In addition he will be the Vice Chair of the Workforce Development, Public Works & Military Affairs Committee and be a member of the Universities and Technical Colleges Committee and Joint Legislative Council. Gudex will also serve as a board member for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. 

Drivers Urged To Give Snow Plow Operators Room To Operate

An official with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department says besides being the law giving snowplows room to work makes good sense. Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says on a highway with a 55 mile per hour speed limit you’re supposed to trail the plow by a minimum of 200 feet. The law varies on speed limits whether you’re in a City. But he says especially on a two lane road it makes good sense. County Highway Commissioner Tom Janke says when a snow plow driver is plowing snow in adverse road conditions it is very difficult for them to see you coming up from behind in their rear-view or side mirrors.

Lakeside Park Light Show Started Because Of A Show Of Faith

The president of the company that designed and sponsored the Christmas Light Show in Fond du Lac the past five years says it was a way of showing gratitude to the community that showed a little faith in him and his company. Nemesis Metals President Joe Skelton says they got started in 2006 and weathered the economic downturn in 2008 and 2009. He says their metal fabrication business is now having one of its strongest years. He commends former Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Brenda Hicks-Sorensen and others for showing faith in them when the company was looking for start-up funding. Nemesis Metals has 35 employees now. Skelton says it cost them $120,000 to fund the light show over the past five years. Others are funding it for the next five years.

Marian Rated Among Top Schools For Military And Veteran Education

Military Advanced Education has awarded Marian University the designation of a Top School in its 2015 Guide to Colleges & Universities, measuring best practices in military and veteran education. The Guide is being released in this month’s issue of Military Advanced Education, and will be available online at www.mae-kmi.com. The Guide presents results of a questionnaire of the military-supportive policies enacted at more than 600 institutions including private, public, for-profit, not-for-profit, four-year, and two-year colleges. The 2015 Guide to Colleges & Universities provides students with information about institutions that go out of their way to give back to our men and women in uniform.