Local News Briefs Saturday 3/28/15

Having gone through the tragic shooting death of one of its own just four years ago the Fond du Lac Police Department will be sending a large contingent of officers to the memorial service for State Trooper Trevor Casper Sunday afternoon. Casper shot and killed a bank robbery suspect in Fond du Lac Tuesday, but was fatally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect Steven Snyder. Fond du Lac Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says the department will be well represented at the service at the Kiel High School. He says their honor guard will also be representing the department and they are providing whatever assistance to the State Patrol to help get them through this difficult time. Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig Birkholz was shot and killed during a standoff incident on March 20th of 2011.

Iron Ridge Man Arraigned On Charges He Attacked Estranged Wife

The 65-year-old Iron Ridge man who allegedly threatened to kill his estranged wife while holding a handgun to her head was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week. Charles Kaepernick pled not guilty to the charges he’s facing.  Charges stem from an incident in January when he forced his way into his estranged wife’s Hustisford home and threatened to kill her because she ruined his life. He also allegedly fired several shots into the floor next to her.

Make Sure Ashes Are Out

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Chief Peter O’Leary reminds residents to be careful when the weather gets nicer what type of container they place the ashes from their grill in. He says it should be a metal non-combustible container and he recommends letting them cool off for 36 to 48 hours. And he says check to make sure they are out before you dispose of them. He says there have been too many unfortunate fires because people didn’t make sure ashes from a grill or fireplace where out before getting rid of them.

School Funding Complicated

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says school funding shouldn’t be so political. He says ideally it would be about funding programs that benefit students, but instead it’s complicated. He says the system needs to change. He says they will have a better picture after the state budget is passed, but aren’t able to get the district’s budget out until October because of student enrollment count and other factors that happen in the fall. He says ironically the biggest tax payment the school district receives doesn’t come until the end of the school year in June.

Class Trips Set FDL High School Apart

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says the chance to travel and learn from new experiences is part of a student’s education. He says the district is fortunate they can afford students that opportunity. This week the school board approved a 9-day trip to Greece and Italy for some high school students next June. Also next spring choir students will visit San Francisco and this spring band students are going to New York City. He says those opportunities really set Fond du Lac High School apart.

MPTC Deans List

Moraine Park Technical College named 1,314 students to the Dean’s List for the fall 2014 semester. MPTC Interim President Bonnie Baerwald says students have to meet several requirements to make the list. To qualify for the Dean’s List distinction, students must earn a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5, be enrolled in at least 6 credits of undergraduate-level courses, be in good academic standing and cannot have a failing or incomplete grade for the semester. She says it’s quite a distinction and one that should be celebrated.

Agnesian Cancer Care Recognized

The Agnesian Cancer Center in Fond du Lac, is among only 15 percent of cancer care facilities in the nation to receive a 2014 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.  The award is designed to raise the bar on quality cancer care, with the ultimate goal of increasing awareness about quality care choices among cancer patients and their loved ones.  “We are thrilled to have received this distinction,” says Bill Daly, director of Agnesian HealthCare Oncology Services. “We have been intentional in creating a quality program of cancer services that provide the most services possible at a local level.”

Forest Mall Easter Bunny Photo Experience Starts Today

The Forest Mall in Fond du Lac will begin its annual Bunny Photo Experience this weekend. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs through next Saturday in the Center Court. Kids will have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. For a complete list of Easter Bunny hours visit the Forest Mall website.

www.simon.com/mall/forest-mall

Brandon Blood Drive A Success

The Brandon Red Cross Blood Drive hit its goal this past week. Organizers say they had a goal of getting 27 units of blood donated and reached their target. They thank the Bethel Reformed Church for the use of their facility. Upcoming blood drives in the Brandon area include Tuesday, May 19th at Peace Lutheran in Rosendale, and Tuesday July 21st at Bethel Reformed in Brandon.