Local News Briefs Saturday 4/12/14

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says she’s been watched the debate in the state legislature over Common Core educational standards from afar. Baldwin is a member of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. She says it displeases her that the state is trying to displace the common core standards given how much time and effort school districts across the state have put into trying to adapt to them. Baldwin made her comments during a recent visit to Fond du Lac while she was touring the STEM Academy and Mercury Marine.

LaClare Farms One Of The Ag-related Projects Supported By The FCEDC

You may hear more about efforts to attract new manufacturers, but Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Steve Jenkins says they are also involved in agricultural-related businesses. He says the FCEDC had a role in helping LaClare Farms in Malone.

He says the FCEDC, a bank and the County supported the project. The farm features a new state-of-the-art 35,000 square foot farmstead dairy plant, retail store and café, along with a milking parlor with housing for 600 milking goats. Their Evalon Cheese has won multiple awards and recently was a finalist in the World Cheese Championships in Madison winning a gold medal along the way.

Grant Submitted For Fire Inspection Tablets

Fond du Lac Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase says he’s still getting feeling for grant writing. He says they try and save on some costs for the City by putting submitting grant applications. He says one successful effort was to purchase smoke detectors that they could install in some of the older high risk homes for fires. Haase says others in the department are more skilled at grant writing and recently they applied for a $24,000 grant to purchase computer tablets for fire inspection efforts. He says the tablets have to be durable enough to survive drops and bangs.

Mayville Burglary Suspect Waives Hearing

The 30-year-old Milwaukee woman implicated in a string of Mayville-area burglaries waived her preliminary hearing in Dodge County Court this week. Ashley Pinkert told police she was out-of-work and needed to pay rent and put food on the table for her child. She is charged with three felony burglary counts for break-ins in January at three separate residences. During one of the burglaries, the property owners came home and found her. She told them she was looking for a friend. The victims got her license plate and she was arrested a short time later. Among the items stolen were cash and prescription drugs.

Only For Display

There will be a definite law enforcement presence at Marian University in Fond du Lac today, but that tactical vehicle parked near the Stayer Center is just for show. The school is hosting their first ever Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Conference. Sandra O’Donnell is the president of Marian’s Criminal Justice Club. She says it will feature a career fair and workshops, demonstrations and they hope to expand it next year. The Fond du Lac Police Department’s bearcat tactical vehicle will be at the event, which is free and open to the public. Hours for the event are 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Arbor Day Festivities Detailed

The City of Fond du Lac will hold its Arbor Day Celebration at Lakeside Park on Friday, April 25th. It will be at the pavilion and will begin with a welcome at 1 p.m. Lakeshore Elementary 3rd grade students will participate in a tree planting ceremony at 1:15 p.m. At 1:40 p.m. there will be an awards ceremony and Tree City U.S.A. presentation to the City. There will also be an Arbor Day quiz for the school children. The public is welcome to attend.

Hop Along With The Easter Bunny At The Children’s Museum Sunday

The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac invites children to hop along with the Easter Bunny Sunday and enjoy children’s entertainer Larry Goebel. The special musical show is from 1 to 1:30 p.m. with the Easter Bunny visit from 1:30 to 3 p.m.  The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and general admission to the event is $6 per person.