Local News Briefs Saturday 5/10/14

Oshkosh Police are asking the Winnebago County District’s Attorney’s office to charge a 28-year-old Oshkosh man who started a fire at an apartment in the 1300 bloc of Clayton Court Friday morning. Police say the man fell asleep while smoking a cigarette. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the apartment where it started. Tenants from other apartments were safely evacuated from the building. The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m.

Police Detective Running For Sheriff

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink may have some competition in the August primary when he seeks re-election this fall. Fond du Lac Police Detective Bill Ledger has taken out nomination papers. He needs 500 signatures by June 2nd. Sheriff Fink already has filed his nomination papers with the number of needed signatures. According to County Clerk Lisa Freiberg the only other County office up for election this fall is for Clerk of Courts. Ramona Geib was appointed to that position and will be running for the office. She’s the only person who has taken out nomination papers for the office.

FDL CVB Did Its Part In Recruiting Visitor In 2013

Fond du Lac Convention and Visitors Bureau President Craig Molitor says the CVB did have a role in helping increase the County’s tourism spending growth in 2013. He says that visitor spending increased by 7.55% to $119 million last year. Molitor says events like the Men’s Bowling Association gathering and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoors Writers annual convention added to that revenue. He says the Men’s Bowling Association spent over $1 million and the outdoors writers hundreds of thousands of dollars. He notes that the CVB received a record amount of more than $500,000 from the room tax in 2013 to fund their operations.

Grade School Applications Up At SMSA

St. Mary’s Springs Academy President Kevin Shaw says they are seeing an increase in the enrollment for their St. Mary’s and St. Joe’s grade schools. He says their current Second Century campaign is raising funds for a new K-12 consolidated campus on the Ledge in Fond du Lac. He says part of the reason for that was to accommodate growth and the increasing number of enrollment applications at their grade schools justifies some of that. He says enrollment applications are up by about 120 at their grade schools. Shaw says they would like to break ground on the building project next January, but would like to have all $21 million pledged before then. He says they have about $16 million pledged or collected already.

Re-Register To Vote If You’ve Had A Name Or Address Change

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg is asking voters who have changed their last name or address since the last fall election to re-register to vote. She says you can make the changes in necessary information with your local municipal clerk or at the County Clerk’s Office. She says it will save you time and others standing in line to vote when you go to the polls this August or November. There will be a primary election in August and the general election is in the fall.

FDL Schools 25 Year Club Growing

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says he’s pleased the district holds an annual banquet for employees who have more than 25 years of service in with the district. Sebert says the recent banquet at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fond du Lac honored 18 new members of that special group. He says they share some nice stories and memory during the banquet.

UW FDL Commencement Speaker Former Dean Goldsmith

The UW-Fond du Lac will hold its annual spring Honors and Commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, in the Prairie Theater. This year’s Commencement speaker is Judy Goldsmith, former UW-Fond du Lac Dean/CEO and current Fond du Lac County Board Supervisor. Courtney Mallinger of Fond du Lac has been selected as the student speaker. She will be transferring to UW-Whitewater in the fall to major in political science and pre-law. While at UW-Fond du Lac she has served as a Student Government Association senator and worked as an English tutor. Mallinger graduated from Horace Mann High School. Graduates at the spring Commencement ceremony will be awarded the Associate of Arts and Science Degree. A reception for graduates and their families will be held in the University Center Commons following the ceremony.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Today

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is today. Postal carriers dropped off plastic bags this week for donations to the drive. This morning the items should be placed by your mailbox. Those items will be picked up and distributed to local food pantries.

Electronic Recycling Event Hosted By Mercury

Mercury Marine will host an electronics recycling event at the Mercury Museum on West Scott Street in Fond du Lac from 8 a.m. to Noon tomorrow. Dave Schecher of Mercury says the past two years the company held the event for employees only, but in honor of the company’s 75th anniversary they are opening it up to the community. Those dropping off items are asked to use the Doty Street entrance to the parking lot. A drive through will be set up. Most items can be dropped off for no cost. Those who drop off items will receive a free ticket to the museum.