Local News Briefs Saturday 8/15/15

The three people allegedly involved in the robbery of a convenience store in the Town of Fond du Lac last month have been charged. Thirty-one-year-old Shawn Eubanks and 23-year-old Barbara Anthony of Fond du Lac, and 31-year-old Ronald Loving of Milwaukee were charged this week in Fond du Lac County Court. All three are facing party to the crime of armed robbery charges. Bond was set at $100,000 cash for Eubanks and Loving, and Abernathy was released on a signature bond. The three were arrested about a week after the Highway 151 Mobil robbery at a Fond du Lac residence. Money and an SKS rifle were recovered when a search warrant was executed at the residence.

Brownsville Teen Sentenced For Gas Station Robbery

The Brownsville teen who robbed the Brownsville BP Gas Station last November has been sentenced to six months of conditional jail time. Eighteen-year-old Alec James Ryan was sentenced this week in Dodge County Court to the jail time and 5 years of probation. He told the clerk at the store he had a pistol in his waist band, but the employee never saw the weapon. He fled on foot with a carton of cigarettes. 

New Employees Join FDL Works Effort

Fond du Lac Works, a division of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, recently announced the addition of two new staff members to bolster its efforts in the recruitment, retention and development of a quality workforce in Fond du Lac. Kim Spartz and Nicole Yeomans join the division. Association Vice President Melissa Worthington says, “We are thrilled to have Kim and Nicole join Fond du Lac Works.”  You can read more about them at KFIZ.com.

Park Proposal Catches FDL CC President By Surprise

Fond du Lac City Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan says one of the items Public Works Director Jordan Skiff included in his Capital Improvements Plan caught her by surprise. Skiff gave a rundown of those items while he was highlighting his proposed 2016 Budget for the Council this week. One item was $320,000 to create a City Park off South Park Avenue, which Lorrigan says she would like to know more about. She says she’s curious about where it would go, but with the City growing out that way it makes senses that the neighborhood gets a park.

Friends Of McDermott Park Gathering Signatures

Don’t be surprised to see a table at the Downtown Farmers Market in Fond du Lac today for the Friends of McDermott Park. They’ve been at several of the events on Saturdays. Patrick Mullen of the group told the City Council this week that’s where they gathered 185 signatures on a petition opposing the City’s proposed lease of land in the park to Winnebago Lutheran Academy to build two softball diamonds. He says opposition to the lease is overwhelming at least from the people they’ve talked to at the Farmers Markets. He says some of the signatures were from children, but they weren’t going to turn them away.

New Educator At UW Extension Service

Mike Winkler recently joined UW-Extension Fond du Lac County as an Entrepreneurship Educator. Diana Tscheschlok of the Extension says he was the owner of consulting business and he served in the US Army doing military contracting work for more than 20 years. He currently teaches business, finance, and entrepreneurship in the Business Department at UW-Fond du Lac. She says they are lucky to have him. Winkler will be teaching up the upcoming Going Solo workshop series for beginning entrepreneurs.

Drivers Needed

Fond du Lac County’s Veterans Service Office has a need for drivers to take veterans to medical appointments. Veterans Service Officer Rick Patton says they’ve had a couple of drivers who quit due to health concerns and retirement. He says drivers will drive their transport van to VA clinics and hospitals in Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, Beaver Dam, and Cleveland. He says all you need is to be a licensed driver in good stead and are insurable. He says you will need to bring in your driver’s license and proof of insurance, although any driving you do with a County vehicle will be covered by the County. He says those who are interested can apply at their office in Fond du Lac, which is at 50 North Portland Street.

Life Preservers Need To Be Worn

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Chief Peter O’Leary urges boaters to have the right safety equipment with them when they venture out on the water. He says too frequently this summer we have heard about someone out boating that drowns because they weren’t wearing a life preserver. He says it needs to be worn when you step into or on a water craft. He says you hear survival stories about people whose boat or kayak overturned and they were out there a long time. He says most of those cases they survived because they were wearing a life preserver. He says it’s a life insurance policy you hope to never cash in, but it doesn’t do you any good tucked beneath the seats of your boat.

Ice Cream Social Sunday

The Fond du Lac County Historical Society will hot their 55th Annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social on Sunday at the historic Galloway House and Village Grounds located at 336 Old Pioneer Road in Fond du Lac. Hours for the event are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be a variety of lunch items, baked goods and ice cream from A&W. At 11 a.m. Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel will make remarks and proclaim a resolution in honor of the Fond du Lac Salvation Army’s 125th year celebration. That will be followed by a short service and a blessing. The Salvation Army Band will perform until noon.