Local News Briefs Thursday 11/6/14

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department used Facebook and Twitter to help them locate a hit-and-run driving suspect who left the scene of a crash on State Highway 44 near Clairville Road Wednesday morning. They released the information about the suspect vehicle a white 1990’s extended cab pickup truck on the social networking sites after the crash that left a car flipped on its roof and two Ripon residents injured. A 64-year-old Ripon man was treated at a hospital and released and a 58-year-old Ripon woman is still hospitalized. Tips lead them to a 25-year-old man and his vehicle.  He was taken into custody on a probation hold. Investigators are determining whether the two vehicles made contact or the victims’ vehicle swerved and flipped trying to avoid the pickup.

New Search For Amber Wilde

She’s been missing for 16 years, but authorities have new leads in the disappearance of Amber Wilde. Green Bay Police yesterday searched a 30 acre property in the Waupaca area. A search warrant was executed to search the property that’s in a remote area. The property was searched once before in 2000, but authorities are hoping advances in evidence gathering technology will lead to a more successful effort this time. Wilde was a sophomore at the UW-Green Bay when she went missing in September of 1998. Her car and her purse where found outside a tavern in Ashwaubenon.

Oshkosh Industrial Park Project Gets State Trust Fund Loan

A project in Oshkosh’s southwest industrial park will get some help in the form of a state trust fund loan. The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands this week approved the $1.25 million loan for the project. It was part of $2.7 million in loans total the board approved for projects in seven municipalities across the state.

Opiate And Heroin Info Session At Randolph High School

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department and Randolph Police Department will host a public information program on the dangers of opiates and heroin. It will be at the Randolph High School tonight. There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m. with a question and answer session following. It’s open to all parents and community members, but is meant for adults only. In Dodge County the number of people who have died from accidental opiate overdoses has doubled in the past year.

Republicans Have Large Majority In State Assembly

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-Assembly Republicans will return to the Capitol next session with their largest majority in over 50 years. Republicans claimed at least 61 seats in the chamber in Tuesday’s election, while unofficial returns show GOP candidates the likely winners in two more districts. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) says it’s a big opportunity for them to continue making reforms. Vos says the G-O-P agenda will include improving school accountability, restructuring the Government Accountability Board, and making campaign finance reforms. The Rochester Republican dismissed any talk of revisiting the issue of federal funding to expand Medicaid programs or pursuing right to work legislation. Vos says he plans to meet with Senate Republicans and Governor Walker in the coming weeks to help set the agenda.

Reservations Being Taken For Empty Bowls

Reservations are being taken for tables of six of more to the Leadership Fond du Lac Alumni Group’s Annual Empty Bowls luncheon. It will be held at the Retlaw Plaza Hotel from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3rd. Lesley Manowske of Leadership Fond du Lac says it takes a lot of people to put the event on including over 100 volunteers, six restaurants to make the soups, and 11 schools whose students make the bowls. She says they appreciate the efforts of the students and teachers from the 11 schools who are making the bowls. Proceeds go toward Fond du Lac food pantries. Manowske says because of cuts in government funding some people have to make tough choices when it comes to putting food on the table sometimes picking paying for their medications instead. The cost for Empty Bowls is $15 per meal, which includes getting the bowl. Reservations for tables of six or more can be made by calling the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce at 921-9500.

Increasing Your Chances Of Surviving A House Fire

Two house fires in Fond du Lac County between Saturday and Monday morning are unusual, but the Red Cross responded to both of them. Barbara Behling of the Red Cross says the American Red Cross responds to about 62,000 house fires a year across the country. She says that works out to a disaster every eight minutes, and twice a day in Wisconsin. She says in each of the eight fatal fires in the state this year there weren’t working smoke detectors in the home. Behling recommends two things, working smoke alarms and an escape plan. She says that will increase your chances of surviving a house fire by 50 percent.

Izaak Walton League Gun Sight In Next Two Weekends

The Fond du Lac chapter of the Izaak Walton League will be offering a firearm deer hunting sight in during the next two weekends at their club grounds. The A.D. Sutherland Chapter is located at N6491 County Highway K. Mike Harris of the chapter says they are a conservation club. He says they are all about being good stewards of the land and enjoying the great outdoors. He says they will sight in guns for various distances for rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns. He says they also work with area youth groups throughout the year. The cost for the sight in is $5 per gun. A gunsmith will be on site for minor repairs and hamburgers, brats, chili and steak sandwiches will be available. The event is the next two Saturday and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MPTC Hosting Heroin Crisis Update

Heroin prevention, enforcement and treatment will be the main focus as recovering addicts, law enforcement officials and counselors from the community gather to discuss the growing heroin crisis in the Fond du Lac area. The event will be held on Thursday, November 13th at 2:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus. The event is free and open to the public.  The event is split into four sessions, and attendees are welcome to attend the entire event or individual sessions. The schedule is as follows: 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. – update from the Fond du Lac Police MEG Unit; 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. – two former addicts tell their stories; 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. – treatment options by Laura John from the Beacon House; 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. – question and answer session. For more information about Moraine Park or this event visit the Moraine Park website. 

Cyber Bullying Prayer Vigil At Marian Tonight

Marian University’s J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League will be hosting a candle light prayer vigil tonight at 6 p.m. on the campus quad in Fond du Lac. The event aims to stand up against cyber bullying and bring awareness towards ways that students, faculty, staff, and the community can make a positive social change.