Local News Briefs Thursday 2/12/15

The guard towers at both of Waupun’s correctional institutions may be affected by the new state budget.  Governor Scott Walker’s version of the budget may lead to the shutting down of state prison towers during third shift hours, including those at the Dodge Correctional Institution and Wisconsin Correctional Institution, both of Waupun.  Waupun Mayor Kyle Clark says that he is seeking more information about the possibility of that happening and has scheduled conference calls with three local politicians, State Senator Richard Gudex and State Representatives Michael Schraa and Mark Born.  Clark hopes to find out more information about how security will be maintained at the facilities if the third shift cuts are enacted. 

Fire Damages Town Of Kewaskum Home

Washington County Sheriff’s officials say two dogs died in a house fire in the Town of Kewaskum Wednesday morning. The two occupants of the home were able to safely escape, but the family dogs were upstairs and were not. The fire on Kettleview Drive started when smoking materials ignited a chair in a downstairs room. The blaze spread to a nearby computer desk despite the homeowners’ attempt to extinguish it. There was some fire damage to the home, but more extensive smoke damage to the two-story home. Damage estimates were put at $225,000. Family and friends provided the homeowners with living arrangement options.

High School Drug Search

Students at the Fond du Lac High School sheltered in place during a drug search of the school and parking lot Wednesday morning. High School Principal Michelle Hagen says they were cooperating with the police department, which had police dogs looking for drugs. The search was routine. 

Theft At Bobs Citgo In Oshkosh

Oshkosh Police are looking for a woman who took cigarettes and left Bob’s Citgo on Ohio Street without paying for them or the gas she put into her minivan. It happened about 10:30 that night. The minivan was tan or copper-colored. The woman was wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. The woman was white and driver of the minivan was a black man. Police have released a photo of the woman inside the store. If anyone can identify the suspect or has information regarding the theft, please contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.


Theft At Oshkosh Walgreens

Police in Oshkosh are looking for a woman who stole items from the Walgreen’s Store on W. Murdoch Avenue Tuesday night. She put the items in bags and left without paying for them. It happened about 8 p.m. Photos of the woman in the store have been released. If you can identify the woman or have information regarding the theft, please contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.


Sheboygan Alderman Resigns

The Sheboygan alderman suspected of sexually assaulting two teenage boys has resigned. Thirty-three-year-old Kevin Matichek is charged with repeated sexual assault of the same child for his alleged relationship with a 15-year-old boy. He’s also suspected of having sex with a 17-year-old boy. His attorney submitted Matichek’s resignation from the Sheboygan Common Council Wednesday afternoon. The Council will act on it at their meeting Monday. Matichek is being held in the Sheboygan County Detention Center on a $75,000 cash bond.

Year Round School

Rosendale-Brandon Schools Superintendent Gary Hansen says offering an option for kindergartners through 5th graders to attend school year round could eliminate the “summer slide” in learning. He says about 60 students have indicated an interest in attending if the school board approves the program. He says they originally looked at the idea because of the fall off in learning retention during the summer months. He says students in particular suffer in their math and reading skills. Hansen says they do have a summer school program and the year round program would begin in July and end in June before the summer school starts. Hansen estimates it will cost $50,000 to $100,000 extra to run a year-round program.

Grading School District Performances

Under school accountability legislation included in the Governor’s state budget proposal both forms of grading school districts on their performance will be used. State Representatives Jeremy Thiesfeldt says the Assembly Bill he proposed called for a letter-grade system. The Senate version called for using descriptors like, “meets expectations” or “exceed expectations.” The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says he suggested using both forms, which is what will happen.

Annual Meeting Of The FDL Area Association Of Commerce

The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce will hold its Annual Meeting tonight at the Holiday Inn. Katie Leist of the association says people will be hearing from their outgoing and incoming Chairman of the Board of Directors. Tim McFarland of Hometown Bank and Rick Parks of Society Insurance will talk about what all the divisions of the association have been doing. She says it’s also a good time to offer your suggestions on how to make the organization better. She says there will be time to socialize, dine and catch the program for the evening. The social starts at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner at 6:30 and the program at 7:30. There will also be recognition of the year’s Community Award winners and the Volunteer of the Year Award recipient. 

Sturgeon Spearing Pays For Itself

Sturgeon spearing license fees help the sport pay for itself. Department of Natural Resources Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says those license fees help them pay for managing the sport on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes.He says the sturgeon season and management of the sturgeon population are models of efficiency. He says one of the reasons the sturgeon program is so successful is because the Lake Winnebago System has very involved stakeholders groups. Koenigs says they will have over 100 volunteers helping register fish when the sturgeon spearing season begins this Saturday.

State Representative Thiesfeldt Schedules Town Hall Meetings On State Budget

State Representatives Jeremy Thiesfeldt will hold town hall meetings on the State Budget in the area on Tuesday, March 10th. He will be at the Oakfield Village Hall and Public Library at 4 p.m. that afternoon and in the legislative chambers of the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center that night at 6 p.m. He will begin with a brief presentation on the State Budget proposal and conclude with a question and answer session.