Local News Briefs Thursday 3/3/16

Sheboygan Man Killed In One Vehicle Accident

A 16-year-old Sheboygan man was killed after his vehicle went off Stahl Road in the Town of Wilson hit a tree and started on fire. Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say Sean Zempel lost control after crossing some railroad tracks. When deputies arrived the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. Zempel was found inside, he was the sole occupant. A 911 caller reported the crash Tuesday evening shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Ripon Fatal Fire Update

Autopsy results won’t be complete for a while for a 32-year-old Ripon man who died following a fire in his apartment Saturday afternoon. Ripon Police Captain Bill Wallner says toxicology results won’t be available for some time, but nothing was found in the autopsy that they didn’t expect. He says the Ripon Area Fire District and state fire marshal’s office are investigating the cause of the fire.

Waupun Man Facing New Charges

New charges have been brought against a 33-year-old Waupun man who is already facing three felony drug trafficking charges in connection with a 2009 overdose death. Christopher Skalitzky was in Dodge County Court this week for charges stemming from a February 6thdomestic abuse incident. His cash bond was set at $7,000. Late last year he was charged for supplying methadone and oxycodone to Shallen Carlene Manske. The 25-year-old Juneau woman died of a possible overdose. An autopsy later indicated she died as the result of those drugs or from a pre-existing seizure disorder. Skalitzky will be arraigned on the newest charges on March 15th.

Envision FDL Open Houses Slated

The community will have two opportunities next week to learn about the strategic plan Envision Fond du Lac. Holly Brenner serves on the steering committee for Envision Fond du Lac. She says it actually grew out of a Leadership Fond du Lac team project she was part of in 2014. She says while they were gathering input for the plan they talked with people in board rooms, classrooms, on factory floors and elsewhere and asked them what they would like Fond du Lac to look like in 10 to 20 years. She says after nearly a thousand conversations they came up with three big ideas. She says those strategic priorities are: Our Economy, Our Identity, and Our Next Generation. There will be two open houses next week about Envision Fond du Lac. The first will in the Fond du Lac High School Media Center Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The second will be next Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA.

Look For More Patrols On Highway 23 East Of FDL

Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County Sheriff’s deputies will be doing more enforcement efforts on State Highway 23 east of Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says they found out they will be able to do 400 hours of extra patrols through a state grant. He says they will do about 100 deployments during that time. The grant runs through the end of September. Olig says as the weather gets nicer and traffic picks up they will be looking for passing and speeding violations, and reckless driving complaints. He says they’d like to get through the year without any fatal accidents. Olig says it would be nice if drivers got the message before the end of the grant period and they wouldn’t have to write any tickets. He says the extra enforcement is something they can do now hoping a lawsuit will be resolved and Highway 23 will be expanded from two to four lanes between Fond du Lac and Plymouth.

Meeting On Hwy 49 Improvements Scheduled In Waupun

The state’s Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting in Waupun next week to discuss the upcoming reconstruction of a section of Main Street or State Highway 49. The stretch between State Street and County Park Road will be improved. The meeting is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Waupun Public Library. There will be a brief presentation at 5:30. The project will start this spring. Existing pavement will be removed and replaced with new curb and gutter, sidewalk and storm sewer.  There will also be upgrades to street lighting, traffic signals, pavement marking and permanent signing will also be made. During the project the City of Waupun will replace sanitary sewer and water lines throughout the project. Main Street will be closed to through traffic and detoured.

Waupun Firefighter Training In Former Waupun Area Clinic

The Waupun Fire Department will be conducting live fire training next Monday at the former Waupun Area Clinic on Beaver Dam Street. Fire Chief B.J. DeMaa says thanks to Agnesian HealthCare and Waupun Memorial Hospital they can do the training at the former clinic.

He says they will use smoke machines to simulate fire conditions. He says they are the same smoke machines they use for the Survive Alive House training they do with area elementary school students. The training will be conducted from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There will be signs to let the public know.  He says the training will include what firefighters need to know for Rapid Intervention Team situations where firefighters may need to be rescued from a burning building. Other skills they will work on include: vehicle placement, search and rescue, hose-line advancement, ladder placement and operations, ventilation, communications and firefighter accountability.

Vorpagel Endorse Feyen For State Senate

State Representative Tyler Vorpagel is endorsing Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac for the 18th State Senate seat. Feyen is running for the seat held by fellow Republican Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac. Gudex has chosen not to run for reelection. Vorpagel represents the 27th State Assembly District and previously served as District Director for Congressman Tom Petri. Feyen is the chairman of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.