Local News Briefs Thursday 3/31/16

Two Arrested For Burglarizing Ripon College Dorm Rooms

Ripon Police last week arrested two men after the men pulled fire alarms in a Ripon College dorm and burglarized rooms after students evacuated the dorm. Police Captain Bill Wallner says when officers and Ripon firefighters arrived extinguishers had been discharged and fire alarms pulled. He says it was as students were returning to their rooms that they learned of the thefts. They found two men who weren’t students who had been visiting someone in the dorm and learned the two men were responsible for taking items from student’s rooms. He says that included clothing, cash, and electronics. Wallner says most of the stolen items and money was recovered. The two men, who are 18 and 17-years-old, are facing multiple charges.

Waupun Inmate Accused Of Trying To Kill Guard

An inmate at the Waupun Correctional Institution is facing charges for trying to kill a corrections officer. Forty-six-year-old Bobby Kimble allegedly waited outside a restroom at the prison for a female corrections officer last October and punched her multiple times. He then locked himself in the bathroom with her and continued his attack with a homemade weapon, threatening to kill her.  Other corrections officers were able to get into the bathroom and subdue Kimble. An initial appearance in Dodge County Court is scheduled for May 4th. 

Serial Killer Seeks Release From Mendota

A 69-year-old serial killer this fall will try to convince a Washington County judge that he should be released from the Mendota Mental Health Institute.  Alvin Taylor has been confined to that facility since the late 1980s, after he killed four men in Wisconsin and Minnesota between 1985 and 1988. He was convicted of first degree murder of a man in Dunn County, but was sent to Mendota instead of prison.  Taylor was a nightclub singer who traveled across the both states. He has been regularly seeking a conditional release from confinement since 2010. His Washington County court date is September 7th.  Even if his release is approved in Washington County, he would still need approval from courts in Dunn and Eau Claire Counties as well as Minnesota.

Plymouth Standoff Ends Peacefully

Plymouth Police says a standoff Tuesday was peacefully resolved. A man inside a home in the 700 block of South Pleasantview Road was threatening to harm himself because he wasn’t getting his medications. He threatened to shoot any police that tried to stop him. Negotiations ended with the man surrendering without incident.  No one was hurt during the incident.

Unemployment Rates Up Slightly

Unemployment rates for the City and County of Fond du Lac were up slightly last month. According to federal labor statistics the jobless rates for both the City and County increased from 4.6 percent in January to 4.9 percent in February. The unemployment rate statewide held steady at 4.6 percent last month.

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FDL Fire Chief Has Worked With Secret Service For Presidential Candidate Appearances

Should any Presidential candidates make a public appearance in Fond du Lac, Fire Chief Peter O’Leary has the experience to work with the Secret Service. O’Leary used to work in New Hampshire where the first presidential primary each presidential election. He says he got used to working with the Secret Service. He says they come before the candidates and talk with law enforcement and fire officials to develop a game plan. O’Leary says his department’s main concerns would be over fire protection and ambulance if one is requested. He says while the Secret Service is accommodating they also will make requests. O’Leary says for example if a candidate was going to make an appearance at the UW-Fond du Lac Prairie Theater there would be certain things they would ask for. He says they might want the first three rows reserved, but often they tell you what they need as a minimum.

Dog Flu

A local veterinarian says there have been no cases of dog influenza in the area. Kim Everson of St. Bernard’s Animal Medical Center in Van Dyne says there are two strains of dog flu in the country. The nearest popped up in the Chicago area last April. She says some cases were detected in Wisconsin the first two months of this year. They were in Racine, Milwaukee and Green Bay. She says there are two vaccines for the two strains of dog flu, but they do not cross protect. She says unless your dog travels to places where influenza has been detected you don’t need to worry about having them vaccinated for the flu. She says the average dog may not need protection from the flu.

Blood Drive At FDL Public Library

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at the Fond du Lac Public Library today from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm- in the McLane Meeting Room. Donors must be at least 17-years-old or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or on the internet at www.redcrossblood.org.  Walk-ins are also welcome. All donors will receive refreshments.