Local News Briefs Thursday 7/9/15

Oshkosh Police say a 26-year-old sex offender will be moving to 1935 Hubbard Street on Friday. In 2010 John Bechle was convicted of 2nd degree sexual assault of a child. His victim was a 15-year-old girl. In 2008 he was convicted for exposing himself. He will be required to be on GPS monitoring for three months.

Fire Damages Washington County Home

Fire damaged a home and garage in the Town of Barton early Wednesday morning. Sheriff’s officials say they got the call for the fire at 6904 Weatherstone Court at 4 a.m. The homeowners were awakened by the family dog and smoke in the residence. Six fire departments responded with the lead agency being West Bend Fire and Rescue. The cause if believed to be from towels that were used for staining deck boards. They were discarded in the garbage. The fire started in the garage and spread to walls in the residence. The blaze damaged the garage, basement and an office area.

Waupun Correctional Inmate Arraigned On Attempted Murder Charges

The Waupun Correctional inmate suspected of trying to kill another inmate with a “shank” was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week. Twenty-eight-year-old Eric Conner is also suspected of injuring a guard who tried to intervene during the altercation this past February. Conner stood mute during his hearing and “not guilty” pleas were entered on his behalf. He’s facing attempted 1st degree intentional homicide and battery by prisoner charges. According to the criminal complaint Conner attacked the guard after the officer pepper sprayed him during the incident. The officer was punched in the head and face during the attack.

Purchase Of Highway Garage Land Likely On August FDL County Board Agenda

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says he expects the County Board will act next month on the purchase of land for a new highway garage in Fond du Lac. He says they are looking at about a $22 to $25 million project that could also house the Sheriff’s impound lot, parking for Senior Service vehicles, and a place for the Parks Department. He says foremost will be the consideration of the garage. He says next month the board will only decide on the land purchase. He says they need a lot of land just for the highway garage, but need room to expand as well. He says if the Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du Lac and Plymouth eventually gets done it will add another 20 miles of state road the County has to maintain, which means more equipment. He says while they are trying to determine how to pay for that project they will also have to consider a jail expansion, which he says may only be a couple years away.

New Rate To Be Implemented For NFDL Refuse Containers

North Fond du Lac village officials will be going to one price for the refuse containers residents’ use for the village’s refuse collection. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says there’s been no charge for the 40 gallon containers, but a $10 quarterly fee for 60 gallon containers and $15 for 90 gallon containers. He says it’s been difficult to keep that straight. He says the board decided in March to go to a flat rate of $5 a quarter no matter what size refuse container you use. He says the new rate hasn’t been implemented yet because the board wanted to discuss if it should be more so they could create a reserve fund for the future purchase of a new refuse truck, something they decided against this week. Hornung says he will write more about the new refuse rate in The Village the Village’s electronic newsletter, which is also available on the Village website.

Chapter 52 Will Open This Fall

An official with the Fond du Lac Public Library says they are busy getting ready for the opening of their new book store location at 52 Sheboygan Street. Community Information Coordinator Terri Fleming says “Chapter 52” is being worked on and will open this fall. There was a contest to rename the former pharmacy building located next to the library. Currently the BookCellar operates out of the lower level of the library, but Fleming says that space will accommodate maker space for a variety of equipment people can use to make things. She says in addition to selling books “Chapter 52” will be a place to highlight local authors with autograph signings and talks.

Nearly 50 Employers Registered For FDL Career Expo

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Reggie Newson says nearly 50 employers have registered for the Fox Valley Career Expo on Wednesday, July 29 at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo Center. He urges employers and job seekers to register now for the DWD hiring event. More than 1,000 registered job seekers are expected to attend the Fox Valley Career Expo, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first 30 minutes will be limited to U.S. military veterans seeking employment. The general public will be admitted at 10 a.m. Job seekers should pre-register at the Job Center website. Use the job seeker tools o the site tor create or update a job match profile and complete a self-assessment survey. Be sure to print copies. You can meet with an employment specialist at a local Job Center during business hours through July 28th to review your resume and self-assessment survey, review the job application process, and receive an admission ticket. You can also check the list of participating Fond du Lac Career Expo employers by visiting the Job Center website.


Winkler Joins FDL County UW Extension Service

Mike Winkler has recently joined UW-Extension Fond du Lac County as an Entrepreneurship Educator. His work will be centered on teaching Going Solo workshops for community members interested in starting their own businesses, honing their basic business skills, and exploring the idea that “everyone is an entrepreneur.” Of special emphasis will be service to traditionally underserved groups. Mike will also work with IGNITE! Business Success, the Fond du Lac County-based resource network for innovators and entrepreneurs, to teach entrepreneurship skills to young people as they explore potential careers and ways to succeed in the work world. Winkler has extensive experience in entrepreneurship as the owner of his own consulting business. He served in the US Army doing military contracting work for more than 20 years, and currently teaches business, finance, and entrepreneurship in the Business Department at UW-Fond du Lac. Winkler welcomes the public to contact him with any project ideas or business start-up questions at michael.winkler@ces.uwex.edu or 920/929-3173 (711 for WI Relay).