Local News Briefs Thursday 8/6/15

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say an 8-year-old boy was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital after he was run over by a 4-wheeler near Waupun Tuesday night. It happened on Webster Road just before 7 p.m. Sheriff’s officials didn’t release many details about the accident including who the operator of the vehicle was.

Berlin Man Pleads To Vehicle Theft Charge In Green Lake County

The Berlin man who stole four cars in three counties last August has entered a plea agreement with Green Lake County prosecutors. Twenty-nine-year-old Maxwell Decker pled to felony vehicle theft and two unrelated misdemeanor counts of battery and obstruction. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and it can also be used in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties, where Decker also faces charges for a high speed pursuit, burglary, vehicle theft and other crimes. 

Highway 151 Bridge Deck Inspections Scheduled

State Department of Transportation officials say bridge decks will be inspected next Wednesday on a pair of bridges on Highway 151 in Fond du Lac County. The northbound Highway 151 bridge over State Highway 26 will be inspected from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Also that day the Highway 151 bridge over DeNeveu Creek will be inspected from 1 to 3 p.m. During both inspections there will be lane closures, but the bridge will remain open. The inspections are weather dependent.

Chemical Soaked Rags Can Start Fires

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Chief Peter O’Leary says there are steps you can take to make sure a fire doesn’t start when you use rags for staining. He recommends reading the fine print on the can of stain and then safely dispose of rags used for the staining. He says you can find a steel container to put the used rags in at several locations in town. He says a hardware store or place like Menard’s would have them. He says spontaneous combustion started the side of a garage on fire last Saturday because someone hadn’t properly disposed of rags being used for staining. He says if not for the quick-thinking of a neighbor’s visitor the fire could have been much worse. That person grabbed a garden hose and knocked the fire down before fire crews arrived.

Square And Round Dance Convention In North Fondy This Weekend

North Fond du Lac will become the a dance Mecca this weekend as the Horace Mann High School hosts the 56th Wisconsin Square and Round Dance Convention. Ron and Janelle Mueller of Sheboygan are co-chairs for the event, which is Friday through Saturday at the high school. Ron says the convention has never been hosted in the Fond du Lac area. Brenda Deal, who is publicizing the convention, says people can attend for free and even learn a few dance steps if they are willing. It’s being billed as the Greatest Dance on Earth “Under he Big Top.” Hours each day will run from about 9 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. Highlights include their big show on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. there will be an inspirational hour with old-fashioned gospel music. 

Wisconsin State Fair Starts

The Wisconsin State Fair gets underway at State Fair Park in West Allis today. Fair spokeswoman Jan Fuente says one way you can save on the cost of a ticket today is to bring in a donation of two non-perishable food items. She says it will benefit the Hunger Task Force and you can get in for $2 until 4 p.m. In addition to the music and activities there will be some dare devil action with tightrope walker Nick Walenda next Tuesday walking on a wire over the Milwaukee Mile without a net or tether. Of course the fair is known for its cream puffs, but Fuente says there are a number of original foods created for the fair each year including the popular food on a stick. Among the noted musical performers who will play the fair are Boston and Kenny Rogers. For more information about the fair visit their website.

Envision FDL Workshops Scheduled

Envision Fond du Lac has scheduled additional workshops this month. The first session on Economic Development & Entrepreneurship is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19th in the multipurpose room at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA. The second session on Community Identity is the same day from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Agnesian HealthCare Plaza Level Conference Room. Another workshop on Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation will also be there the same night from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The final workshop on Neighborhood Livability is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 20th in the Multipurpose Room at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA.

Marian Business And Industry Dinner Scheduled

Marian University will hold its 34th annual Business and Industry awards and dinner at Marian’s Stayer Center on Tuesday, October 27 in the Stayer Center. Presentation of awards will follow a reception at 5:45 p.m. and dinner. During the ceremony, five awards will be presented to local businesses and individuals, including the Business of the Year award, Entrepreneur of the Year award, Economic Development award, Special Achievement award, and the George Becker Business Spirit award.  The Business & Industry awards dinner also helps raise money for scholarships for students in the Marian University School of Business & Public Safety. For more information about the 2015 Business and Industry Awards, contact Ashley Eckert, special events coordinator, at aleckert14@marianuniversity.edu or at 920-923-8133.

Dodge County Sheriffs Citizens Academy Has Openings

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is still accepting applications for their first Sheriff’s Citizen Academy. The 13 week course will give the participants hands on experience into the day to day operations of the Sheriff’s Office. The academy starts September 16th and will go each week until December 9th.  Class times are scheduled for Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. If you have questions, contact Sergeant Michael Willmann at (920) 386- 4124 or email mwillmann@co.dodge.wi.us