Local News Briefs Tuesday 11/17/15

Wautoma Woman Injured In Washington County Accident

Washington County Sheriff’s officials say a 38-year-old Wautoma woman was injured in a one-vehicle rollover accident south of Highway D in the Town of Wayne Sunday morning. Investigators learned she was driving on I-41 when she removed her seatbelt to reach for an item inside the vehicle. While she was doing that her car left the roadway, hit a mile marker post and her vehicle continues into the median where it began to roll. It came to rest in the southbound lanes of traffic on its rest. She suffered a serious leg injury in the mishap. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Town Of Hartford Woman Injured In Fall From Bicycle

Washington County authorities had to do a neighborhood door-to-door canvas Saturday to learn the identity of a 19-year-old woman who fell off her bike and suffered a significant injury. Sheriff’s officials say it happened late that morning in the Town of Hartford on Kings Way. She was taken to Aurora Medical Center and then flown to Froedter Trauma Center. The woman lived in the neighborhood and struck her head on the pavement when she fell in the roadway.

Kohler Company Union Workers Out On Strike

Striking workers at the Kohler Company took to the picket line Monday protesting the company’s final offer on a new contract with the union. One member of UAW Local 833 named Don says they want equal pay for all workers. He says employees shouldn’t be paid less just because they are starting. He notes about half of their workforce will be retiring over the next five years. Another worker says he was on the picket lines the last time the union protested over a contract offer. He says he’s worked with the company 38 years and was with other striking employees in 1983. He says they can’t continue to let the company take and take, that there has to be some give on their part. Ninety-four percent of the union workers voted against what the Kohler Company termed their “last, best and final offer.”

Ripon Heroin Summit Tonight

Official in Ripon will host a Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Summit at Royal Ridges tonight. The free event gets started with the availability of local resources and professionals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Ripon Police Captain Bill Wallner says from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. they will have presentations. He says speakers will include law enforcement, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, Agnesian HealthCare and Ripon Medical Center representatives will be there as well. Rise Together, which has done several presentations in Fond du Lac will also be at the Ripon Summit. Its founders Anthony Alvarado and Douglas Darby will give the last presentation. He says having grown up in Ripon, Alvarado should strike a chord with younger adults and kids. During the day Rise Together will also do presentations at the Ripon Middle School and High School.

Food For Families Taking Donations

Once again this Holiday season the North Fond du Lac Police Department and Police Benevolent Association is holding its ‘Food for Families’ program. Each year the Benevolent Association adopts a number of families for the holidays. Village Police Chief Darren Pautsch says there are people who due to their circumstances have a tough time making Christmas bright for their families. He says there are a few things the public can donate to the program. He says people can drop off grocery store gift cards or cash at the police department. Other items they need are new in the package socks and underwear, new winter hats, mittens and gloves, and winter jackets in all sizes for children men and women. Pautsch says it’s a really great program that they look forward to doing every year. Adopted families will receive the gifts early the week of Christmas.

Medicare Open Enrollment Scams

The Division Administrator for the State’s Trade and Consumer Protection Department cautions senior citizens to beware of potential scammers during the Medicare Open Enrollment period that runs through December 7th. Frank Frassetto says seniors are a vulnerable population when it comes to this scam. He says people are going door-to-door claiming to be a Medicare or insurance agent. He says people will also be contacted via phone and email. He says those scammers aren’t above trying to scare you into giving out personal or financial information they can use to rip you off. He says the bottom line is you don’t have to talk with those people or give them your information. Frassetto says if you’re already enrolled and are not making any changes, there is nothing that you have to do.

Special EAS Test This Afternoon

You many hear a special Emergency Alert System test on KFIZ this afternoon or see it on your TV. It’s is part of a one-time, multi-state test of the system by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will occur at 3:20 p.m. The test will last about one minute and will look like or sound like the normal EAS test that is conducted monthly. Wisconsin is one of six states participating in the test.