Local News Briefs Tuesday 2/11/14

Ripon has joined the number of growing communities asking residents to run tap water to avoid the freezing up of water services. The Utility Billing Department with the city will be adjusting water and sewer bills. They are asking residents to trickle water from a faucet in their home until further notice. Those who have questions are asked to call the Utility Manager, Chris Liveris ant 748-4912, between 7:00 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Oshkosh Burglary Arrests

Three teenage boys in Oshkosh have been arrested for a residential burglary that occurred last Wednesday night on West 14th Avenue. Oshkosh Police say 14 and 16-year-old boys were picked up last Friday night while they were investigating a suspicious person complaint on South Main Street. The two still had stolen items from the residential burglary on them. The 14-year-old was arrested for burglary and the 16-year-old for possessing stolen property. Investigators were able to get information on other items stolen from the burglary and that led to the arrest of another 16-year-old boy who had items from the burglary including a .45 caliber handgun. He’s facing possession of stolen property charges. All three teens were taken to the Fond du Lac County Juvenile Detention facility. Also recovered from the burglary were iPods, tablets and headphones.   

Grenades Found In West Bend

Two grenades found in West Bend Sunday were both inert. West Bend Police were called a residence late that morning when a woman found a military style hand grenade in a box of items belonging to her late boyfriend. She also told them she had another grenade at her home. Milwaukee County’s Bomb Squad determined both grenades were former training devices and were not active explosives. They removed the grenades and disposed of them.

Sturgeon Season Over On Upriver Lakes

The sturgeon spearing season on the Upriver Lakes is over. The 90 percent harvest cap trigger was hit Sunday, closing the season at 1 p.m. yesterday. DNR Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says it was a good season on the Upriver Lakes. He says a total of 341 fish were taken on the Upriver Lakes including 11 of more than 100 pounds. He says the season on Lake Winnebago will likely last another 2 to 4 days. A total of 1,154 sturgeon have been taken on Lake Winnebago this season including 76 of more than 100 pounds. Two fish weighing more than 150 pounds were taken yesterday; the biggest was a 155 pound sturgeon by Brian King. He registered the 76.4 inch long fish at Jim and Linda’s in Pipe.

FDL PD Domestic Violence Intervention Team Works With Victims

A new team with the Fond du Lac Police Department is making a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. Officer Kristina Meilahn is with the Domestic Violence Intervention Team. They work with victims of domestic violence. It’s an idea Lieutenant David LeCaptain came up with inspired by something another department was doing in Platteville. Some cases involve a 72-hour no contact order and officers use that time to follow up and see to the needs of the victims.  She says that will include offers of the services of the Solutions Center and Agnesian HealthCare’s Domestic Violence program and advocacy. She says they also follow up on criminal aspects of the case. Sometimes when a victim wants to talk with an advocate, but doesn’t feel comfortable doing it themselves someone from their team goes along. She says they see 2 to 5 cases of domestic violence on any given day.

Getting The Big Fish

Don Feldner at least for the opening weekend of the 2014 sturgeon spearing season could boast having the largest fish. He speared a 148 pound sturgeon that was 74.5 inches long and registered it at Jim and Linda’s in Pipe. He’s had sturgeon spearing success before, but it’s been 19 years in between and this is the largest fish he’s ever speared. It’s been a long tradition for his family. His father began spearing sturgeon in the 1930’s and took a 106 pounder out of Lake Winnebago in 1956. Don was with his son Sunday when he got the big fish. He says he got a new sleigh in case he got a big fish and needed to move it on the ice to a registrations station. He says that and a new decoy were good luck charms. Brian King now has the largest sturgeon for the season to date registering a 155 pound sturgeon Monday that was 76.4 inches long. He also registered that at Jim and Linda’s in Pipe.

Reservations Being Taken For Corks And Forks

Reservations are being accepted for the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation’s annual Corks and Forks Dinner. This year’s event will be on Thursday March 20th. UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says it will feature a gourmet Greek-themed meal with appropriate wine pairings. He says there will be a live and silent auction, wine pull and presentation of the 2014 Spirit of Excellence Award to Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel. Tickets are $75 each with the option for table sponsorships and reservations are required. Last year over $18,000 was raised for scholarships and the foundation. To phone in a reservation call 929-1111.  For more information click here.

Public Education Listening Session Scheduled In FDL

Support Our Schools-Fond du Lac will be holding a listening session at the Fond du Lac Public Library’s McLane meeting room regarding public education on Tuesday, February 18th at 6:30 p.m.  All community members are invited to participate in the open dialogue. Participants will convene in small groups and are invited to share what is valued with public schools, what are concerns regarding the future of public education, and what are ways the community can support its schools. The event is free and open to the public. Support Our Schools-Fond du Lac are non-partisan advocates for strong public education.

Baldwin Representative Office Hours

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office will have a regional representative holding office hours in Marquette and Green Lake Counties today and Wednesday. Constituents will have the chance to meet with staff and request assistance with a federal agency or discuss other federal issues. No appointment is necessary. Office hours will be held at the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department’s Public Safety Training Room in Montello from 2 to 3 p.m. today and in Green Lake Wednesday at the Green Lake Government Center in the Committee Room from 2 to 3 p.m.