Local News Briefs Tuesday 2/3/15

The 35-year-old Lowell woman is suspected of embezzling thousands of dollars from a Dodge County cemetery made her initial appearance in Dodge County Court Monday. Katie Norton is charged with two counts of felony theft from a business.  She allegedly took over $17,500 from the bank account of the Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery Association in the Town of Trenton while working as their office manager.  The owners of the cemetery say many checks had to be returned because there was insufficient money in their bank account when there should have been.  She was released on a $1,000 signature bond and has a preliminary hearing on March 26th.

Grothman And Baldwin Comment On Presidential Budget Proposal

Congressman Glenn Grothman Monday released a statement on President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget. The federal lawmaker from Campbellsport says,” I’m disappointed President Obama’s $4 trillion budget fails to address our nation’s fiscal crisis. The answer to our nation’s problems cannot be solved with new government programs and new government spending. I look forward to using my position on the House Budget Committee to work towards a bipartisan budget that solves our problems in a responsible way by eliminating wasteful programs and operating useful programs more efficiently.” Senator Tammy Baldwin praised the president’s budget. “Budgets are statements of our values and our priorities as Americans. For me and for the people of Wisconsin, that means rewarding hard work and investing in stronger economic growth and security for the middle class, and not just for those at the top. I believe that we must build a stronger path to the middle class by investing in workforce readiness and affordable higher education, whether it’s college or technical school. We also must make a robust manufacturing economy a top priority and work to close the innovation deficit by investing in science, research and technology. I am pleased that the President’s budget proposal largely reflects these priorities, while making smart cuts to wasteful and unnecessary programs.” But she also said it was far from perfect and falls short on a number of issues important to Wisconsin, which she says she will work on.

Seventy Miles Per Hour Could Present Enforcement Challenges

The Fond du Lac County Highway Safety Coordinator says increased the speed limit on highways to 70 miles per hour could present some enforcement issues. Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says for instance Highway 41 in Milwaukee starts out at 55 miles per hour. He says if it goes to 65 for a stretch and then to 70 near Fond du Lac then decreases to 65 miles per hour for awhile, it becomes difficult to enforce. He says it’s especially dangerous and confusing with all the off and on traffic in some areas. He says from Highway 151 to County Highway OO there’s too much interaction.  Olig says the nice thing is decisions would have to be made with the State’s Department of Transportation and they would talk with local stakeholders about increasing the speed limit to 70. Current state legislation proposes increasing the speed limit to 70 miles per hour on certain highways at the DOT’s discretion. 

New FDL Senior Center Director

The Fond du Lac Senior Center has a new director. Cathy Loomans succeeds Dottie Winkelmann who retired last Friday. Loomans previously worked as Ripon’s Senior Center Director. She hails from the Brandon area and has worked in long term care in the Fox Valley area for nine years. She says she saw the posting for the job in Fond du Lac and it piqued her interest. She says she thought it was a great opportunity to work with even more seniors and have an impact. She says she feels fortunate to have been selected for the job and hopes to have a long tenure at the center. Loomans says she is impressed with the number of people who use the center. Winkelmann worked for the City of Fond du Lac for 17 years.

Holocaust Survivor To Speak At UW-FDL

UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says they are very fortunate that a Holocaust survivor will speak on campus in April. Anne Frank’s step-sister Eva Schloss is 85-year-old and lives in London. It’s been her life’s mission to talk about the Holocaust. He says there aren’t many Holocaust survivors around that can give a personal account of what happened to them during WW II. He says as Anne Frank’s step-sister she brings a particular perspective. Schloss will give her account of the Holocaust at the UW-Fond du Lac’ Prairie Theater from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2nd.  Short says it’s a chance of a lifetime for those who want to witness her visit.

Some United Way Contributors Come Away With Money

The Fond du Lac Area United Way gave out a number of $500 prizes to people who donated $104 or more to the United Way campaign. United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says those winners did not want to be recognized. The drawings were held on January 16th. She says their honorary campaign chair randomly selected the winners in a drawing. Potter says although they can’t reveal the winners names quite a few of them were done through local companies’ payroll contributions. She says that included winners from Agnesian HealthCare, Aurora Health Care, Mercury Marine, Manowske Welding, FIVES Giddings & Lewis, Brenner Tank, Target and one individual. She says money for the drawing was made possible through the generous donation of a benefactor.

Sex Offender Awareness Training At Marian Thursday

Marian University’s Student Social Work Association, in collaboration with Pillar & Vine, will be hosting sexual offender awareness training this Thursday afternoon from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the Stayer Center in Fond du Lac. The training will focus on a variety of topics, including: sex offender dynamics; registration and community notification; sex offender laws and residence restrictions; supervision of sex offenders; treatment of sex offenders; law enforcement response to sex offenders; and services for survivors and prevention education. The event is free and open to the public with pre-registration, or $10 at the door. Participants may pre-register by email at admin@pillarandvine.org or by calling 920-346-KIDS. In addition, participants may earn three continuing education units for $15.

Denim And Pearls Will Be At New RMC

The Foundation for Ripon Medical Center will host its annual Denim & Pearls fund-raiser on Saturday, February 28th at the new Ripon Medical Center. It will be held at 6 p.m. in the Journey Commons and Atrium. Participants are invited to wear their favorite “denim,” and enjoy a fun, relaxing evening with music, creative food and many opportunities to support this great event. Tickets are $40 each. Denim & Pearls will also feature a silent auction. Proceeds will help support paramedic training for members of the Ripon Guardian Ambulance Service. For more information or to register, call (920) 926-4959.