Local News Briefs Tuesday 2/9/15

Winnebago County Murder Trial Delayed

The jury trial for a 31-year-old Oshkosh man suspected of shooting his 42-year-old girlfriend to death has been rescheduled. Samson Gomoll was supposed to go on trial next Monday, but a decision was made during a pre-trial hearing in Winnebago County Court Monday to begin the three-day trial on April 25th.  Gomoll allegedly shot Stacey Strange to death in their apartment after an argument on September 20th of last year. 

FDL County Board Preview

The Fond du Lac County Board will meet for the first time in the New Year tonight. The board cancelled last month’s meeting due to a light agenda and has just a few pieces of business to conduct this month. They will be asked to consider approving a full-time attorney’s position within the District Attorney’s office to replace one a county-funded State of Wisconsin assistant district attorney’s position. The board will meet in closed session following the regular meeting to consider economic development opportunities. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the City County Government Center in Fond du Lac.

Workmens Compensation Reform Being Worked On

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says they are hoping to reform workmen’s compensation this session. He says it’s something small businesses have been asking to be reformed. He says it’s something that hasn’t been modified much in that 100 years it’s been in place. He says some of the insurance rates don’t match up with the circumstances of the claim and they would like to make that change to help out businesses. He says it’s the marquee piece of the legislation the change to those types of rates.

United Way Surpasses Fundraising Goal

The Fond du Lac Area United Way surpassed its 2015 fundraising goal. It was the 5th consecutive year the local agency surpassed its goal. The two pacesetters for the campaign, Brenner Tank and Society Insurance raised $68,000 between them. United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says they raised $757,354 this year or about $1,300 more than they were shooting for. She says they provide funding for 25 agencies and the money they raise for them allows those agencies to concentrate on providing community services. She says those agencies provide 28 programs in the area. She says that will provide help to 31,295 people this year.

Voter Registration Required If You Moved Since Last Voting

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says people will be able to register to vote at the polls this year. But she says if you have had a change of address since the last time you voted you will need to show some piece of proof of residency if you haven’t had the address changed on your driver’s license yet. She says a utility bill would work. She says if you haven’t moved you can vote where you always have. She says it’s been nearly a year since any type of voting in the County and some people will need to register if they’ve moved since April of last year. A bill in the state legislature would allow people to register online to vote.

Campbellsport Tragedy Recalled

In his 14 years as a School Resource deputy in Campbellsport Dean Schelinske has been involved in a lot different school scenarios, but none so more tragic as what happened on February 4th of 2012. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputy says he was at home when he got a call that weekend about an SUV that rolled over on Beechnut Road with nine Campbellsport High School girls in it. Three of the girls ended up dying and the other six were injured. He says he and other county school resource deputies did what they could. He says advisors and counselors from other school districts chipped in the following Monday to help students deal with their grief. He says they knew it was going to be a whole different climate in the school and they did their best to be prepared for it. He says the accident made national news and cards and flowers poured in from across the country. He says it touched a lot of people. Katie Berg, Sabrina Stahl and Caitlin Scannel died as a result of the accident. The driver, then 18-year-old Carly Ottery, was sentenced that fall to 6 years of probation, and 100 hours of community service for each year she was on probation. 

MPTC Military Friendly

For the sixth consecutive year, Moraine Park Technical College made Victory Media’s 2016 list of Military Friendly Schools for its commitment in serving veterans as students. “I’m so proud of our staff and students for making our campuses special places for our military students and student veterans,” said Scott Lieburn, Moraine Park’s dean of students. This prestigious award recognizes the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide who embrace America’s veterans as students.

To read more click here.