Local News Briefs Tuesday 3/22/16

Charges Pending Over Waupun Domestic Dispute

Waupun Police Chief Dale Heeringa says they got a call Saturday night at 8:18 p.m. about what was reported as a stabbing in the 100 block of East Franklin Street. He says when officers arrived they found out the victim had a small injury to his nose caused by scissors. He says the victim, a 26-year-old Waupun man, and his attacker, a 31-year-old Waupun man, got in an argument over some projects they had laid out on bed. He says although the victim’s injury wasn’t significant, charges against the suspect could be depending on the outcome of their investigation. He says they are still looking for the suspect. Chief Heeringa says pending charges with the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office includes domestic abuse related disorderly conduct and battery and two bail jumping charges.

Sex Offenders Released In Green Lake County

Green Lake County Sheriff’s officials say two sex offenders were recently released to live at a residence in the Town of Princeton. Sixty-one-year-old Roger Walker and 70-year-old Lawrence Gould are now living at N5590 Lock Road. Walker was convicted of 1st degree sexual assault of a child in 1997 and again in 2000. Gould was convicted of indecent behavior with a child in 1970 and child enticement in 2002.

Slow No Wake In Effect On Fox River In Berlin

Green Lake County officials say a boating slow-no-wake ordinance is in effect for the Fox River in Berlin. The ordinance goes effect whenever the river reaches the flood stage of 13 feet, which it is above now. Enforcement action will be taken for violations of the ordinance.

Natural Gas Customers Paid Less To Heat Their Homes This Winter

Alliant Energy officials say a typical natural gas customer in Wisconsin saved $122 on heating their home this winter compared to last winter. They say customers used 30% less natural gas to heat their homes in November and December, 12% less in January and 3% less in February. This pas winter a typical Alliant Energy customer paid $296 to heat their homes with natural gas compared to $418 during the winter of 2014-15 and $500 in the winter of 2009-2010.

Keep Your Eyes On What You Fry

Fond du Lac Fire Chief Peter O’Leary says educating people about fire prevention is an important role for his department. He says they spend a lot of time talking about smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and automatic sprinklers which are very critical. He says it’s also important to stress things you should not due. He says unattended cooking fires are becoming more numerous and they are preventable. He says forgetting about a pizza in an oven is one thing, but leaving cooking oil or grease heating on a stove can quickly get out of hand if it’s not watched. He says at a recent conference he attended they talked about “Keep your eyes on what you Fry.” O’Leary says the City is on the cusp of having a major problem again with unattended cooking fires.

Extra Meeting Scheduled For Waupun Schools Facilities Advisory Committee

Waupun Schools Superintendent Tonya Gubin says the Facilities Advisory Committee has added an additional meeting next month. She says at their meeting last week they learned that they can ask taxpayers to pass a $35.8 million referendum next November and it will not increase the current debt service tax rate. She says at the end of next month they will send out a survey to district voters. She says the feedback will help them set their priorities and make any adjustments to their base plan. She says the $35.8 million referendum gives them extra room to work with. The Facilities Advisory Committee will hold meetings on Monday, April 4th and 11th at 6 p.m. at the Rock River Intermediate School.

Distracted Driving Can Have Deadly Results

According to the national AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 90 percent of U.S. drivers admit to at least one risky driving behavior within the past month. Examples include speeding, driving while impaired, unbuckled or distracted. David Pabst, director of the state DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety says distracted driving is an increasingly prevalent and dangerous problem. He says they see drivers eating, talking on the phone, looking at maps, fiddling with the radio, even brushing their teeth. He says you would be surprised how far you can travel in just a few seconds when you are distracted. It’s estimated that for a driver travelling 55 miles an hour, a five-second distraction is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

Pet Oxygen Masks Donated

Horicon and Juneau EMS, and Clyman Fire and Rescue are now equipped to provide help to pets who may suffer from smoke inhalation due to a fire. Invisible Fence ® Brand has donated seven pet oxygen masks to the EMS units and fire department through Project Breathe™. It is estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires; most succumbing to smoke inhalation. The donation was made at the Horicon Safety Building Monday night.