Local News Briefs Tuesday 5/10/16

Stove Top Fire Displaces Family

A stove top fire displaced a family of three Sunday afternoon. Fond du Lac Fire Captain Jim Knowles says they were dispatched for a fire at 778 Forest Circle at 12:45 p.m.  Residents of the home had placed items on top of a stove not realizing a burner was on. They left the house for a little while and when they returned the residence was full of smoke and a smoke detector was going off. The Red Cross was asked to assist the family, which was displaced due the heavy smoke damage throughout the residence. No one was injured, but one occupant was checked for smoke inhalation. 

Pennsylvania Man Arraigned On FDL County Exposure Charges

The 40-year-old Pennsylvania man suspected of exposing himself on the Internet to an 11-year-old Ripon girl has pled not guilty to the charges he’s facing. William Weaver was recently arraigned in Fond du Lac County Court. Weaver and the girl allegedly connected through Facebook. After learning of the relationship the girl’s parents contacted Ripon Police. Weaver remains in the County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.   

FDL School Board Notes

The Fond du Lac School Board Monday night approved the issuing of teacher contracts for the next school year. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says changes were made by the legislature over the years that affected when they issued the contracts, but they’ve been fortunate over the years in retaining many teachers. The board also continued to whittle down the number of applicants Acuity Fund Grants during a workshop following the board’s regular meeting. Sebert says they have about $24,000 in grants available this year, but started out with requests that would have amounted to about $130,000. Sebert also reported on the recent 25 Year Awards Dinner for employees of the district who put in 25 years of more. This year they had 18 new members attending. He also highlighted the spring concert and art show season.  

Two Medics Hired For NFDL EMS Department

The North Fond du Lac Village Board recently approved the hiring of Adam Moriarity and Max Blitzke as medics for their EMS Department.  Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says one of their medics recently left the department to go to school to become a physician’s assistant. He says Moriarity will replace him and Blitzke is going to school and will qualify to become a basic EMT. He says they’ve seen a lot of movement to and from the department over the years and it’s good to have people available to them.

Letter Carriers Food Drive Helps Out Salvation Army Food Pantry

The director of social services for the Fond du Lac Salvation Army says this time of year is when they typically see donations to their food pantry slow down. Ron Jacobson says it’s something that usually happens during spring and summer. He says the letter carriers food drive this Saturday helps fill their food pantry and they benefit quite a bit from it. He says they get about 15 to 16 mail bins from the effort. He says it anyone would like to help them out while they sort out those donations this Saturday, call the Salvation Army at 923-8220.  

Radon Testing Recommended

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller encourages residents to get their homes tested for radon if they’ve never done that. She says it’s a silent killer that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. The radioactive gas occurs with the breakdown of uranium underground. She recommends testing areas of the home that you frequent the most. She says the health department at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac has the kits. They are about the size of two card decks and cost $10. She says they will explain how to use it and where to test. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. If the radon level in your home is 4 pico Curies or more it is recommended you have some remediation done by a contractor.

FDL County Sheriffs Office Benevolent Association Announces Scholarship Winners

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Benevolent Association. Association recently announced its scholarship winners. Association President Eric Halbach says they hold fundraisers with the goal of giving back to the community. Sergeant Halbach says they’ve been raising money for scholarships. He says this year they gave out five $500 scholarships to students in the County who are graduating this year. This year’s scholarship winners are; Keegan Buros, Nicholas Johnson, Annika Hintze, Caroline Wagner, and Miranda Zipp. The Association will also hold a brat fry and bake sale at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bake sale starts at 7 a.m. and runs while supplies last.