Local News Briefs Tuesday 5/17/16

Information Sought On Markesan Vandalism Incident

Green Lake County authorities are looking for information about an act of vandalism in Markesan. Sometime Wednesday night April 20th or early Thursday April 21st someone threw two large rocks through the front bay window of the house located at 380 Edmaz Street.  Numerous rounds of paintballs were also shot at the house, causing significant damage to the siding, windows, and doors.   Any information regarding this or any other crime may be reported anonymously to Green Lake County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-438-8436. Tips may be eligible for up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects.

Sex Offender Released In Oshkosh

A 28-year-old sex offender will be living at 1105 A Jefferson Street in Oshkosh beginning today. Aaron Hunt was convicted of 2nd degree sexual assault of a child in 2012. He was previously convicted of the same charge in 2007. In both instances the victims were teenage girls. Hunt will be on GPS monitoring.    

FDL County Board Preview

Fond du Lac County supervisors tonight will be asked to approve an operating and development agreement for a student housing development at the UW-Fond du Lac campus. A County committee last week approved recommendations for the project and is recommending the County Board approve them. If the Board approves the resolution student housing would be available for the Fall 2017 semester. The Board meets at 7 p.m. at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac.

Vote On Zika Virus Legislation Today

There’s a vote in the U.S. Senate today on legislation Senator Ron Johnson introduced last week that would provide $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus. The funding would come by shifting money from Obamacare’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. Senator Johnson says,” We must be prepared to combat emerging diseases, and we can all agree that the Zika virus presents a great risk to Americans’ health and economic security.” The legislation would also cut through federal regulations that would prevent state and local authorities from effectively spraying against mosquitoes year-round.

IRS Scam Calls Peaking Again

An official with the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says they were seeing a lull in the IRS scam until last week. Frank Frassetto says that’s when they and police departments started receiving calls from people who got calls from scammers. It starts with an automated call in which the caller says you owe the IRS money and if it’s not paid right away there will be consequences including possible jail time. Those getting the calls are usually given a phone number to call and make arrangements for payment. Frassetto says don’t fall for it. He says if the IRS or any other government agency has an issue with something you did or didn’t do they will let you know through the mail. The Fond du Lac Police Department got more than 10 calls one days last week from people who had received the phony IRS calls.

Disabled Smoke Detectors

Usually Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue officials are advising residents to have working smoke detectors, but an official says they don’t do any good if they are disabled. Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase says if you ignore a smoke detector when it goes off you make it more difficult for firefighters who are supposed to make sure they everyone is out of the building before they fight a fire. He says they’ve also worked fires where batteries have been pulled from smoke detectors or they’ve been disabled. Haase says they have also worked fires where there have been multiple smoke detectors in the building, but not all of them were working.           

FDL Memorial Day Parade Entry Deadline Coming Up

The Fond du Lac Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will be held in Fond du Lac on Monday, May 30th.  The parade will start at 10 am at the corner of Guindon Blvd and S. Main Street.  The American Legion Post 75 is the hosting unit, and this year will have co-parade marshals, James and Peggy Guell, both Army veterans.  Parade entry requests will be accepted until noon this Friday.  All entries must display a theme related to Memorial Day.  No candy, flyers or other items will be allowed to be distributed during the parade from any of the entries.  If interested in being in the parade or if you have questions, please call 920-929-3117.

State Patrol Uses Eye In The Sky

The Wisconsin State Patrol uses its “eye in the sky” to watch for traffic violators and enhance highway safety for everyone. Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Lind says the State Patrol operates three specially-equipped aircraft. He says they’re especially useful in area like construction zones or other areas where it’s difficult for their officers on the ground to observe traffic violations. Along with supporting highway safety, the State Patrol aircraft are also used in search and rescue missions, for criminal surveillance and to get a bird’s-eye view of damage from natural disasters like flooding or tornadoes. The State Patrol has used their “eye in the sky” for enforcement efforts in Fond du Lac County.