Local News Tuesday 4/30/13

Thunderstorm Threat Today

 

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for western Fond du Lac County early this morning. The warning was issued shortly after 4 a.m. and was allowed to expire at 5 a.m. More storms are in the forecast for the day with isolated thunderstorms expected during the day and thunderstorms early tonight.

 

Fatal Fire In Sheboygan

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Sheboygan Firefighters fought a house fire early this morning that took a life. The fire department got a call about a fire in the lower apartment at 1721 Ashland Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Firefighters encountered flames shooting from a window of the apartment and extinguished the flames.  The County coroner was called to the scene. 

 

FDL Man Injured In Bar Fight

 

Fond du Lac Police say a 32-year-old Fond du Lac man was struck in the head with a bottle during a bar fight early Sunday morning . It happened at 1:15 a.m. at Slim and Chubby’s at 109 South Main Street. Police received a call about someone who was struck in the head with a bottle and was bleeding from the head. A 21-year-old Fond du Lac man is being questioned in connection with the incident. The victim was suffered a head injury and was taken to St. Agnes Hospital for treatment.

 

FDL Woman Cited For Driving Into Detention Pond

 

A 21-year-old Fond du Lac woman was cited after driving her car into a detention pond near the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Sunday morning. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says the woman told officers she was heading east on 15th Street and failed to stop for a sign at 15th and Martin Avenue. She traveled across Martin Avenue over the curbing and into the retention pond. She managed to crawl out of a window of the vehicle and wasn’t hurt. She told police the accident happened about 4 a.m., but it wasn’t reported until 7:40 a.m.  A purse was found in the car. The Fire Department’s coldwater rescue team was sent to the scene to see if anyone was in the vehicle when it was discovered, but the woman was driving by herself. She was cited for failing to stop for a stop sign and inattentive driving.

 

Illegal Green At Bank Gets Waupun Man In Trouble

 

Tellers at a Waupun bank are used to seeing a little green change hands in the course of business, but not the kind a 49-year-old man was carrying around last week. Police says the man has just opened an account at the Wells Fargo Bank and was in the lobby when he dropped a baggie of marijuana. A teller saw the illegal substance and police were contacted. The man was cited later in the day for possession.

 

Lawsuit Could Hold Up Start Of Hwy 23 Expansion Project

 

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says his biggest concern about the Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du Lac and Plymouth is that it isn’t delayed. He says the group 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin have a pending lawsuit for the eastern portion of the project that could delay the start of the project, which is supposed to begin in 2015. He says they are objecting to the road space that will be needed that will impact wetlands and farmlands, and are questioning the need for the project. He says it will have impacts closer to Fond du Lac as well with a diamond interchange proposed at County Highway UU and a jug handle intersection at County Highway K. The state’s Department of Transportation held a public information on the $90 million project last night at the U-W Fond du Lac.

 

Preliminary Work Begins On Campbellsport Highway Garage

 

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says the preliminary work is beginning for a new County Highway garage in Campbellsport. The current garage was built in the 1930s and no longer provides the space needed for County Highway maintenance vehicles. Buechel says they are in the process of selecting an architect for the project. He says they also need to decide how large the building should be. He says they will also have some cold storage or unheated storage area at the garage site. He says they will build a new salt shed there this year. Buechel says they need more salt capacity out there. The highway garage will be located within the Campbellsport Industrial Park.

 

Weigh In On Winnebago Waterways Meeting In FDL Tonight

 

A second round of meetings giving residents the chance to “Weigh-In on the Winnebago Waterways” is being held this week. Noreen O’Brien of the Fond du Lac County U-W Extension says it’s a five county effort involving Fond du Lac, Calumet, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago to gather information and plan for the future of the lakes and rivers in the Lake Winnebago System.She says the first series of meetings involved a little brainstorming. There was a meeting in Menasha last night, tonight there is one in Fond du Lac from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the UW Fond du Lac in the Large Group Instruction Room. People can also comment online at the project website. Other meetings will be held at the Quinney Fishing Club in Chilton Wednesday night and at the Winneconne High School Thursday night. Both of those meetings will also be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. .

 

Sturgeon Spawning Underway

 

Department of Natural Resources Sturgeon biologist Ryan Koenigs says sturgeon spawning has gotten underway on the Wolf River and they handled their first spawning fish Monday.  Fish are currently spawning at the Sturgeon Trail in New London, Bamboo Bend in Shiocton, and the Pines (spawning site on private property).  There are also some fish at Pfeifer Park in New London and a few other spawning sites on private property.  A DNR crew was able to tag 47 fish at the Sturgeon Trail and another 61 fish at Bamboo Bend, and they planned to work both of those sites again today.  Peak spawning at the two sites will likely take place today with fish wrapping up spawning there on Wednesday.

 

Sturgeon Guard Doing Their Part

 

Sturgeon spawning is underway in the waters leading to Lake Winnebago. Warden Supervisor April Dombrowski of Oshkosh says the weekend’s warmer temperatures have heated the water to nearly ideal spawning conditions for the big fish on the Fox, Wolf and Embarrass Rivers. She says it’s really a significant time because the sturgeon come so close to shore that people have ample opportunity to look at the magnificent fish. And people do come, which is where the “Sturgeon Guards” come in. She says people don’t mean to do harm, but they get wrapped up in the moment and may try to touch or grab the fish. The all-volunteer Sturgeon Guard program has been in existence since 1977, and requires a good deal of dedication: the guards are assigned 12 hour shifts. Dombrowski says the usual seven to ten day spawn is likely to be a litter quicker this year, due to the cold spring.

 Hoffy Hits The Road With The Morning Show

 

Bob Hoffmaster will be taking the Morning Show on the Road during the month of May. That’s thanks in part to Homan Auto. The Chevy, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Ram dealers now also has a new Ford dealership in Ripon. Mark Homan says the family has a history with Ford in the Ripon area. His father used to sell Fords in Ripon back in the early 1970s and Mark says his brothers also worked in a building next to their new dealership. He says they’ve been busy since their February 1st opening. He says his philosophy is to treat their customers like friends. Bob Hoffmaster will be broadcasting live from the Save-A-Lot in Ripon this Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. Guests will include Ripon Mayor Gary Will, Ripon College President Zach Messitte, Paula Price of the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce, Big John from Save-A-Lot and others. Meanwhile Bob will be visiting the area in a Homan Ford.

 

Church Of Peace Hosts Turkey Dinner

 

You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to get a good turkey dinner in Fond du Lac. The Church of Peace will be hosting their 1st Annual Turkey Dinner at the Church across from the Fond du Lac YMCA from 4 to 7 p.m. today. Norm Behnke says they will also have a raffle; heavenly handbags will be for sale and of course a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. He says the Turkey Dinner is designed to compliment the Fall Bazaar they will host on a Saturday in October. Tickets will be available at the door. You can eat-in or carry-out. Proceeds will benefit church and mission work. The church is located at 165 South Military Road in Fond du Lac.