KFIZ News Wednesday 12/21/16

NFDL Ladder Truck To Be Taken Out Of Service

The North Fond du Lac Fire Department has decided to take their 31-year-old ladder truck out of service by the end of the month. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says Fire Chief Jake Flaherty talked with his officers and they decided it will be taken out of service on December 28th. Hornung says an ambulance and snow plow they took out of service previously were sold on the Wisconsin Surplus website. He says they’ve had pretty good luck with that and will sell the truck on that site. He says eventually the village will have to set up a schedule for replacement of other fire department vehicles. Last month village residents voted down a referendum that asked to borrow money for the purchase of a new ladder truck.

Oshkosh Woman Facing Felony Charges For Injury Accident

Dodge County prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old Oshkosh woman for causing a two-vehicle accident that led to injuries for herself, her three-and-a-half-year-old child and a 30-year-old Middleton man. Amy Galica was allegedly under the influence of controlled substances when the accident happened on Highway 151 in the Town of Calamus on July 5th of 2015. Blood tests confirmed that. The impact of the two vehicles caused the child, who was in a car seat, to be ejected from Galica’s vehicle. Galica will make her initial court appearance on January 17th.

Jackson Man Bound Over For Trial On Reckless Homicide Charge

The 22-year-old Jackson man facing a reckless homicide and other charges for a fatal multi-vehicle accident in Washington County has been bound over for trial. Dylan Hodgson was in court this week for a preliminary hearing. Sixty-year-old Cynthia Patrick was killed in the July 19th accident on Highway 60 when Hodgson lost control of his vehicle trying to pass two others. He will be arraigned on January 18th. Hodgson is being held in the Washington County Jail on a $15,000 cash bond. 

Trial Scheduled For Suspected Marijuana Grower

A Washington County jury trial has been scheduled in February for the 56-year-old West Bend man who allegedly ran a marijuana growing operation out of his home. Gregg Mueller is facing two felony and two misdemeanor charges. Authorities found 220 marijuana plants and growing equipment during a search of his home. The two day jury trial is scheduled for February 20th and 21st.

Adopt A Hydrant

The Division Chief for Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue is asking residents to adopt a hydrant during the winter months and keep it free of snow and ice. Troy Haase says if firefighters have to shovel out a hydrant when they are trying to fight a fire it wastes time they could be using to put out the fire. He says every 30 seconds the size of a fire doubles. He says if you have a hydrant near your home, but aren’t physically able to shovel it out give the fire department a call and they will get to it when they have time. Their phone number is (920) 322-3800.  

When Driving Skills Diminish With Age

Fond du Lac Senior Center Director Cathy Loomans says one of the toughest conversations to have is with someone who is too old to drive anymore. During the monthly SALT or Seniors and Law Enforcement Together segment on KFIZ Loomans said driving and physical skills diminish with age and trying to tell a loved one they can no longer drive safely is a difficult discussion to have. Loomans says there are plenty of other ways to get around. She says there is the City Transit, Ride Share, cabs and even people at the Senior Center are willing to give rides. She says it might be easier to have that older person take a physical and have a doctor decide to make a recommendation to the Department of Motor Vehicles about whether that person should be allowed to drive.