Local News Briefs For Thursday 4/17/14

An investigation into the death of a 5-year-old Oshkosh boy has concluded it was an accident. Oshkosh Police and The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office conducted the investigation into the death of Andy Truong who was playing in a driveway last Friday when he was run over by a vehicle. Investigators determined a 31-year-old Oshkosh man unintentionally drove over him. Andy was taken to Mercy Medical Center where he died. Alcohol and drugs were not considered to be a factor, but toxicology results are pending on the driver. The incident is being reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.

Trying To Attract New Restaurateurs To Downtown FDL

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation are working to attract potential restaurant owners to the City. DFP Executive Director Amy Hansen says with the closing of The Main Exchange they will have a couple of buildings that could be attractive to a new owner. She says they are developing a statement of interest and request for qualifications targeting restaurateurs who are looking for a second or third location and might be interested in Fond du Lac. She says with Marian University purchasing the A.C. Nielsen building and Commonwealth Development’s redevelopment of the Retlaw Theater they have a couple of things marking resurgence in the downtown. Hansen says plans were for The Main Exchange to expand into the building next door, but that didn’t happen. She says it would be a perfect opportunity for a Brew Pub. The Main Exchange closes on Saturday after nearly 35 years in business. 

FDL County Board Elects Officers

Marty Farrell of Ripon will continue to lead the Fond du Lac County Board. Farrell was elected County Board Chairperson during the Board’s organizational meeting Tuesday night. After all 25 supervisors were sworn into office they elected board officers. Farrell has chaired the board for the past eight years. Supervisors also unanimously elected Judy Goldsmith vice chair and elected Tom Dornbrook second vice chair. The board will hold its regular monthly meeting next Tuesday.

Appointing A Seventh FDL City Council Member

Now that the Fond du Lac City Council has had its annual organizational meeting the new Council will begin the process of filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Council member Dan Manning. City Council President Sam Meyer says they will discuss how to do that during the Council’s meeting next Wednesday. He says they’d like to seat that new person during their second meeting in May. Meyer says it’s up to the entire Council, but his preference would be to use the same appointment method that led to the seating of Council members Brian Foster and Karyn Merkel. The person appointed to the Council will serve out the remainder of Manning’s term, which runs to next April.

New Video Conferencing Equipment Installed At FDL Fire Stations

The Fond du Lac Fire Department later this morning will be giving the press a look at their new state-of-the-art video conferencing hardware and software that links all three fire stations in the City. Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase says it’s installed in each of their training rooms. Haase says they were able to get money included in their budget this year for the equipment. He says in the past firefighters and paramedics from all three stations would have to show up at the South Main fire station for training or watch it on a video recording later. He says protecting the City is their first priority so having firefighters at their own station during training allows them to respond to calls sooner in their section of the City. Fire Chief Peter O’Leary says, “This not only saves valuable time in an emergency, but will cause less wear and tear to our fire apparatus.”

Body Of Missing Sheboygan Man Found In Lake Michigan In Lower Michigan

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-The body of a Sheboygan man missing for nearly five months has been found just off the coast of Lower Michigan. Sheboygan Police Captain Jim Veeser said the department got word Wednesday that the body of Allen L. Townsend was recovered Tuesday in Lake Michigan near Ludington.  When talking to local law enforcement, Veeser said identifying marks on the body matched those that were on Townsend. Townsend was last seen leaving a residence on Alabama Avenue back on November 20, and a family member reported him missing in late December.  Veeser said an autopsy was performed on the body and no foul play is suspected.

Oshkosh Stalking Suspect Arrested

Oshkosh Police arrested a 21-year-old Oshkosh man this week for stalking a juvenile girl. Investigators say the man was involved in incidents in February and March in which he allegedly knocked on and looked in windows and called her on a restricted line. Police used electronic surveillance equipment, which paid off early last Sunday morning when the family reported someone looking into their windows and police observed the man in backyards in the area. He was released, but arrested this past Monday on two counts of stalking.

Timber Wolf Subject Of Marian Earth Day Presentation

Marian University’s Social Justice Committee will be hosting an Earth Day presentation, entitled “The Timber Wolf in Wisconsin” next Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. in the Sadoff Science Building room 100.  The multimedia presentation, featuring Patrick Arndt, will discuss and demonstrate wolf physiology, ecology, population biology, behavior and field study techniques. Arndt is currently a biology, environmental science and advanced genetics teacher at Berlin High School in Berlin, Wis. He has more than 20 years of wolf tracking, howling, field research and teaching experience with the Wisconsin timber wolf. The event is free and open to the public.

Black Maria Film Festival Returns To UW-FDL Tonight

The UW-Fond du Lac’s Prairie Theater will host the Black Maria Film & Video Festival tonight. It’s the fourth year the short films festival has made a stop at the UW-Fond du Lac. Dean John Short says things begin at 5:30 p.m. with some student films. He says students will be competing for prizes and the film festival then gets underway at 6:30 p.m. John Columbus is the found and director emeritus of the Black Maria Film Festival, which makes stops across the country. He says the films range from two minutes to 20 minutes. He equates putting together the festival to planning a fine dinner. The film festival is being sponsored by the UW-Fond du Lac Segregated University Fee Advisory Committee and Fine Arts and Lecture Committee. It’s free, but not all films will be suitable for all ages. 

FDL Elks Lodge #57 Scholarships

Fond du Lac Elks Lodge #57 recently completed its’ local edition of the annual U.S. Constitution Contest. Ryan Mas who attends St. Mary’s Springs Academy won the first place scholarship of $275. He is the son of Colleen and Robert Mas.  Bradley Morgan placed second winning $225. Bradley is the son of Sara and Bill Morgan of Fond du Lac and attends Fond du Lac High School. Placing third and winning a $200 prize was Colton Parr who attends Lomira High School and is the son of Eric and Laura Parr.  Ryan Mas represented the area at the State Finals in Oshkosh at the end of last month competing against 31 other students from across for $21,880 in scholarships. A student from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids won the state contest. Ryan, Bradley and Colton will receive their scholarship awards at the Elks Youth Activities Banquet at the Elks Lodge next month.  During the banquet thousands of dollars in scholarship awards will be distributed to area high school seniors. Recipients of the Elks Most Valuable Student, Elks Senior Achievement, Legacy and Vocational Scholarship programs will also be recognized. 

Rosenow Elementary Alumni Scholarship Available

The Rosenow Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization is offering three scholarships of $500 each to graduating seniors who have attended Rosenow Elementary School and who plan on continuing their education at either a college or technical school. Applications may be obtained from the Fond du Lac High School, Winnebago Lutheran Academy (WLA), St. Mary’s Springs’ guidance departments, or Rosenow School office. Applications must be submitted to the Rosenow School office by the end of the school day on Wednesday, April 30th.  Please contact the Rosenow School office at (920) 929-2996 if you have any questions.

Coffee With A Cop

The Juneau Police Department and Dodge County Sheriff’s Department will be hosting a “Coffee with a Cop” program this morning. It will be from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Village Garden on West Oak Grove Street in Juneau. Area residents are invited to join officers and deputies for coffee and conversation.