Local News Briefs Friday 6/13/14

The Fond du Lac City Council will be asked to refinance some old debt during their June 25th meeting. Bond Consultant Paul Thompson went over that debt with the Council this week. He says the Council will be asked to refinance debt that helped Wells Manufacturing with an expansion project and the Holiday Inn in expanding its convention center. The City will be able to get lower interest rates on both. Thompson says the Council will also be asked to refinance Water Utility Revenue Bonds from 2004. He says they are callable on September 1st. He says the City could save up to $685,000 in interest costs over a 9 year period. The Council will also be asked to pay off some outstanding waste water bonds. Thompson says they’d like to take $3.9 million in funds on hand in the wastewater utility to pay the bonds off on November 1st. Thompson says the savings in interest costs on the waste water bonds would amount to almost $900,000 ($883,000).

Sheboygan Police Officers Suspended For Off-Duty Drunken Driving Incident

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Two Sheboygan Police officers have been disciplined for their involvement in an off-duty drunken driving accident last December.  Chief Chris Domagalski says an internal investigation of the actions of 35-year-old Stephen Schnabel and 25-year-old Ryan Walloch concluded recently, leading to a 30 day suspension without pay for Schnabel, and a 15 day suspension without pay for Walloch. The two were driving personal vehicles that rear ended each other at the intersection of North Taylor Drive and Superior Avenue.  Chief Domagalski says discipline was necessary since the incident damaged the department’s trust with the community. The incident was also finalized last month in Sheboygan’s Municipal Court, but word of the case’s result was not available.

Bond Set At $1 Million For Suspect In Clyman Woman’s Death

A Jefferson County judge has set a $1 million cash bond for the 32-year-old Waterloo man suspected of murdering a Dodge County woman. Michael Henderson was charged this week with 1st degree intentional homicide in the shooting death of Heather Stewart of Clyman. The 28-year-old victim was found in a vehicle in the parking lot of the former Pick n’ Save on South Church Street in Watertown late last month. Authorities say Stewart called Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc on May 28 saying she would be ten minutes late for work. Her phone records led investigators to Henderson. He has a preliminary hearing on June 25th. 

Grothman Opens Campaign Office In Oshkosh

State Senator Glenn Grothman has opened a campaign office in Oshkosh in his bid for Congress. An open house was held at the office at 614 Ohio Street yesterday. Campaign officials say the office will generally be open Monday through Fridays until 7 p.m. with varying hours on the weekend. Grothman is one of four Republican candidates running for the 6th Congressional District seat Congressman Tom Petri is retiring from. The primary election will be on August 12th with the General Election on November 4th.

Million Powerball Winner Named Powers

Ironically the Sheboygan man who won $1 million in the Powerball lottery is named Powers. Joe Powers won $1 million in the May 31st drawing for the multi-state lottery game. He went to the Lottery’s headquarters in Madison to pick up his prize. After taxes he received $673,500. The ticket was purchased at a Q Mart in Kohler. The store earns a $20,000 commission for selling it. Powers did not want to participate in a news conference or check presentation.

Commonwealth Classic Two Weeks Away

The Fond du Lac Convention and Visitors Bureau has stepped up its role in promoting the Commonwealth Classic Bike Race this summer. The Fond du Lac leg of the Tour of America’s Dairyland is two weeks away. It will be held in downtown Fond du Lac on Friday, June 27th. CVB President Craig Molitor says there will be racing all day, but men’s professional race at 6 p.m. is the event you want to see if you want to see a speed event. He says businesses will be open and drinking will be allowed along the race course. He says there will even be a brat fry. He says one change is that the Agnesian Kids Zone will be moved to Sheboygan Street between Portland and Marr. Once again Road Trip will perform to cap off the day’s activities. Road Trip will start their concert at 8 p.m.

St. Baldricks/FlagonFest At The Shack Saturday

The Shack in Fond du Lac will be busy Saturday with two overlapping fundraising events. The local St. Baldrick’s organization will be raising money for childhood cancer research and Fond du Lac Rugby Incorporated will be raising money for the activities they support. Robin Schroeder of St. Baldrick’s says they still need people willing to have their heads shaved to raise money. The head shaving will be at 3:30 and 5 p.m. They will also have a vendor fair that kicks off at 2 p.m. and a bachelor and bachelorette auction at 6:30 p.m. Also at the Shack tomorrow Fond du Lac Rugby Incorporated will hold FlagonFest. Roy Krueger says the beer tasting event replaces the game feeds they used to have. The American Legion will be selling food at the event and the country music band Twang will be performing from 2 to 6 p.m. Krueger says Fond du Lac Rugby helps youth and men’s programs with costs for playing. Advance tickets for FlagonFest are $30, $35 at the door the day of. Advance tickets are available at ticketbud.com.

FDL Evening Optimists Host 37^th Annual Father’s Day Car Show

The Fond du Lac Evening Optimists will be holding their 37th annual Father’s Day antique Car and Truck show at Lakeside Park this Sunday. Hours for the show are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there is no cost to attend, though a free will donation will be asked. In addition to the hundreds of cars and trucks that will be on display there will be 50/s and 60’s music, a Best Dad’s contest, raffle, food, drinks and more. The car registration fee is $5 and participants can register from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The car show is a major fund raiser for the Optimist Club. Past proceeds have been used to build a soccer field, baseball diamond, all the equipment at Lallier Park, as well as many of the improvements at Lakeside Park. The Optmisits club also donates to area organizations whose main focus is improving the lives of area youth.

Ripon FFA Alumni Country Breakfast Sunday

Over 2,400 people are expected to attend the Ripon FFA Alumni’s 27th Annual Country Breakfast this Sunday in Pickett. Kathy Roeder of the Alumni says it will be held at the Hinz Family Farm on County Highway M from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. She says they’ve been expanding their dairy operation. She says the event is a fundraiser for the FFA Alumni, which she says is very active in agricultural education activities. She says the farm is easy to get to. She says when you get to Pickett turn right on M and if you’re going south turn left on M. She says it’s a quarter mile for Highway 44 and there will be signs. There will also be animals, coloring books for kids, and old tractor display and more. Tickets $6 in advance or $7 at the door with kids 5 and under admitted free. Advance tickets are available from FFA Alumni members, the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce, BMO Harris in Ripon, Housel’s East Side Country Market in Ripon, Ripon Drug, Bohn’s Town and Country in Oshkosh, Schmitt Lumber in Ripon, Farmer’s State Bank in Markesan, The Diedrich Agency in Ripon, Brandon Bank, Bohm Implement in Berlin, and the Markesan State Bank.

Peony Sunday In Rosendale Father’s Day

Rosendale’s annual Peony Sunday will be held this Sunday at 207 N. Main Street Highway 26 in Rosendale. Lunch will be served in the peony gardens from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will consist of hot sandwiches, potato salad, beverages and homemade desserts. A golf cart shuttle will be available to and from the gardens for those with mobility problems. In case of rain, lunch will be held in the United Church of Christ, located near the gardens.   New this year is the availability to also tour the new site of the Rosendale Historical Society – now located in the former Grange Hall on Highway 23 in Rosendale.  The newly renovated and greatly expanded location will be open from 12:30-2p.m. during Peony Sunday. For more than 70 years, Rosendale has been known for its famous Sisson’s Peony Gardens.  The Peony Gardens are open to the public every day for self-tours.  Parking is available on Wisconsin Street or Lafayette Street just west of Highway 26.  Admission is free.