Local News Briefs Friday 6/20/14

Another Planned Parenthood office is closing in Wisconsin and this one is in Fond du Lac. The office at 333 North Peters Avenue will close on September 25th. The office is closing due to budget cuts. It’s the fifth clinic that the group has closed in the past two years due to lack of state funding. None of the five clinics offered abortions. Patients will be referred to clinics in Oshkosh and West Bend. Jody Krahn a nurse practitioner with the Planned Parenthood Fond du Lac clinic says, “Having cared for the women in Fond du Lac I can tell you this will be a terrible loss for the community.” Planned Parenthood president Teri Huyck says the closure will also be a loss for patients who went to the center for cancer screenings and birth control. There will be 22 Planned Parenthood clinics remaining across the state.

Names Released In Fatal Washington County Accident

Authorities have released the names of the two Kewaskum High School students killed in a collision with a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy Wednesday morning. Travis Trapp of Cascade and Brent Schultz of Kewaskum, both 16-years-old, were killed when their vehicle crossed over the center line on Washington County Highway H and hit the deputy’s car. The State Patrol says there was some standing water on the road. Trapp and Schultz died at the scene. The deputy was taken to a hospital, treated and released. The Kewaskum High School will have a visitation for the boys Sunday afternoon.

Burglar Caught In The Act

Fond du Lac Police caught a man late Wednesday night who broke into the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on South Brooke Street. A driver spotted a 26-year-old man going through a window at the store. Police were called and arrested the man at gunpoint. He gained entry to the store by breaking a window. Police say he may have tried to break into a nearby business as well. The man was arrested on a probation violation and could make a court appearance later this morning on burglary charges.

Job Fair Held For Laid Off Oshkosh Corporation Workers

The Oshkosh Corporation held a job fair Thursday helping out some of the Oshkosh Defense workers that are being laid off.  Twenty-nine companies participated in the job fair hoping to fill 1,600 positions. Oshkosh Corporation two months ago announced they would be trimming 700 hourly jobs and 60 salaried positions due to cuts in defense spending. With early retirements and other factors that number was reduced to 535 workers.

MPTC Budget Approved

The Moraine Park Technical College Board this week approved an $83.5 million budget for the 2014-15 School Year. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says there are a couple of firsts with this budget. Governor Walker included the use of state excess revenues to buy down the tax levy in the technical college system. She says about a quarter of their budget will be shifted from their tax levy to state aid funding or $20.6 million. She says it’s the first time that’s occurred in their 102 year history. She says they are also shifting to a performance funding model for some of their state funding. She says they are looking good compared to the other 15 technical college districts in the state. With the buy down on the tax levy property owners in the MPTC District will save about $80 if they own a $100,000 home.

Ripon Schools Referendum Shaping Up

A community survey was recently completed in Ripon with residents choosing Plan C for the school district’s future facility needs. Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says that option is for a combined middle and high school built on the current high school site.  She says revised figures put the estimated cost for that type of facility at $28.9 million. She says the school board is working on a resolution for a referendum as early as November. Meanwhile staff is working on getting information about the school that they can get out to the public. Whitrock says there would be a second question on the referendum to continue a previous referendum for operational costs, which would be for $500,000 a year for another 6 years for curriculum, technology, maintenance and vehicles. A community information session will be held at the Ripon High School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on July 14th. 

New Sentence For Sheboygan Woman

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A Sheboygan woman who has been in prison for 12 years may soon be getting out.  Sheboygan County Judge L. Edward Stengel ruled Thursday that 34-year-old Renata Neuaone deserves to be re-sentenced.  Neuaone is currently serving a 22 year sentence in the Taycheedah women’s prison for attempting to hang a Sheboygan woman from the railroad trestle near the Blue Line Ice Center in Sheboygan in December of 2001 in a dispute over the drug – ecstasy.  In his ruling Stengel said that since the original sentencing, psychologists at Taycheedah have determined that Neuaone was suffering from a personality disorder at the time, caused by domestic abuse.  He also said that three others sentenced in the case, including her husband, had gotten substantially lighter sentences.  Therefore, Stengel said he was ordering a new sentence, which will be handed down on August 4th.

More Veterans Requiring Treatment

The Fond du Lac American Legion Commander says problems with VA clinic access are the result of a number of consequences coming together. Ed Barnes says on the heels of the nation’s longest war, older veterans are also seeking services. He says Vietnam veterans who are retiring have more time to sit around and think about what they went through, which is leading to post traumatic stress disorder. Plus he says more are eligible for treatment associated with the use of Agent Orange. Barnes says it was shortsighted not to fund more money for treatment of our service men and women from when they return from war.

Senator Johnson Photo Contest

Those attending the Breakfast on the Farm at the Ruedinger Farm in Van Dyne Sunday are invited to take a photo and send it to Senator Ron Johnson. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh has launched an Instagram photo contest.  State residents are encouraged to take a picture of a dairy farm in their area this month and to share it on the senator’s Instagram account using the hashtag #AdventuresInDairyland.  The contestants with the most likes will get their photos displayed on the senator’s Instagram and Facebook pages and one lucky photographer will get his or her photo featured on Senator Johnson’s personal desk. For the rules click here.

Friday Flicks At The FDL Public Library

The Fond du Lac Public Library’s downtown branch kicks off its Friday Matinee movie series today with the film “Emperor’s New Groove.” Youth Services Coordinator Sarah Newton says each Friday except July 4th they will have film at 10 a.m. for all ages, but children 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. She says they will show a great Disney flick. Popcorn and drinks will be served. Library Community Information Coordinator Terri Fleming says the movies will be shown in the lower level of the library. Newton says those attending are urged to bring a blanket or floor cushion to be more comfortable while watching the film. No registration is required. All films are rated G or PG. The June 27th film is The Great Mouse Detective, on July 11th Frozen will be shown for more information on the films that run through August 8th check out the library’s website.