Local News Briefs Friday 8/16/13

The 21-year-old Cambria man who set a fire in April that killed a Beaver Dam High School student has been sentenced in Dodge County Court. Jose Hernandez pled “no contest” to five misdemeanors this week and was sentenced to 10 months of conditional jail time and 30 months of probation. Medical Examiners say 18-year-old Victor Aguilar-Bustamante died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the criminal complaint, Hernandez went to retrieve a car, but it was locked. He then broke into a mobile home, assaulted Aguilar-Bustamante and took the car keys. Hernandez told investigators that after the assault he returned to the residence a second time and apparently lit matches to get enough light to look for his lost cell-phone, and threw the matches on the floor as they burnt out.

 

Walmart Shooting Suspect In Critical Condition

 

A few more details have been released about the shooting at a Walmart Store in Neenah. The victim was 56-year-old Sharon Goffard of Neenah. She and the shooting suspect 46-year-old Justine Boyd of Greenville worked as cashiers in the liquor department of the store. Neenah Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson says there was some kind of personal conflict between the two. There were no witnesses to the shooting so police are relying on store surveillance cameras. Boyd is being held in the Winnebago County Jail with a pending attempted 1st degree intentional homicide charge. As for Goffard she is said to be doing better, but is still in critical condition. She is facing several surgeries after being shot in the stomach.

 

Former Oostburg Clerk/Treasurer Sentenced For Embezzlement

 

The former Oostburg clerk/treasurer found guilty last month of 26 counts of theft from a business setting has been sentenced to three years in prison. The sentence for 56-year-old Kim Simmelink of Sheboygan Falls is stayed pending an appeal on whether the charges were filed within the statute of limitations. Simmelink stole about $340,000 from the village from April 2001 to October of 2003. The case was set to go to a jury trial, but an agreement between the prosecution and defense turned the decision over to Sheboygan County Judge Terrence Bourke who last month ruled on the evidence that was submitted. Simmelink was sentenced yesterday.

 

Mayville Police Staffing Proposal Draws Fire

 

Mayville residents this week crowded into a public meeting to voice their displeasure over a proposal to replace the city police department with Dodge County Sheriff’s staff. Sheriff Patricia Ninmann says the proposal calls for making six Mayville officers Sheriff’s deputies that would patrol the City in addition to their regular duties. Mayville Police Chief Chris MacNeil and two administrative staff aren’t part of the proposal. A Mayville Council negotiating team approached the Sheriff’s office with the proposal as a way of cutting costs. More than 20 residents attended this week’s meeting arguing that there are other ways to cut the City budget.

 

Gudex Will Reintroduce Historic Preservation Tax Credit Bill

 

State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac says while he appreciates his proposal to increase the tax credit for historic preservation efforts did result in a higher credit, he didn’t really want it included in the state budget. He says the 5 percent credit was increased to 10 percent, but his original bill asked for a 20 percent credit. He says developers showed a lot of interest in what would have been a jobs bill. Gudex says he will reintroduce a similar bill this fall to hike that credit to 20 percent putting it more in line with what neighboring state’s offer for historic preservation efforts.

 

Free Wifi Not Always A Bargain

 

Free Wifi services aren’t always user-friendly. Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says a lot of places offer free Wifi to customers, but he says there’s no guarantee you’re going to get a secure connection with that free Wifi. Olson says while it’s nice to have the free service there’s also an opportunity for those running it to take advantage of you by putting malware on your device or gather information. He says if the free Wifi is offered by someone you know you can trust it’s a different story.

 

Boogie For Birky

 

Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z will perform during the second annual Boogie’n for Birky memorial scholarship fundraiser concert Saturday night at the Shack Sports Bar. Driftwood will perform first from 6 to 7:30 p.m. followed by Boogie from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event raises money for a memorial scholarship started in honor of Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig “Birky” Birkholz who was shot and killed in the line of duty in March of 2011. Both bands have a connection to the Fond du Lac Police Department. Officer Eric Foster is a member of Driftwood and Officer Steve Olson is with Boogie. Tickets will be available at the door for $10.  Sponsors for the concert include The Shack Sports Bar and Events Center, Nemesis Metals and K107.1. 

 

Ice Cream Social This Weekend

 

The Fond du Lac County Historical Society will host their annual Ice Cream Social this Saturday and Sunday at the Galloway Mansion and Village in Fond du Lac. Bob Kovacs of the Historical Society says residents are welcome to bring their vintage cars to the event. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Kovacs says they will be featuring Kelley Country Creamery Ice Cream. Brats, burgers and hot dogs will be supplied by the Eden Meat Market. Saturday night they will have a free outdoor movie starting at dusk. This year’s movie is “American Graffiti”.

 

Back To School Drive Continues Saturday At Forest Mall

 

Officials with the Back to School effort in Fond du Lac say they need backpacks and scientific calculators for the annual distribution, which will take place on Saturday, August 24th. Backpacks are needed in all shapes, sizes and colors and TI-30X scientific calculators. Donations of backpacks and calculators should be dropped off through today at the Boys & Girls Club, YMCA and Salvation Army. Those donations and other school supplies can also be dropped off at the Forest Mall’s “Back at It” event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Back to School efforts are led by a collaboration of churches, organizations, businesses, and schools who want to ensure that all children in Fond du Lac County have the school supplies they need to start the school year.