Local News Briefs Friday 8/30/13

 

Wells Vehicle Electronics celebrated its new 100,000 square foot facility on West Rolling Meadows Drive with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning. The $7.1 million project included a $500,000 forgivable loan from Fond du Lac County and the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation, a $1 million Tax Incremental Financing district created by the city and a $1.25 million in tax credits from the state. Fond du Lac Community Development Director Wayne Rollin credited the City Council for their foresight on the project. FCEDC President Steve Jenkins says the project meant retaining 214 jobs and creating 73 more, but it has a spin off impact on the community creating 500 jobs total and over $29.9 million a year in earnings. Wells President Dave Peace says their expansion allows them to do business with two of Wisconsin’s landmark companies Mercury Marine and Harley Davidson.  Governor Scott Walker says the tax credits the state gave the company for the project is an investment in what they create. The company has already filled 39 of the 73 jobs it wanted to create through the expansion.

 

Oshkosh Standoff

 

Oshkosh Police arrested a 28-year-old woman after she fired a round into the air from a .22 caliber handgun from her front porch early Thursday morning in the 1900 block of North Main Street. Police had been to the same residence earlier for a non-violent incident involving the woman and a 30-year-old man. After firing the gun off the woman went back into the home and placed the gun on a kitchen table. A half hour later she tried to leave with her 7 and 6 year-old sons, and refused to get to the ground when officers told her to. She pulled to ground and taken into custody. Later she was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on charges of recklessly endangering safety and disorderly conduct. The gun was recovered.

 

Neighbors Arrested For Fight In Oshkosh

 

Two Oshkosh men are facing charges after getting into a fight with each other Thursday morning during which a gun was drawn. Police say a 29-year-old man and 51-year-old man who are neighbors got into a verbal argument that escalated into punches being thrown. That’s when the younger man pulled out a 9 millimeter handgun. The older man was able to disarm and a 23-year-old man grabbed the handgun from the ground and threw it into a dumpster. Both men were injured, but the older man more seriously with a broken jaw, broken eye socket and palate. Both men are facing battery and disorderly conduct charges and the 29-year-old man is also charged with reckless endangerment and marijuana possession. The gun was recovered from the dumpster.      

           

 

Young Resignation Accepted

 

The Waupun Police and Fire Commission Thursday afternoon approved the resignation of Police Lieutenant Bradley Young. Young is suspected in a multi-county crime spree and has already been charged in Barron, Burnett, and Green Lake Counties. The 43-year-old Brandon man also allegedly admitted to taking $3,000 from the Piggly Wiggly Store in Waupun on August 4th or 5th. Young was with the Waupun Police Department for 22 years.

 

FDL City Council Applications Due Today

 

It’s the last day to apply for an opening on the Fond du Lac City Council. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Councilman Rob Vande Zande. City Manager Joe Moore informed the City Council Wednesday night that four people had applied for the opening. Those four are former Councilman Mick Burroughs, Andrew Land, Christopher Madsen and Nicholas Stoffel. The Council plans to hold interviews on September 6th, 9th and 10th if necessary and make an appointment at its September 11th meeting. That person wouldn’t be seated until the Council’s September 25th meeting. Rob Vande Zande resigned to take care of his ailing wife. Applications are available at the City Clerk’s Office and at the City’s website.

 

 

Habitat Ribbon Cutting In Ripon Saturday

 

Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County will hold a ribbon cutting in Ripon Saturday for their first home build in that community in 11 years. The ceremony will be at 9 a.m. at 120 Wolverton Avenue. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says the Ripon community is excited about the build. He says they have a number of volunteers already lined up including a group of contractors from Hartford Connecticut. Osterholm says they should have the building ready for occupancy in early November.