Local News Briefs Friday 9/18/15

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says the County has had a number of close calls over the past few years where law enforcement officers could have been shot and killed in the line of duty. Toney says none closer than in December of 2013 when a heavily armed Shannon Rogler fired weapons during a standoff incident on South Main Street in Fond du Lac. He says there’s still an emotional component officers suffer after being shot at. He says if not for their training it could have been another tragic shooting. During an incident last July a Sheriff’s deputy investigating a noise complaint was attacked by two young men. Toney says the deputy would have been justified to use lethal force. One of them tried to take his gun away and the other managed to get a hold of the officer’s taser. Another incident in January of last year involved investigating a sexual assault complaint where the suspect had access to a variety of weapons. Toney says that complaint involving Jeffrey MacMillan easily could have been another dangerous standoff incident.

FDL County Has Good Success With Economic Development Loans

Fond du Lac County has had good success when it comes to loans for economic development. County Executive Al Buechel this week shared with County supervisors how loans they’ve made through Community Development Block Grant and sales tax funding has helped County businesses. He says six loans were defaulted on of the 70 using CDBG monies. He says the six businesses that defaulted did so because their businesses failed for various reasons and in the case of two of them were to help out after the 2008 flood. He says the default rate is barely over 2 percent. In fact it was 2.44 percent, which he says any banker would be envious of. Buechel says the revolving loan fund begun with county sales tax monies has helped 13 businesses, all of which are current on their loans. He says they’ve been loaned $11.3 million, which has leveraged $95.4 million in total investments. Those loans have helped create 636 jobs and retain 234 more.

Meeting Scheduled About Oshkosh Sex Offender

Oshkosh Police will be holding a meeting about the release of a sex offender from prison. Thirty-three-year-old Paul Paulsen was released from prison on September 12th and is now living at 1417 Ontario Street. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 24th in the 1500 block of Ontario Street. In the event of inclement weather the meeting will be moved to the police department. 

Funding Tackles Veterans Homelessness Problem

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced over $3 million in awards for Wisconsin non-profits to help prevent and end veteran homelessness. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded the move, which will benefit many veterans in the area. The Center for Veterans Issues will receive $2 million of that and more than $619,000 will go to the Veterans Assistance Foundation. The rest will go to Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin and the Indianhead Community Action Agency.

FDL Senior Center Open House Today

The Fond du Lac Senior Citizen Center will hold an open house during the Tour of the Town Art Walk today. Senior Center Director Cathy Loomans says they have quite a few of their own talented artists among the people who use the Senior Center. Hours for the open house are from 4 to 8 p.m. with some light music at 5:30. Loomans says refreshments will be available and they will have information booths to spotlight the various programs offered through the center.

Septemberfest In Ripon Saturday

It will be a busy time in Ripon with their annual Septemberfest coming up Saturday. Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says it will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include a car show. He says in addition to that they’ve added fire trucks to the car show this year and there will be motorcycles as well. Activities will be numerous with the Green Lake Area Animal Shelter dog walk, kids and family activities, plenty of vendors and live music. Mansmith says there’s no cost to attend unless you want to pick up some of the great food that will be available. A complete list of activities is available at the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce website.