Local News Briefs Friday 9/25/15

The 48-year-old Theresa man suspected of embezzling nearly $6,300 from a gas station was in Dodge County Court this week for a restitution hearing.  Randal Mittelstadt was ordered to pay restitution of $20,000. Late last month he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 5 years of probation. He used the money to support a gambling habit. The money was taken from a cash register at the Ultimart gas station in Theresa late last year. 

Hartford Man Gets Probation For Brothers Death

A Washington County judge this week opted not to sentence a 19-year-old Hartford man to prison for the stabbing death of his older brother. Joseph Langlois got into a fight with his 20-year-old brother Jacob in the family’s Hartford home in February of 2014. In July a jury found Joseph guilty of homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. Judge James Muehbauer  chose not to sentence Joseph to prison saying there was a peculiar and unusual set of circumstances. But the judge did believe 5 years probation would be good for Joseph. He says he was concerned about his mental health issues and need for counseling. Langlois’s lawyer has filed motions to dismiss the conviction based on issues with evidence and jury instructions.

Governor Walker In Beaver Dam Today

Governor Scott Walker is getting back into the swing of things with a stop at a Beaver Dam manufacturer today. He will be at Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation for their 40th Anniversary Open House. The Governor will deliver his remarks at about noon. Walker suspended his presidential run earlier this week.

United Way Campaign Making Progress

The Fond du Lac Area United Way is off to a good start with their fall fundraising campaign. Executive Director Amber Kilawee says they are approaching 20 percent of their goal already. She says they started off the campaign with $119,000 of the $756,000 goal and currently have raised about $135,000 or 18 percent. She says money raised locally stays in the area. She says they funded 28 programs for 25 agencies with what was raised in 2014. She says more than $570,000 went into those programs. She says to look for fundraisers that benefit the United Way like the Vendor Fair, which was held at the City-County Government Center earlier this week.

Walleye Weekend Non Profits Do Well

Non-profits participating in Walleye Weekend this past June at Lakeside Park made more than $205,000. Fond du Lac Festivals Executive Director Leeanne Doyle says there were 54 groups representing 45 non-profits  including service organizations, schools, churches and other non-profits. She says it takes a while to tally up just how much those non-profits made, but they are happy with the results, which came to $205,549.91. New this year Marian University conducted an intercept survey gauging how pleased people were with the festival on a 1-to-5 scale with 5 being the best score. She says they also wanted to know how they could improve the festival. The average rating was a 4.28 and 87 percent of those surveyed rated the festival a 4 or 5.

Minions Showing In NFDL This Weekend

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff invited area residents to check out their new digital projector with a showing of the family movie “Minions” at the Horace Mann PAC. (Next week they will show “Jurassic World” and “Inside Out “is coming soon. He says they show movies before they go to DVD or Blue Ray and go to Premium channels or On Demand on TV. He says it only cost $3. He says money they make from showing the films will pay for the new projector. Show times for “Minions” are 7 p.m. tonight, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Sheltering Exercise Today

Fond du Lac County Emergency Management will host a “Full Scale” sheltering exercise at the Fond du Lac Health Care Center this morning. The Red Cross, County Health Department, Emergency Management and other supporting county and community organizations will be participating in this exercise, which runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m.  The event will be located in Fond du Lac County Health Care Center gymnasium near the north entrance.  September is National Preparedness Month.