Local News Briefs Monday 7/27/15

Two men are dead, after a plane crash in Kenosha County that was discovered Sunday afternoon. Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies began searching for the aircraft Sunday just after noon, after being contacted by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department about the aircraft being 20 hours overdue for landing in Oshkosh. Authorities say the plane was on its way to the Annual Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture show in Oshkosh, which wrapped up this weekend. Deputies and the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol began a search for the aircraft, which the CAP located just after noon Sunday in “a grassy field several hundred yards south of a residence” in rural Kenosha County, according to a release from the department. It remains unknown when the plane crashed. The plane was described as a Zenith CH601XL, which is a small single-engine kit aircraft. The FAA and NTSB have been called in to investigate the crash, the cause of which has not yet been determined. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those killed in the crash or their departure point.

Sheboygan Teen Sentenced To Life In Prison For Fathers Murder

The 19-year-old Sheboygan man found guilty last month of killing his father has been sentenced to life in prison. During a bench trial last month Sheboygan County Judge Terrence Bourke found Dorian Torres guilty of the January 2014 beating death of 41-year-old Emilio Torres. Friday the judge sentenced Torres to life in prison with a chance for parole when he is 47-years-old. Torres and his father shared an apartment. He killed his father with a mallet and hid his body in their apartment for nearly a week.

Opposition Expressed To McDermott Park Lease Agreement

Fond du Lac’s Advisory Park Board will move its meeting this afternoon to a bigger venue because of the interest in the proposed lease of land in McDermott Park to Winnebago Lutheran Academy. The meeting will be held in the legislative chambers of the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac and starts at 5:30 p.m. During the City Council meeting last week about a half dozen people spoke out against the proposed lease agreement. One speaker said the park doesn’t need more ball diamonds to be enhanced. Another speaker says there should be no rush on a decision given the length of proposed lease agreement, which is 50 years. A third speaker says in her professional capacity she’s recruited people for jobs and parks are something people ask about, but not about athletic fields.

Wheel Tax In FDL Countys Future

Is there a wheel tax in Fond du Lac County’s future? County Board Chairman Marty Farrell brought up the subject during last week’s meeting while County Highway Commissioner Tom Janke was giving his annual report to the board. Farrell said he was by no means suggesting it, but said it would be one way for the County to pay for repaving and maintenance of its 384 miles of roads. Janke says a few counties do have a tire or wheel tax. County Executive Al Buechel says state statutes allow it, but doesn’t dictates limits on how much it could be. He says the state would actually collect the money along with registration the state’s annual registration fees. He says the money would then be sent back to the County in much the same way that the sales tax works. Janke says the County should be repaving about 18 to 19 miles of road a year, but can only afford to do about 12 to 13 miles.

No Guarantees Under UW Regional Administrative Approach

The loss of administrators through budget cuts at UW two-year schools will have more than an educational impact. UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says the outreach they do in the community for example his role as chair of the Lakeside Park Exploratory Committee is something regional administrators wouldn’t be able to do. He says it goes against the so-called “Wisconsin Idea.” He says the trimming of 83 administrative positions at the 13 two-year schools will be done in two phases with the first beginning next month and others completed by the end of the year. He says there’s no guarantee current administrators will be hired as a regional dean or associate dean during the recruitment process for the new regional administrative model. Short says best case scenario if he were to become one of the four regional deans it might still mean leaving Fond du Lac. Under the new regional model the UW-Fond du Lac would be in the northeast region along with UW-Fox Valley and the UW-Manitowoc.

Habitat ReStore Expanding

With Habitat for Humanity’s first anniversary coming up next month at their new location on West Scott Street in Fond du Lac comes an opportunity for expanding the ReStore. Fond du Lac’s Redevelopment Authority recently approved a $100,000 no-interest loan. Habitat Board of Directors President Julie Woznick says it’s a great opportunity that allows them to continue to grow. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says they will be able to purchase the space next to them in the former Pick ‘N Save Store, which is 10,000 square feet. He says that will give them a total of close to 25,000 square feet. He says the rest of the money they need for the expansion will be raised through a capital campaign.

Leave A Note

Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says if you damage someone’s car and they aren’t around, even if it’s not a lot of damage you should leave a note with your contact information. He says it you’re vehicle is damaged you should have police document it in case it turns out to be more costly to fix it. The law requires the person doing the damage to exchange contact information, which means leaving a note if the person whose vehicle you damaged isn’t around. He says it’s required even if there are no injuries and less than $1,000 worth of damage. Olson says if you don’t leave a note you could run the risk of being cited for not reporting an accident and in some cases hit-and-run.

MPTC Receives Million Grant

Moraine Park Technical College has been awarded a five-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services program. The program provides assistance for students who are low-income, first in their family to attend college or have a learning disability. The MPTC program referred to as its EDGE program is in place to help students meet their goals and graduate from college. Each year, 140 students are enrolled in the program, and their progress is closely monitored. The new grant takes effect September 1st.

Successful Year For Garden Walk And Art Fair

More than 500 people participated in the recent Agnesian HealthCare Foundation Garden Walk & Art Fair. More than $7,300 was generated for the Hospice Hope program. This year’s event featured six beautiful gardens. “We are so grateful to the community for once again showing their support of our hospice program, as well as our wonderful garden hosts this year who opened up their beautiful and welcoming gardens to us,” says Rita Meidam, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation executive director. The 2016 Garden Walk is scheduled for Sunday, July 10th.