Local News Briefs Saturday 12/5/15

Preliminary Hearing Scheduled For Waupun Man In Drug Overdose Death Case

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 2nd in Dodge County Court for a 33-year-old Waupun man who allegedly provided drugs in an overdose death in 2009.  Christopher Skalitzky is suspected of supplying methadone and oxycodone to Shallen Carlene Manske. The 25-year-old Juneau woman was found unresponsive by officers responding to a possible overdose; she was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital. Skalitzky reportedly admitted to providing the drugs. An autopsy later indicated that Manske died as the result of those drugs or from a pre-existing seizure disorder.

Hotel Closure A Blow To The Downtown

Fond du Lac City Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan says the closing of the Retlaw Plaza Hotel this week was a setback for the downtown. She says while there have been positives to celebrate for the downtown the past few years, there have also been some negatives this past year. She says the Retlaw closing is just another chapter in the hotel’s history. She says city officials are strategically thinking what can be done with the downtown. She says in addition to the closure of the hotel, the Elks Club and the former Trinity Restaurant closed in that same area. The hotel is currently in receivership.

City Manager Surprised By How Soon Hotel Closed

Fond du Lac City Manager Joe Moore says he was not surprised to hear of the closing of the Retlaw Plaza Hotel. He says it was in receivership and banks have limited patience in those circumstances. He says the big surprise was the time the receiver was going to operate the hotel seemed to get shorter and shorter. He says one thing that did surprise him was the abrupt closing. Moore says he thought the hotel might at least run through the end of the month.

Makeup Clinic Scheduled For Students Who Missed Out On Flu Shots

The Fond du Lac County Health Department has finished up its influenza vaccination clinics in the schools. Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says if any students missed out on that there will be one more opportunity. She says a makeup clinic will be held on Monday, December 14th from 3 to 6 p.m. at the health department at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac. She says the flu season generally peaks from mid-December through February. 

Federal Budget Should Be Approved In Two Weeks

Congressman Glenn Grothman says the federal budget should be approved within the next two weeks. He says it’s not perfect and includes too much in spending increases. He says there will be about a 5 percent spending increase. He says with almost no inflation that’s too high an increase. Gothman says the budget was supposed to go into effect on October 1st so it’s operating on a continuing resolution. He says Republicans are including riders on the budget that will reign in some of the federal power in a variety of areas including excess regulations by the IRS and EPA.

Longer Conversation Needed On Transportation Funding

State Senator Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling says the Fond du Lac area isn’t the only one to see a delay on a highway safety improvement project. Shilling says the State Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du Lac and Plymouth was one of five major projects delayed due to transportation budget cuts. She says additional bonding was approved this summer and fall, but it’s a short term fix on what should be a longer conversation about transportation funding. The Highway 23 project was in part delayed to a federal lawsuit that halted the work.

KFIZ Christmas Parade Presented By DFP This Afternoon

Floats participating in the KFIZ Christmas Parade presented by the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership will have a little country flavor to them this afternoon. The theme for this year’s parade is “Country Christmas.” The parade will air live on News-Talk 1450 at 4:15 p.m. with KFIZ’s Wade Bates and Big Al Schumacher of 107.1 The Bull broadcasting from the Rienzi Cemetery Holiday Deck provided by Whealon’s Towing & Service. Following the parade Santa and Mrs. Claus will light the Community Christmas Tree at Veteran’s Park.

Chester Marcol Signing Books In Plymouth Today

Green Bay Packer legend Chester Marcol will be at Book Heads in Plymouth today from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to sign his book “Alive and Kicking, My Journey Through Football, Addiction and Life”.  It’s his personal story about his life, playing with the Packers, and after numerous injuries becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol.  Eventually he found a purpose in life through his children and has become a counselor for those with alcohol, drug and abuse issues. Marcol is best remembered for a September 1980 game against the Chicago Bears. With the score tied 6 to 6 the Bears blocked his 34-year-old field goal and Marcol caught the ball and ran it into the end zone to give Green Bay a 12 to 6 win.

WMH Love Lights Available

The Waupun Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is now selling Love-Lights with proceeds helping to support Auxiliary service projects for the hospital. This year’s proceeds will help to sponsor an item for Agnesian Wound Care services, which is opening at the hospital on Monday, December 14. The Auxiliary’s Love-Lights program offers a living memorial or tribute to friends, relatives or dedicated citizens of the community. Donors and names of those honored will be displayed in the hospital lobby throughout the year. Donation coupons are available at Waupun Memorial Hospital’s Gift Shop and Volunteer Desk, or donations can be sent to Waupun Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Love-Lights, 88 Meadow View Circle, Waupun. Please note name(s) in memory or honor of. The Love-Lights tree will be lit in front of the hospital during the entire month of Decemb