Local News Briefs Saturday 3/12/16

Berlin Man Sentenced For High Speed Chase

The 19-year-old Berlin man who led police on a multi-county high speed chase in August of 2014 was sentenced this week in Dodge County Court.  Maxwell Decker was sentenced to 6 years in prison, 5 years of extended supervision, and 3 ½ years of probation. He was previously sentenced in Green Lake County Court to 3 years in prison and 3 years of extended supervision. The Dodge County sentence will be added to that. A plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 1st in Fond du Lac County Court. The 12-mile chase started when he stole a car in Berlin. The chase on Highway 175 wove through Fond du Lac County and ended in Dodge County where he abandoned the car in a cornfield. There was a second car chase the following day through the side streets in Beaver Dam. 

Charges In Germantown Hit And Run Death

Washington County prosecutors have filed charges against a 31-year-old Menominee Falls man they say was driving a car involved in a fatal hit and run in Germantown last August. Adam Neuhaus turned himself in this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. His vehicle hit a bicyclist from behind on August 23rd of last year. Keith Habenicht was killed in the accident. Bond was set at $10,000 cash and Neuhaus will be back in court on April 6th. He’s charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and hit and run involving injury.

St Pats Day Parade In Downtown FDL Today

Fond du Lac has its St. Patrick’s Day Parade this afternoon at 3 p.m. But a word of warning from Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig to make arrangements for someone sober to drive you home if you drink too much. He says OWI patrols will be out this week and next weekend looking for drunken drivers. He says they are concerned about the local traffic and hope that people will use a taxi or designated driver to get home if they are too drunk to drive. St. Patrick’s Day is actually next Thursday.

Walleye Weigh Ins Returning To Oven Island

Thanks to the generosity of Mercury Marine it looks like weigh-ins for the National Walleye Tournament during Walleye Weekend will return to Oven Island. Fond du Lac Public Works Director Jordan Skiff says Mercury has arranged to have a longer dock to be placed near the smaller docks on the south end of Oven Island in Lakeside Park. He says they are working through contractor availability and making sure permits are in hand. And there is one more obstacle. He says they have to work with the DNR during fish spawning. He says they will either do the work before or after the fish spawning season. He says the last three years weigh-ins were done near the lighthouse.

Johnson Energy Policy Key

Energy is something President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed during Trudeau’s visit to the Nation’s Capitol this week. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says if the country gets its energy policy right it will allow the economy to surge again. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says if energy prices are kept low while we protect the environment, if we reduce the regulatory burden and come up with a more competitive tax system it will create the kind of environment for the economy to take off and realize its full potential.

Ballweg Bill Should Help With Release Of Foster Children School Records

One of the bills Governor Walker recently signed into law is expected to help foster children with their education. State Representative Joan Ballweg of Markesan authored the bill. It was introduced on behalf of the Department of Children and Families. It’s expected to improve educational outcomes for children in the child welfare system. Ballweg says it’s designed to provide timely and accurate data on the educational activities of those children especially when it comes to the release of their school records.

Rumble Strips

A Dodge County highway project is one of 12 throughout Wisconsin that will use rumble strips this summer.  The strips, which provide an audible and vibratory warning for drivers entering a construction zone, will be used on days flaggers direct traffic near the Highway 151/49 mill and overlay project in the northern part of Dodge County.  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation hopes this will increase safety for drivers and workers after 2,400 work zone crashes were reported in 2015.  

Family Flight Fest At EAA AirVenture Museum

Kick off springtime by discovering the exciting world of aviation with an interactive, educational family experience at EAA’s Family Flight Fest today at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the museum’s younger visitors can enjoy a variety of aviation-related activities that will educate and spark their curiosity in flight. Lunch will be available for purchase each day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Sheriffs Benevolent Association Scholarships

The Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office Benevolent Association will be awarding five (5) $500 scholarships to qualified high school seniors residing in Fond du Lac County. Applications are available at the Sheriff’s website.  The application must be post-marked by April 15th.   

Daylight Saving Time Reminder

We will be adding an hour to our clocks Sunday morning when Daylight Saving Time begins. Remember it’s time to spring forward. While you are changing your clocks, check the batteries in you smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working right.