Local News Briefs Saturday 3/15/14

Police in Jackson took a 72-year-old man into custody early Friday morning four hours after he barricaded himself in his apartment and threatened to shoot them and himself. Police say the man left a message saying as much on his son’s answering machine Thursday night. The man said he had guns from a Northwoods cabin. Negotiators talked him into surrendering and he exited the apartment without incident. No weapons were found in the apartment.

Lt. Governor Applauds FDL For Its Heroin Summit

Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch commends the Fond du Lac area for being proactive in tackling the heroin problem. She heard how well attended a Heroin Summit was at Marian University this week and says to curb the problem it takes a coordinated effort, which she says it sounds like Fond du Lac County is doing. She says it takes courage to come forward to admit you have a problem or someone you love does. She says she’s also glad the state legislature passed legislation from State Representative John Nygren to also do something about the problem.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade In FDL

Fond du Lac’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is this afternoon at 3 p.m. It will step off at Merrill and Main and proceed south on Main Street to Veterans Park. Fond du Lac Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says they don’t usually have any problems with enforcement issues during the parade. He says people are out to have a good time and typically they don’t see any problems connected with the parade. However Klein does remind residents that there’s a coordinated law enforcement effort across the County this weekend looking for people who are driving drunk and aren’t buckled up.

Assembly Candidate Doesn’t Agree With Voting Legislation

A candidate for a State Assembly seat has some strong opinions about restrictions on voting Republicans are advancing through the state legislature. George Ferriter is the Doylestown Village President in Columbia County and a Democratic candidate for the 42nd State Assembly seat. He says access to the polls shouldn’t be restricted. He says uniformity may be a good idea, but access to the polls and anything that provides that to all citizens needs to be advanced. The 42nd Assembly District is centered in Columbia County and includes five townships in western Dodge County along with portions of Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette and Dane counties.

Senator Fitzgerald Pleased About Historic Preservation Grants

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he’s very proud that two communities within his district recently were awarded additional resources to promote their historic preservation programs. The state Historical Society this week announced that Columbus and Watertown were awarded Historic Preservation Grants of $7,000 and $8,000. The funds will be used to conduct an intensive survey of historic properties and support each city’s continuing historic preservation efforts. Fitzgerald represents the 13th Senate District, which covers portions of Dodge, Jefferson, Waukesha, Washington, Dane and Columbia counties.

Celtic Story Teller At FDL Public Library

The Fond du Lac Public Library will be taking a break from the class offered by Marian University associate professor Rick Whaley and co-instructor Herman Bender next Wednesday. The “History of America” offering will return the following Wednesday night. Terri Fleming of the library says instead they will be offering story teller Midge Miles who will give a presentation more in line with St. Patrick’s Day. Her presentation Celtic Soul: Celtic Tales will go beyond the St. Patrick’s Day clichés offering three Celtic stories. The presentation is at 6 p.m. Miles is from West Bend.