Local News Briefs Saturday 3/5/16

Black Creek Man Arraigned On Mayville Church Thefts

An 18-year-old Black Creek man suspected of breaking into a Mayville church was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week. Tristan Vandeneng is charged with felony burglary and two misdemeanors. He pled not guilty to the charges. According to the criminal complaint he used a pipe wrench to break into Christian Life Fellowship Church last November. Cash and electronics were taken.  He will be back in court April 19.

Applicants Sought For Sheboygan County Judge Vacancies

Governor Scott Walker is seeking applicants for two appointments to the Sheboygan County Circuit Court. The new appointees will replace outgoing Sheboygan County Court Judge James J. Bolgert, whose resignation is effective July 31st, and Judge Timothy M. Van Akkeren, whose resignation was effective January 4th. The new appointees, should they choose to run, would be up for election in April 2017. Applications can be found at the Governor’s website. At the top of the page select “Apply to Serve” and then “Judicial Application.” Application materials are due March 24th.

Common Goal Leads To Downtown FDL Exploratory Committee Selection

Fond du Lac City Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan says it was good to work with the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Board of Directors on picking a Downtown Fond du Lac Exploratory Committee. She says they were all working with a common goal of improving the downtown. Seventeen people will serve on the committee with two alternates. The City Council next Wednesday will be asked to approve the appointments. It will be up to the committee to select a chairperson and when they will meet.

Johnson Serves On Panel On Over Regulation

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson served on a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference this past week. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says the panel discussed over regulation and particularly pertaining to the EPA. He says regulation is really hurting economic growth. He says he talked with the CEO of a Wisconsin papermaker who told him in his business just four regulations passed by the Obama Administration increased his costs by $1,200 per employee per year. He says just a one percent change in growth from 2 to 3 percent a year would create an additional $14 trillion in economic activity over 10 years. Johnson says the regulatory burden needs to be reduced to spur economic growth.

Klein Wraps Up Association Presidency

Fond du Lac Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein wrapped up his duties this week as president of the Fond du Lac County Law Enforcement Executives Association. Klein says it was his honor to serve in that capacity for the association. He says they implemented a lot of programs countywide. He says a countywide child abduction response team was created, in-service for all law enforcement officers, and a memorandum of understanding was signed with sexual protocols with ASTOP. Of course it wasn’t all good. Wisconsin State Trooper Trevor Casper was killed in a shootout with bank robber Steve Snyder in Fond du Lac on March 24th. But Klein says law enforcement is a resilient community.

Ripon Sidewalk Bid Approved

The Ripon Common Council recently approved the bidding for this year’s sidewalk replacement program in the City. Jim Fischer of Appleton was awarded the work for a bid just under $35,000, which is what the City had budgeted for the work. City Administrator Lori Rich says each year a different section of the City is targeted for sidewalk removal and replacement. The City splits the cost with property owners 50/50.

Fuel Up With Agriculture At Ag Showcase

The Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Recreation Building will play host to the 13th Annual Fond du Lac Agricultural Showcase today. The theme this year is “Fuel Up With Agriculture.” Brenda Gudex is the director of agricultural programs for the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. She says the “Fuel Up” theme goes beyond the cheeses, sausages, and wine and beer you can sample. Hours for the event is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $3. Last year over 2,500 people attended.

Agnesian Student Volunteer Opportunities This Summer

Agnesian HealthCare’s Volunteer Services will have many opportunities this summer for students that will be age 15 or older by June 1st. The summer student volunteer program begins the week of June 13 and ends on August 26. Students that may be interested in participating must attend an interview session. Interviews are scheduled for Monday, April 11 and Thursday, April 14 in Agnesian HealthCare’s lobby concourse at 430 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac. Parents are invited to attend if they wish. Sessions on April 11 are scheduled at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., and on April 14 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Students only need to attend one session. Students need to bring with them two letters of reference from someone other than a family member, such as a teacher, employer or someone they baby-sit for. There is no need to pre-register.