Local News Briefs Saturday 6/28/14

A 43-year-old Waupun woman will be committed to Wisconsin Department of Health Services for a period of ten years for intentionally setting a fire last November. Dodge County Judge John Storck made that determination this week in the case against Jennifer Balisteri. She previously entered a plea of “not guilty by reason of reason of mental defect” to one count of felony Arson of Building. She intentionally set her apartment on fire trying to hurt herself. When police and firefighters arrived at her residence, she was on top of the roof. Her upstairs apartment was on fire. A dog and three small animals were rescued unharmed from the unit, but there was extensive damage. No one was home in the downstairs apartment.

Move To Amend Turns In Petitions

The Move to Amend Fond du Lac group was successful in getting enough signatures to ask for a referendum or resolution for a constitutional amendment to restore limits on campaign financing. The group turned in the petitions with over 3,000 names on them to the City Clerk Friday afternoon. It will now be up to the City Council whether to place the issue on the ballot in November or support it with a Council resolution. The U.S. Supreme Court in a decision removed campaign finance limits for corporations, groups and associations. Former UW-Fond du Lac Dean Judy Goldsmith is a member of the Move to Amend Fond du Lac group. She says they want a constitutional amendment to reverse what the court ruled.

Sheriff Plans Exit Strategy

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink says he’s developing an exit strategy for when he leaves office. He says if he’s re-elected this fall he will be 62 by the end of his next term and most of the people he came up with in the Sheriff’s Department will also be of retirement age. He says anyone with a law enforcement background would be a likely candidate for Sheriff, but they are putting people in positions in the department who might be interested in running for Sheriff some day. That includes Lieutenant Ryan Waldschmidt who was recently promoted to assistant jail administrator. He says Waldschmidt has political ambitions and wants to get the experience needed. Fink is being challenged this August by Fond du Lac Police Detective Bill Ledger in the primary election. The winner faces no opposition in November.

State Grants Helps FDL PD With Pedestrian And Bicycle Safety

A state grant is allowing the Fond du Lac Police Department to pay for overtime patrols to concentrate on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Officers will be looking for violations of bike and pedestrian laws during the added patrols. The purpose of the grant patrols is to educate the public and reduce fatal or serious injury accidents involving bicyclists or pedestrians. In 2012 Fond du Lac County had 23 reportable accidents involving bicyclists with one resulting in fatal injuries and 20 that resulted in injuries. Twenty-two pedestrians were also injured in crashes County wide in 2012, with one ending in death.

10 FDL Schools Recognized As Schools Of Merit

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says he couldn’t be more pleased that 10 of the district’s schools were recognized as PBIS Schools of Merit. That honor came by way of the Wisconsin Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Network. PBIS is a proactive approach that establishes safer and more effective schools. Sebert says it’s quite an honor to be recognized as a School of Merit. He says it’s a tremendous honor that speaks to the work that the staff and principals of those schools are doing. Fond du Lac Schools named PBIS Schools or Merit included Chegwin, Evans, Parkside, Pier, Riverside, Roberts, Rosenow, Sabish, Theisen and the high school.

Mader Time On MPTC District Board Appreciated

The Moraine Park Technical College District Board this month said goodbye to board member Lisa Mader. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says Mader served as treasurer for the board, but throughout her 12 years on the board served in a number of capacities. Most recently she chaired the finance committee. She says they are appreciative of Lisa’s guidance and service to the board. She says there will still be a family connection to MPTC. Ruhland says Mader’s son will be taking power distribution courses through MPTC’s Beaver Dam campus. Lisa Mader from Fond du Lac and is the Vice President of National Exchange Bank & Trust.

Sheboygan Man Redeems $1 Million Powerball Ticket

Long-time Lottery player David Resnick of Sheboygan became Wisconsin’s newest millionaire on Wednesday night, when he matched five regular numbers, but not the Powerball number, to win the game’s $1 million prize. Resnick recently brought his $1 million winning ticket to the Lottery’s Madison headquarters. After taxes he will receive a lump sum payment of $673,500. He purchased his ticket at a Q Mart in Sheboygan. For selling Resnick’s $1 million winning ticket, Q Mart earns a $20,000 commission from the Lottery.

UW-FDL Hosts Radio Field Day

The Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club will participate in the “ARRL Field Day” today.  It’s the single most popular on-the-air amateur radio event held annually in the US and Canada. Under the direction of Randy Gruenwald amateur radio enthusiasts will make contact with fellow Ham radio enthusiasts all over the world. The event will be held at the UW- Fond du Lac north parking lot. This 24 hour event starts at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon and ends on Sunday at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend. ARRL stands for American Radio Relay League, and is home base for amateur communications worldwide.

FDL Public Library Hosting Program On Manure Spill

Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel will be joined by others to discuss and answer questions about the recent Lake Winnebago manure spill and other polluted runoff at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Fond du Lac Public Library. The program is free; no registration required. The program is presented by Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association of Fond du Lac County, the Lake Winnebago Clean Waters Project and the library. There will be time for questions.