Local News Briefs Saturday 7/25/15

Four people were arrested in Ripon this week in connection with an armed robbery in the 400 block of Spring Street. Three men in a home at 448 Spring Street set up a meeting with the victim Wednesday and when he arrived two men robbed him of his money with one of then holding a handgun on him. Police and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies got a search warrant for the residence. The weapon used in the robbery was found during the search, along with drug paraphernalia and controlled substances. The woman who was renting the residence was taken to the Green Lake County Jail on a felony arrest warrant. Three men involved in the robbery were taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail. Armed robbery and other charges are pending against the four.

Lomira Woman Bound Over Trial On Narcotics Possession Charge

A 26-year-old Lomira woman this week waived her preliminary hearing and was bound over for trial on a drug charge related to her daughter’s overdose death. Danielle Kalmus is facing one count of Possession of Narcotics. Her two-year-old daughter was found dead in July of last year at a Brownsville apartment. Kalmus told investigators that she found the girl with an open pill bottle in the days prior to her death. Toxicology tests determined the child had morphine in her system. Kalmus will be arraigned on the charge next month.

Cleveland Joins FCEDC

The Fond du Lac Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) has added Jim Cleveland as Vice President of Business and Community Competitiveness. Cleveland was previously with the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. His responsibilities will be the FCEDC Existing Business Program. He is also responsible for assisting the County’s rural communities with their economic development efforts.  Jim fills the position held by Bill Steimel who is retiring. Two promotions are also being announced. Jo Ann Giese-Kent, past Director of Entrepreneurship and Business Intelligence, is being promoted to Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A previous promotion was Sarah Spang to Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Veteran Smartphone App Scam

Fond du Lac County’s Veterans Service Officer is warning veterans about what he terms a predatory Iphone app. Rick Patton says it’s called “My VA Benefits” and costs $4.99 to download the app. He says it’s supposed to be helpful, but the misinformation it gives out is anything but. He says it claims to maximize the amount of disability money veterans and their families receive for a veteran’s injuries and there is a lot of misinformation especially about the claims process. He says it doesn’t provide any quality information, but it is making someone rich.

Help Habitat ReStore Gets Is Grande

Volunteers from one of Fond du Lac’s newest corporate citizens helped out at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore this week. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says they are so thankful for the help more than 35 volunteers from Grande Cheese provided at their ReStore and in the area they will be expanding to at the same location. He says they did some painting and helped rearrange some of their new space. Grande Cheese is building a new corporate headquarters and research and development center on Camelot Drive.

Prairie Fest Today

The Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum and UW-Fond du Lac will host the annual Prairie Fest today. The fun-filled educational event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be Yoga in the Prairie, a tour with wildlife expert Bill Volkert, programs on plants and butterflies. There will also be canning tips, you can learn about bee keeping, worm composting, there’s a play zone for kids, a rain barrel silent auction, hourly drawings for plants and plant sale.

Car A Funda Sunday At Lakeside Park

The Fondy Vintage Auto Club will stage its annual charity car show “Car-A-Funda” Sunday at Lakeside Park. Those attending the Car-A-Funda are asked to make a $2 donation when they enter the park. Jerry Gordon of the club says it will be used to help “With a Little Help, Inc.” which uses the money to send people with neuromuscular diseases to summer camp. There will be food and refreshments, raffles and prize drawings and music. There is no cost to enter a car in the show. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MPTC Program Goes Skin Deep

Technical colleges teach people a variety of skills and you might say at least one of them being offered at Moraine Park Technical College goes skin deep. Fred Rice is the Dean of Applied Technologies and Trades at MPTC. He says people might not think about cosmetology when they are thinking about a trade, but it’s something they offer at MPTC. He says right now is a good time to take those courses because the state lowered the 1,800 hour board required program to 1,550 hours, which will shave about 6 months off the training that’s required to prepare for state board certification. He says that shortens an 18 month program to 12 months.