Local News Briefs Thursday 10/10/13

A 5-year veteran of the Oshkosh Police Department was injured when he was struck in the face with a drinking glass Wednesday. A 19-year-old Oshkosh man was arrested for the incident on West 15th Avenue Two officers were investigating an incident that occurred last weekend when the man tried to run out a door and a struggle ensued. During the struggle the 19-year-old swung a drinking glass at the officer and struck the officer in the face causing a deep laceration to the officer’s face and neck. He also tried to remove the officer’s gun from its holster, but was tasered and arrested.  The injured officer was taken to Theda Clark Regional Medical Center to get stitches to close his wounds. The suspect is facing possible substantial battery, battery to a police officer, felony reckless endangering safety and attempting to disarm a police officer.

Another Attempted Child Abduction In Oshkosh

Oshkosh Police say they received a report Wednesday about another attempt to entice a child into a vehicle. It happened last Friday afternoon in the area of Bowen Street and Otter Avenue. The child told police after he was dropped off by a school bus he noticed a man driving an older green two door vehicle with rust on the bottom. The man waved and circled his vehicle around and began talking with the child. The child ran and the man circled the vehicle again and asked if the child needed a ride. The child ran to a friend’s house. The driver was described at being white and in his 40’s. He was wearing a hat and had brown hair. Anyone with information should call Oshkosh Police at (920) 236-5700.

Two Arrested For Oshkosh Strong Armed Robbery

Oshkosh Police have arrested a 23-year-old Oshkosh man and 17-year-old Kenosha man for beating and robbery an Oshkosh man early Monday morning. The 18-year-old victim was beaten and robbed of his wallet and cell phone in the 1400 block of Oregon Street. The two suspects were arrested during a traffic stop Tuesday. A search warrant led to the recovery of items taken in the robbery at the 23-year-old man’s residence. He’s facing robbery, receiving stolen property and marijuana possession. The 17-year-old was arrested for being party to the robbery. Both were taken to the Winnebago County Jail. They apparently followed the victim from a Kwik Trip Store.

Attempted Abduction Arrest

A 51-year-old Oshkosh man has been arrested for the attempted child abduction incident last Saturday afternoon in the city. He was arrested Tuesday afternoon in the 900 block of Merrill Avenue and faces 3 counts each of attempted kidnapping and attempted child abduction. Three children were playing in their front yard when the man pulled up and offered to give them a ride to “go visit their grandmother.” The children’s mother came out to see what the man wanted and he drove off.

FDL Sex Offender Moving

A 46-year-old Fond du Lac sex offender is moving. Julian Smith is moving from 457 Thomas Street to 439 Portage Street today. Smith was released from prison last March 12th. His victims were 5, 6 and 7-year-old girls. Smith was previously released, but violated his electronic Monitoring in March of 2010 and was sent back to prison. Part of his supervision includes wearing a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Watertown Woman Arraigned For Bar Fire

The 28-year-old Watertown woman who set fire to a Watertown tavern to get back at her former boyfriend pled not guilty to charges when she was arraigned in Jefferson County Court this week. Trisha Krueger is charged with seven felony charges including arson and 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety. Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the blaze at Stacy’s Bar late last month. Two were injured jumping from the second story while the third was rescued from his apartment. According to the criminal complaint, Krueger and her ex-boyfriend had gotten into an argument hours before the fire. They had reportedly broken up several weeks before the incident and she was due to move out days after the fire. Krueger remains jailed on a $20,000 cash bond.  During the same hearing Krueger also waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Neenah Woman Smuggles Tobacco To Inmate Husband

A 42-year-old Neenah woman made her initial appearance in Dodge County Court this week on a charge that she smuggled smokeless tobacco into the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun. Kathleen Nietfeldt is facing a felony charge for passing the tobacco to her husband while she visited him in late July. Officials at the prison found the pouches in the garbage and he admitted they came from his wife. A $1,000 signature bond was set and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 21st.

NFDL Board Maintains Interest In Lakeshore Drive Overpass

North Fond du Lac’s Village Board this week voted to continue the design and engineering of the Lakeshore Drive overpass project. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says it reaffirms their intentions even though they are in the process of vacating the Lakeshore Drive railroad crossing. He says the board’s vote doesn’t authorize construction because they don’t have the funding in place for the project. He says the project if it materializes would split costs with the village and railroad each paying 10 percent and the remainder likely dependent upon federal funding. Meanwhile a hearing and board vote on vacating Lakeshore Drive is scheduled for Monday, October 28th. Vacating the crossing would mean trains wouldn’t be permitted to blow their horns approaching the crossing all hours of the day.

FCEDC President Says Economy At Stake In Budget Battle

The president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation says the federal government shutdown is having a real effect on the economy. Steve Jenkins says Congress has evolved from having a membership that’s willing to compromise to one that won’t at all. He says it damages the nation and the economy. He says the longer the stalemate continues the more it will damage the economy. Jenkins says federal workers and people who depend on programs funded by the government are paying the price.

Elections Law Changes

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says new state elections legislation is a reaction to the

One of the bills passed by the State Senate this week would require a chief elections inspector and poll worker from another party to seal ballot bags after the polls close. Freiberg says they have elections inspectors for each polling place, but a lot of those election workers are non-partisan. Freiberg says if too many restrictions are made on how polling places are managed it will impact those who volunteer to work at the polls.

Audit Raises Questions About Foster Care Payments

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A new Legislative Audit Bureau report raises questions about nearly $130,000 in payments to Wisconsin foster care agencies. The report looked at payments the Department of Children and Families sent to five agencies that oversee the placement of foster children. Out of more than 1,800 reimbursements to those groups between 2010 and 2012, it found that 558 lacked documentation to back them up. State Senator Rob Cowles of Green Bay calls that unacceptable. Cowles co-chairs the Legislature’s Audit Committee, which is reviewing the report. He says the findings are a clear indication that improved oversight is needed at D-C-F. In its response to the audit, DCF says it plans to follow-up with the providers to resolve the questionable claims and will review its policies on dealing with those situations. Governor Scott Walker says he is open to looking at changes that can help improve the agency.

Kitchen Fires Focus Of National Fire Prevention Week

Fond du Lac Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase  says one of the primary focuses during National Fire Prevention Week is to get the word out on kitchen fires. He says there have been 27 kitchen fires in Fond du Lac over the last year. He says kitchen fires take their toll across the nation annually. There are 165,000 kitchen fires a year, with 110 deaths and 3,500 injuries. He cautions people about new stoves, which have glass surfaces that people mistakenly use as counter space at times. He says people don’t always know when they are on. Other tips he offers is keeping pets and children away from stoves, using back burners, making sure are turned away from the stove’s edges, and never storing items inside the stove. The Fire Department last Friday held a kitchen fire demonstration at the Forest Mall.

Applications Available Soon For FDL Police Dept Citizens Academy

Applications will soon be available for the Fond du Lac Police Department’s Citizens Academy. Police Captain Mat Mueller says it’s an eight week course that Police Officer Steve Olson oversees. He says it’s a good way for residents to find out more about the police department and how it operates. Mueller says there are eight different topics on those eight different days. For more information call 322-3704.

Walk To End Alzheimer’s Raises More Than $38,000 In FDL County

More than 300 people participated in the Fond du Lac County Walk to End Alzheimer’s last Saturday morning at Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac. More than $38,000 was raised and donations will continue to roll in over the next few months. Last year’s walk raised $32,000. If you would still like to donate your donation can be made to Walk to End Alzheimer’s and sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Southeastern Wisconsin chapter at 620 S. 76th Street, Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214.  Contributions should be designated to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Fond du Lac County Walk.  Donations can also be made online through December 31st.