Local News Briefs Thursday 3/10/16

FDL Man Sentenced For Child Sexual Assault

A Fond du Lac County judge this week sentenced a 27-year-old Fond du Lac man to 20 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of a child. Judge Peter Grimm sentenced Randall Robison to the prison term and 20 years of extended supervision. Robison was convicted in 2008 of 2nd degree sexual assault of a child.   

Speed Dating

A 24-year-old Hartford man left quite an impression with a 19-year-old Germantown woman on their first date. A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy tried to pull over Eric Chapman after clocking him doing over 90 miles an hour on Highway 175. That led to a pursuit and eventually Chapman was pulled over with the assistance of other officers. Chapman’s date told officers she kept asking Chapman to slow down. He’s now facing 1st degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing an officer charges.

Green Lake County SWAT Call Discontinued

Green Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a trailer park in Green Lake Tuesday night for a report of a suicidal subject. They were told they were dealing with a 19-year-old Green Lake man at the Coachlite Trailer Park who was armed and confined to a home in the park. Chief Deputy Mark Putzke says they evacuated neighbors and called in their SWAT unit. The Winnebago County bearcat was also brought in. After several hours of trying to contact the man without success they decided to discontinue tactical operations. Putzke says they weren’t getting cooperation from people they were working with. He says they have had other dealings with the man who was also wanted on warrants. He says the decision to discontinue their operations in the park was also based on the public’s welfare.

Chamber In Good Hands During Search For Reitemeier Successor

The chairman of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Board of Directors says they will make as seamless a transition as they are able with the retirement of Association President and CEO Joe Reitemeier. Tom Schneider says Reitemeier gave them more than 30 great years at the association. He says they will look for someone from the area as an interim replacement while they do a more comprehensive search for Reitemeier’s successor. He says the board’s executive committee will be taking over while they look for an interim president and CEO, but they’ve learned well over the years from Reitemeier what they need to do. He says they also have a strong staff of employees to fall back on as well. He says Reitemeier will be staying on as a consultant for six months to help with the transition.

CD Smith Gets Big Contract

According to an article on Biztimes.com Fond du Lac based C. D. Smith Construction will be the general contractor for a new building for the Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. The 34-story building will be built adjacent to the company’s corporate headquarters in Milwaukee. It’s a $100 million development that will include high-end residential and retail space.

Eisenbahn Trail Could Be Connector To Trails In Several Counties

Could Washington County’s Eisenbahn Trail tie similar trails in several neighboring counties together? Washington County Administrator Joshua Schoemann says a new study is tackling that question. He says in Ozaukee County there’s an urban trail. In Waukesha there is the Bugline Trail. Dodge County has the Wild Goose State Trail, and a trail connects Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County. He says their idea is take the Eisenbahn Trail and connect it with all those different trails.  Schoemann says there are people using these trails to get to and from work on a regular basis, not just for recreation. 

Birthplace Of The GOP Celebrating Anniversary In Ripon This Month

Ripon’s Little White Schoolhouse, the Birthplace of the Republican Party, will be celebrating its 162nd anniversary on March 20th. A meeting at the schoolhouse on that date in 1854 is generally regarded as the launch of the Republican Party. Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says it was also the birth of a civil rights movement. He says it’s worth noting especially in a Presidential election year. The past few years an actor has portrayed a historical figure from that era to kick off the opening weekend for the Little White Schoolhouse and that tradition will continue this year. The past few years someone has played Abraham Lincoln, but this year they are bringing in teacher Thomas Gilding to portray Mark Twain. The Little White Schoolhouse opens for the season on Saturday, May 7th.