Local News Briefs Thursday 5/12/16

Johnson Introduces Right To Try Act

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson this week introduced legislation which would give people who are terminally ill the right to try experimental drugs that have shown some promise. Johnson says the Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act grew out of meeting Trickett Wendler of Waukesha two years ago. She suffered from ALS and he told her about a new effort that was being tried. He says tears started streaming down her face with just the possibility of hope. Tim Wendler says his wife passed away 14 months ago. He says hope is important. Also telling their stories were 7-year-old Jordan McLinn and his mother Laura McLinn. She says during his childhood years without a miracle he is going to lose the ability to walk, to dress himself, feed himself, and even raise his arms to give her a hug. Laura McLinn says the form of muscular dystrophy Jordan has is 100 percent fatal.    

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Dodge County Sheriffs Investigators Looking At Location For Sex Offender Placement

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says his department is investigating whether a residence two high-risk sex offenders will be living is an appropriate location. Schmidt says a new law allows the investigation and will help two judges decide on the placement of Jonathan Miller and Robert Larson. Schmidt says the public should understand that the decision about placement is made by judges and not determined by his department. The location being considered is at N462 Highway 67 in the Village of Lomira. Schmidt says if the judges next Tuesday decide to place Miller and Larson there his department will schedule a community notification meeting. Two previous attempts to place those two offenders in other Dodge County locations fell through.

Bond Issue Will Help Finance Waupun Fire Department Projects

The Waupun Fire Department will be benefitting from a $3.9 million bond issue approved by the Common Council. The majority of that money will help the City refinance debt, but $770,000 will be used for a training facility and purchase of a pumper truck for the fire department. Fire Chief B.J. DeMaa says training is important for service the department provides. He says live fire training makes difference. He says with enough training a firefighter can react appropriately to fire situations without really having to give it much thought. He says that’s what they call muscle memory. He says the pumper truck they will be replacing is 20 years old and was schedule for replacement next year. DeMaa says they will order the pumper truck later this year, but probably won’t receive it until next year.  

Disaster Preparedness Presentation In Ripon Tonight

Area residents can find out how to be “Red Cross Ready” for disasters during two presentations in Fond du Lac County.  Disaster Action Team Captain Tom Powell says during the one-hour program, he will highlight how to prepare for local emergencies to larger disasters. Powell himself has worked on national disasters like Hurricane Katrina, flooding in Eastern Minnesota, and tornadoes. Of course he’s also helped out at local disaster scenes too. He says that’s included house fires, tornadoes and flooding. He says for him it’s been about giving back to the community. Tonight there will be at presentation at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Ripon. There’s also a presentation next Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Senior Center. Anyone wishing to learn more about disaster preparedness is invited to attend. The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year and nearly 900 are in the state of Wisconsin.

Metcalf Kupres Joins Oshkosh Corp Board Of Directors

Oshkosh Corporation recently announced the appointment of Kim Metcalf-Kupres to its Board of Directors as a new, independent director. Metcalf-Kupres is vice president and chief marketing officer for Johnson Controls. With this addition, the Oshkosh Board voted to increase its size to 13 directors, 12 of whom are independent. “We are pleased to welcome Kim as the newest member of the Oshkosh Corporation Board of Directors,” said Richard M. Donnelly, Oshkosh Corporation chairman of the Board of Directors. Ms. Metcalf-Kupres was appointed as Johnson Controls’ first ever chief marketing officer in May 2013. She joined Johnson Controls in 1994.

FDL Summer Kickoff Program

The Fond du Lac Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is sponsoring a free community event at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts next Wednesday highlight Fond du Lac Summer activities. Representatives will reveal the exciting summer schedule of hundreds of events and activities taking place in Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the program will begin at 6, followed by live music from Lighthouse Trio. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a “staycation” package including a hotel stay at the Holiday Inn Express and tickets to various events.