Local News Briefs Thursday 5/22/14

The 18-year-old Rubicon man injured when he fell off his dirt bike in the Fond du Lac ATV park last Saturday is improving at a hospital in Neenah. Jeremy Kuhn is in good condition at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center. A Flight for Life helicopter flew him to Theda. Fond du Lac paramedics used the department’s 6-wheel ATV to transport him to the waiting helicopter at a make shift landing zone.

Waupun Woman Sentenced On Embezzling Charges

A sentencing hearing was held this week in Dodge County Court for the 35-year-old Waupun woman who took close to $50,000 from the Mayville business she used to work for. Teresa Ruch was sentenced to 30 days in jail. She was also sentenced to 18 months of probation and can avoid prosecution on a felony theft charge if she stays out of trouble while she’s on probation. Ruch pled “no contest” earlier this month to three misdemeanor theft charges and the felony theft charge. Charges stemmed from thefts that occurred during her employment at Mayville Vision.

Unemployment Rates Drop

The City and County of Fond du Lac saw their unemployment rates drop a full percentage point from March to April. According to state and federal labor statistics the City’s rate fell to 6.4 percent last month and the County’s rate to 5.5 percent. That’s also an improvement of 1 percent compared to April of last year. All 32 of the state’s largest cities and 70 of the state’s 72 counties saw a decrease in unemployment rates for the month.

Twenty One Apply For FDL HS Principal Job

More than 20 people applied for the Fond du Lac High School principal’s job before this past Monday’s deadline. District Director of Human Resources Sharon Simon says 21 people applied for the job that Jon Wiltzius will be leaving at the end of June. One of the applicants works for the district and is the only applicant from the County. Eighteen of the applicants are from Wisconsin. Wiltizius has been with the school district for 16 years, the last 6 years as high school principal. He has purchased and will be running a campground in the Eden and Fond du Lac area.

UW-FDL Commencement Ceremony

The University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac will hold its annual spring Honors and Commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. tonight in the Prairie Theater.  This year’s Commencement speaker is Judy Goldsmith, former UW-Fond du Lac Dean/CEO and current Fond du Lac County Board Supervisor. Courtney Mallinger of Fond du Lac has been selected as the student speaker. She will be transferring to UW-Whitewater in the fall to major in political science and pre-law. While at UW-Fond du Lac she has served as a Student Government Association (SGA) senator and worked as an English tutor.  Graduates at the spring Commencement ceremony will be awarded the Associate of Arts and Science Degree. A reception for graduates and their families will be held in the University Center Commons following the ceremony.

Dodge County Office Building Sold

Dodge County supervisors this week approved the sale of the County office building in downtown Juneau. The building was actually auctioned off through a posting with Wisconsin Surplus Auction. A Dousman man had the winning bid of $102,000, but a buyer fee put the final price at $108,000. The building housed the County’s Human Services programs. The Human Services Department moved to the newly-remodeled Clearview North, which was vacated after construction of a new nursing home.

Lt.Governor Talks About Technical Education Benefits

Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch says the state’s technical schools, like Moraine Park Technical College, are a good avenue to learn the skills that employers want. She says over the next four years 50 percent of Wisconsin jobs are going to be going to middle-skilled job seekers. She says that would be people who have the appropriate training such as that received through a technical school. She says high school graduates, displaced workers and even former prison inmates should consider a technical education. Kleefisch says the Governor’s Blue Print for Prosperity including $35 million for worker training. She says in addition the state’s Fast Forward program is ensuring the elimination of waiting lists at technical colleges for high need industries. She says the face of manufacturing is changing and it’s no longer the blue collar job it was in your father’s time.  

New Website For Ripon Chamber

The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce launched a new website this week that equally serves chamber members and visitors to the community. Chamber Executive Director Jason Mansmith says the old website had served its purpose and the new site is a fresh take that users should enjoy. He says with all the mobile devices available today they had to take that into consideration when designing the new site. He says the new site also has links that will connect you with their social networking sites and they can be followed on all the more popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram. The new site was developed by Public Image in Ripon and Continental Creative Services in Oshkosh. 

FDL Woman Runs Marathon Distances For MS Cure

Starting Friday morning a Fond du Lac woman will run the equivalent of 13 marathons over 14 days. Amy Van Dyke will be participating in the MS Run the U.S. Relay for the second straight year. She says she likes the idea that it’s about raising funds to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Last year she ran 148 miles in the relay and this year she signed up for a double segment meaning she has to raise $20,000 in donations for the run.  She has raised over $19,000 so far. She says she enjoys the scenery and doesn’t need any music to accompany her during the run. Tomorrow morning she starts her run in Steam Boat Springs, Colorado and will be running nearly 28 miles a day or more than 350 miles during the event. If you would like to donate towards her effort visit her First Giving page. 

Town Of Byron Annual Memorial Day Salute

Town of Byron veterans will be honored at the Memorial Day tribute next Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. South Byron native Michael Bird, a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, is the keynote speaker. The morning program also includes unveiling of 17 names added to the Veterans Memorial, a roll call of veterans buried in Town of Byron cemeteries, a firing squad salute, and an open house exhibit from 8 to 11 a.m. The public is welcome to attend the event co-sponsored by the Town of Byron Veterans Memorial Committee and the Byron Historical Society.