Local News Briefs Thursday 5/28/15

Police in Chilton prepared for the worst last night during what’s known as a “swatting” call. That’s when someone makes a false report to police leading to a SWAT response. Usually the person making the call indicates there may be weapons involved. Police set their response up around a home on Madison Street about 10:30 p.m. They were unable to establish contact with the family in the home at first and eventually did make contact about 1 a.m. They learned the family was sleeping and were unaware that police were outside the home.

Missing Oshkosh Woman Found Safe

A missing Oshkosh woman who was the subject of a Silver Alert was found safe Wednesday evening. Police had posted the alert for 66-year-old Catherine “Kitty” Edminster yesterday afternoon. She suffers from Alzheimer’s and was believed to be heading to the Winneconne area when she walked off.

Green Lake County Speed And Drug Enforcement Effort

Green Lake County Sheriff’s officials say a combined speed and drug enforcement effort last Friday afternoon led to five criminal arrests and one for drunken driving. Deputies, K-9 officers and the State Patrol conducted 51 vehicle stops on State Highways 23 and 49 and County Highways J and A during the four hour effort. That resulted in 43 traffic citations and 25 written warnings. One motorist was ticketed for doing 105 miles per hour. There were also 7 misdemeanor charges, all for possession of marijuana and/or drug paraphernalia.

Theresa Man Arraigned On Embezzlement Charge

The 47-year-old Theresa man suspected of embezzling from a gas station entered a not guilty plea when he was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week.  According to the criminal complaint, Randal Mittelstadt used the money to support a gambling habit. He allegedly stole nearly $6,300 from the cash register of the Ultimart gas station in Theresa late last year. 

Morris Street Closure

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department tells us Morris Street will be closed between 9th Street and 12th Street. The closure will begin Thursday morning at 7 a.m. and is expected to re-open by the end of the day Friday. That section of Morris Street will be closed for utility repair work.  The public is asked to plan an alternate route during this time as there will not be a marked detour. 

Unemployment Rates Down

The unemployment rate for the City and County of Fond du Lac fell nearly a full percentage point from March to April. According to federal labor statistics the jobless rate for the City went from 5 percent in March to 4.2 percent in April, and the County’s fell from 4.8 to 3.8 percent. The County’s unemployment rate in April of last year was 5.1 percent. For more click here.

FDL Fire And Rescue Accreditation Process Gears Up

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue has a big week next week when representatives for the accreditation process the department is going through visit town. Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase says they will look at all aspects of the department. He says they will also be visiting with other City departments that work with Fire and Rescue. He says that will include human resources, the water department, the City Manager and other departments. The final step in the process comes in August when some of the department’s members travel to Atlanta, Georgia for interviews. Only a couple of departments in the state are going through the accreditation process.

Agnesian Invites Community To Participate In Pink Glove Dance Filming Saturday

Agnesian HealthCare’s participation in the 2015 Pink Glove Dance heats up with a major portion of their video filming this Saturday. Agnesian is asking community members, cancer survivors, family, friends, associates, providers and volunteers to come to the Agnesian Cancer Center at 9 a.m. on Saturday for the filming. At this filming, participants can join the Fond du Lac police and fire officials, the YMCA, cancer survivors and community at large for this fun, energetic event for a great cause. It is hoped that at least 200 participants will participate in the event – rain or shine. The Pink Glove Dance is a national video competition put on by Medline, which is designed to raise awareness of breast cancer. Organizations across the country compete for the most votes to win $25,000 for their cancer charity of choice. Last year, Agnesian HealthCare’s Pink Glove Dance video ranked in the top 10 percent nationwide!

Wisconsin State Button Show Coming To FDL

The Wisconsin State Button Show is coming to Fond du Lac from June 11th-13th!  Come to see the magnificent miniature works of art called buttons!  Whether you are fascinated with their artistic quality, want to examine their material and construction, or seek to delve into their history, there will be buttons for everyone in all price ranges. Button collectors will gather in Fond du Lac Thursday, June 11th (6pm to 9 pm), Friday, June 12th (11am to 5pm) and Saturday, June 13th (9:30am to 2pm), at the Retlaw Plaza Hotel, 1 North Main Street, Fond du Lac, for the Wisconsin State Button Society’s State Show.  Admission is free.  Collectors, dealers, tailors and seamstresses, jewelry and costume designers, and quilters and crafters of all ages are welcome. There will be many buttons for sale by dealers. In addition, the show will feature educational displays and a judged button competition.  On Saturday morning from 10:30-11:30am, a discussion of the educational exhibits will take place in the Showroom. For more information, check the website of the Wisconsin State Button Society, www.wsbs.org or contact Charlotte Ann Button at 262-835-4124, ca_b@msn.com.

Mercury And Metal Shark Partner For Coast Guard Boats

Mercury Marine, the world leader in marine propulsion and technology, has entered an agreement with Metal Shark Aluminum Boats to power 16 Coast Guard boats with Mercury diesel engines. The partnership is the first of its kind in the United States for Mercury Marine.

Mercury Marine continues its commitment to the government marine sector and this program provides the company an opportunity to show that its products fulfill additional market needs in a premium market presence such as the USCG.

“Mercury Marine’s 2.0 diesel engines are ideal for smaller vessels such as the Coast Guard Cutter Boat ATON Medium,” said Greg Lambrecht, Metal Shark vice president. “These engines are compact, lightweight, and deliver a superb power to weight ratio for use in a wide range of small vessel applications.”

“The U.S. diesel market is evolving and adapting and our marine customers are taking notice of the diesel advantage when it comes to performance and fuel economy,” said Reinhard Burk, Mercury Marine Senior director of diesel & propulsion strategies. “A commercial application with a high profile customer such as USCG proves to the marketplace that our diesel offerings are in high demand.”

The USCG’s CB-ATON-M is based on Metal Shark’s 18’ Relentless, a welded aluminum center console vessel that features a urethane-sheathed foam collar for impact protection. The CB-ATON-Ms are carried aboard the USCG’s coastal buoy tender fleet for at-sea and inshore operations or in port. The vessels primarily support Aids to Navigation efforts and are also used to support Search and Rescue; Maritime Law Enforcement; and Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security missions.

Mercury Marine and Metal Shark continue to enjoy a strong relationship. Metal Shark supplied the USCG with a 16 boat training fleet based on its 38 Defiant pilothouse model, each equipped with twin Mercury Marine 300hp Verado outboards.  Mercury also supplies outboard power for the High Speed Maneuverable Surface Target (HSMST) vessels Metal Shark builds for the U.S. Navy under a 350-boat contract awarded in late 2013. Mercury outboards are the choice of many of Metal Shark’s state and local law enforcement and commercial customers as well.

“We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Metal Shark on the outboard side and look to do the same with our diesel offerings,” said Burk. “The performance of our lightweight, fuel efficient diesel engine backed by the long standing support of Mercury Marine is a perfect match for Metal Shark’s rugged off-shore patrol vessels performed by government programs across the country.”