Local News Briefs Thursday 6/5/14

A 20-year-old Milwaukee man was sentenced yesterday in Fond du Lac County court for robbing a man at gunpoint in a Fond du Lac apartment building last September. Judge Robert Wirtz sentenced Lorenzo Johnson to 10 years in prison and 3 years of extended supervision on a robbery with use of force charge. Four other charges were read into the record and dismissed. According to the criminal complaint Johnson and two others robbed the victim at an apartment building on Forest Avenue. During the robbery the victim was hit over the head with a gun and robbed of a small amount of cash and marijuana. Johnson later admitted to investigators that he was the one holding the weapon. 

One Killed, One Injured In Crash Near West Bend

The State Patrol says one person was killed and another seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash near West Bend Wednesday afternoon. A vehicle heading east on Highway 33 hit a westbound vehicle head on. The accident occurred just before 3:30 p.m. west of Highway 175 in Washington County. The injured person was taken to a hospital.

Oshkosh Church Burglary Suspect Arrested

Oshkosh Police have arrested a 26 year-old homeless for the burglary at Grace Lutheran Church last month. The man was arrested Tuesday and also was referred on a theft charge for allegedly stealing money out of donations boxes at St. Jude Church as well. Police released video showing the suspect walking inside Grace Lutheran Church. People who saw the video were able to recognize him and called police. Appleton Police located him Tuesday and brought him to the Oshkosh Police Department where he was interviewed and arrested. He was then taken to the Winnebago County Jail.

Homes Evacuated For Gas Leak In Lomira

Ten homes were evacuated in the Village of Lomira for a natural gras leak early Tuesday afternoon. Officials say it happened in the 1000 block of North Water Street. Displaced residents were taken to the Lomira Community Center during the evacuation. Alliant Energy was called to remedy the problem. Residents returned to their homes after firefighters checked gas levels in the home to make sure they were safe.

Waupun AmericInn Hotel Project Gets State Trust Fund Loan

The AmericInn Hotel & Suites project in Waupun is getting a boost from the state. The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands this week approved nearly $7 million State Trust Fund Loans to support five municipal projects across the state. The City of Waupun, Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties was awarded $700,000 to provide development incentives for the hotel project. The hotel on Shaler Drive will open soon. The 32,200 square foot hotel was built in the Meadowview School redevelopment area. It features 3 floors and 61 rooms.

Waupun Pool Opening Soon

Nearly 7 years ago this month a pool was demolished at the Fond du Lac County Park in Waupun, now a new one is poised to open. County Planning and Parks Director Sam Tobias says the new $4.3 million aquatic center will be opening soon. The City will own and operate the new 9,900 square foot pool. Tobias says Fond du Lac County deeded them 2.5 acres to build the facility. The County also pledged $1 million towards construction of the new pool. Waupun residents supported an advisory referendum in August of 2012 supporting building a pool at the County Park.  Tobias says the old pool was a nice feature to offer people who camp in the County Park and the new pool might do the same.

Last Graduation For FDL HS Principal Wiltzius

It’s the last graduation for Fond du Lac High School Principal Jon Wiltzius tonight. Wiltzius is resigning at the end of the month to own and operate a local campground. He says he will always remember his first graduation as high school principal in Fond du Lac because flooding that night in 2008 led to postponement of the ceremony. The building was used as a safe site for the community that evening. The ceremony wasn’t held until that Sunday instead. Wiltzius says tonight they will also give out their Distinguished Alumni Award to Goodrich High School graduate Mike Julka who became a lawyer who specializes in educational law. Wiltzius says he’s also pleased that the high school’s graduation rate has steadily improved over the years. The ceremony is at 7 p.m. tonight in the High School field house.

FDL Fire Dept Will Use Two ATVs At Walleye Weekend

Those who haven’t seen the Fond du Lac Fire Department’s new 6-wheel ATV fire fighting unit can catch a glimpse of it at Walleye Weekend in Lakeside Park this weekend. Fire Chief Peter O’Leary says it’s a nice addition to the department. He says it could in handy at the festival where there’s a lot of good food being cooked up. He says there’s always a possibility of fire and having the ATV there on the scene provides a quicker response on the scene versus waiting for an engine that has to make it through the crowds. It will be one of two 6-wheel ATVs the department will be using. The other is equipped to haul someone from the park to a waiting ambulance if there’s a medical emergency that requires a transport.

Flag Day Ceremony At Walleye Weekend

Walleye Weekend will be celebrating National Flag Day a few days early with a ceremony and fly over this Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. Lieutenant Commander U.S. Navy retired Ron Roen and Commandant Bill Drexel of the Fond du Lac Marine Corps League will serve as emcees for the event. It will be held at the flagpole with the yardarm at the corner of North Main Street and Promen Drive inside the Lakeside Park entrance. Drexel says they will be presenting some flags to different organizations. The flags were flown at U.S. military outposts in Afghanistan. A Bird Dog aircraft will also fly over the ceremony. Drexel says it’s a small plane that was used for covert operations in Korea and Vietnam. Drexel says normally during their flag presentations they use a large flag and give some history on why it’s folded the way that it is. The University of Wisconsin Marching Band will perform at the end of the ceremony.

Movies For Teens At FDL Public Library This Summer

Officials with the Fond du Lac Public Library hope to get more teens involved in their summer programs. Youth Services Coordinator Sarah Newton says beginning Tuesday June 17th every Tuesday at 1 p.m. they will hold Tuesdays at the Movies for teens. She says they have a diverse group of teens that make up their teen library council that suggested activities to go along with each movie. She says each teen activity at the library will include the serving of food and door prizes with a chance to win some really nice prizes at the end of the summer. The teen activities at the downtown library kick off with a Beam Me Up Party next Tuesday at 1 p.m. No registration is required for most of the teen activities. Find out more at the library’s website. 

Grand Opening For Johnny Rockets At The Outlet Shoppes

The new Johnny Rockets restaurant opens at The Outlet Shoppes in Oshkosh with a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration Thursday. The ceremony is from 4 to 6 p.m. and Green Bay Packer B. J. Raji will be participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony along with the Oshkosh Area Chamber of Commerce. The new 2,500 square-foot restaurant will feature seating for 74 along with outdoor patio seating.