Local News Briefs Thursday 7/16/15

The State Senate Wednesday passed public financing for a new Milwaukee Bucks Arena. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says it was a win for Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. State Senator Duey Stroebel says the NBA players’ income tax and ticket surcharge will more than pay for the state portion of the new arena. The vote was 21 to 10. The plan would give team owners 250-million-dollars in subsidies to cover half the cost of the arena. State Senator Steve Nass called the deal proof that N-B-A blackmail works. The package now heads to the Assembly, although it remains uncertain when that chamber will take up the proposal.

Four Hurt In Two Vehicle Accident Near Theresa

Four people were hurt in a two car accident late Tuesday morning Theresa. It happened on Highway 175 near Dodge County Highway TW shortly after 11 a.m.   A GMC Acadia heading north on 175 struck an eastbound Pontiac Grand Am that was pulling out from a stop sign.  A 23-year-old Mayville woman driving the Grand Am was flown to Froedtert Hospital with life threatening injuries.  Her passenger, a 20 year-old Mayville man, the 72-year-old Oconomowoc man driving the GMC, and his 73-year-old female passenger – also from Oconomowoc – all went to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The State Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash. 

FDL Man Makes Initial Appearance On Child Sexual Assault Charges

A 56-year-old Fond du Lac man recently sent to prison on exposure charges made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County Court this week on 1st degree sexual assault of a child and exposure charges. William Thomas allegedly had inappropriate contact with two young girls in 1996. According to the criminal complaint the two victims were 8 to 10 years old when the contact occurred. His preliminary hearing on the new charges is scheduled for September 11th. In March Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison and 4 ½ years of extended supervision on exposure charges.

Wisconsin Fast Forward Program Working For The Area

The Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development says the Wisconsin Fast Forward program has been successful at training and re-training workers for employers needs. Dave Anderson says State Senator Rick Gudex authored legislation that led to the program. He says locally Agnesian HealthCare got a grant to expand an apprenticeship program. Agnesian got a $38,000 to work with the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce to expand their youth apprenticeship health science program to train 20 local high school students in the certified nursing assistant curriculum. He says the Department of Workforce Development also awarded a grant to Moraine Park Technical College. He says that $1.2 million grant was to train 125 workers in high demand areas. Anderson says through the program over $12.5 million has bee awarded to 145 projects.   

Ripon Auxiliary Police Officer Honored

The Ripon Common Council this week honored auxiliary police officer Brian Wilson with a plaque congratulating him on his retirement after 37 years with the auxiliary. Ripon Police Captain Bill Wallner says the auxiliary provide assistance to their department in many capacities. He says Wilson was already retired, but continued to provide service as an auxiliary officer. Wallner says the majority of Wilson’s time was through volunteer hours. Wallner says people who might be interested in serving as an auxiliary police officer can contact him. He says he be contacted directly by calling him at (920) 748-2888 or emailing him. He says you can find that address on their website.

Thursday At The FDL County Fair

Today at the Fond du Lac County Fair brings some 1970’s rockers and the Livestock Market Auction. Fair Manager Matt Immel says people can join an American Band, Grand Funk Railroad when they take the stage at the Grandstand with other great acts following on Friday and Saturday. Great White and Slaughter perform Friday night and Saturday its Montgomery Gentry. KFIZ will carry the Livestock Market Auction with Wade Bates and Rae Nell Halbur from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Immel says they appreciate the support area businesses give the youth who are selling their livestock at the auction. He says you can also enjoy some music at the K107 Leine Lodge. Tonight The Presidents perform at the lodge. Also today Bob Hoffmaster will be doing The Morning Show live from the fair from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

UW FDL Programs For Kids Coming Up This Month

UW-Fond du Lac will be hosting its annual College for Kids July 20th through the 23rd and LEAPS, which runs July 27th through the 30th.  It is the 25th year for these week-long programs coordinated by UW-Fond du Lac’s Continuing Education office. College for Kids is for students entering grades 5-8. About 90 students will be participating in courses that focus on STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) fields learning about physics, drawing, chemistry and architecture. Other students will be part of a robotics camp building a robot from scratch or will be learning about video game programming while they develop their own characters, creatures and effects. During LEAPS, 80 students entering grades 2-4 will also be in courses in the STEAM fields. Students will be conducting chemistry experiments, learning about geometric shapes through blowing bubbles, creating woven artwork, experiencing the art of papermaking or painting their own canvas masterpiece. On the last day of both programs, parents or special guests are invited to join their student in the classroom.