Local News Briefs Thursday 9/26/13

Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say the 29-year-old driver of a 2007 Toyota Corolla was injured in a collision with a semi on Oregon Street in the Town of Black Wolf yesterday. The driver was heading south and crossed over the centerline into the northbound lane hitting a semi head-on. Flight for Life flew the injured driver to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The semi driver wasn’t hurt.

Clyman Man Sentenced For Injuring Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputy

A Dodge County judge this week sentenced a 54-year-old Clyman man to two years in prison for throwing a Sheriff’s deputy off the deck of his home last February. Larry Sellnow was sentenced on a felony charge of battery to a police officer. Three other charges were read into the record and dismissed. Sellnow will also be placed on extended supervision for three years when his prison term is complete. He was given credit for already serving 100 days in jail. The incident happened last February 24th when deputies responded to Sellnow’s home for a complaint about his nephew who had threatened to kill himself with a knife. Sellnow wouldn’t let the deputy into the residence and threw the deputy off the deck onto the frozen ground during a struggle. The officer suffered bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder and other aches and pains.

Heroin Dangers Campaign Launched

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-The state Department of Justice is launching a new media campaign targeting the dangers of heroin. The ad campaign, featuring radio, TV, and online content, focuses on something called the Fly Effect. Much like the nursery rhyme about the old woman who swallowed a fly, it’s meant to show how heroin use can spiral out of control destroying the life of a user and hurting those around them. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen says many of those who try the drug do so without fully understanding what it can do to their lives. The ad campaign is one of several efforts the D-O-J is pushing to combat heroin use a problem Van Hollen says is rapidly growing in Wisconsin. The agency is also announcing several grants that will fund local solutions, such as education program in schools and treatment options.

Unemployment Rates Dip In August

Unemployment rates for the City of Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac County both dipped by six-tenths of a percent from July to August. According to figures from the state’s Department of Workforce Development the City’s jobless rate in August was 7.3 percent and the County’s was 6 percent. The state’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent for August and the national average was 7.3 percent. Jobless rates for all 32 of the state’s largest cities and 69 of the 72 counties decreased.

UW-FDL Officials Will Be Ready For Second Go At Housing Request

The dean of the UW-Fond du Lac says they will be prepared to go back before the Fond du Lac County Board next month to ask for a lease agreement for on campus student housing. The board last week postponed a resolution that would lease 10 acres of land at $1 dollar per acre to a developer. The school was asking for the lease agreement before putting out a request for proposal to developers. Supervisors had some questions and criticism including a comment by one supervisor that the reason students go to the school is because it’s cheap. UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says it’s an extraordinary value and not just because of the price, but also the educational value. He says they will be careful with where they place the 24 apartments with up to 120 beds. He says they will protect the natural beauty of the campus and if he had to guess it would be placed near the physical education building and academic building. He says the housing would be designed to meet student needs. The developer would own and operate the housing.

Senator Gudex Takes Lead On Workforce Development Bills

State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac will take the lead in the Senate on two legislative proposals that are part of the Governor’s workforce development package. Both proposals are designed to help students get the skills needed for the jobs that are in high demand in the state with a Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship and Technical Education Incentive Grants. The scholarship rewards students who are at the top of their class with a state scholarship. The goal is to get more students to use the scholarship to pursue a technical education. The Technical Education Incentive Grants would encourage schools to graduate more pupils with industry recognized credentials in high-demand fields. Senator Gudex says, “I am very excited that the Governor will include these two proposals in his workforce development and jobs package because they will go a long way to further address the skills gap issue that Wisconsin faces.”

Thiesfeldt Named Chair Of Common Core Standards Committee

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac Wednesday was named chairman of a select committee to review Common Core Standards (CCS) in Wisconsin.  The primary directive is to fulfill the objectives of the 2013-15 Wisconsin State Budget proposals, engage the public, and educate all parties on the various components of CCS.  Thiesfeldt stated, “I’m honored Speaker Vos has chosen me to lead this committee and important discussion.  CCS are potentially going to be the standards of education used for future generations of Wisconsin students, and I am pleased the Legislature and the public have been afforded an appropriate opportunity to chime in on it.” Among the other members named to the committee is State Representative Michael Schraa of Oshkosh.

Green Bay’s Frigo Bridge Closed

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A major interstate bridge in Wisconsin is closed. A settling pier on the Leo Frigo bridge, which carries I-43 across the Fox River in Green Bay, led to the pavement settling across all traffic lanes early Wednesday morning. State officials including Governor Scott Walker, responded to the incident. “The actions we take and the time it will take, will overwhelmingly be driven by public by safety, and then subsequently our interest in preserving our transportation and our commerce link,” Walker said. The bridge carries 40,000 vehicles a day through the heart of Green Bay. It was last inspected in August of 2012 and found structurally sound. DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb can’t say how long it will be closed. “We understand the importance of the bridge to the regional economy,” he said. “But again, our first priority is going to be public safety.” The bridge is not in any danger of collapse. A single pier on the eastern approach to the river crossing settled about two feet. “No one should be on any part of the bridge or try any of approaches or approach any of the piers,” said DOT Regional Director Will Dorsey. “Those areas are blocked off. No one, including the media, should be on the bridge.”

NFDL School Pride

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says the district has a lot to be proud of. He says the district and its schools for the most part met expectations on the state Department of Public Instructions report cards. Sadoff says they are excited about the classes that allow students to get college credit through the UW-Oshkosh. He says recently during their third Friday count they learned they had more students enrolled. He says in fact the district of over 1,200 kids grew by 40 students, which he attributes to meeting the needs of all kids. The enrollment count helps to determine state aid.

Kwinas Club Of Fabulous Fond du Lac Pork Fest Tonight

The Kiwanis Club of Fabulous Fond du Lac will be hosting their 37th Annual Pork Fest at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fond du Lac this evening. It will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Del Waldschmidt says proceeds from the dinner stay right in the community. He says they’ve used the money to help with improvements to Fruth Field’s concession and entry gate, contributed to the baseball field at St. Peter, the Boys & Girls Club and more. He says they will be serving about 1,700 dinners and carry outs will be available. He says over the years they’ve made quite a contribution to the community through their various fundraisers. He says over those 40 plus years it’s amounted to more than $1 million, which they are very proud of. Tickets will be available at the door or you can call 960-0156. Tickets are $11 for adults and $6.50 for those under 10 years of age.

 

County Emergency Management Director Giving Talk On Emergency Preparedness

Fond du Lac County Communications and Emergency Management Director James McNabb will give a presentation at the Fond du Lac Public Library next month entitled “Emergency Preparedness at Home and Away.” The presentation will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th. It’s free and open to the public. No registration is required. He will talk about the easy steps anyone can take to protect themselves and their families during a natural or manmade disaster. This includes how to create an emergency supply kit, have an evacuation or sheltering plan and how to stay informed. McNabb is a retired police chief with 35 years of law enforcement experience in major metropolitan and rural areas in Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri. The presentation is part of the library’s month-long celebration of Fond du Lac Reads: “Thunder Dog,” by Michael Hingson. It’s the true story of a blind man and his guide dog surviving the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.