Local News Briefs Thursday 9/3/15

Charges are being brought in one of the two stand-off incidents that involved police in Fond du Lac last Friday. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says charges are being brought against a 19-year-old Fond du Lac man who had a weapon when he made some threats behind a strip mall near Festival Foods. He allegedly pointed a weapon at another person and made threats to not only harm himself, but others. Jerry Yang of Fond du Lac was charged in connection with that incident Wednesday in Fond du Lac County Court. Bond was set at $25,000 cash. Klein says charges won’t be referred against the man who said he access to weapons during an incident on South Main Street that afternoon. The man also threatened to harm officers if they came near him.

Town Of Neenah Standoff Ends Without Incident

No one was injured during a standoff in the Town of Neenah Tuesday night. Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say an 18-year-old man caused a disturbance inside his residence then barricaded himself in a detached garage with several edged weapons. After a lengthy negotiation he was taken into custody with less than lethal means. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Charges are pending against the man. The incident in the 200 block of Muttart Road happened shortly before 8 p.m. that evening.

Prison Ordered For Attempted Armed Robbery

The 26-year-old man who tried to rob a Culver’s Restaurant in Jackson nearly two years ago has been sentenced to prison. A Washington County judge this week sentenced John Rehlinger to 17 years in prison and 27 years of extended supervision. During the robbery attempt in October of 2013 Rehlinger attacked the manager of the restaurant with a knife while holding a shotgun on him. A Sheriff’s deputy shot Rehlinger who is now wheelchair bound as a result. He was also convicted of the armed robbery of a convenience store in Germantown in September of 2013.

Duplex Fire In Clyman

Fire caused about $70,000 worth of damage to a duplex in southern Dodge County Tuesday afternoon. Clyman Fire Department officials say a firefighter who lives in the bottom unit of the duplex on Main Street in Clyman noticed smoke. When he went outside flames were visible. Careless use of smoking materials by the tenant in the upstairs unit was the likely cause of the fire. Nine fire departments battled the blaze. No injuries were reported.

FDL City Budget And CIP Available

City officials have released the proposed 2016 Fond du Lac City Budget. You can find it and the five-year capital improvements plan on the City’s website. City Manager Joe Moore says the proposed property tax levy will increase by 4.6 percent or 1.1 percent. The property tax rate is expected to increase about 2.5 percent. It does include $20,000 for a master plan for Lakeside Park and $60,000 for an upgrade of the street lighting electrical conduit. There’s also a proposed water rate increase that would increase a typical residential customers water and wastewater bill by 3.5 percent. The increase needs to get the approval of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

Senator Gudex Defends School Choice Funding

State Senator Rick Gudex says it’s true $1.1 billion will be spent on school choice through 2017, but that’s only 1.7 percent of the total funding for education in the state. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says that pales in comparison to the combined total of state funding and property taxes that will be spent on public education over the same time frame. He says that comes to $67 billion by 2017. He says public education doesn’t work for everyone for a variety of reasons and that’s why it’s good to have a choice. He says people he’s talked to in the district are glad to have the option even if they may never use it. Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling used the results of a Legislative Fiscal Bureau report to criticize funding cuts to public education blaming “unaccountable” choice schools.

FDL Schools Beat The Heat

Fond du Lac Schools without air-conditioning have the right attitude when it comes to beating the heat this week. Rosenow Elementary Principal Mike Mockert says they are doing their best encouraging kids and staff to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. He says it gives them the opportunity to reinforce their theme of “Rosenow’s go Grit,” since it takes determination and perseverance to overcome the obstacles presented by the heat. Riverside Elementary School Principal Tim Schipper says “Mind over Matter!”  We don’t mind so it does not matter.  Our students and Rocket Family control what we have control over and that is our perseverance, commitment, and effort!

NFDL Changes Garbage And Recycling Schedule For Holiday

The Village of North Fond du Lac will be moving garbage and recycling pick up back one day next week. For example if you are a normal Tuesday pick up your garbage and recycling will be collected on Wednesday instead. Wednesday’s pick-ups will be done on Thursday instead. The schedule change is due to the holiday weekend. Also brush pick up will be on Tuesday.