Local News Briefs Tuesday 1/6/15

Bond was set at $100,000 cash for a 43-year-old Milwaukee man suspected of hitting and robbing a Fond du Lac woman at knifepoint. Antwon Brown recently made an initial appearance on armed robbery and other charges in Fond du Lac County Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint the woman Brown allegedly attacked on December 23rd was his ex-girlfriend. He believed she stole drugs from him and attacked her at a residence on Ellis Street. He also allegedly stole jewelry from her during the attack.

Man Threatens Warming Shelter Officials

Police in Fond du Lac are looking for a man who threatened workers at the Solutions Center warming shelter. The 67-year-old man got upset when he was asked to leave after getting into a fight with another man. He allegedly threatened to shoot out windows in the building. According to police reports he later called the shelter that same night threatening trouble if he wasn’t allowed back in. Police have increased patrols around the shelter.

Sheboygan House Fire

Frigid weather posed a problem for firefighters battling a house fire in Sheboygan County Monday. County authorities say about 200 firefighters from 18 fire departments were needed to put out a fire at a business located in a Village of Cascade home. The fire was reported just before 10 a.m. As a result of the blaze the home is uninhabitable. Fire department officials say the extreme cold caused pumper trucks and fire hoses to freeze up during the firefighting effort.  One firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of a minor injury. The cause of the fire is still being determined.

Sheboygan Shooting Suspect Arrested

A second suspect in a Sheboygan shooting has been arrested. Sheboygan Police say the U.S. Marshals Service too the 22-year-old man into custody in Milwaukee for the shooting that occurred in November. Charges are pending against Israel Littleton as he waits in the Sheboygan County Jail. The first suspect arrested in connection with the shooting was 23-year-old Damon Smith last month. He has been charged. A man and a woman were injured during the November 29th shooting. There are no more suspects in the incident.

Ripon Police Warn Of Publishers Clearing House Scam

Ripon Police took two separate complaints Monday within an hour about City residents getting calls that they had won the Publishers Clearing House Contest and won several millions of dollars. Police says those making the calls were seeking credit card information, which leads to fraud on accounts. Police advise not supplying any account information via the phone or to anyone you do not know. They asked that residents share information about the scam with friends and family and any elderly friends.   

Right To Work Would Be Tackled Early In Legislative Session

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-Governor Scott Walker has repeatedly said right to work legislation would be a distraction at the Capitol, although Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau says the governor has never directly told him not to bring up a bill this spring. He says they’ve talked about the issue in general, but not directly. Fitzgerald says the right-to-work issue is still something his members are discussing, and he’s found a lot of education is needed about what such a law would mean for Wisconsin. He says that, if lawmakers are going to tackle right-to-work, it needs to be done early on this session.

United Way Close To Goal

Fond du Lac Area United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says they are about $22,000 short of their $745,000 fundraising goal, but should achieve it because they are still waiting for a couple more donations to come in. She says they are extremely grateful to all of those who gave to this past fall’s campaign. The United Way helps fund 24 to 26 agencies a year that provide help to about 36,000 people in the community.

Senator Gudex Looking Forward To Role On WEDC Board

State Senator Rick Gudex says he’s pleased to be a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. It’s one of the assignments the state lawmaker from Fond du Lac received for this legislative session. He says it fits nicely with his business background and history in both the private sector and local government. He says it’s unfortunate critics have targeted the work of the WEDC and he hopes to bring a more calming influence to the board so the WEDC can get its work done. Gudex says people are skeptical about the use of tax credits for expansion and upgrades of business, but there have been far more success stories then there has been risk in using taxpayers dollars. Gudex says he’s looking forward to his first WEDC Board meeting this month.

Wisconsin Buyers Guide

Beginning this year, a revised version of the Wisconsin Buyers Guide will be showing up on used vehicles at licensed auto dealers across the state. Mark Sier with the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles says the Buyer’s Guide has been required for many years to provide consumers basic information about a used vehicle. He says, “Things like the mileage, the age, the vehicle’s history, what it’s been used for, how it’s been driven and the overall condition of the vehicle are included.” Recent revisions add new categories for electric and hybrid engines, and require listing all states where a vehicle was previously titled. Sier says dealers are required to use “reasonable care” in inspecting a used vehicle and disclosing any defects, they are not required to take a used vehicle apart to check them over. That’s why it’s often a good idea to have an independent mechanic inspect a used vehicle prior to purchase.

Volunteers Needed To Deliver Meals For Ripon Medical Center Mobile Meals Program

The Ripon Medical Center is currently recruiting volunteers for its Mobile Meals program. The hospital provides meals to approximately 30 individuals in the Ripon area and is able to meet special dietary needs. There are three different routes that deliver as far as 15 meals each, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Volunteers deliver a hot meal to each client and pick up the container that the meal is delivered in from the previous day and take it back to the hospital. Volunteers are needed Monday through Fridays. They must be at least 18 years of age. Ripon Medical Center’s goal is to have enough drivers so that each person or couple will deliver meals one week per month, or a five hour commitment per month. Anyone interested in volunteering as a Mobile Meals volunteer can call (920) 745-3670. An application form is available by visiting www.agnesian.com, under Careers & Volunteers.

Crop Insurance Meeting

Badgerland Financial’s Crop Insurance team is hosting a “Lunch and Learn” event in Fond du Lac to share the latest on topics important to crop farmers, including an update on the 2014 Farm Bill. The meeting agenda also includes a global commodity marketing outlook and a discussion on preparing for anticipated tighter margins. The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14th at the Holiday Inn. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to the meeting. Meetings typically last about three hours. Lunch or dinner will be provided. To RSVP call Rochelle a week prior to the meeting or to schedule an interview with a crop insurance team member. The number to call is 608-370-6908. You can also email Rochelle.Schnadt@badgerlandfinancial.com