Local News Briefs Tuesday 10/21/14

Campbellsport firefighters responded to a machine shed fire early this morning. The fire at N101387 Rolling Drive was reported just before 4:30 a.m. Witnesses reported a tractor on fire inside the shed. Assistance was requested from fire departments from Lomira and Kewaskum.

New Holstein Man Critical After Sheboygan County Accident

The 22-year-old New Holstein man injured in a roll over accident early last Saturday morning in Sheboygan County’s Town of Russell remains in critical condition at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center. Flight for Life flew Kyle Kroener there after the accident on County Highway J. His 1995 Honda Civic overturned and hit a utility pole. Live wires on the vehicle made extrication more difficult. 

Shooting Incident In Oshkosh

Oshkosh Police are investigating a shooting incident that happened Monday night. Police say shots were fired from a vehicle at a residence in the 200 block of West 16th Avenue. It happened about 6:30 p.m. No one was injured. Officials suspect it was an isolated incident and that the public is not at risk. Anyone with information should call the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.

Oshkosh Strong Armed Robbery

A strong-armed robbery is being investigated in Oshkosh. Police say a person was walking alone in on Scott Avenue near Elmwood Avenue early Monday morning when a man approached and hit and kicked the victim. The victim’s backpack was taken and the suspect left on a bicycle heading south on Elmwood Avenue. The victim was not seriously injured. The suspect was described as a white man in his late 20’s with short brown hair. The incident happened about 1 a.m.  Anyone with information should call the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700 or the Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477.

Sex Offender Released In Washington County

A 41-year-old sex offender is being housed at the Washington County Jail while he looks for a place to live. David M. Bryan has been released from prison and will be staying at the jail leaving to work and look for a residence. He was convicted in April of 1999 of two counts of 3rd degree sexual assault and one count of child abuse. Bryan is on extended supervision until September 19th of 2016 and will be on GPS monitoring.

Open House On Proposed Electrical Transmission Line And Substation Near Eden

An informational open house about American Transmission Company’s proposal for a new transmission line and substation near Eden will be held at the Eden Community Center tonight.  The 138,000-volt transmission line will connect to a new We Energies substation. ATC staff, along with representatives from We Energies, will be at the Eden Community Center, located between 4 and 7 p.m. to discuss the Creekview Interconnection Project plans – including proposed route options for the transmission line and a substation location. The proposed We Energies substation, located approximately one mile southeast of the Village of Eden along County Highway F. To connect this new substation to the regional transmission system, ATC would build a transmission line either to the west, which would be 6.5 miles in length, or to the north of the proposed substation site, which would be 9.3 miles in length. The Eden Community Center is located at 104 Pine Street in Eden.

In-Person Absentee Voting Underway

In-person absentee voting has started in Wisconsin for the general election. Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says some people use the term early voting, but technically it is a form of absentee voting. She says it can be done in person at your municipal clerk’s office. She says in the cities it would be during normal business hours.She says hours will vary in towns and villages and there are several ways to check on those hours. Try your village or town website if they have one, call them, try the County’s website or call the County Clerk’s office at 929-3000. Freiberg says to remember if you have moved or are new to the area you will need proof of residency to register to vote. In-person absentee voting can be done through Friday, October 31st.

When Smart Phones Aren’t So Smart

Cell and smart phones may be convenient, but a good old-fashioned land line might be the best choice if you’re calling 9-1-1 from inside a building. Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says some of the people in their citizens’ academy recently toured the County Dispatch Center. One thing they learned is that 9-1-1 operators can’t specifically pinpoint where a call is coming from if it’s from a cell phone in a building. He says during the Citizens Academy’s visit to the Dispatch Center a call was placed to 9-1-1 from a cell phone in the center and the call showed up as coming from three blocks away. Olson says if a cell phone’s GPS is turned on 9-1-1 calls from outdoors usually can be pinpointed more accurately.  

Looking For Bigs

About 100 children in Fond du Lac County are matched up with Big Brothers Big Sisters, while dozens more are on a waiting list. Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Tammy Young says they have about 110 littles total that are matched with Bigs. Those numbers may have changed since we spoke with Young, but she says the waiting list is also sizeable with 71 children on it. She says some on that list they will work with because other programs may be more suitable for their needs. Young says some of the children they can help out through one-time events like an event they are planning with the Rugby team next February. For more about the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County program call (920) 922-8200 or visit their website.