Local News Briefs Tuesday 10/28/14

Fond du Lac Police are investigating the apparent shooting of a fawn found among the penned deer at Lakeside Park. The dead fawn was found Saturday in the pen, which is an attraction at the park. Someone walking at the park that morning saw the fawn and reported it to police. Police were unable to find any shell casings or arrows in the area. The deer had suffered some type of puncture wound. The owner of the attraction offered another explanation saying it may have been gored by a buck.

Stolen SUV Set On Fire In Calumet County Park

Calumet County Sheriff’s officials are investigating a vehicle fire in a County park. A person camping in Calumet County Park reported late Sunday night seeing an SUV on fire. Investigators determined the 2001 Jeep Wrangler had been stolen in Sherwood and was intentionally set on fire. A fire that burned a stolen SUV at a county park has been ruled an arson. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calumet County Crimestoppers program at 1-877-765-8327.

Grenade Found At Kewaskum Home

The Milwaukee Bomb Squad was called to a home in the Town of Kewaskum Monday morning when a hand grenade was found in the basement. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say a caller wanted to know how to dispose of it after finding it in his grandfather’s basement. He was told not to touch it, but told deputies he had already moved it outside the home. No one was injured during the incident.

FDL County Board Preview

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel will roll out his annual budget message for the County Board of Supervisors tonight. The 2015 County Budget isn’t expected to include any cuts in services or personnel. Also tonight the Board will consider adopting a policy to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes inside County-owned facilities. The Board meets at 7 p.m. at the City-County Government Center.

Walker Says Area Will Be Important In Governor’s Race

Governor Scott Walker says the Fox Valley will have an important role in the Governor’s election next week. He says that’s why his bus tour of the state made stops in Fond du Lac and Oshkosh in the last couple of days. He says if he’s elected he’d like to continue the comeback the state has seen during his four years in office. He says that includes continuing to help people keep more of their paycheck, lower property and income taxes, a continued tuition freeze at the UW system and extending it to technical colleges, and keeping more health care decisions in the hands of people here in the state. He it’s important to continue the UW college system tuition freeze and extend it to technical colleges so people have the education to get a good family supporting job.

Governor Sporting Thumb Injury

There’s no rest for the weary or injured on the campaign trail including Governor Scott Walker. Walker can be seen on his current bus tour of state sporting a protective covering on the thumb of his right hand. He says he got that while pheasant hunting in Oconto County. He says he wasn’t quick enough to bring his shot gun when a pheasant took flight in front of him. He says instead of bringing the gun up to his shoulder he only managed to bring it up to the level of his hips when he fired. He did get the bird. He says the recoil led to the thumb injury, which hasn’t hampered any of his campaign appearances. He says he found out where the nerve ending is on the thumb of his right hand because of the accident. Walker is hoping to get the thumb’s up from voters against opponent Mary Walker in next Tuesday election.

Business As Usual At Retlaw Plaza Hotel

The executive director of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership says although the Retlaw Hotel is being listed on an online auction site, it’s business as usual for the historic hotel. Amy Hansen says the hotel has been for sale for a couple of years and the auction is a marketing strategy. She also says the hotel’s ownership group is up-to-date on what it owes the City.She says anyone who has booked an event at the hotel has nothing to worry about. The hotel is currently listed on the Auction.com website with the auction beginning next Monday. 

Absentee Voting In-Person

There’s just a couple more days for in-person absentee voting. Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says if you live in the City go to your municipal clerk’s office and in rural areas contact your town or village clerk to find out what hours you can do in-person absentee voting. She says in Fond du Lac, Ripon and Waupun you vote from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. She says it’s similar to voting at the polls. She says you will have to give your name and address. You will be given an absentee ballot to sign and a ballot. When you’re done voting you will have to place the ballot in the envelope. Freiberg says in-person absentee voting will conclude this Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. She says if you’re going to vote absentee by mail you have to request if from your clerk by Thursday, but it would be best to get that done as soon as possible. 

Solutions Center Hires Associate Executive Director

The Solutions Center is Fond du Lac has hired Nicole Johnson as associate executive director.   Johnson most recently served as assistant director at The Bridge to Hope, a domestic violence and sexual assault agency in Menomonie.  She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.  In her new role, Johnson will be responsible for day-to-day program operations and staff supervision.  Maggie McCullough, who has served as the interim executive director since March, will stay on as executive director in a limited capacity over the next several months to orient Johnson to agency operations and the Fond du Lac community. “We are excited to have Nicole join our team at Solutions Center,” said Board President Tim Twohig. “She brings a strong background in direct-client services and is enthusiastic about helping us maintain and strengthen our services to homeless persons and victims of domestic violence.”

School Bus Safety

National School Bus Safety Week is a chance to highlight the many factors that make school buses among the safest vehicles traveling our roadways. State Patrol Sergeant David Harvey says school buses have a great safety record and that’s due to many factors including the way they’re designed and once a year inspections. State Patrol inspectors examine a bus’s brakes and steering, tires, electrical systems and other safety equipment. Last year, the Wisconsin State Patrol conducted over 10,000 school bus inspections.

Ebola Information Line

The state’s Department of Health Services says that in addition to the information available on the DHS website, a toll free line is now available for state residents with questions about the Ebola virus. Residents can dial 1-844-684-1064, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The calls are free, confidential, and multi-lingual. DHS has partnered with 2-1-1 Wisconsin to establish the information line. For more information about Ebola and Wisconsin’s preparedness efforts click here

Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend

We will remind you again later in the week, but Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this Sunday, November 2nd. That means setting your clocks back an hour. The Fond du Lac Fire Department also says it’s a good time to switch out batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for new ones.