Local News Briefs Tuesday 12/8/15

Jury Finds FDL Man Is Sexually Violent

Following a two-day jury trial in Fond du Lac County Court last week a jury found a 55-year-old man is a sexually violent person. Donald Anderson was convicted in 1994 of 1st degree sexual assault of a child. He spent 20 years in prison. Under the Chapter 980 state statute Anderson will be committed to the Sand Ridge Treatment Center in Mauston. Judge Peter Grimm presided over the trial.

Waupun Man Involved In Shooting Incident Charged With Misdemeanors

The 26-year-old Waupun man shot by his 33-year-old brother last week is free on a signature bond after being charged with a pair of misdemeanors. Alberto Guimarais allegedly tried to use a pickaxe to break through the door of a home belonging to his older brother. Police say the older sibling shot through the door and the bullet struck Guimarais in the chest causing a non-life threatening injury. The two had an ongoing dispute. The older brother hasn’t been charged yet. The Fond du Lac County District Attorney is still making a determination in that case. Alberto Guimarais was charged with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct for the November 30th incident. He’s back in court in January for a pre-trial conference. 

Plymouth Woman Struck And Killed By SUV

Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say a Town of Plymouth woman was killed after she was struck by a vehicle near her home over the weekend. It happened Saturday morning after the SUV lost control on Highway 23 and hit 55-year-old Barbara Wegner. The road was covered with frost at the time. The SUV began rolling over after leaving the highway and hit Wegner who was walking on the shoulder. She died at the scene.

Former Sheboygan Alderman Pleads To Sexual Assault Charges

The former Sheboygan Alderman who had sexual relations with teenage boys will be sentenced next February. Thirty-four-year-old Kevin Matichek recently pled no contest to charges of repeated sexual assault of a child and public officer offering a bribe. Other charges he was facing in Sheboygan County Court were dismissed. His plea deal also included pleading no contest to an Ozaukee County sexual assault of child charge.

Glenn Grothman Votes Against Transportation Bill

Congressman Glenn Grothman recently voted against federal transportation bill that President Barack Obama signed into law. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says he doesn’t like the split on the gas tax bill. He says about 80 percent goes towards highways and the remaining 20 percent towards mass transit of various types. He questions why so much money is going for mass transit. He says a small segment of the population uses buses and subways compared to those who use trains. But he says in the budget the percentage of funding increased more for subways and buses than it did for people who use cars. He also doesn’t like selling off oil reserves to help pay for the transportation budget. He says they also miscalculated that figuring they’d make $80 a barrel when right now a barrel of oil is going for about $41 a barrel. The transportation bill will pump $305 billion into the nation’s infrastructure over the next five years.

Discussion Needed On School Funding

The State Senate minority leader says we need to have a serious talk about school funding. Jennifer Shilling says people love it or hate depending on how much their school district receives per pupil. She says school voucher funding is now coming out of the same funding further reducing aid to public schools. She says the financing of schools is adding to low teacher morale. She says in conversations with schools’ superintendents she’s found that manufacturing isn’t the only career field with a skills gap. Shilling says there’s a need for teachers as well. Shilling says communities recognize the value of education so we need to make sure they are getting the appropriate funding they need.

United Way Funding Helps With Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Effort

A program that ASTOP Sexual Abuse Center provides the community is funded in part by the Fond du Lac Area United Way. ASTOP Executive Director Jan McDonough says they appreciate the funding they receive from the United Way for their prevention education efforts. She says they go into all the schools. McDonough says one in four girls will be sexually assaulted before they are 18 and one in six boys. She says the average age for boys is 4-years-old so it’s imperative they get into the schools to talk with kids about protective behaviors. She says the average age for girls is between 11 and 13-years-old. She says their prevention education program reached more than 11,000 children last year and of that 11,270 students, 571 disclosed they had been sexually assaulted.  She says a child discloses about being sexually assaulted an average of 7 times before they are believed. The ASTOP 24-hour crisis line is 800-419-0270.

Former FDL County Sheriffs Captain Seeks Second Term On County Board

Former Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Dean Will is seeking a second two-year term on the County Board of Supervisors. Will was with the Sheriff’s Department for 32 ½ years. He says working on budgets with the Sheriff’s Department actually helps him better understand the County Budget. Will says he does his research on issues that come before the board, which includes reading materials department heads supply and attending committee meetings that might help him better understand those issues. He says he’s dedicated to being a board member and working hard at it. Will says he actually did go through the entire County Budget before supervisors approved it this fall. He says one thing he appreciates is how hard department heads and County employees work at what they do.

Drunk And Drugged Driving Prevention Month

As we approach another holiday season, law enforcement officials are cautioning motorists about the dangers of impaired driving. December has been declared national “Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.”  Lieutenant Paul Wolfe with the Wisconsin State Patrol says in Wisconsin we have a law that makes it illegal for drivers to have any detectable amount of a controlled substance-like marijuana or cocaine-in their system. He says the bottom line is, if any amount or combination of alcohol or other drugs impairs a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, they’re a danger on the highway and can be stopped and arrested.”  He says there’s also an implied consent law for drivers. He says drivers that exhibit signs of impairment and who refuse to take a blood or breath test, risk automatic revocation of their driver’s license.

KFIZ Christmas Parade Float Winners Announced

Float winners have been announced for the KFIZ Christmas Parade presented by the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership. Edgewood Community Church won the award for the Best Use of Theme, which was Country Christmas. The Best Children’s float award went to St. Peter’s Lutheran School and Holyland Flyers captured the Most Creative award.