Local News Briefs Tuesday 2/4/14

Fond du Lac firefighters investigated a possible carbon monoxide leak at 236 Sheboygan Street early Monday morning. Fire Department officials say the home uses a wood burning stove, which may have been the source. Carbon monoxide levels were noticeable on detectors, but not at unhealthy or dangerous levels. The time of the call was about 2:30 a.m.

Sheboygan Teen Charged With Father’s Murder

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A 17 year old Sheboygan South High School student has been charged with first degree murder.  Dorian Torres was formally charged Monday with murdering his father, 41-year-old Emilio Torres.  Bail was set at $750,000 cash and a preliminary hearing was set for February 12th.  Torres’s body was discovered last Thursday after police went to his apartment on Meadowland Drive to check on his welfare.  They found the body wrapped in a plastic shower curtain, duct taped and hidden behind a box spring in his bedroom.  DA Joe DeCecco said the investigation revealed Torres may have been dead for some time.  He said the last contact Torres’ ex-wife had with him was January 23.  When she tried to contact him the next day, his phone was off and his Facebook page had been deleted.  DeCecco said they’re pretty sure Emilio was murdered on January 24th, six days before the body was discovered.  An autopsy determined the cause of death was a skull fracture caused by multiple blows to the head with a blunt object.  Dorian was taken into custody at the apartment where he was living with his father.  No motive has yet been established for the killing but, according to Mrs. Torres, there was stress between Dorian and his father and they argued frequently.

Ripon Police Arrest Three Drunken Driving Suspects In Five Hours

Ripon Police made three drunken driving arrests over a five hour period Saturday night into Sunday morning. The first was at the Citgo East store where a driver was under the influence. A witness who followed the 32-year-old man to the gas station said he had been driving all over the road. It was his fourth drunken driving arrest. The second arrest was in the 100 block of Watson Street where the driver was stopped for driving the wrong way down a one was street. The third involved an accident on E. Fond du Lac where a driver struck a utility pole snapping it off at the base. Live power lines ended up laying across Highway 23.  The driver was taken to Ripon Medical Center and subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Fire At Washington County Manufacturing Plant

An employee at Allcast, Inc in Allenton has a story to tell after being enveloped in a fireball Monday morning. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say the employee was working outside when he knocked over a stack of plastic pallets causing the valve and pipe on a 300 pound propane tank to break off. Shortly afterwards the employee started up a fork lift, which ignited the vented propane gas. A fireball enveloped the employee and forklift, neither injuring him nor damaging the forklift. The fire was quickly extinguished. Damage estimates were put at about $5,000 from damage to the pallets and repairs to the piping. Employees were evacuated from the plant as a precaution. No one was injured during the incident, which was called in just after 5:30 a.m. Four fire departments responded to the call.

West Bend Woman Charged In BD Hit And Run Injury Accident

Dodge County prosecutors have charged a 21-year-old West Bend woman for hitting a pedestrian with her vehicle in Beaver Dam and leaving that man severely injured. Stephanie Goltz is charged with two felonies and her bond was set at $2,500 cash. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 20th. During the January 26th on Madison Street Goltz allegedly hit a 33-year-old Beaver Dam man then sped away toward Highway 151. The next day a passenger in the car called authorities after hearing a news report about the accident. The passenger said he’d been drinking with her in Beaver Dam and didn’t realize they’d hit a person because blowing snow made it hard to see. Goltz turned herself in to authorities. 

UW-Oshkosh Officials Comment On Alcohol And Drug Study

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-The U-W Oshkosh has the highest ratio of alcohol and drug related arrests of all college campuses in the country. That’s the finding of a report from an alcohol and drug rehab organization – Rehabs-dot-com. U-W Oshkosh spokesman Alex Hummel says the ranking paints the school in a poor light and that’s not fair because they don’t have more serious drug and alcohol problems compared to most schools. Hummel says they’re putting an emphasis on enforcing the law. He says they’ve made it a priority to address those problems and work hand in hand with students. He says as a result they have more eyes and ears to report problems so there is going to be a rise in reporting such incidents. He says the school shouldn’t be looked down upon for proactively fighting something that’s a problem across the country.

Habitat Makes Offer To Purchase On Facility For ReStore

The executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County says they’ve outgrown their ReStore on South Brooke Street in Fond du Lac and have made an offer to purchase on a different facility to house it. The closing for the offer on the facility twice the size of their current one is at the end of March. Paul Osterholm says their current facility, which is 6,000 to 7,000 square feet in size can’t accommodate the needs of their growing business. He says the new location will also allow them to add at least one new fulltime employee and possibly more depending on how the ReStore continues to grow.

A & W Opens

It thawed our hearts and taste buds despite the cold temperatures to see the A & W Drive-In on Winnebago Drive in Fond du Lac open for the season Monday. Back are the Poppa Burgers and other favorites. Owner Jim Bradjic says it’s been 70 days since they closed and they were eager to reopen. He says although most people don’t know it, it was an A & W the served the first Bacon Burger. He says that happened in 1963. He says they will also be introducing a fish fry for lent. He says it’s hand-breaded Cod-loin. Jim also is the Senior Co-Chair for Festival Foods’ Taste of Fond du Lac on Sunday, February 23rd at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds, so there will be chance to sample A & W treats at that event as well.

History Up Close And Personal At FDL Public Library

The Fond du Lac Public Library and Marian University is offering residents a chance to get a more up close and personal look at the nation’s history. Marian Associate Professor Rich Whaley and local historian Herman Bender are teaching “History of America from 1400 to 1865 in Objects and Artifacts.” Library Community Information Coordinator Terri Fleming says items on display, from Bender’s collection, illustrate America’s history through textiles, furniture, ceramics, print, household accessories and trade goods. All classes are free and open to the public. The next class is Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the library and will focus on Pre-contact to Contact: American Indian Artifacts of Material Culture. For more click here.

FDL County Republican Party Caucus

The Republican Party of Fond du Lac County will hold their annual caucus Thursday at the Fond du Lac Elk’s Lodge. The lodge is at 33 Sheboygan Street. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the caucus beginning at 6 p.m. The caucus is the annual business meeting, which will include a 2013 recap and an update of what the county party will be doing in 2014, State Convention, and the county resolutions. To participate in the County Caucus or be a delegate to the Republican Party State Convention you must be a dues paying member of the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County. You may join and pay dues at the caucus. The minimum membership is $20.