Local News Briefs Tuesday 3/4/14

The 61-year-old Fond du Lac woman who took money from the Brothertown Nation’s Bingo Hall in Fond du Lac has been sentenced to 8 months in jail. Donna Shady was recently sentenced in Fond du Lac County Court after pleading no contest to two theft charges. Judge Gary Sharpe also imposed and stayed two additional months of jail time, which would only be used if she violates certain conditions. According to police reports Shady volunteered at the bingo hall and she took nearly $2,900 in December of 2012 and the early part of January of 2013. Purchases Shady made on a credit card for the hall were supposed to be for food and other necessities used at the hall. However it was discovered that she was taking cash advances out of ATMs in Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Bowler, and Keshena at casinos and Kwik Trip stores.

NFDL Man Hurt While Snowmobiling In The U.P.

A 50-year-old North Fond du Lac man was injured during a snowmobile crash in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It happened while Scott Lobajeski was snowmobiling in Marquette County last Wednesday. Authorities say his sled left a trail and struck a tree. He was ejected from the snowmobile and was taken to Marquette General Hospital where he is a patient.

Sheboygan Bank Teller Sentenced For Thefts

A 27-year-old Kiel woman who took money from the Sheboygan bank she worked for has been placed on probation for two years. Megan Murray recently pled no contest to three theft charges when she appeared in Sheboygan County Court. Charges stem from the more than $5,500 she took from the bank. An audit determined her teller’s drawer had been short eight days last October. As part of her sentence she will have to do five hours of community service a month while she’s on probation.

Meeting Scheduled In Oakfield On Hwy 151 Preservation Plan

The state’s Department of Transportation has scheduled a meeting about the Highway 151 Preservation Study in Fond du Lac County next week. The meeting about Highway 151 between Highway 49 and Highway 41 will be held at the Oakfield Elementary School on Wednesday, March 12th from 5 to 7 p.m. A short presentation will be given at 5:15 p.m. The rest of the meeting will be in an open house format. The purpose of this public involvement meeting is to share details regarding the preferred alternative.  DOT representatives will be available to discuss the study and address any questions or concerns. The US 151 Preservation Study will ultimately develop a long-term vision for the corridor with the goal of officially designating, mapping, and preserving it as a freeway.  There are no immediate projects or construction dollars for the proposed changes to US 151. Persons who are unable to attend the meeting can make their comments by contacting WisDOT Project Manager Patrick Laux at 944 Vanderperren Way, Green Bay, WI 54304; (920) 569-2098 or by e-mail at Patrick.laux@dot.wi.gov.   An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be at the meeting.

Senator Johnson On Ukraine Situation

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says allowing Russia President Putin to move Russian forces into the Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula is the wrong example for America to set. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says it’s a culmination of America not leading the way and the weakness President Obama has shown during his presidency. He says America can’t lead from behind. He says Putin is totally lying to the world about why he’s moving into the region. Johnson says Putin isn’t concerned about what President Obama is saying and the real danger is what Putin is going to do know to continue to destabilize the remaining Ukraine area now. Johnson says the U.S needs to make Russia pay a diplomatic price by putting a pinch on them economically. He says that can be done by withholding visas and freezing Russian officials’ assets. He says Putin needs to understand he can’t take such actions without serious consequences.

State Senate Takes Up Tax Package Today

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says taxpayers in Wisconsin will find some relief in a package the state Senate takes up today. The state lawmaker from Juneau says part of the package changes the withholding tables to give taxpayers more money to spend when they get their paycheck. He says it’s what’s considered a “revenue neutral” part of the package of bills. There’s also property tax relief, which Fitzgerald says is something want. He says the governor has been using a number that average property taxpayer will save $48. There will also be savings on income taxes. Fitzgerald says some Senators were concerned about a move that would have raised the structural deficit. He says a compromise was reached, which would eliminate that. He says State Senator Rick Gudex was one of those who fought to make sure the structural deficit didn’t get away from state lawmakers. Overall $504 million will be returned to state taxpayers.

Baldwin Rep In Chilton Today

A regional representative for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin will be holding office hours in Calumet and Kewaunee Counties today and in Brown County on Wednesday. That representative will be at the Calumet County Courthouse in Chilton from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. today and at the Kewaunee Public Library from 2 to 3 p.m. That same representative will be at the Green Bay City Hall from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.

FDL Police Going To Easy ID System For Kids And Seniors

Fond du Lac Police are going to a newer system of creating child ID kits in case your child ever goes missing. Policeman Steve Olson says the old system worked well, but the new Easy ID system they are going to is better it will have a DVD of the information photos, fingerprints and an ID card. He says unlike the old system they will also be able to update it and share the information with the Sheriff’s Department, which also has the same system. Olson says they will also have the capability of doing senior medical IDs. In which they can also record all the medications and emergency medical information seniors need. Fox Valley Savings Bank is providing funding for the new system.

More Information Being Gathered On Ripon Dam Options

Officials in Ripon are gathering more information as they decide whether to remove the old dam on Silver Creek. During a recent common council meeting a Department of Natural Resources project manager gave the council more information about their options. Ripon City Administrator Lori Rich says they can reconstruct the dam, remove it or form a lake district. She says it would cost about a third as much to remove the dam. She says it might actually have a positive impact with the river going back to a more natural state. She says they will have a public hearing before they make a decision. She says the public enjoys the mill pond, but the cost of reconstructing the dam is expensive about $1 million.

Snowmobiling Bill Would Create Trail Maintenance Fund

A bill being supported by State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac would generate funds for snowmobile trail maintenance through a user fee. Gudex says the snowmobile trails fund is severely underfunded by almost $2 million. He says no taxpayers money go into it, it’s generated by gas taxes and tourism dollars. He says the bill would create a sticker fee that would fund trail maintenance. He says the fee would be about $30 to $35 and it would be a segregated fund just for trail maintenance. Gudex says much of that trail maintenance is performed by the snowmobile clubs themselves, but they don’t have money to do it and the bill would create a way of providing that funding.