Local News Briefs Tuesday 7/28/15

The former principal of a Lutheran school in Iron Ridge has been found guilty of sending inappropriate text messages to a 15-year-old Oshkosh girl. But the girl Taylor Traeder was sexting to was actually an Oshkosh Police Detective. The 26-year-old Traeder was sentenced to 240 days with 120 days imposed and the other 120 days stayed. He was given credit for the 40 days he already served in jail. He will be allowed to serve the rest of his sentence in Marathon County, he now lives in Schofield. Traeder got caught after posting an ad on Craigslist that the detective answered. At the time he was living in Iron Ridge where he was the principal for St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and School. 

Job Expo At FDL County Fairgrounds

More than 70 employers will recruit for nearly 1,000 job openings during a job expo at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Wednesday. The state’s Department of Workforce Development’s will host the Fox Valley Career Expo there from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday.  Unlike most traditional job fairs, the event is open only to employers with current job openings and job seekers who are pre-screened for work readiness. Registered businesses include: Agnesian Healthcare, Alliance Laundry Systems, Ameriquip Corporation, Aurora Health Care, Bemis, Charter Communications, Kohler, Kwik Trip, Mercury Marine, Michels Corporation, Quad/Graphics, Sargento Foods, Schneider National, Walmart Logistics and 4Imprint. The first 30 minutes is limited to U.S. military veterans seeking employment. The general public will be admitted at 10 a.m.

Apprenticeship Programs Could Be Stronger

An official with the state’s Department of Workforce Development says Wisconsin has one of the nation’s strongest apprenticeship programs, but it could be better. Dave Anderson is the assistant deputy secretary at the DWD. He says we were the first state to have a registered apprenticeship program and that was in 1911. He says the federal apprenticeship program was modeled after Wisconsin’s. This past January a summit was held that brought together 40 leaders from business, education and government, as well as national and international experts on apprenticeship. Anderson says they agreed the apprenticeship program can be strengthened. He says they have to look at non-traditional ways to use the apprenticeship model like in advanced manufacturing, health care and information technology. He says youth apprenticeship programs are strong particularly in Fond du Lac. But he says they have to make it easier for youth to transition into the registered apprenticeship program.

Campus Fire Safety Tips

Campus Fire Safety Month is still more a month away in September, but the Division Chief of Fire Prevention for Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue says it doesn’t hurt to prepare your student early. Troy Haase says kids are getting ready to go back to college next month or in the case of freshmen moving away from home for the first time. He says the majority of fatal college fires, 87 percent, occur off campus. He recommends housing that includes a sprinkler system if possible. He just like home recommends fire drills and having a meeting place in case of a fire. He also recommends things like working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and making sure you have at least two un-blocked exits. 

No Township Well Testing Programs This Year

In lieu of coordinating a well water testing program for a couple of Fond du Lac County townships this year the UW Extension Service is surveying 2,300 random well users about their well water. Diana Tscheschlok of the Extension Service says they have been providing that program for a long time. She says they’ve been doing it for 20 years, which is longer than almost any other county in the state. She says it’s hoped the survey, will among other things, find out if people want to continue that type of testing program. She says people can still go through the County Health Department if they want their well water tested. She says in addition to testing for bacteria and nitrates, you can also opt for testing for metals and have a pesticide screening.

Obscure Traffic Laws

Not many people may realize it, but Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says there is an option to paying fines for minor traffic violations. He says every third Wednesday of the month he teaches a traffic safety school. It runs from 6 to 9 p.m. those evenings. He says it’s one way to find out about interesting and sometimes obscure traffic laws. He says for instance you don’t always have to use your traffic signal. He says it is supposed to be used in cases where traffic would be affected by your turn within 100 feet of your turn. He also says you don’t have stop for the small stop signs you find in business driveways and private driveways unless you run the risk of hitting a pedestrian, other vehicles or it causes you to drive recklessly. He says on private property, operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and hit and run are the only enforceable laws driving on private property.

State Camping Fees Increase

Camping fees for Wisconsin state parks, state forests, state trails, and state recreation areas will increase beginning Tuesday. The fee increases were enacted as part of the two-year state budget. The legislation calls for the fee increases to go into effect as soon as changes can be made to the camping reservation system. The increase in camping fees is based on a three-level rate structure that will place the parks at a camping rate depending on demand, uniqueness, location and other factors. Camping rates will increase between $3 and $6 per night for residents and between $6 and $9 per night for non-residents. There is an increase in the per night charge for electrical service from $5 to $10. Any reservations for 2015 and 2016 dates that were made prior to the rate change will be honored at the price that was in effect at the time.