Local News Briefs Wednesday 10/2/13

A 45-year-old Appleton man was hurt when he lost control of his motorcycle on Highway 10 near Highway 41 in the Town of Menasha Tuesday morning. Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say the man was heading west at the time. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One lane of Highway 10 westbound was shut down for about 45 minutes. The accident was reported at 7:30 a.m.

Two Suffer Chemical Burns

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A home accident in the Town of Plymouth involving sulfuric acid caused two people to suffer burns Monday. Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Mark Rupnik says they received word of the incident around 4:30 p.m. at a residence on Moonlight Road east of Glenbeulah.  The two people, 30-year-old Nicole Pennell of Plymouth and 56-year-old Robert Pennell, were trying to dispose of a home cleaning product that had concentrated sulfuric acid down a drain when it sprayed back into their faces. Nicole was taken by Flight for Life to the Milwaukee Burn Center for treatment of third degree burns.  Robert was taken to St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan for treatment. 

Car Goes Through Garage

Fond du Lac Police say a homeowner accidentally drove through their garage late Sunday morning. It happened just before 11 a.m. at 144 Arvey Lane. The driver went through the garage wall and the car lodged in a hedge. The driver was stuck in the vehicle for some time.

Missing Man Found In Washington County

Washington County Sheriff’s officials say one of their deputies spotted a man that police from Texas were looking for who was missing and considered endangered. Yesterday afternoon Carrollton Police Department of Texas had issued an all points bulletin for the 57-year-old man and his 8 and 7-year-old grandchildren. The man suffers from memory loss and he left his residence with his grandchildren Sunday afternoon to go to a park that was two blocks away from his residence.  The man and his grandchildren did not return home and he did not take his cell phone with him.  They were able to determine he had used an ATM in Skokie, Illinois early yesterday afternoon. Then shortly after 5 p.m. the man approached a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy on Highway 33 in the Town of Addison asking for directions to Dallas, Texas. When he ran the man’s Texas license plate the deputy was advised of the man’s missing and endangered status. The man and his grandchildren were temporarily placed in safe locations until family could arrive and take them back to Texas.

Watertown Woman Charged With Arson

A 28-year-old Watertown woman has been charged in connection with a fire above a Watertown bar early Sunday morning. Trisha Krueger was charged in Jefferson County Court with one count of arson and 6 counts of 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety. She is also charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of misdemeanor battery for fight she allegedly had with her ex-boyfriend a few days before the fire at Stacy’s Bar. Krueger allegedly admitted to setting the fire to get back at her ex-boyfriend. According to the criminal complaint he told investigators she had been threatening to set fire to all his stuff on fire for several days and showed them a text he received from her the morning of the fire saying, “I don’t need no water, because you will burn.” Two people had to jump from second floor windows to escape the fire and another had to be rescued. All three were taken to a hospital.  A $20,000 cash bond was set.

Most Of Horicon Marsh Closed

Among the casualties of the partial federal government shutdown is the Horicon Marsh in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties. Approximately two-thirds of the marsh that’s operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is closed. The marsh is shared by both state and federal government. Officials say the southern end of the marsh, run by the state, is open for recreation. The northern end however is now closed off blocked by gates and signs are posted notifying visitors of the closing. It’s estimated the marsh has up to half a million visitors a year.

Rifle Use For Deer Hunting

(WBEV-Beaver Dam)-Rifles can be used statewide for gun deer hunting seasons beginning next month. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the rule change had been supported by a majority of voters at this years spring hearings and was approved by the Natural Resources Board.  Fond du Lac and Washington counties were among five statewide that limited the gun hunt to shotguns, along with portions of Dodge County and four others.  A 2003 DNR survey showed that around 76% of Wisconsin hunters used a rifle and 24% used a shotgun as their primary firearm to hunt deer. However, during a ten year period ending in 2008, 42-percent of gun deer season incidents involved shotguns. The disproportionate number of injuries led the agency to advocate for the loosening of rifle restrictions. The rule change will be in place in time for the upcoming gun deer season, which runs from November 23rd though December 1st. However those who participate in the October youth deer hunt must follow the current rules with rifle restrictions in all or part of 20 counties.  The DNR’s deer hunting regulation pamphlet and a map can be viewed on the DNR website. Hunters should check with local authorities to find out if local ordinances are in effect that would restrict the use of rifles in the area they plan to hunt.

Thiesfeldt Influenza Bill Waiting For Committee Hearing

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says a bill he authored that would prohibit health care organizations from mandating influenza vaccinations for employees is still waiting for a hearing. He says a co-sponsor of the bill chairs the Assembly’s Health Committee and has promised a hearing for the bill. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says according to some studies flu shots are not all that effective. He also says some health care workers he has talked to say the vaccine make them sick, a point that led to sparked conversation with Bob Hoffmaster on the Morning Show. Thiesfeldt says above all it’s about having freedom of choice without the threat of being fired.

Seventy Speed Limit Bill Gets Hearing

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A hearing at the State Capitol on a bill to increase the speed limit to seventy.  State Representative Paul Tittl explained the motivation for his bill that would raise speed limits in Wisconsin to 70 miles an hour. He says he drove from Manitowoc to Madison doing the speed limit and was the slowest person on the road and even had little old ladies passing him. The bill would allow the state DOT to raise the speed limit to 70 on stretches of rural Interstate. Speed limits of 70 miles an hour or more are currently in place in 37 states. Gary Biller, President of the Waunakee-based National Motorists Association, testified in favor of the bill. He says keeping it at 65 miles per hour would create two classes of drivers, those who go with the flow and those who go by the posted speed limits. Biller says statistics show that’s actually less safe than if all vehicles travel at a consistent but higher speed. There was no testimony against the bill during Tuesday’s public hearing before the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Burning Hours Longer Now

The Division Chief of Fire Prevention for the Fond du Lac Fire Department says recent City Council action will allow residents to have outdoor recreational fires an hour longer on some nights. Troy Haase says that will be on Friday and Saturday nights and the night before a federal holiday until midnight. He says it makes sense to allow the burning longer the night before a federal holiday during summer holidays. He advises making sure when you have an outdoor recreational fire that it isn’t going to cause problems for your neighbors or the fire department will have to shut it down no matter what time it is.

Car Versus Deer Crashes Picking Up

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-Now that autumn is here, motorists need to be extra alert for darting deer on the roadways. Transportation officials urge drivers to reduce the risk of a car-deer crash by slowing down, and being especially watchful during dawn and dusk when deer are most active. David Pabst, director of the state Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, says October and November are peak months for deer movement. Deer often travel in groups. So, if you see one, expect more. If you spot a deer, hit the horn and slow down. Break firmly, if needed, but don’t swerve to avoid a deer you could easily lose control and crash your vehicle. If you can’t avoid a collision, it’s best to hit your brakes and even the deer. While car-deer crashes are common, Pabst says, motorcyclists are especially vulnerable. If you hit a deer, pull over to the side of the road if possible, and then call law enforcement. Last year, officials responded to nearly 19,000 deer-vehicle crashes.

MPTC Showcase Next Wednesday

Moraine Park Technical College will be holding its career showcase next week. MPTC President Sheila Ruhland says it will be held on both the Fond du Lac and West Bend campuses between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th. She says they will have people there who can answer questions. She says they will have people there from admissions, financial aid and student services staff. She says those who would be first time students will get a break on their application fee. The $30 fee will be waived if you apply by November 9th.There’s even a chance to win an iPad! For more information on registering for the Career Showcase visit the MPTC website.