Local News Briefs Wednesday 2/3/16

Auto Aid Provided During Dollar General Fire

The new auto aid agreement between the Village of North Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue got its first real test Tuesday. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says the city offered to provide auto aid when a ladder truck is needed while the village is still considering whether to purchase a new ladder truck. He says the aid would be provided during more serious calls involving structure fires. Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at Dollar General on Prospect Avenue Tuesday morning. Hornung says he will be interested in the report on the response time and how well the auto aid worked. The Van Dyne Fire Department also provides auto aid to North Fond du Lac.

Meeting About State Highway 67 Reconstruction

The state’s Department of Transportation will host a meeting next Wednesday night in Campbellsport about reconstruction of State Highway 67 in Campbellsport. The meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Campbellsport High School. A brief presentation will be given at 5:40. During the project 2.3 miles of State Highway 67 from North Baumann Street to Triple S Road will be reconstructed in the village.

Child Injured In Sheboygan County Rollover Accident

A three-year-old child was hurt in a one vehicle rollover accident in Sheboygan County Monday afternoon. Sheriff’s officials say 57-year-old Emily Kolcu of Random Lake lost control on County Road I south of Camp Riversite Road in the Town of Lima. The vehicle rolled onto its roof in a ditch. The injured toddler fell out of a car seat. The child suffered minor injuries that required medical transport. Kolcu and two others in the car weren’t hurt. Kolcu was cited for failure to control a vehicle.

Council VP On Downtown Committee

The vice president of the Fond du Lac City Council says something has to be done to fill vacant storefronts in downtown Fond du Lac. Gary Miller says the ad-hoc committee Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan proposed and the Council created last month might be able to provide some help. Miller says it’s going to take some money. He says some of the recommendations made in a strategic plan developed for the downtown in 2010 will take big dollars to back. Miller says there are vacant sites downtown that could be used to house a business incubator. During a committee of the whole meeting prior to the Council’s Wednesday, February 9th meeting the Council will meet with the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Board of Directors to talk about the committee.

County Executive On Wind Farm Revenue Sharing Bill

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says the County last week sent someone to Madison to speak against a bill by State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt. The bill would have counties and towns split their share of revenues from wind farms 50/50. Buechel says the state gets over 80 percent of the share of taxes from power companies and gives a smaller revenue share to counties and towns in lieu of taxes. He says if towns want a bigger split he says that should come out of the state’s end. He says he doesn’t agree with what Representative Thiesfeldt has proposed and says it should come out of the state’s share. Buechel says the money the County and towns receive in part covers damage that occurred to local roads when the heavy equipment for wind farms was brought in. He says the County receives about $600,000 a year from wind farm revenue sharing.

Bill Would Address Educational Needs Of Foster Kids

A bill State Representative Joan Ballweg is working on would adapt the federal Uninterrupted Scholars Act into state law. The state lawmaker from Markesan says children have to be moved into a foster home. When it comes to getting the child’s student records the birth parent isn’t always available or willing to sign off on allowing child welfare workers to have access to school records. She says if the child has special talent or athletic abilities their placement in a foster home could be tailored so they could attend a school where they could make the most of those abilities. Ballweg says being placed in a foster home is difficult for a child and the bill is designed to make that child’s life less complicated.

FDL Knights Of Columbus Hosting 100^th Anniversary KC State Bowling Tournament

The Fond du Lac Knights of Columbus Council (Local Council 664) will be hosting the 100 year anniversary of the Knights of Columbus State Bowling Tournament at Ledgeview Lanes this month and next. An opening ceremony will be held this Saturday at 10 a.m. The community can also meet a special guest; International Pro Bowler Clara Guerrero will be signing autographs. All proceeds from the bowling tournament will be directed to the Knights of Columbus Charities Fund.