Local News Briefs Wednesday 3/18/15

The sports betting pro suspected of extorting $25 million out of a Fond du Lac man contends he helped out professional sports leagues and law enforcement in gambling investigations. That information about Adam Meyer of Fort Lauderdale, Florida came to light when federal prosecutors filed documents Tuesday. The 43-year-old Meyer allegedly used fraud and threats to scam the Fond du Lac man. He and an associate allegedly extorted $10 million out of the victim in 2012 by threatening him at gunpoint.  In Tuesday’s filing prosecutors denied Meyer’s claim he committed the crime at the urging of law enforcement officials. They also demanded the names of witnesses he may call in his defense.

Neighbors Outraged Over Buttermilk Creek Park Graffiti

Fond du Lac Police say they have been aware of some spray-painted graffiti vandalism at Buttermilk Creek Park for a couple of months. Neighbors have been posting photos and comments about the damage to the band shell and by the concession stand on social networking sites the past few days. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says it was first reported at the end of December on December 29th with an additional report taken the first or second week in January. He says with people getting out for nicer weather now they are noticing it, but the City’s parks department hasn’t had nice enough weather to take care of the graffiti yet. He says you have to have warm enough weather to remove or paint over it. Anyone with information on the crime can call the police department’s non-emergency number at (920) 906-5555 or the Crime Alert number at (920) 322-3740.

Postal Carrier Who Dumped Political Mailers Fined And Resigns

The Neenah postal carrier who dumped hundreds of political mailers in a dumpster last fall was convicted in federal court. Rickey Krueger pled guilty to dumping the 879 mailers and paid a $750 fine. According to the plea agreement filed in federal court he also agreed to resign from his position. The mailings touted the candidacies of 6th Congressional District candidate Glenn Grothman, 55th State Assembly District candidate Mike Rohrkaste and 19th State Senate District candidate Roger Roth. At the time the Grothman campaign estimated 50 to 100 of the pieces were theirs.

BD Man Sentenced For Bank Robbery

A Dodge County judge this week sentenced a 45-year-old Beaver Dam man to ten years in prison for robbing the Associated Bank.  Kenneth Asboth Jr. flashed a handgun at a teller and fled the Beaver Dam bank with $1,300 during the October 2012 incident. After his prison term Asboth will be placed on ten years of extended supervision. He was also ordered to pay restitution out of his prison wages.

West Bend Sentenced For Sexual Assault Of Teen

A 27-year-old West Bend man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl has reached a plea agreement with Washington County prosecutors and will spend a year in jail and five years on probation. Eric Graham pled guilty to a 3rd degree sexual assault charge Tuesday morning. He met the girl through a dating website in the summer of 2013 and they met for sex. On the dating website she claimed to be 19-years-old. Two other men who had contact with her have been sentenced to six months in jail. Graham also agreed to pay over $3,400 in medical bills for a detective who suffered an ankle injury when he scuffled with officers while being questioned.

New TID District Being Created To Help With Downtown FDL Redevelopment

No one spoke during a public hearing at Fond du Lac’s Plan Commission this week about the creation of a new TIF District. Community Development Director Dyann Benson says Tax Incremental District #19 would help in the redevelopment of the building at 131 South Main Street that once housed businesses like Cool Beans & Bagels. She says plans are to have 19 residential units on the upper floors and six commercial or retail spaces on the first floor. The new owner also wants to improve the exterior façade of the building. She says it will be a nice improvement for the downtown. She says it’s about a $1.5 to $1.6 million investment. The Fond du Lac City Council will have to approve the creation of the new TID District at their first meeting in April and the Joint Review Board will have final approval after that.

Senator Gudex Will Propose Keeping Staffing For Waupun Prisons Intact

State Senator Rick Gudex will be recommending that money be kept in the State Budget to have guard towers at the prisons in Waupun manned during third shifts. Gudex recently attended a Waupun Common Council meeting where the issue was discussed. He says it’s a unique situation in Waupun. He says he’s not opposed to staffing cuts, but there are safety concerns given the location of the prisons in the City. He says he will propose the budget amendment hoping for support from the City of Waupun and others. Gudex says third shift historically has seen the fewest breakout attempts at prisons across the state. Waupun has two maximum security prisons, Waupun and Dodge Correctional Institutions, and the John Burke Correctional Center. 

NFDL Village Board Considers Changes For Refuse Container Fee And Size

The North Fond du Lac Village Board this week discussed going to a single rate and single container size for refuse collection. Currently village residents have their choice of 40, 60 and 90 gallon refuse containers. The cost is nothing for the 40 gallon, $10 per quarter for the 60 gallon, and $15 per quarter for the 90 gallon. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says it would be easier to have a single cost for the containers. He says it would be easier to have one cost and one size for the containers. He says they do have an inventory of refuse containers now, but eventually they will have to be replaced and that’s when they would likely go to one size. Hornung says the Village is getting “work order” monitoring software for its website that would allow residents to do things like order a new refuse container. He says they will likely wait until they have that in place before instituting a new rate of $5 no matter what size refuse container is used.

Blood Drive In Ripon

Area residents are invited to join Ripon Medical Center associates, volunteers and physicians and donate an hour of time today to give blood to the Community Blood Center. Blood donations will be accepted from noon to 4 p.m. in Ripon Medical Center’s Princeton and Ripon Rooms at 845 Parkside Street in Ripon. Walk-ins are welcome.