Local News Briefs Wednesday 4/30/14

The 31-year-old Markesan man suspected of making bomb threats in the area last November is facing a bomb scares charge in Fond du Lac County as well. An initial appearance for Aaron Schreiber on that charge was delayed Tuesday and will be rescheduled. Schreiber is also facing 5 felony charges in the County of child sex offender working with children for refereeing youth sports events despite his sex offender status. He has a preliminary hearing in that case May 30th. The 32-year-old is facing dozens of similar charges in Dodge County, but when he was arraigned last month pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The results of a psychologist’s evaluation are being examined and a scheduling conference will be held in Dodge County Court on May 15th. 

Waupun Teen Charged For Restaurant Break-Ins

The 17-year-old Waupun man who allegedly broke into two restaurants in Waupun has been charged. Andrew Biever was recently charged with two counts each of burglary, misdemeanor theft and criminal damage to property. According to Waupun Police the burglaries at Chang Jiang Chinese restaurant and Helen’s Kitchen occurred on February 17th and April 18th respectively. A bank notified Waupun Police when he tried to exchange a large amount of coins for paper money last week.  Waupun Detective Brian O’Donovan got him to confess to the break-ins. A signature bond was set in both cases. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 12th.

Child Abduction Attempt In Plymouth

Plymouth police are investigating an attempted child abduction which occurred last Friday.  Deputy Chief Chris Ringel says a 7-year-old girl told police a man grabbed her by the wrist around 4 o’clock last Friday afternoon in the 2000 block of Valley Road and told her to come with him.  She was able to free herself and run from the scene.  The man was described as between 30 and 40-years-old with longer black hair, a black beard, and a nose ring.  He was driving an older, 4 door, orange vehicle.  Ringel said police are working to verify the information and checking vehicle records for any matching vehicles.  He said local schools were notified immediately after the incident and schools have notified parents.  Anyone with any information should call Plymouth Police.

Ripon Man Running For Congress

A Ripon man has become the second Democrat to announce his run for the open U-S House seat being vacated by longtime Congressman Tom Petri.  Sixty-four-year-old Gary Wetzel plans to face Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris in an August primary.  Wetzel, who is retired, was most recently a substitute teacher.  He has a degree in mechanical engineering.  He says he wanted to give voters a choice.  Both parties now have potential August primaries.  State Senators Glenn Grothman and Joe Leibham and State Representative Duey Stroebel will face each other in the August Republican primary. 

NFDL Schools Budget Deficit Less Than Expected

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says the projected deficit the school district is working with is less than what they anticipated. He says they had projected a deficit of $500,000 hoping to cut that in half during the course of the school year. He says they took an investment like approach to keeping their educational quality in tact. He says they recently learned the deficit is less than half of what they expected coming in around $210,000. He says they won’t have to short term borrow and they will be fiscally sound thanks to the great work of all those on their team. Sadoff says they are expecting another large deficit when they begin the new school year in July, but not as large as what they worked with this current school year. He says it’s anticipated to be in the neighborhood of about $430,000.

Boy Injured In Accident At Waupun Charter School Returns To Classes

The SAGES charter school student hit by a pickup truck after school earlier this month returned to classes Tuesday. Waupun Schools Superintendent Tonya Gubin says the 7-year-old 2nd grade boy returned to school in a wheel chair after suffering a broken leg in the April 16th accident. She says police determined it was an accident when the boy ran out between two buses. She says as a result of the accident they did take a look at their safety procedures for dropping off and picking up students. She says unfortunately in that type of accident there probably was nothing they could have done to prevent it.

Petri On Growth Of Hwy 41

Congressman Tom Petri says he’s amazed at the growth of Highway 41 over the years. He says the current six lanes now extend over the Fox River on the north side of Oshkosh. He says he remembers when it was a two-lane road to Milwaukee. He says they’ve been trying to stay ahead of the increase in road usage over the years. He says the expansion of the Highway 41 corridor means growth and increased road use. He says the area is fortunate that there aren’t many delays in traffic. The federal lawmaker from Fond du Lac says the improved highway system allows more people to commute longer distances to work. Petri currently serves on House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and as chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Memorial Fund Established For Family Of Couple Killed In Washington County Accident

A memorial fund has been created to help five children who lost their parents in a traffic crash last Friday in Washington County. Authorities continue to investigate the mishap in which Joshua and Monica Griebel of Colgate were killed.  Officials say the couple’s car went into a ditch, hit a culvert, went airborne, hit a utility pole, and landed upside down.  It happened on Highway 164 in Richfield.  The five kids were not in the vehicle.  They range in age from 16-months to 13-years-old.  The Griebel family has set up a memorial fund at B-M-O Harris Bank on Pilgrim Road in Germantown.  Also, organizers are planning a fund-raising event for May 31st at the Sterling Chalet in Hubertus.

Coffee With A Cop In Reeseville Today

Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann says their “Coffee with a Cop” program is working out well.

This week’s program is today from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Gathering Place in Reeseville. It’s being done in conjunction with the Reeseville Police Department. She says it’s a nice informal gathering that allows residents to speak with law enforcement officers and get to know them a little better. She says it’s been very successful so far.

UW-FDL Open House And Parent Night Today

The UW-Fond du Lac will be hosting two admission events today. An open house for returning adult students will be held from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the University Center Commons. Also tonight at 6:30 p.m. it’s Parents Night in University Commons Rooms 113 and 114. During the open house, advisors from several UW four-year campuses will provide information about earning a bachelor’s degree at UW-Fond du Lac or online. No advance registration is needed for either event.

Wisconsin.Gov Website Updated

The website that serves as Wisconsin’s front door to the Internet has a new look and several new features. Stephanie Marquis is with the Wisconsin Department of Administration. She says the Wisconsin.gov website hasn’t had much for upgrades in over a decade, so it was extremely overdue. She says along with the more visually pleasing front page, the new site allows you to connect to Wisconsin.gov from anywhere. She says you can access it on your mobile device too.

Marquis says the new website also has better navigation, an enhanced Google search function, and allows them to use analytics to place popular items on the front page where they are easy to find.