Local News Briefs Wednesday 5/4/16

Brunswick Corporation Victim Of Phishing Scam

Brunswick Corporation recently reported it has been the victim of an email phishing incident that resulted in the potential unauthorized disclosure of 2015 W-2 information of a large number of current and former employees. The incident occurred last Friday and the Company learned of it later that day.  Brunswick is informing affected individuals, as well as notifying the IRS and cooperating with other agencies as appropriate.  The Company is actively investigating to fully understand the incident, and to prevent incidents of this nature in the future. Brunswick is offering credit monitoring and reporting, identity theft assistance services and identity theft insurance free to every affected individual. At this time, the Company has no reason to believe that its information systems or any customer data or other employee information have been compromised.  Brunswick noted that this was not a technical intrusion of its information systems, but rather a criminal scam that plays on human nature.

NFDL Village Pool Improvements Approved

The North Fond du Lac Village Board this week approved the installation of a splash pad and pavilion at the Village Pool. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says they’ve been kicking around the idea of a splash pad since 2010, but decided to make it part of their pool improvements for this year. He says towards the end of last year they knew they had enough funds and narrowed down the list of contractors.As for the pavilion it is a 16 by 24 foot metal structure that won’t be enclosed. Hornung says they didn’t have enough money for the purchase of that given the other improvements, but the board approved borrowing just over $12,000 from the Village’s Capital Fund Balance for its purchase. The pavilion will provide shade for those going to the pool with their kids.

West Bend Officials Struggled With Accused Administrators Employment

When felony child-prostitution-related charges were filed against City Administrator TJ Justice, West Bend City Officials wanted to make sure he would not have access to his office in City Hall or other city property. Mayor Kraig Sadowniknow says that’s why they placed Justice on paid administrative leave on Friday April 22. He says they struggled with whether to terminate Justice’s employment as City Administrator. If he were let go without cause the City would owe him six months’ salary. He says the City had police do an internal investigation to see if there was any just cause for firing Justice. He says when Justice tendered his resignation last Friday the City simply accepted it. The search for a new City Administrator will begin with interviews of professional search and screening companies.

FDL County Tourism Efforts Commended

State Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett commends Fond du Lac County tourism officials for their efforts. The County had the biggest increase in direct visitor spending last year with an increase of 10.2 percent. Klett says the Convention and Visitors Bureau has done a great job promoting new and existing events. She says the sturgeon spectacular was something the CVB helped create with the help of other local people. She says the CVB has done a great job emphasizing what the area has including events, the parks, culinary tourism in the restaurants and that has resulted in increased tourism revenue every year. She says they are also smart about using grants that are available to them such as Joint Effort Marketing grant money with $39,550 available to them this past year and a $7,500 grant to promote the Fond du Lac World Ice and Snow Sailing Championships. Direct visitor spending in Fond du Lac County was $120 million in 2014 and $132 million in 2015.   

New FDL Police Officer Always Wanted To Be A Cop

One of the Fond du Lac Police Department’s newest officers says the law enforcement field appealed to her at an early age. Officer Bethany Johnson says she got the itch watching TV shows as a kid. She says watching Law & Order SVU shows made her want to become a detective and she never wanted to do anything else. Officer Johnson actually was an officer with the Village of Marshall Police Department. They only had six officers and usually no more than two on a shift. She says they didn’t have the resources to rely on a lot of backup, something she says she doesn’t have to worry about in Fond du Lac. A Kenosha native, she says Fond du Lac is just the right size as far as she is concerned. She is currently going through field training, but when she’s done she will go to third shift patrol. She says she would love to be a K-9 Officer some day.

Reservations Needed For Those Attending Women In Management Meeting

The executive director of MS Run the US, Inc. — a non-profit organization that raises funds for Multiple Sclerosis awareness and research – will be the featured speaker at the next Women in Management meeting.  The meeting will be held at the Fond du Lac Holiday Inn from 11:30-1p.m. on Wednesday, May 11th.  Members and guests considering becoming a member are welcome to attend.  In her presentation, How I Started a Non-Profit, Ashley Schneider will reveal how she created the organization.  Founded by Schneider in 2009 the organization was inspired by her mother Jill Kumlien who has lived with MS since 1980.   The non-profit features a run across America.  Schneider ran the inaugural 3,200 mile U.S. crossing from California to New York in 2010.  Reservations to attend the meeting are due by Friday.  Lunch is included. To attend, contact Vicki Woschnick at (920) 929-8271 or vicki.woschnick@usbank.com.  Online registration and payment through PayPal is available at www.wimiwi.org ahead of time. Payment is also accepted at the door.

Locals Elks Scholarship Winner Gets Honorable Mention At State

The winner of the Fond du Lac Elks Club’s U.S. Constitution Scholarship contest got honorable mention at the state level. Lomira High School Senior Katelyn Wulff received honorable mention in the state competition held on April 10th.  She is the daughter of James and Christine Wulff of Theresa. She will receive a $500 scholarship award from the Wisconsin Elks Association. She will be attending the UW-Oshkosh this fall. Twenty-four high school seniors, each representing Elks Lodges from throughout Wisconsin, took part in this year’s event.  A total of $24,500 in scholarship awards will be distributed. Sean McNally a senior at Necedah High School was the first place winner and will receive a $3,000 scholarship award.