Local News Briefs Wednesday 6/24/15

The Fond du Lac City Council tonight will consider a recommendation from the Alcohol License Committee that it not renew the liquor license of the Retlaw Plaza Hotel. The owners of the hotel owe the City more than $60,000 in unpaid utility payments and property taxes. It will also be a busy night for reports with the Lakeside Park Exploratory Committee giving its report to the Council, a budget overview, and discussion on being more flexible with the operation of food trucks in the City. The Council meets at 6 p.m. at the City-County Government Center.

Retlaw Liquor License Situation Not As Dire As Two Years Ago

The executive director of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership says things aren’t as dire as they were two years ago should the City Council decide not to renew the liquor license for the Retlaw Plaza Hotel. The hotel owes the City more than $60,000 in unpaid utilities and property taxes. Amy Hansen says if the Council decides not to renew the hotel’s liquor license the owner and operator of the restaurant and pub in the hotel could apply for a license. Mancino’s owns and operates the restaurant and Midtown Pub. She says there’s also a strong possibility of a change in ownership for the hotel. She says a private development company is doing its due diligence on purchasing the property. She says everything will pan out for the hotel. The City Council tonight will consider the renewal of the liquor license.  

Working With Expelled Students

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says expelling a student is the last thing they want to do when it comes to student discipline. This past school year seven students were expelled. He says the number varies from year-to-year. He says they try very hard not to make it a life sentence meaning they continue to give students the opportunity to learn and set up earlier re-entry criteria. He says they will have those students work with a tutor at the district office and also provide them with some online help. Sebert says the majority of student expulsions have to do with students who bring alcohol, drugs or prescription medications to school to share with other students. Such was the case of a student the school board held an expulsion hearing for this week. He says it takes quite a bit of time to set up and go through the expulsion process.

Congressman Grothman On Presidential Pension Bill

Congressman Glenn Grothman is a co-sponsor of bill that would trim presidential pensions for presidents who are making a lot of money for speaking engagements. The federal lawmaker from Fond du Lac says ex-presidents make $400,000 a year. He says presidential pensions are something that was put into effect after Ulysses S. Grant went broke in his post White House years. He says former presidents should make less of a pension if they are making a lot of money doing speaking engagements around the country. He says it seems a bit unseemly than ex-presidents are selling their name. He says a couple ex-presidents in particular seem to be taking advantage of taxpayers by collecting pensions and by trading on their names. He says George Bush has done some of it, but former President Bill Clinton in particular has made millions of dollars in speaking engagements. The bill is known as the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act.

Oshkosh Man Sentenced For Attacks Near UW Campus

A 19-year-old Oshkosh man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for a series of attacks near the UW-Oshkosh campus. Jake Sizemore was sentenced in Winnebago County Court this week to the prison term and 14 years of extended supervision. He pled no contest to armed robbery and 1st degree reckless injury charges. Six other charges were read into the record and dismissed. The attacks occurred last October.

Oshkosh Sex Offender Moves

Oshkosh Police say a 48-year-old sex offender has moved to 521 Monroe Street. Joseph Spaeth was released earlier this month to a temporary residence until a more permanent residence could be found. Spaeth was convicted of 4th degree sexual assault in 1991 and 1st degree sexual assault in 1993 in Winnebago County. His victims were 13 and 6-year-old girls.

Storm Damage Update

Wisconsin’s Emergency Management Department has issued more information about Monday morning’s storm and the damage it caused. Grant County seems to have been hit the worst with 20 homes and 30 agricultural buildings destroyed or severely damaged. Another 300 homes had moderate to minor damage. Seven homes, farm buildings and crops were damaged in Green County. In Iowa County five homes were damaged by falling trees in the Village of Linden. One farm building was destroyed in Jonesdale along with minor damage to a home. One home was destroyed, and six others sustained minor damage in the village of Hollandale. A mobile home was also destroyed in Crawford County. Straight line winds caused most of the damage is some of those areas ranging from 80 to 100 miles an hour. At the peak of the storm 54,000 customers were without power.

Registration Underway For NFDL Police Benevolent Association Golf Shoot Out

Registration is underway for the 16th Annual North Fond du Lac Police Benevolent Association Golf Shoot Out. The golf outing and banquet at Rolling Meadows Golf Course will be held on Friday, August 14th. North Fond du Lac Police Chief Darren Pautsch says in the past the proceeds have always gone to a local charitable effort. He says that’s included things like the police K9 unit, parks or the veterans memorial. He says this year they will be donating to the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team. He says the team also works with children dealing with amputation. Youth camps are held throughout the year. He says Wounded Warriors Softball Team member Josh Wege, a Campbellsport native and veteran, will be at this year’s Shoot Out. You can register by calling 929-3760 or at the Village website. It costs $75 for golf and the banquet or just $30 if you only want to attend the banquet.

Project Lifesaver Comes To Dodge County

Officials in Dodge County are bringing Project Lifesaver to the County. Project Lifesaver works by providing people with Alzheimer’s, autism and other related conditions and disorders with a small transmitter that can be worn on the wrist or ankle.  The transmitter sends out a signal that can be detected by law enforcement with special equipment. Sheriff’s Deputies will be able to quickly locate the at risk individual quickly upon location of that signal. The cost of this program is a 1 time fee of about $5000 plus the cost of transmitters.  The Dementia Coalition of Dodge County has offered to cover the cost of the startup fee.  Transmitters will be purchased on an as needed basis.