Local News Briefs Wednesday 6/3/15

A high speed chase in Sheboygan County Tuesday night topped 100 miles per hour. County Sheriff’s officials say a 35-year-old man was wanted for allegedly making death threats against family members. The man was tracked to a private parking lot on Walton Drive, in Plymouth, before leading five law enforcement agencies on a high speed chase. Spike strips were used twice, but the driver continue driving on rims. The chase culminated on Highway 67 North and Country Line Road when a deputy used a maneuver that ended up heavily damaging both vehicles. A firearm was recovered from the suspect. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by the Elkhart Lake Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, Kiel Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Waupun Woman Suspected Of Child Sexual Assault

Dodge County authorities have charged a 25-year-old Waupun woman who allegedly had inappropriate contact with a toddler. Cassandra Scheuers is charged with one felony count of 1st degree sexual assault with a child under 12 years of age.  According to the criminal complaint she handed a police officer a note after she was taken to a police station while they were checking on her welfare. It allegedly described sexual acts she, her husband, an infant and toddler were involved in.  Her husband allegedly took pictures and threatened to use them against her.  Bond was set at $10,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

DPI Head On Voucher Funding

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers says the expansion of the school voucher program is creating two-tiered system for educational funding. He says he has nothing against private or parochial schools, but everyone is competing for the same funding and will be for a long time the way it has been set up. He says as the cap on the voucher program is eventually eliminated more money will be diverted from funding for public schools. Evers also doesn’t like the idea of special needs vouchers. He says it hasn’t worked in other states where it has been tried. He says in those states kids have been warehoused and not taught, and people are getting wealthy on it.

Harrison Street Bid Approved

The North Fond du Lac Village Board this week approved bids for the reconstruction of Harrison Street and overlay projects for other village streets in 2015. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says Harrison Street really needs the work and they approved a bid for $370,000 for the portion of the work that will be done this year. He says it leads into the Canadian National rail yard and it has been beaten up pretty good over the years. The project begins in August, but won’t be completed until next year. He says the sanitary, water and storm systems will be worked on and a gravel base will be laid down. But he says the curb and gutter, and resurfacing work won’t be completed until next year. He says each year they also do some overly work on a number of bad streets. He says they usually budget about $100,000 for that work every year. This year’s bid for that work came in around $90,000.

Drone Demonstration For Several Sheriffs Departments

A couple of sheriff’s departments will attend a drone demonstration in Columbia County today to see if it’s something that might be in their departments’ future. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department is looking hard at purchasing a drone. He says there are situations that come up in law enforcement in which drones could be useful. He says for example search and rescue or searches for wanted fugitives. He says they would also have to consider peoples’ rights to privacy and what constitutes unreasonable searches. Schmidt says they may take a wait and see approach to drones seeing what happens with Columbia County’s effort, but the costs of purchasing them are on the way down.

Low Vision Workshop Offered

The Fond du Lac County Aging and Disability Resource Center will be hosting a “Low Vision 101 Workshop” this month. Kathleen Connell is a rehabilitation specialist for the blind from the Office of the Blind and Visully Impaired for the State of Wisconsin. She says topics will include the use of canes and mobility. She says they will introduce people to red and white canes and how they can use them as a tool to remain in the community. She says they will also teach people who have vision how to walk safely and elegantly with a person who has vision loss. She says it’s a technique called sighted-guide. Other topics included safety in the community, audio books, and eye conditions. Connell says there’s no cost for the workshop and you do not need to register. It will be held Friday, June 19th from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 50 N. Portland Street in Fond du Lac. Anyone with questions can call the center at (920) 929-3429.

UW FDL Students Use Tack To Teach Boys And Girls Club Members

UW-Fond du Lac students and Fond du Lac Boys & Girls Club members benefitted from each other during a service learning partnership. UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says Mike Jurmu, their professor of geology and geography, wrote an article about the experience for the Journal of Geography. The effort was known as TACK or Teach Atmospheric Concepts to Kids. He says it unfolded over a six-week period. He says kids learned about weather concepts like high and low pressure and even the Greenhouse effect through practical demonstrations. The kids even got to do things like make their own home made rain gauge. Dr. Short says the children were able to learn about weather concepts in a more hands on approach. He says on the other hand UW-Fond du Lac students participating in the service learning project said they were more likely to participate in community efforts in the future. 

Waupun Memorial Hosts Weight Watchers Classes

A new Weight Watchers series is slated to get underway at Waupun Memorial Hospital starting with an information meeting at 4:45 p.m. this afternoon.  Current and interested new members with interest are invited to attend and sign up. The public is welcome to participate. The Weight Watchers At Work program is offered every Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. in the Lower Level Meeting Room at Waupun Memorial Hospital. Meetings are led by Cheryl Taylor, Weight Watchers meeting facilitator. For more information, call Amy Uhrmacher at (920) 324-6547 or Shelly Haberman at (920) 926-4973.

Story Walk At Lakeside Park

A joint effort by the Fond du Lac Public Library, the City of Fond du Lac Parks Dept. and Kiwanis Club of Fabulous Fond du Lac has resulted in Fond du Lac’s first permanent StoryWalk® installation in Lakeside Park. The installation can be found on the east end of the park near the intersection of Harbor View and Winnebago drives. StoryWalks encourage families to enjoy reading and the outdoors by posting a children’s book – a page at a time – at intervals in a park, hiking trail or other outdoor site. The Lakeside Park project was initiated by the library’s Children’s and Teen Services Coordinator Sarah Newton, with a big assist from the Parks Dept.’s Matt Reinke, who designed and constructed the wooden story posts, and John Redmond, Parks Dept. superintendent. But the project was just a good idea until the Morning Kiwanis jumped on board with a $2,000 donation, enough for materials for two stories along the Lakeside Park walking path.

Walleye Weekend T Shirt Design Winners Announced

Winners have been announced in the Walleye Weekend t-shirt design contest. The contest is sponsored by Hopper’s Silk Screening and All-Star Trophy. The winner in the kindergarten through 4th grade category was Ryleigh Behl and Sydney Scola won the competition for 5th through 9th graders. Both winners are from Fond du Lac. Each will receive a $100 gift card to Hopper’s Silk Screening and All Star Trophy and a commemorative plaque featuring the winning design. The winning t-shirts are also printed and sold during Walleye Weekend.