Local News Briefs Wednesday 7/17/13

The identity of the body recovered from Lake Michigan Monday is that of a Sheboygan man missing for the past three weeks.  Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Chad Broeren said a joint investigation with Sheboygan Police determined the body was that of 39-year-old Brian Behrensprung. He was last seen June 25 by a Piggly Wiggly in Sheboygan, and was reported missing two days later.  The county’s Water Safety Unit and Dive Team recovered the body a mile east of Blue Harbor Resort just after 10 a.m. Monday. An autopsy determined no foul play is suspected in Behensprung’s death. (WHBL, Sheboygan)

 

Waupun Woman Charged

 

The 34-year-old Waupun woman suspected of taking close to $50,000 from the Mayville business she was working at made her initial appearance in Dodge County Court this week. Teresa Ruch is charged with seven felony theft counts. Charges stem from her employment at Mayville Vision between 2009 and 2012. Ruch allegedly failed to make about $32,000 in bank deposits over a four year period and another $15,000 in good and services were given to family and friends. She left Mayville Vision in 2012 when she and her husband purchased Jan’s Optical in Waupun. According to the criminal complaint she and her husband are in debt and owe about $21,000 from a 2011 court judgment.  Ruch is free on a $1,000 signature bond and has a preliminary hearing on September 5th.

 

Texting Scam

 

In light of a texting scam Fond du Lac Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein is warning residents about giving out financial account information. Various law enforcement agencies in that area have received complaints about a suspicious text from (920) 747-0969. It states “BANK ALERT: Your CARD has been DEACTIVATED. Please call 920-569-6444”. If you call the number you are then instructed to enter your 16 digit card number and expiration date. Klein says you should not enter your card number. It is a scam and they are phishing for your financial information. He says banks wouldn’t do that. He says if you have questions about your account you should contact your financial institution.

 

Highway 41 Work In Winnebago County Complete

 

For the first time in four years the entire stretch of US 41 in Winnebago County is back to 65 miles per hour. The state’s Department of Transportation announced yesterday that the Highway 41 reconstruction over Lake Butte des Morts is complete.  Work on the $54.2 million improvement project started in 2009 with the State Highway 21 interchange and new bridges over the lake and Sawyer Creek. Project Manager Tom Buchholz says that portion of the Highway 41 project was finished 10 days early and on budget. Department of Transportation officials say there will still be some nighttime lane restrictions as workers finish up. Northern Winnebago County will see some resurfacing work on overpasses yet this year and next year.

 

Bills Introduced To Allow Heavier Trucks On Interstate 41

 

U.S. Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation yesterday that grandfathers in heavier trucks that currently operate on Highway 41 when it becomes an interstate. Trucks currently operating on the highway can weigh up to 97,000 pounds, but federal law limits interstate roadways to a gross vehicle weight limit of 80,000 pounds. Congressman Tom Petri and Reid Ribble have introduced a companion bill in the House. The bills have broad support from Wisconsin business, manufacturing and the agricultural community. 

 

NFDL Now Has Drug Drop Box

 

The North Fond du Lac Police Department now has its own drug drop box for old and unused prescription drugs. It’s similar to the one Fond du Lac has its police station, but this one is located inside the police station lobby at the Municipal Offices. Sergeant Mickie Fink says you can only access it during weekday business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  She says if you are going to use it they ask that you remove the pills from the prescription container and place them in zip-lock bag and then drop the bag in the drop box. Labels should be taken off the bottles and the bottles should be placed in with your regular recyclables. She says a grant paid for the drug drop box. Sergeant Fink says he drug drop box will help them control the availability of prescription drugs and help the environment by keeping drugs out of landfills and ground water.

 

St. Mary’s Springs Academy Goes Back To Tradition Of School Uniforms

 

The St. Mary’s Springs Academy in Fond du Lac will be bringing back a past tradition this fall; school uniforms. Academy President Kevin Shaw says they consulted with St. Catherine’s High School in Racine and Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa who have a long tradition of using school uniforms before making their decision. Shaw says it is a unifying concept with a goal of focusing on education. Shaw says people were pretty much split on their opinions when they brought up the subject of school uniforms, but he sees benefits in it. The uniforms will be supplied by Lands’ End, which provides school uniforms to about 6,000 schools globally. Springs Admission Director Emily Salm says there will be a uniform assistance program for those who may face financial hardship with the new uniform policy. The new policy will be for K5-through-12 grade at the Springs Academy.

 

Angle Family Donations Adding Up

 

The brat fry and bake sale held at the Adashun ones Real Estate Office in Fond du Lac last month for a former Fond du Lac family who lost their 9-year-old daughter, home and belongings to an EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma raised quite a bit of money. In fact family friend Vicki Steinhardt says they raised more than $10,000 for the Dan and Nicole Angle family. Plus, a company in California heard about their effort and is contributing an extra $20,000. That company is Schecter Guitar Research. Vicki says she and her husband Tim are going out to Oklahoma this Friday to present the check to Dan and Nicole Angle. She says the loss of their daughter Sydney in the May 20th tornado and their home is something that will take time to recover from. She says they still have two other children to raise, but it will never be the same for them.

 

FDL County Fair Gets Underway Safety Urged

 

With the Fond du Lac County Fair getting underway today the Division Chief of Fire Prevention for the Fond du Lac Fire Department urges people to keep safety in mind. Troy Haase says that can range from being aware of others while you are parking your car to making sure you are well hydrated during this heat wave. Today at the Fair entertainment at the Leine Lodge includes performances by Diamond & Steel and Rebel Grace. At the Grandstand at 7 p.m. this evening there’s a tractor pull. For more information on activities at the Fair visit their website.

 

State Treasurer At FDL County Fair

 

 

The State Treasurer will be at the Fond du Lac County Fair the next two days. State Treasurer Kurt Schuller says he will be there helping people check on whether they have some unclaimed property coming their way from the state.  About $19.1 million in missing money has been returned to state residents so far this year. He says you can check on unclaimed property any time online.