Local News Monday 4/1/13

Fatal Accident In Sheboygan County

 

Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say two people were killed in a two vehicle collision in the Town of Herman Sunday afternoon. Both of those who died were in the same vehicle. Sheriff’s Lt. John Detienne says a car with a single occupant appears to have crossed the center line and collided with the other vehicle containing the two victims. The driver who crossed over the center line wasn’t hurt.  Names are being withheld pending notification of relatives. The accident happened just before 4 p.m.

 

Dodge County Sheriff’s Candidates Narrowed To Two

 

Governor Scott Walker has narrowed the list of finalists to fill the remaining term of Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls to two candidates. Spokesman Cullen Werwie says the finalists for the position are Sheriff’s Lt. Patricia Ninmann and retired Sheriff’s Detective Robert Neuman. They were selected from a field of 14. Nehls retired on March 8th, mid-way through his third term. Chief Deputy Blaine Lauersdorf is currently serving in the role of acting Sheriff.  Lauersdorf had planned retiring himself effective this Friday, but he has extended the date of his retirement by one week to Friday, April 12th. Patrol Lt. James Ketchum is currently serving as the Interim Chief Deputy. The permanent Chief Deputy will be chosen by the next Sheriff, after the position is posted and the civil service process is complete. Either Ninmann or Neuman will finish out Nehls term, which expires at the end of next year.

 

Local Judge Testifies On Municipal Court Bill

 

Lakeside Municipal Court Judge Jerry Jaye this past week testified in favor of a bill authored by State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt that would allow an increase in municipal court fees of $10. Lakeside Municipal Court serves 15 local municipalities in Fond du Lac and Green Lake County. Jaye testified in front of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary in favor of Assembly Bill 22.  He told them, “There are approximately 350 municipalities served by 243 municipal courts in the State of Wisconsin hearing nearly half a million cases per year.  If these courts were forced to close due to insufficient funding the circuit courts would be forced to absorb these cases causing delays and additional costs.” Representative Thiesfeldt also testified concluding, “This bill simply allows municipalities to increase fees, but doesn’t mandate that any municipality will.  This increase is overdue.” The cost would be borne by the person found guilty of ordinance violations.  

 

Three Counties Working On Armed Robberies Cases

 

With three Counties involved in investigating armed robberies of four convenience stores one of them has to take the lead. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Cameron McGee says that’s usually what happens when multiple jurisdictions and it’s usually the jurisdiction that has seen more of the crime happen in their location. In the case of armed robberies in Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington County the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency because two of the armed robberies occurred there. McGee says with technology so much can be shared so much faster. A 26-year-old Washington County man was arrested in connection with the robberies. McGee says he’d like to say more about the case, but the investigation is ongoing. The four convenience stores were in Cascade, Germantown, Random Lake and Waucousta over an 11-day span last month.

 

Gun Rumor Was Perpetuated Through Social Media

 

Rumors, social media, radio scanners and fear perpetuated an incident at the Fond du Lac High School last week police took care of earlier that same day. Police Officer Steve Olson talked about the incident on Behind the Badge last Friday. He says it began with a student comment on Facebook earlier in the day last Tuesday about someone with a gun in the school. He says it was addressed and found to be a rumor. He says unfortunately the earlier incident took on a life of its own fueled by continued rumors and social media. That led to a police response just before 3 p.m. that same day, which again determined that concerns were unfounded. He says with so many people using Facebook and other social media parents should talk to their children about what’s being put on those sites.

 

Two Charged For Sheboygan County Car Entries

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Two men caught red-handed breaking into vehicles and garages in the village of Glenbeulah early Thursday morning are facing charges of felony burglary and misdemeanor theft.  Twenty-one-year-old Christopher Holbach, of Elkhart Lake, and 19-year-old Stephen Falk, of West Bend, were charged in Sheboygan County Court.  Authorities say County deputies were called to the village after one victim spotted the two entering his vehicle.  The deputies then spotted the two allegedly breaking into a truck.  Falk was arrested at the scene.  Holbach fled and attempted to hide on the roof of an apartment complex, but was also apprehended. 

 

Senator Johnson Doubts Weapons Ban Will Go Anywhere

 

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says he can’t see any type of gun control making its way through the Senate or House. He says tragedies like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown Connecticut aren’t preventable. He says most gun control proposals infringe on constitutional rights and he wouldn’t support them for that reason alone. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says President Obama’s promise of a comprehensive gun control plan and complete discussion after Sandy Hook never materialized. He says he doubts the current assault weapons ban proposal will go anywhere.  

 

Catherine Block Seeks Spot On FDL City Council

 

Fond du Lac City Council candidate Catherine Block says she can think outside the box and can bring some fresh perspective to the City Council. One example would be how she would have decided the issue over whether or not to suspend the liquor license of the Retlaw Hotel over a huge debt the owner owes the City. She says she would have suspended their liquor license Sunday through Thursdays so events could still be held on weekends where the license would be needed.

She says the garbage fee created by the City is a tax by any other name, but sometimes you have to find ways to continue providing services you want. Block, a local attorney, says although she has the ability to think outside the box she does have a lot in common with other residents. She says she works, goes to school, volunteers, has two children and can relate to a great deal of the population. Block is one of four candidates running for three seats on the City Council. The others are Dan Manning, Sam Meyer and incumbent Rebecca Lunde Ross.

 

Lunde Ross Only Incumbent In FDL City Council Race

 

Rebecca Lunde Ross is the lone incumbent in the race for the Fond du Lac City Council. She is being challenged by newcomers Catherine Block and Dan Manning, and former Council member Sam Meyer in the election for three seats to the Council. Lunde Ross made her thoughs known when the Council decided not to suspend the Retlaw Hotel’s liquor license over huge debt owed the City by the owner. She scolded them, but says it’s not a black and white issue because of the employees that would be affected by that decision. She says she didn’t like the garbage fee, but the City had to find a way to pay for services people want. She says City budgets won’t be getting any easier so they have to evaluate everything they provide.

 

Traffic Modifications For East Johnson Street Sanitary Sewer Work

 

Fond du Lac Public Works crews have eliminated the detour and modified lane closures on Johnson Street between National Avenue and North Country Lane.  Traffic heading east on Johnson Street is reduced to a single lane, with left turns prohibited at Prairie Road. Westbound traffic in the project area will continue to be reduced to one lane from North Country Lane to west of Prairie Road. All traffic on Prairie Road will be open for normal traffic movements. Officials say the traffic patterns will be in place for several more days, which will allow cure time on the concrete patch resulting from the sewer repair under Johnson Street.

 

Well Water Testing This Week For Towns Of Oakfield And FDL

 

Residents in the Towns of Oakfield and Fond du Lac who plan to participate in testing their well water on Monday, April 8th can pick up their sample bottles at the Town Halls this week. Oakfield homeowners can pick up their sample bottles at the Town Hall at N3349 Oak Center Road tomorrow or by arranging a time with Town Clerk Alex Strupp. Residents of the Town of Fond du Lac can pick sample bottles at the Town Hall on Pioneer Road on Election Day, or on Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Payment is due, in cash or by check payable to the Fond du Lac County UW-Extension, at the pick-up. Bottles are available on a first-come, first-served basis in both townships. Samples will be drawns next Monday and returned later that day to the town halls. Oakfield residents should contact Strupp for a time to return bottles at the Town Hall. Volunteers in the Town of Fond du Lac will accept bottles from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. The three sampling packages offered vary in prices or you can have all three done for $110. On Monday, May 20th a groundwater specialist will return the results and explain what they mean in two educational presentations. Those meetings are at 2 p.m. at the Oakfield Town Hall, and at 7 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Town Hall.

 

Canadian Owls Move Into Wisconsin Looking For Food

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A shortage of food has brought bird lovers in the Northwoods a treat this year. DNR scientist Ryan Brady says every few years the populations of small rodents crashes in southern Canada, and owls that normally live there come south looking for lunch. Brady says the story has two parts. One is about the rare owls coming here from Canada. He says three different species normally seen in southern Canada have moved into Wisconsin. Those owls look for mice, voles, maybe an occasional squirrel or unwary bird. The second part of the owl story is about our Wisconsin owls. He says meanwhile some of our own owls in Wisconsin the Saw Whet and Barred owls are starving because of the deeper snow cover late in the winter. Brady says take a picture of the bird, but don’t approach them. He says the owls are stressed and the human interaction could kill them. He says go to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology website to report the sighting.