Local News Monday 6/24/13

Two Charged With Heroin Overdose Death In FDL

 

First degree reckless homicide charges have been filed in Fond du Lac County Court for two men who may have supplied the heroin that led to a man’s death in Fond du Lac last July. Forty-nine-year-old Jeffrey Abitz of Lomira will make his initial appearance tomorrow morning on the charge. Meanwhile 56-year-old Reginald Dorsey of Milwaukee is still at large. A warrant was issued for his arrest on June 12th. The overdose death occurred last July 2nd.

 

Tornado Touches Down In Columbia County

 

Officials with the National Weather Service say a tornado touched down in Columbia County Saturday night. The tornado touched down about three miles southwest of Rio about 9 p.m. that night. There was minor damage to some trees and power lines. No one was hurt. Meanwhile rescue crews were able to save all 54 canoeists who got stranded on the Wisconsin River in Grant County over the weekend.

 

More Than $11,000 Donated To Replace Hamilton Playground Equipment

 

A number of individuals and organizations will be recognized at this week’s Fond du Lac City Council meeting for donating funds to replace equipment at Hamilton Park destroyed by an arson fire. Among those making donations is Charmaine Luczak-$10, Domino’s Pizza-$314, Sandra Ritchie-$366, Fond du Lac Firefighters’ Local 400 Charitable Fund-$500 and the Stone Foundation-$10,000. Director of Public Works Jordan Skiff says between the donations and the insurance and grant funds, the City is confident that the playground will be bigger and better than ever. Parks & Forestry Superintendent John Kiefer and his staff are currently arranging for the procurement of new equipment and selecting a design. Local contractor BCI Burke will be designing, constructing and installing the equipment. The Council meets at the City-County Government Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday night.

 

FDL School Board Preview

 

The Fond du Lac School Board tonight will consider hiring a new Business Services Director. Wendy Brockert has served as the Business Manager in Lake Mills since 1991. She succeeds Sue Schnorr who is leaving for a similar position with the Oshkosh Area School District. Schnorr begins there on July 1st. Brockert will make an initial salary of just under $105,000 ($104,865) a year with the Fond du Lac School District. The board will consider a two-year contract. Also tonight the board will be asked to a $1 percent increase in total base wage increase with the Educational Support Professional Association for the 2012-13 school year. The total increase including benefits works out to $37,806. The Board meets at 7 p.m. at the District Administration Center Board Room at 72 West 9th Street.

 

Municipalities Didn’t Get Much Help In State Budget

 

State Senator Rick Gudex found himself on the receiving end of a complaint when he recently gave the Fond du Lac City Council an update on the State Budget. Councilman Gary Miller said in his opinion the state legislature wasn’t doing enough to help out municipalities. Gudex says he knows where Miller was coming from, that was one of the views he held about shared revenue when he was a Fond du Lac City Councilman. He says he hopes the state can do something about that during the next state budget. He says when he sat the City Council the Council made an effort to try and keep the tax levy low. He says that definitely had the wrong impact when ACT 10 went through. Gudex says state legislators in this budget wanted to cut taxes and didn’t do too much to help out municipalities this time. 

 

Donations, Fundraisers Aid Free S.P.I.R.I.T Riders

 

The Executive Director of Free S.P.I.R.I.T Riders says the damage done by a dog at their stables two weeks ago extended beyond the physical damage to their horses. Mary Narges says it impacted their riders, staff and volunteers. Six horses were injured and the dog was killed by the horses. The therapeutic horse riding program for riders with physical and cognitive disabilities is funded through grants, donations and fundraisers. Narges says they will be doing something different during their annual Ride-a-Thon on August 24th. They will be doing something called purses for ponies and are accepting donations of gently-used purses to be sold at the event. Hour for that event are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile she says the book they put out for their 25th anniversary last year “The Chronicles of Free S.P.I.R.I.T Riders” is still available at their offices at W3950 Highway 23.

 

Senator Baldwin Gets Energy Committee Assignment

 

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has been appointed to serve on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Committee oversees energy production, innovation and technology issues through the U.S. Departments of Energy and Interior, while also holding responsibility for stewardship of public lands and forests managed by Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service. “This opportunity will allow me to support Wisconsin’s leadership in the areas of bioenergy, energy efficiency and advanced battery production. We have a lot of great Made in Wisconsin stories to tell that can serve as models for the rest of the country as we work together to build the next generation of energy innovation and promote American energy independence,” Baldwin said. In the House of Representatives Baldwin served on the Energy and Commerce Committee from 2005 to 2013.

 

Scammers Using Publisher’s Clearinghouse Name

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-Wisconsin consumer projection officials are putting out an alert on the latest scam in which callers are told they’ve won the Publishers’ Clearinghouse contest. To get their prize, they’re told to buy a pre-paid Green Dot Money-Pak card, load it with enough money to pay the fees – and then give them the number. He says they are usually asked to get a pre-paid card in the range of $500. Jared Albrecht with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection says this type of scam is among the most popular. He says you should never give out personal information or pay upfront fees to get a prize.

 

Country U.S.A Starts Tuesday

 

An official with the State Patrol says drivers will have to exercise a little more patience in the Oshkosh area this week with County U.S.A starting Tuesday. Sergeant Luke Newman says there will be a lot of traffic in and around the festival site. He says there are peak times for traffic before and after concerts so allow for more travel time in the evening. Headliners for this year’s festival include Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Billy Currington, Toby Keith and Dierks Bentley. More information about them and other acts is available at the County U.S.A. website.  

 

July 4^th County Office Hours Announced

 

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel has announced the office hours for County offices for the 4th of July Holiday. All County offices in the City-County Government Center, the Sheriff’s Office lobby window, Portland Street Annex including the Veterans Service Office, the Department of Social Services and the Highway Department will be closed all day on Thursday, July 4th. On Friday, July 5th all County offices in the Government Center, the Department of Social Services, including the offices in the Portland Street Annex, Veterans Service Office and Sheriff’s Office lobby window will be closed.

 

Dental Associates Becomes Packers Marketing Partner

 

Dental Associates, Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dental group practice, has signed an agreement with the Green Bay Packers to become an exclusive marketing partner in the dental industry. The move is the latest in a series of steps the company has taken to raise its profile in the markets it serves, which include Fond du Lac, Green Bay, the Fox Valley and southeastern Wisconsin. “Dental Associates is a Wisconsin-based dental care provider with high standards and a driving focus on patient satisfaction,” says Dr. Thomas Manos, D.D.S, M.S., president and owner of Dental Associates. “The Green Bay Packers organization reflects our values of quality, teamwork and leading by example.”  The agreement begins with the upcoming 2013 season. From scheduling player appearances to logo usage rights, the partnership provides great value to Dental Associates’ patients and staff. “Dental Associates is a proud Wisconsin company that shares in the Packers’ values of teamwork, integrity and excellence,” says Craig Benzel, director of marketing and sales for the Green Bay Packers. “We’re excited to bring them into our team of partners.”