Local News Monday 7/1/13

FDL Homes Evacuated As A Precaution

 

A loud metallic sounding bang could be heard in several Fond du Lac neighborhoods last night around 10 p.m. Fire Department officials say they were asked to evacuate up to 10 homes on Tompkins Street when a steam process at Milk Specialties malfunctioned. Machines shut down and the sound was from steam being released. No one was hurt, but police closed down several adjacent streets during the incident as a precaution.

 

Two Hurt In Dodge County Accident

 

A man and a woman from Shorewood, Illinois were injured when their motorcycle collided with an SUV in Dodge County shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday. It happened on State Highway 26 near Hogsback in the Town of Clyman when one of the two vehicles tried to pass the other. The 49-year-old man driving the bike and the 52-year-old woman who was a passenger on it were both taken to hospitals. One was flown by Flight for Life in serious to critical condition. The other was taken by ambulance to Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Neither of them was wearing a helmet. No one in the SUV was hurt. The driver of the SUV was 53-year-old Scott Lewis of Waunakee. He had a 12-year-old boy with him in the SUV.

 

Milwaukee Man Bound Over For Trial In Sheboygan Credit Union Robbery

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A Milwaukee man has been bound over for trial in connection to the United One Credit Union robbery in Sheboygan.  Twenty-year-old Sean McCarthy faces a robbery of a financial institution felony and recently had his preliminary hearing in Sheboygan County Court.  Judge Angela Sutkiewicz found there is enough evidence to allow the case to proceed. McCarthy and an 18-year-old Milwaukee male are in custody in connection with the May 16th incident that resulted in an unknown amount of money being stolen from United One Credit Union. 

 

Senator Johnson Won’t Support Immigration Reform Bill

 

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says he can’t support the current immigration reform bill. The federal lawmaker from Fond du Lac says he can’t support the bill. He says his bottom line is that it must solve the problem and it does not. He says the Congressional Budget Office or CBO reaches the same conclusion in its evaluation of the underlying bill finding that it will only reduce illegal immigration by 25 percent. He says the legislation grants the Executive Branch over 200 waivers and grants of discretion on whether or how to implement the bill’s specified elements. He says that’s a problem. The bill now goes to the House. We will ask Congressman Tom Petri about it when he guests on The Morning Show with Bob Hoffmaster at 11 a.m. this morning. See Johnson’s statement on the bill by clicking here. http://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=eec2d44c-680a-410d-b896-f2945193814b                 

 

Firearms Bill

 

State Representative Michael Schraa’s first piece of legislation is designed to protect state residents’ 2nd amendment rights or right to bear arms. The state lawmaker from Oshkosh has authored a bill that would prohibit local and state law enforcement officers from enforcing federal measures to ban certain firearms, firearm accessories, magazines, or types of bullets. He says he sent out a survey and of the 1,000 or more returned 82 to 83 percent favored protecting the 2nd amendment. Another survey involving police officers showed the majority wouldn’t enforce more restrictive federal guns laws. Sixty-one percent felt that way. Another portion of Schraa’s bill would prohibit doctors from asking patients if they own a firearm. He’s hoping law enforcement associations will back his bill. The bill would also declare that firearms made in the state that include the stamp “Made in Wisconsin” aren’t subject to federal interstate commerce regulation because the firearm hasn’t traveled between states.

 

Change In Venue For Leg Of Tour Of America’s Dairyland In FDL County?

 

A portion of last Wednesday’s Attitude Sports Fond du Lac Road Race had to be ended early by Tour of America’s Dairyland officials. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says a portion of County Highway UU was closed down, but other parts of the race course only had half the road closed. In those instances racers aren’t supposed to cross over the centerline or they are disqualified. Olig says last year they only had a couple riders who crossed the centerline, but this year race officials had trouble controlling the riders. He says as a result race officials decided to cut shorts some of the racing. One race was ended with two laps to go and another with 1 lap. Olig says race officials have decided they have too many racers participating in the race now and have outgrown the venue. He says that could mean a change in location for that leg of the race next year.

 

Ripon Common Council Discusses Pit Bull Ownership

 

The Ripon Common Council this month will discuss whether to increase the liability insurance residents will need to own a pit bull in the City. City Administrator Lori Rich says last week the Council discussed the issue and whether people should be allowed to own them. She says a resident was concerned that the current liability coverage pit bull owners are required to have may not be enough in the event of an attack. The current requirement is $100,000 of coverage, but the resident thought $250,000 of coverage would be better. She says pit bull ownership will also be discussed and in particular whether it should be allowed. Earlier this year the Fond du Lac City Council discussed a proposal to limit pit bull ownership to current owners, but it met with stiff opposition and was withdrawn.

 

Walleye Weekend Recycling Nets 1.2 Tons

 

The Walleye Weekend recycling effort netted 1.2 tons of recyclables during the festival at Lakeside Park this past month. Results were announced during the Mercury Marine Walleye Weekend Partnership Dinner this past week. “We are thrilled with the response the Mercury Marine Recycling Challenge received during the 2013 Walleye Weekend festival”, states Denise Devereaux, vice president of human resources at Mercury Marine. “Students at local schools showed off their creativity by decorating recycling bins, while also sharing their passion for conservation and recycling. The Fond du Lac High School French Club, chaired by Angie Schneider, was instrumental in assisting Walleye Weekend guests with using the recycling stations. Also assisting was Theta Phi Alpha sorority from Marian University. States Leanne Doyle, Fond du Lac Festivals executive director, “While recycling has been attempted previously at Walleye Weekend, we were hopeful that having staffed recycling stations would make a difference, and it proved to be true.” Accepting a $500 award for the best designed recycling container was Anoush Cowles. She accepted the award on behalf of Evans Elementary School.

 

FDL Teacher Gets National Recognition

 

Fond du Lac Theisen Middle School science teacher Ted Eischeid is a California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence recipient. It’s one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for public school educators. He is one of 36 awardees who will be honored at the National Education Association  Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C., next February 7th.  Known as the Academy Awards of public education, the gala attracts more than 850 of the nation’s leaders from public education, philanthropy, and the private sector. Each awardee’s school will receive a $650 award. From the 36 state awardees, five finalists will be selected to receive $10,000 cash awards.  At the conclusion of the Washington, D.C., awards gala, one finalist will be named the nation’s top educator and receive an additional $25,000.

 

Traffic Signal Installation Works Next Week In FDL

 

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department will be installing traffic signals at two intersections starting next Monday. The intersections are Scott Street at Luco Road and National Avenue and Division Street at National Avenue. At each intersection all four approaches will be cut open to install one 4” traffic signal conduit. While the work is progressing each intersection will be completely closed to traffic in all directions. There will be a period of time during which both intersections will be closed simultaneously. No detours will be set up prior to the street closures, and warning signs on streets approaching the work will indicate “Road Closed Ahead, Local Traffic Only”. Preparatory excavation in anticipation of the conduit will take place this week, but no streets will be closed during the preparatory work. It is anticipated that all road closures will be completed by Friday July 12.