Local News Thursday 5/30/13

Neenah Man Injured In Motorcycle Versus Pickup Truck Accident

 

A 20-year-old Neenah man suffered serious injuries when a pickup truck turned in front of his motorcycle at the intersection of Winnebago County Highway II and MM last night. He ran into the side of the pickup truck and was flown by Theda Star helicopter to Theda Clark Regional Medical Center. A 24-year-old Bear Creek man was driving the pickup truck. He suffered minor injuries and declined treatment. He was cited for inattentive driving. The accident in the Town of Winchester was reported at 6 p.m.

 

Purse Snatcher Arrested In FDL

 

Two residents came to the aid of a 65-year-old Fond du Lac woman when she was mugged in the parking lot near the Younker’s department store Tuesday afternoon. Police say it happened just before 2:30 p.m. when a 20-year-old man came up from behind and ripped the woman’s purse away from her as she was walking towards the entrance of the store. He ran away from her towards the road, but the victim’s screams brought the help of two witnesses. One tried to stop the suspect, but was punched.  The other witness tackled the suspect and held him down until police officers arrived. The suspect is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on robbery, battery and disorderly conduct charges.

 

Smoke, No Fire At Oshkosh School

 

There was some smoke, but no fire at Franklin Elementary School in Oshkosh yesterday afternoon. Fire department officials say teachers smelled smoke in the school. They called 911 and then began evacuating the school. It turns out the smoke was coming from repair work being done in the boiler room of the school. Fire department officials say the teachers’ reaction was appropriate given they didn’t know about the repair work.

 

Mink Stolen

 

A reward is being offered through the Sheboygan County Crimestoppers program for information leading to an arrest or arrests in the theft of 300 baby mink from a Town of Mosel mink farm. Sheriff’s officials say the thefts of the baby mink from the Dittrich Mink Farm occurred over a week beginning May 7th. The value of the mink is estimated to be up to $40,000. Anyone with tips should call 1-877-283-8436.

 

Kohler Company Adding Jobs

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-The Kohler Company on Wednesday announced plans to increase their workforce by at least 300 people.  The company says it will expand its Global Power business due to increased demand in North America for standby power. The company plans to build an extension to its production facility in the Town of Mosel.  The new hires will take place over the next three years, working at the Mosel facility or at facilities in the villages of Kohler and Saukville. In a statement, Herb Kohler said, “This investment reflects our commitment to provide homeowners and businesses with superior product and rapid delivery.”

 

Benefit Today For Motorcyclists Hurt In Hwy 151 Accident A Year Ago

 

Open Road Harley Davidson in Fond du Lac will be holding a memorial fundraiser for the Muskegon Michigan Motorcycle Club that lost two of its members and saw several more injured in an accident on Highway 151 a year ago. The event is from 4 to 8 p.m. and will feature music, food and refreshments, raffles, and more. Members of the club will be at today’s event at Open Road Harley Davidson. Twenty-six-year-old Clinton Lovelace of Hilbert will stand trial in October on charges stemming from the crash. He ran his car into a group of ten motorcyclists from the motorcycle club on May 31st of last year. The Muskegon Motorcycle Gang was returning to Michigan from a trip to Milwaukee. For more about the event click here.

 

No Call Deadline Friday

 

 

The quarterly deadline to sign up for the state’s No Call list is this Friday. The free no call service, offered through state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, covers residential land and cell phone lines.  Consumers must re-register every two years to stay active. To add your residential landline, cell phone or VoIP number(s) to the list, visit http://nocall.wisconsin.gov or dial 1-866-9NO-CALL (1-866-966-2255).  The website and toll-free number are available all day, every day. Wisconsin residents who add their numbers to the list by Friday will receive protection from unsolicited telemarketing phone calls and text messages starting on July 1.

 

Mandates Flu Vaccinations Cause For Debate

 

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller has an opinion about banning employers from mandating influenza vaccines for their workers. State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says it’s a matter of personal liberty and merits serious discussion. He also questions the effectiveness of the vaccines saying they aren’t 100 percent effective. Miller says the vaccine for this year’s flu was 56 percent effective, which is better than no protection at all. Health care organizations like Agnesian HealthCare and Aurora Health Care mandate the vaccinations. Mueller says it makes sense for people that are dealing with those who are already ill and face the possibility of serious complications if they get the flu. She says not everybody can receive the vaccines for instance infants, so the protection the vaccines afford those working with infants is a plus.

 

Upgrades Considered For Waupun City Hall And Public Library

 

The Waupun Common Council this week referred possible upgrades of the City Hall to the Board of Public Works for cost estimates and a timetable. City Administrator Kyle Clark says they are considering air conditioning for the City Hall and remodeling rooms adjacent to the auditorium. He says they’d also like to upgrade the public library’s security where they’ve had threats in the past. He says funding for those projects would come through the general fund reserves or be budgeted for next year. He says there’s a possibility some of those improvements might be made this year. He says a number of events are held at the City Hall each year, but they aren’t able to schedule events there over the summer months because it’s not air conditioned. Clark says renting out the auditorium and other rooms at the City Hall raises revenue for the City.                    

 

Fondy High Students Becoming More Paperless

 

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says one of the benefits of the 1-to-1 computing initiative at the high school is that students work is becoming more paperless. He says about 4,000 sheets of paper were used by students at the high school this year. That works out to less than 2 pages of paper per student. He says all of the students work with Chromebooks is done in the Cloud. He says older generations are more dependent on paper, but it is becoming easier for kids to go paperless with newer technology.

 

Lomira High School Making Most Of Dual Credits And Welding Lab

 

The Lomira High School last month was chose to showcase Dual Credit Day. Lomira School District Administrator Bob Lloyd says that was done because of the long standing relationship with Moraine Park Technical College, which created a program where students could get college credit while still attending high school. He says they were also chosen because of the welding lab they have courtesy of new equipment provided by Kondex Corporation and other businesses. He says 60 percent of their students go on to college, but only 30 percent of the jobs they are seeking require a bachelor’s degree. He says their technology teacher is trained to make the most of their new welding equipment to make sure kids are getting proper training themselves. The Lomira High School and MPTC launched the dual credit program in 1986.

 

Governor Approves Maintenance Projects For State Highways In Sheboygan County

 

Governor Scott Walker has approved a $2.5 million maintenance project for 6.5 miles of State Highway 32 and mile of State Highway 42 in Sheboygan County. The work on Highway 32 will be from near State Highway 23 to the north village limits of Howards Grove and on State Highway 42 from the Pigeon River to the north village limits of Howards Grove. Construction is scheduled to begin next Monday. The project includes grading and resurfacing, storm sewer installation and new signing. Both roads will remain open during construction, though there could be lane closures with flagging operations during the day. The project is expected to be completed by October.

 

Salvation Army Awards

 

The Fond du Lac Salvation Army held their annual Civic Luncheon and Awards at Trinity in Fond du Lac on Wednesday afternoon.  Sysco was named the “Community Partner of the Year.”  The St. Peter Lions Club was the “Service Club of the Year,” Pick N Save took home the “Business Support Partner of the Year,” Miss Fond du Lac 2102 Heather Klewicki was selected the “Christmas Volunteer of the Year,” and Arlene Pea took home the “Community Volunteer of the Year” award.