Local News Tuesday 4/2/13

Names Released In Fatal Accident

 

Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials have released the names of those involved in a fatal two-vehicle head-on collision Sunday afternoon on State Highway 32. They say 79-year-old Robert Bock of Brillion was driving his 1999 Lincoln Town Car north on the highway about a ½ mile north of Franklin Road. Meanwhile 70-year-old Dennis Lange of Sheboygan was heading south in his 2000 Buick LeSabre when the two vehicles collided. The crash resulted in the death of Dennis’s wife 71-year-old Margaret Lange and his passenger 52-year-old Barbara Killey of Waukesha. Dennis Lange was taken to Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, while Robert Bock was uninjured.

 

Oshkosh Bomb Threat

 

Oshkosh Police have arrested a 56-year-old Oshkosh man for calling in a bomb threat at a Shopko Store. The threat was called into the store on South Koeller Street at 3:31 p.m. on Thursday, March 21st. He was arrested last Friday at his home in the 400 block of Sullivan Street. He was taken to the Winnebago County Jail.

 

Water Main Break

 

Public Works crews in Fond du Lac are dealing with a water main break on South Main Street this morning. The break was reported in front of 991 S. Main Street. Motorists should use caution when approaching the area. The water main break was reported shortly after 5 a.m.

 

Two Fondy Residents Arrested During Milwaukee Protest

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Two Fond du Lac residents were among those arrested over the weekend during a downtown Milwaukee demonstration protesting the decision not to file charges against three police officers. The officers had been accused of playing a role in the death of Derek Williams, but a special prosecutor decided he couldn’t win that case. Williams was gasping for breath while he was held in the back seat of a squad car with the officers failing to give him help. About 75 protesters walked in the street to police headquarters, City Hall then Reuss Federal Plaza. A 42 year old Fond du Lac man was arrested for breaking a window at the entrance to the municipal court. A 37 year old Fond du Lac woman was charged with obstruction. A 35-year-old Milwaukee woman was also arrested after ignoring a police command and nearly hit a group of pedestrians with her vehicle. She was arrested after a short chase.

 

Election Day Races And Issues In FDL County

 

Fond du Lac County voters will have quite a few races and issues to vote on during today’s election. There are twenty different races in the County and two school board referendums in the Markesan and Oakfield School Districts. In Fond du Lac there are City Council and School Board races. North Fond du Lac has Village Trustee and School Board races. There are Town Chair races in Auburn, Calumet and Oakfield and a Village presidency at stake in Eden. There are a number of other races across the County including one for the Taycheedah Town Clerk and Byron Town Treasurer positions. We will have election reports during the Milwaukee Brewers game and results will also be posted at KFIZ.com and KFIZ’s Facebook page.

 

Voter Turnout Expected To Above Normal For Spring Election

 

Voter turnout is expected to be about normal for Tuesday’s election. At least that’s the prediction from officials at the state’s Government Accountability Board, which is expecting about a 20 percent turn out at the polls. Fond du Lac City Clerk Sue Strands is expecting a somewhat higher turnout with City Council and School Board races. She’s predicting about a 25 percent voter turnout.

She says the state still has same day registration for those who need to register at the polls.

 

Heavier Turnout Expected In Some Town Races

 

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg is expecting a better than average turnout at the polls for today’s elections. The state Government Accountability Board predicts a 20 percent turnout of registered voters, but Freiberg expects it to be closer to 30 percent. She predicts 28 percent of the 61,586 registered voters in the County or 17,250 people will cast their ballots. She says there should be a good turnout in the City of Fond du Lac for the City Council and School Board races, but is expecting an even heavier turnout in some townships for some races and the Oakfield Schools referendum. She predicts a turnout in some of the towns of 30 to 40 percent of registered voters. We will have election reports during tonight’s Brewers game and results will be posted at KFIZ.com and KFIZ’s Facebook page.

 

Write Ins Could Affect FDL County Races

 

Write-in candidates could impact a couple of races during today’s elections in Fond du Lac County. County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says incumbent Byron Town Supervisor David Whitty passed away after his name was placed on the ballot for the spring election. She says Whitty could win the election and then it would be up to the Town Board to decide how to fill the seat. She says there are no write-in candidates she’s aware of. She also says there are no candidates on the ballot for a seat on the Waupun School Board representing the towns of Burnett, Chester, Oakfield, Springvale and Waupun. She says a write-in candidate could end up winning that seat. 

 

Nagle Seeks Another Term On The FDL School Board

 

Incumbent Fond du Lac School Board member Kathleen Nagle is asking voters to return her to the school board for another term today. One of the important issues that could confront the district is the Governor’s proposal to expand the school choice voucher program. Nagel says she doesn’t support the proposed expansion at this time based on the information she has. She says she does support the use of evidence based practices to prepare students for further schooling or entering the workforce. Nagle says it’s been a wonderful challenge and opportunity to serve on the school board. She says she’s always been an advocate of reading. Nagle is one of four candidates running for three seats on the board. The others are incumbents Mark Jurgella, Elizabeth Hayes and newcomer Barbara Kuhls.

 

Manning Makes City Council Bid

 

Fond du Lac City Council candidate Dan Manning is not only a newcomer to city politics, but also to the City. Manning moved to Fond du Lac a year and a half ago to work as a manufacturing engineer at Giddings & Lewis. But he says he’s not stranger to being involved in the community. He started the non-profit Salute the Troops organization that helps Veterans in need. He’s followed the Retlaw Hotel saga over unpaid taxes and fees owed the City. Manning says he would have opted to suspend the license for a short period of time to send a message to the owners North Main Hospitality. He says he would have chosen to suspend their license for at least 10 days. He says rather than cutting services he would use knowledge he’s gained at work to look for ways to be more efficient and save money. Manning is one of four candidates running for three seats on the Fond du Lac City Council. The others are Catherine Block, Sam Meyer and incumbent Rebecca Lunde Ross.

 

Return On Investment Healthier Living

 

The Fond du Lac Public Health Department is asking residents to invest in their own lives during National Public Health Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Public Health is ROI-Return on Investments: Save Lives, Save Money.” Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says one way of successfully investing in your health or your child’s is to make sure you get the proper vaccinations. She says according to CDC statistics for each $1 put in on childhood immunization it saves $18.40. She says prevention and healthier life styles are a great way to invest in your health. According to the Center for Disease Control; every year in the United States, 7 out of 10 deaths are due to preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

 

Oakfield School District Successfully Uses Technology

 

Oakfield Schools Superintendent Pam Yoder says she believes the district is doing a great job of integrating 21st Century Learning with the technology available to them. She says they were able to use Sparsity Aid to purchase most of their technology. She says they have Netbooks, computers and iPads from kindergarten up through high school. She says they also have been able to equip each classroom with a Smart Board. She says technology is being successfully integrated into the classrooms in the Oakfield School District. The Oakfield School District has a referendum Tuesday, but it has to do with operating funds.

 

Summer Hours Begin For FDL Bulky Waste Drop Off Site

 

Fond du Lac’s Department of Public Works has informed us that they have begun the summer hours for the Bulky Waste Drop Off Site at 530 Doty Street. The site operates from April 1st through November 30th. You can find out the specific hours of operation and fee structure at the City’s website. The drop off site is closed on Tuesdays and Sundays.

 

Adopt-A-Highway Crews Take To The Roads Again

 

With the start of spring, motorists will notice Adopt-A-Highway crew volunteers picking up trash along state roadways. Christa Wollenzien with the state Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Highway Maintenance says they help to keep our roadsides beautiful and they ask that motorists be on the lookout for those volunteers to keep them safe. She says the volunteers do get some training on what they are allowed to collect. The program has picked up an estimated 180 tons of trash in 2012, over 8,000 miles of our state highways. There are currently 3,037 active Adopt-A-Highway groups, and there’s room for more volunteers.

 

Blood Drive At Waupun Memorial Hospital Tuesday

 

Area residents are invited to join Waupun Memorial Hospital associates, volunteers and physicians and donate an hour of time Tuesday to give blood to the BloodCenter of Wisconsin. Donations will be accepted in the Lower Level Meeting Room from 12:30 to 4:40 p.m. at Waupun Memorial Hospital.  All attempting donors will receive a pass for four people to the Mount Olympus water park in Wisconsin Dells to be used between May 25 and July 3rd.  Giving blood is easy and takes about an hour. Blood that is donated remains local.  Call 324-6512 to make an appointment or go on-line.