Local News Tuesday 5/7/13

Both Drivers Arrested For OWI In FDL Accident

 

Both drivers involved in a two-vehicle accident at Main and Division Streets early Sunday morning were cited for driving drunk. Fond du Lac Police say an officer was at the scene and saw the accident. Both drivers and a passenger in one of the vehicles were taken to St. Agnes Hospital. All three were treated and released. The accident happened at 1:17 a.m. As a result a 25-year-old St. Cloud man was arrested for his 2nd drunken driving offense and an 18-year-old Fond du Lac man for driving drunk causing injury and causing injury by reckless driving. Both cars had to be towed from the scene. One was struck and pushed over a street lamp when it traveled up over a sidewalk. Police say a large crowd of tavern patrons gathered in the area because of the accident, but didn’t hinder their investigation.

 

Deep Fryer Fire At Pizza Ville

 

The Fond du Lac Fire Department responded to a fire at the Pizza Ville restaurant on West Scott Street at 5:14 p.m. yesterday afternoon. According to fire department officials the fire was contained to a deep fryer. Restaurant staff used an extinguisher on the fire. The restaurant was evacuated while firefighters cleared the building of smoke from the fire. No injuries were reported. The County Health Department was also called.

 

Kewaskum Man Waives Preliminary Hearing On Vehicular Homicide Charges

 

The 34-year-old Kewaskum man accused of driving into another car last Christmas Eve killing a 56-year-old passenger in that other car waived his preliminary hearing in Washington County Court Monday. Keith Wiedmeyer is facing felony charges for the death of Pamela Matenaer and injuries to two others. According to the criminal complaint witnesses saw Wiedmeyer driving through the Village of Kewaskum that night at 65 to 80 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone when he cross the centerline on Fond du Lac Avenue and hit the car Matenaer was in. A third vehicle was hit after that. Matenaer was taken to Froedtert Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Two others suffered various injuries including head injuries and a broken ankle. Wiedmeyer had allegedly been drinking and texting prior to the accident. He refused a breath test and field sobriety tests. He will be arraigned on Wednesday, June 19th.

 

Sheboygan Man Charged For Stabbing

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-A 33-year-old Sheboygan man has been formally charged in connection with a weekend fight which resulted in serious injury to another Sheboygan man.  Ollie Benton is facing a charge of 2nd degree reckless injury after allegedly stabbing 36-year-old Floyd Hooks in the neck with a mop handle during a fight in an apartment in the 1300 block of Michigan Avenue early Saturday morning.  Hooks was flown to Froedert in Milwaukee due to loss of blood, but was expected to survive. Benton fled the scene but was arrested about five hours later.  He’s facing up to 12 years in prison, if convicted.

 

Oshkosh Sex Offender Released

 

Oshkosh Police say a 27-year-old sex offender is moving into 139 High Avenue Apartment B in Oshkosh today. Andrew Leach was convicted in 2003 of 1st degree sexual assault. His victim was an 8-year-old girl. He was also convicted in 2005 of 1st degree sexual assault for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl. Leach will be on GPS. For more click here.

 

FDL City Council Takes First Look At 2014 FDL City Budget

 

 

The Fond du Lac City Council begins tackling the 2014 Budget tonight with a meeting at Lakeside Park. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Pavilion. City Manager Joe Moore will introduce the budget. Following that there will be some discussion and planning. The projected tax levy for 2014 is $21.4 million compared to $20.9 million this year. However the portion used for general operations is expected to drop to $16.1 million compared to $16.3 million this year. Also according to City figures the number of full-time city employees has dropped over the last 20 years from 352 in 1993 to 314 this year. Employee labor costs account for 80 percent of the budget. Discussion at tonight’s meeting will shape the initial budget forecast the City will get at their Wednesday, May 22nd meeting.

 

Public Meeting On State Highway 67 Reconstruction Tonight In Campbellsport

 

The state’s Department of Transportation will be hosting a public information meeting tonight on reconstruction of State Highway 67 in Fond du Lac County from the western to eastern county line. The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Campbellsport Community Center. It will be conducted in an open house style with a short presentation at 5:15 p.m. The reconstruction of State Highway 67 is scheduled for 2018.

 

Progress Being Made On New Ripon Medical Center

 

The $42 million Ripon Medical Center project is progressing. Agnesian HealthCare Public Relations Supervisor Shelly Haberman says a street has been built out to the site and the footings and foundations are being put in. The 120,000 square foot Ripon Medical Center will open in the summer of 2014. Haberman says they even built a mock patient room so associates at the Center could give input about what they think would best serve a patient. She says that even included where to position computers. She says the building of a wellness center adjacent to the hospital will also help with the recovery of patients who need rehabilitation. Also patient rooms will incorporate some of the prototypes Agnesian HealthCare used for the new private rooms that were put in at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac.

 

State Tourism Given More Money To Advertise

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A new milestone in the push to “sell” Wisconsin.  The state Tourism Department will be getting more than $13 million for advertising this year, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Legislature’s Budget Committee. Deputy Secretary Dave Fantle says the agency will “spread the money around.” He says they give out grants throughout Wisconsin to promote local events and now they can give out grants to destinations to help win conventions and other tourism related business.  And, much of the marketing money goes for radio, TV, and print ads targeting markets in Chicago and the Twin Cities.

 

Fifty Take Farm To Fork Tour

 

About 50 people went along on the Wisconsin Beef Council’s Farm to Fork Tour in Fond du Lac County yesterday touring some of the County’s top beef farms and processing facilities. It was done in conjunction with Moraine Park Technical College. Angie Horkan is the Director of Marketing for the Beef Council. She was impressed with the Anaerobic Digester at Vir Clar Farm that turns methane gas from cow manure into electricity for the farm. The Huth Polled Herefords Farm in Oakfield and Brandon Meats & Sausages was also toured. Horkan says the $1 dollar beef check off producers can opt to pay for when they sell their beef pays for the Council, its research, educational and promotion efforts like the Farm to Fork Tour. She says there were a number of chefs and culinary students that took yesterday’s tour. She says the Farm to Fork Tour helps to bridge the gap between beef producers and consumers.

 

ASTOP Brings Second City To FDL

 

ASTOP of Fond du Lac is hoping you will treat mom to a few laughs this weekend and support their advocacy efforts for sexual abuse victims. It’s at the Fond du Lac High School Performing Arts Center Saturday night. Doors open at 6:30 with the performance of the Second City Comedy Troupe getting underway at 7:30 p.m. Linda Selk Yerges of ASTOP says sexual abuse is not a laughing matter, but this is one way to raise awareness and provide the community with a good time. She says they provided over 500 educational presentations to over 11,000 people last year. She says out of that 590 participants disclosed sexual violence and 130 of them were children. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at Wegner Office Supply, Don Edwards, and Cujak’s in Fond du Lac. They can also be purchased at the ASTOP offices at 430 East Division Street in Fond du Lac.

 

Donate Life Check-Off Approved For Drivers’ Licenses

 

The State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee this past week adopted a budget motion by State Representative Joan Ballweg of Markesan to include a $2 Donate Life check-off on the state driver’s license application. Proceeds of these donations would benefit Donate Life Wisconsin. She says, “The $2 donation option at the D.M.V. will help support the donor registry established by the legislature in 2010, with cooperation from D.O.T.” Donate Life Wisconsin funds the position that manages the registry. Additional funds generated would be used to educate the public and create greater awareness regarding the importance of organ donation.