Latest Local News3-11-10 head on collision in fdl county Three people received what appear to be non life threatening injuries in a two vehicle head on crash near Rosendale. Rescue personnel were called to the scene on Highway 26 and Griffith Road just north of Highway 23 to a report of a crash between a van and a car. The accident happened shortly before 11:30 this morning. 3-11-10 city-owned take home vehicle policy debated The Fond du Lac city council is questioning policy that allows three assistant fire chiefs to take home city-owned vehicles...even when one assistant chief lives several miles outside the city. The council discussed the issue for nearly an hour at last night’s council meeting. Council Vice President, Mark Jurgella, says he’s not in favor of take home vehicles for the fire department except for the chief. "Are they even necessary in the Fire Department venue," Jurgella said. "One of the items within that same policy allowed children to be in the vehicle, I am completely against that." Councilmember, Jeff Ruedinger, says he has a problem as a taxpayer with any city employee taking a city-owned vehicle outside the city. "We all have to pay for our vehicles to drive to work, I have a problem when it goes outside the city because now we as taxpayers are now paying for wear and tear, paying for gas, paying for insurance on a vehicle that's not readily in the city to respond to an emergency," Ruedinger said. Assistant Fire Chief, Steve Beer, lives in Brandon. What about a negotiated contract that requires public safety personnel to live in the city? Jurgella says a residency requirement should be explored. "I think that will be part of the policy examination, its overdue, its time to look at that." Fire Chief Peter O’Leary says he lives in the city even though he does not have a residency requirement. "Its certainly a good question and thats a policy question the city council may address at some point and I support that in the future, at this point after getting these new positions (assistant chiefs) filled we can't turned the clock back and start over again," O'Leary said. But O’Leary says he believes the assistant chiefs should be able to take home a fire department vehicle. 3-11-10 fdl city manager apprises council of mis department Fond du Lac City Manager, Tom Herre, says he is hopeful the city will be able to recover at least some of the taxpayer money allegedly stolen by former MIS employees in what police describe as a sophisticated embezzlement scam. Herre is updating the city council Wednesday night on the department...and the possibility of consolidating the city MIS department with the county Information Systems Department. "That certainly is one of the options that we would be irresponsible if we didn't look at it," Herre said. "However there are other options, you can contract this out, you could have some combination of contracting it with a permanent staff, or you could go with the county or you could remain the status quo." Herre says the city is in the process of taking legal action to obtain restitution from the former employees. "We'll take every measure that we possibly can thats legal to get that money back, some of it may come in the form of recovered equipment," Herre said. Herre says the city will review its audit procedures and take steps to try to avoid this type of activity from happening in the future. "We have not yet reviewed the totality of the evidence. North Fond du Lac police is going toturn that into the da, when that becomes available to us we will go over tht with a fine tooth comb and find out where we need to altre, if we do," Herre said. "We certainly will take every measure possible to make sure this doesn't happen again. But there are some limitations as to what you can do with criminal activity." Three MIS employees were fired after they were initially placed on paid administrative leave. The three individuals and a former MIS worker are accused of making fraudulent transactions using taxpayer money to purchase mostly electronics items for their personal use. 3-11-10 ciy of fdl hopes to get a break on timetable for implementing new phosphorous rules The Fond du Lac Public Works Director says he is hoping the city can get a break on a timetable for implementing new phosphorous discharge regulations. Mark Lentz apprised the city council of the situation at Wednesday night’s meeting. Lentz says the new regulations could cost Fond du Lac taxpayers an estimated 20 million dollars. He says its not a matter of if, but when the regulations are implemented. Lentz says he hope the city can get extra time to implement the rules. "Nobody can really argue the fact that minimizing or reducing the amount of phosphorous that gets into the public waters isn't a good thing," Lentz said. "The concern that I expressed to the hearing examiner (last month) was that look the city of Fond du Lac has had to deal with just unacceptable expenditures...we can't handle more expenditures, we can't handle more increases to either our tax rates or our utility rates." 3-11-10 water expert says phosphorous rules have been under review for years A water expert with a Wisconsin environmental group says she is confident new phosphorous discharge regulations will be approved by the DNR in the next couple of months. Water Program Director with the group Clean Wisconsin, Melissa Malott, says the rules have been under review for some time. "The committee to create the specific rule has been going on for over two years," Malott said. "The last revision was in 2004...they're updating it now, so this has been a while in the making. As far as other phosphorous rules such as how much is allowed in the waterway before you have to restrict your discharge of phosphorous...thats been going on for a decade and a half." Malott says phosphorous discharge from farms and municipalities is a public health problem that needs to be addressed. But municipalities are concerned about the cost impact of implementing the rules. Fond du Lac Public Works Director, Mark Lentz, testified at a public hearing recently that it will cost Fond du Lac taxpayers an estimated 20 million dollars. Malott says communities like Fond du Lac may be able to get extra time to implement the rules. In the meantime, Malott says its important for residents not to waste clean water. Malott made the comments on AM 1170’s Between the Lines program. 3-11-10 waupun school administrator accepts post in clinton The Waupun Area School District will soon be looking for a new district administrator. Current administrator Randy Refsland has been offered the superintendent’s position in the Clinton Community School District, and he has accepted their offer. Next week, the Clinton Community School Board will look to approve hiring Refsland, and the Waupun School Board will look to approve his resignation. Refsland’s last day on the job in Waupun will be June 30th. Refsland was hired as Waupun School Administrator in July of 2008. 3-11-10 air quality advisory The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) effective 9:00 AM Wednesday, March 10, 2010 through 9:00 AM Thursday, March 11, 2010 for Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond Du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood counties . [Daily Air Quality Hotline - 1-866-324-5924 (1-866-DAILY AIR)] 3-11-10 more arrests in fdl craigslist prostitution ring Two more people have been charged in Fond du Lac in connection with a Craigslist prostitution-robbery scheme. Nineteen year old, Joseph Snyder, of Seymour is charged with prostitution and 18 year old Bret Carter of Fond du Lac is charged with robbery. A criminal complaint says Snyder met a 17 year old Fond du Lac girl on Craigslist and paid her for sex. Carter is accused of robbing individuals who were lured to a Fond du Lac motel through a sex ad on Craigslist. Four other individuals were arrested in connection with the internet sex-robbery ring...and two of them have been convicted. Eighteen year old Stevi Smet will be sentenced next month on charges of prostitution and party to the crime of robbery. Eighteen year old, Dustin Van Kooy, pleaded no contest last month to robbery. 3-11-10 additional assistance available for dislocated workers at waupun company Governor Doyle has announced additional assistance is being made available for dislocated workers at a Waupun company. The governor says 40 workers who lost their jobs at Federal-Mogul Corporation in Waupun are eligible to apply for additional re-employment and training services under the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The governor says the assistance will help the workers increase their job skills and find new employment. Federal Mogul Powertrain produced and sold valve seats and valve guides to an engine manufacturer. Its customer reduced its orders and workforce. 3-11-10 wisconsin unemployment MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Legislature will not be asked this year to cut unemployment benefits or raise taxes on businesses to help pay back loans from the federal government used to provide a staggering amount of claims due to the recession. However, state lawmakers were told Wednesday that higher taxes and benefit cuts eventually will be needed to pay back nearly $2.4 billion the state is borrowing to pay for unemployment benefits. The update was given by state Workforce Development officials to members of the Assembly's Labor Committee. Department Secretary Roberta Gassman says this was not the time to cut benefits or make any other changes because it could slow economic recovery. 3-11-10 park avenue project Construction on a major Fond du Lac street reconstruction project is slated to begin this spring. Public Works Director, Mark Lentz, says the project will take place on Park Avenue from Johnson Street to Fourth Street and from 6th to 7th Streets. A public hearing was held Tuesday night on special assessments planned for property owners along project route. 3-11-10 raw milk hearing EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — Hundreds of people packed a legislative hearing in Eau Claire Wednesday on legalizing the sale of unpasteurized milk. The proposed legislation would allow consumers to buy raw milk directly from a farm and give dairy farmers immunity from liability if someone got sick drinking the unpasteurized product. Advocates say raw milk has powerful health benefits and that consumers should be able to decide for themselves whether the risk is worth it. Margo Redmond told legislators that it isn't the state's role to eliminate all risks for its citizens and intrude unnecessarily into their lives. The hearing was held at the Chippewa Valley Technical College. 3-11-10 no call complaints MADISON, Wis. (AP) — No-call violations again led the state's list of top 10 consumer violations last year. State consumer protection officials say they received 2,187 complaints about no-call violations in 2009. No-call violations have led the top 10 complaint list every year since 2003, when a state law creating a no-call list went into effect. The list currently contains more than 2 million numbers. Landlord and tenant issues was number two, followed by complaints about telecommunications providers, satellite dish billing and cost misrepresentations, home improvement, car sales, credit cards, car repairs, travel and Internet service providers. 3-11-10 deer rules MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State wildlife officials are proposing raising deer population goals in nearly four dozen management zones. The changes come after hunters ripped the Department of Natural Resources last fall for overzealous herd control strategies they say led to an anemic hunt. The DNR originally proposed raising population goals in 13 of the state's 131 zones for the 2010 hunts. The Assembly Fish and Wildlife Committee, feeling pressure from hunters, rejected the plan and ordered revisions. The DNR's new plan calls for higher goals in 43 zones. The agency estimates the changes would boost the statewide population by about 92,000 deer by the time fall hunts begin. The Natural Resources Board is expected to take up the revisions at a meeting next week in Madison. Rep. Ann Hraychuck, a Balsam Lake Democrat, leads the fish and wildlife committee. 3-11-10 governor signs breast feeding bill MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Jim Doyle has signed a law granting mothers in Wisconsin the right to breast-feed in public places. Under the measure, anyone who interferes with a breast-feeding mother in any location she's authorized to be would face up to $200 in fines. In those locations, no one can prevent a mother from breast-feeding or tell her to cover up her breast or move. The bill is designed to protect women who breast-feed in malls, restaurants and other places from harassment. More than 40 other states have passed similar laws as part of a push to make breast-feeding more socially acceptable. Health officials say breast-feeding improves the health of babies and mothers. Doyle signed the law Wednesday. 3-11-10 doyle approves carbon monoxide detector mandate MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Jim Doyle has signed a law that will require all homes and duplexes to contain carbon monoxide detectors as a safety precaution. The law will require detectors on every level of the home, including the basement, but not the attic or storage areas. It takes effect next year. Supporters say the requirement will save lives even though there is no penalty for not complying. They say up to 2,000 Americans die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support, but some Republican critics complained it was an unnecessary mandate. The governor signed it in private Wednesday. 3-11-10 education secretary to address uw madison grads MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Education Secretary Arne Duncan will deliver a commencement speech to University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates this spring. The university announced Wednesday that Duncan will speak at the morning commencement on May 15 at the Kohl Center. UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin says it is an honor that a member of President Barack Obama's cabinet will speak to graduates. She says Duncan "is a dynamic and forward-thinking policymaker who is shaping American education for coming generations." Before joining Obama's cabinet, Duncan served seven years as chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools. He is an outspoken advocate for fixing troubled public schools. 3-11-10 deer management meeting HORICON – Once again, the Department of Natural Resources will host an Open House here to present information on deer management, herd status and hunting in most of Dodge County. The Open House will be held on Monday, March 15, at 5:30 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Horicon Marsh Education Center, N7725 State Highway 28, Horicon. DNR wildlife biologist Brenda Kelly, Horicon, will focus on the 2009 deer harvest and season summary for deer management unit (DMU) 68B, encompassing Dodge County north of State Highway 60. The biologist will also show a video covering updates on deer management, hunter involvement in deer management, new research initiatives, communications and the DNR’s proposed chronic wasting disease (CWD) management plan. Kelly emphasizes that the Open House is aimed primarily for those persons who hunt, reside or are interested in the deer herd status of DMU 68B. For more information, contact Kelly at 920-387-7882. 3-11-10 several vaccines offered at no cost for adults The Fond du Lac County Health Department is pleased to announce it can now offer Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Varicella (Chickenpox), and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccinations to Fond du Lac County adults free of charge at any of its regularly scheduled immunizations clinics. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine) Tdap and Td (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) vaccines continue to be free for adults. HPV vaccine is recommended for both females and males. It is given in a 3 dose series, and is approved for ages 9 to 26 years of age. The vaccine prevents disease from HPV types 16 and 18 which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and HPV Types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts cases. Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine is given in a 2 dose series and prevents the disease of chicken pox. Hepatitis A is a 2 dose series to prevent hepatitis A liver disease. Hepatitis A is spread by close personal contact with a person infected with the virus or by eating food or drinking water contaminated with hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for anyone who wants to protect themselves from Hepatitis A, but especially for people traveling outside of the county to areas where Hepatitis A disease is more common such as Mexico, South or Central American Asia, Africa and eastern Europe. Hepatitis B is a three dose series to prevent Hepatitis B liver disease. Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with blood or body fluids of a person infected with hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B disease increases a persons chance of dying from cirrhosis or liver cancer. Employers who need to provide Hepatitis B vaccine to at risk employees are still required to pay $30.00 per dose. Darlene Hanke is a Public Health Nurse with the Fond du Lac County Health Department, 160 South Macy Street, Fond du Lac, WI., 54935. For further information contact the Fond du Lac County Health Department at 920-929-3085 or1-800-547-3640, or visit www.fdlco.wi.gov. 3-11-10 meeting scheduled for winnebago drive project The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) Northeast Region in Green Bay is announcing a public information meeting concerning the reconstruction of Winnebago Drive from Luco Road to Sandy Beach Road. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 11 at Moraine Park Technical College, Room A 102/A 103 in Fond du Lac. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Please park in the O parking lot and come in the O-1 entrance. WisDOT staff will provide information on the sequencing of construction, traffic control and answer questions. Moraine Park Technical College is wheelchair accessible. People who are deaf or hard of hearing and require an interpreter may call Kim Rudat via the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System (dial 711). Please call at least three days in advance. 3-11-10 fdl city council forum Six candidates are vying for four open City Council seats in the April 6 municipal election. The Fond du Lac Public Library, in cooperation with local media, will hold a candidates’ forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. The candidates will face questions from a panel of local journalists in a session moderated by Marty Ryan, former councilman and council president. The candidates have been asked to address their backgrounds, qualifications, personal histories and reasons for seeking local office. The public is invited to submit questions to the candidates in advance. To submit a question, visit the library’s website, www.fdlpl.org, and click on “City Council Candidates’ Forum.” You will be directed to an online form. The submitted questions will be provided to the journalists, who will have the opportunity to use the questions at the forum. The forum is open to the public. After the event, the forum podcast will be posted on the library’s website. 3-11-10 theisen talent show for haiti relief Theisen Middle School students will be using their talents and skills for various performances that will be dedicated to raising money for the American Red Cross: Haiti Relief Fund. Please join these students on Thursday, March 11 for shows at 3:15 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the show are $1.00 for students and $3.00 for adults. 3-11-10 habitat for humanity events Rolling Along with Habitat for Humanity – Family Roller Skating Event - March 19 at the Spectrum Entertainment Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited, to a Roller Skating event for the whole Family! Rolling Along with Habitat will include a fun filled evening with skating, door prizes, and skating contests. This event will also have a Silent Auction and raffles geared toward kids. For only $5 admission price includes: skate rental, and door prize ticket. All money raised through this event will be donated to: Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County. Come and join the fun with kids and adults of all ages at the Spectrum Entertainment Center. Groundbreaking Ceremony – 245 7th Street, FDL – April 10th, 2010 Noon to 1:00. The community is welcome to join Habitat for Humanity along with its partner family, local dignitaries, staff and volunteers as ground break for the Moss Family’s new home. This ceremony is for the first build site for the 2010 build season; check our website for the future date of our second groundbreaking for the 2010 build season. Sign up now to volunteer at information@habitatfdl.org. Windows of Opportunity event – Closing Reception – April 9th at Windhover. Join us on April 9th for the Windows of Opportunity Closing Event and bid on your favorite pieces from the exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. A silent auction will be featured along with live music and refreshments. To view the items, please check out our website at: www.habitatfdl.org. 3-11-10 women's fund honors lent as 2010 woman of the year “In 2007 the Women of Achievement award was established to honor and recognize local women who through visionary thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, philanthropy, and tireless efforts have made a significant difference or greatly enhanced the quality of life in our community.” The Women’s Fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation will be hosting is sixth annual luncheon on Thursday, April 8th. This year’s theme is “Connecting Women . . . Creating Change”. The Women’s Fund is a permanent endowment established to fund programs and projects that support women and girls in our community. The Women’s Fund grants focus on education, leadership, and economic self-sufficiency, which have been identified as critical components in helping women to succeed. At its annual luncheon Thursday, April 8, the Women’s Fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation will be honoring Barbra Lent for her visionary thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, philanthropy, and tireless efforts which have made a significant difference and greatly enhanced the quality of life in our community. “Lent was a unanimous selection for her generous philanthropic support, visionary thinking in helping to start many Fond du Lac area programs,” says Ellen Sorensen, Fond du Lac Area Foundation Women’s Fund, board president. “Her leadership to many organizations, and her unbelievably tireless efforts in working to improve the quality of life for so many is what we will be celebrating!” Past recipients of the “Women of Achievement” award are Virginia Gilmore, Mary Fran Merwin, Ruth Michels, Dr. Joan Regan, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes and Shelley Stayer. The Women’s Fund invites the public to attend its sixth annual luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 8 at the Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Registration and social will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch and a brief program. Tickets are still available at $30 per person and can be reserved calling (920) 921-2215. 3-11-10 student art on display at city county government center Over 150 pieces of artwork from students in Grades K-5 in the Fond du Lac School District will be on display in the lobby area of the City/County Government building in recognition of March's designation as Youth Art Month. The public is invited to view the creations of these budding artists Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In celebration of Youth Art Month, artwork created by middle school and high school students will be on display at both the Gallery and Frame Shop (94 South Main Street) and at the Public Library throughout the month of March. The Public Library's hours are: Monday-Thursday - 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Friday - 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Saturday - 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.; and Sunday - Noon - 4 p.m. 3-11-10 fdl police citizens academy The Fond du Lac Police Department is currently accepting applications for its Citizen's Police Academy that will start on April 1, 2010. The Citizen's Police Academy is a program designed to give participants a working knowledge of the Fond du Lac Police Department. It is not a "training" class, but it is an exciting informational class. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the Fond du Lac Police Department. The Citizen's Academy program was designed under the premise that an informed community is a safer community. Informed and educated citizens will be more supportive of police officers and the Department, and they will be more proactive within their own neighborhoods. The Citizen's Academy consists of a series of classes and discussions held once a week on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It is hoped that all graduates of this class will get to know more about the men and women who are protecting their community and why they make the decisions they do while performing that duty. An application can be picked up at the Police Department or downloaded here. Application Deadline is March 12, 2010 For more information contact Captain Steve Klein (920) 322-3709 3-11-10 fdl school budget forum The second of two community forums to receive public input on the Fond du Lac School District budget. Forums will be held this month. The forum will be held Thursday March 11th at Theisen Middle School. Meanwhile, Superintendent, Doctor Jim Sebert, says more than 70 people on 15 budget teams had a kick off meeting last month to begin discussing the budget. Sebert says the challenge will be making up a projected 1.7 million dollardeficit without significant cuts to staff and or programs. 3-11-10 fdl county sheriff's department law of the month All law enforcement officers are trained and equipped to safely handle an array of dangerous situations. However, when officers are standing or parked on the side of the highway for a traffic stop or to assist a motorist, they are virtually defenseless against the constant danger of being hit by vehicles traveling at high speeds just a few feet away. To help protect law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road maintenance workers, and others who work on the side of roadways, Wisconsin has a Move Over Law. The law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to create a safety zone for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing. Drivers have two options for creating a safety zone. If the road has more than one directional lane, like the Interstate, and you can switch lanes safely, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement or other emergency vehicle. If the road has a single directional lane or you can't safely move over, you must reduce your speed. Violating the Move Over Law can be expensive as well as dangerous. A citation costs $263 with three demerit points added to your license. Signs to remind motorist about the Move Over Law are posted on highways near main entry points to Wisconsin. They read: "STATE LAW. MOVE OVER OR SLOW DOWN FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES." Failure of motorists to move over or slow down is one of the major reasons that motor vehicle crashes kill more law enforcement officers on duty than any other cause. Obeying the Move Over Law will help protect motorists as well as our officers from needless crashes. Have a Safe Month, Sheriff Mick Fink 3-11-10 fdl police department law of the month March is a month well known in the State of Wisconsin as a month that can bring a wide range of different weather. It can be 70 degrees and sunny one day to blizzard-like conditions the next. Because of the possibility of snow, sleet or rain on any given day, it is imperative for motorists to keep their registration (license) plate clean of debris, ie., dirt, snow, etc. Law Enforcement Officers check license plate registration information on a daily basis and keeping your license plate visible and free of debris not only assists law enforcement officers in doing their job, it’s the law. Wisconsin State Statute 341.15(3)(c) states: A person who operates a vehicle with a registration plate in an illegible condition due to the accumulation of dirt or other foreign matter, is subject to a forfeiture between $63.60 and $200. During the month of March, Fond du Lac Police Officers will be paying particular |