The Fond du Lac city council has approved the annexation of land on the Niagra Escarpment for a residential development. The council voted unanimously Wednesday night in favor of a zoning change and annexation of a 39 acre parcel of Ledge property for six, five acre residential lots. Community Development Director, Wayne Rollin, says the development is an extension of the Belle Terre subdivision. The group Friends of the Ledge voiced their opposition to the development at a recent Planning Commission meeting....expressing concern about the potential negative impact to the Ledge. But Rollin says a survey of the land found no archeological resources...and the group has since withdrawn their opposition.
7-29-10 fdl council votes to replace aging fire command vehicle
The Fond du lac city council has given the fire department permission to purchase a new mobile command vehicle. The council voted unanimously last night in favor of replacing a 1995 Chevy Suburban at a cost not to exceed $60,000. Assistant Fire Chief, Steve Beer, told the council that the cost to upgrade the current vehicle would be more than $13,000.
7-29-10 waupun recreation projects
The Waupun Common Council is taking steps forward on two potential recreational projects. One project is a 4.2-mile bike trail that could eventually run from the west side of the city to the east side. The cost of the entire project is approximately 885 thousand dollars. City Administrator Kyle Clark says the council approved an engineering contract at their committee of the whole meeting Tuesday night. Clark says this is one of many steps just to get the ball rolling. The second potential project is the construction of a new aquatic facility. Burbach Aquatics Inc. presented the council with concept drawings for a proposed new facility. The council also gave permission to city staff and the Waupun Area Recreation Project to contact Fond du Lac County and find out if Fond du Lac County Park could be a possible site for a swimming facility. As for project costs… Andrew Pennekamp, engineer with Burbach Aquatics, said it would cost approximately 3-4 million dollars for an aquatic facility at McCune Park, and 5-6 million dollars at Fond du Lac County Park.
7-29-10 health report
The Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer says its going to take a change in our culture if we want to meet the goals outlined in a new 10 year health improvement plan. The plan released by the Department of Health Services focuses on integrating disease and injury prevention into everyday life through new laws and policies, education, health care and how communities are designed. Public Health Officer, Diane Cappozzo, says schools are just one part of the equation when it comes to lowering obesity rates and ensuring access to good nutrition. The two overriding goals are to eliminate health disparities based on race, ethnicity, socio-economic factors, sexual or gender orientation and disability...and creating a high quality of life for everyone.
7-29-10 bids on expo building remodeling due next month
Bids are due in a couple of weeks on a major expansion and renovation project at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo building. County Executive, Al Buechel, says the building will be extended by 30 feet in the front...and acoustics will be improved inside the building. Buechel says the bids are due August 12th. The county board will vote on the project at their August 17th meeting.
7-29-10 competency evaulation ordered in appleton abduction case
APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — An Appleton man accused of sexually assaulting a 3½-year-old boy last week has been ordered to undergo a mental-competency hearing. Twenty-eight-year old Joseph G. Skenandore faces three felony charges. Prosecutors say he lives in a home for developmentally disabled people. The judge ordered the evaluation Wednesday at the request of Skenandore's attorney. Police say Skenandore snatched the boy from his front yard on July 20. Investigators say he touched the boy inappropriately, then took him to a park where he planned to molest and possibly kill the child. Public defender Michael Dally did not immediately return a message Wednesday. Skenandore faced charges of sexually assaulting a child in 2003 but was found mentally incompetent for trial.
7-29-10 e-mail records
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says a recent Supreme Court ruling that says personal e-mails of public employees are not public records should be narrowly applied. The Republican attorney general issued a memo on Wednesday to address the practical effects of the high court's ruling two weeks ago. Van Hollen says if there is any aspect of an e-mail that sheds light on governmental functions or responsibilities, it must be released. He also says anyone concerned about misuse of public resources should not be deterred from making public records requests. The court ruled in a case involving a citizen who sought e-mails of teachers in the Wisconsin Rapids district. The court ruled 5-2 that the e-mails were personal and therefore didn't have to be released.
7-29-10 wisconsin storms
HURLEY, Wis. (AP) — Three campers in the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage in Iron County were injured when storms moved through northern Wisconsin. Wisconsin Emergency Management officials say the injuries happened at remote camping sites along the flowage when a possible tornado hit shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. The injured were taken by boat to waiting ambulances with one of them evacuated by helicopter. The Department of Natural Resources is advising against visiting the flowage due to storm damage. The DNR will survey damage by air Wednesday. Straight line winds, hail and heavy rain also hit Barron and Polk counties. Barron County officials reported a possible tornado south of Cameron where trees and power lines are down. In Polk County, fallen trees blocked Highway 46 in Balsam Lake.
7-29-10 wisconsin flood victims
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin says help is coming for a number of Jefferson County families whose homes were ruined by flooding in 2008. Baldwin says funding included in a spending bill that has cleared Congress will help families who have been denied aid after the Federal Emergency Management Agency froze funding in February. The families were participating in a program in which their damaged homes would be purchased by the county at pre-flood prices and then demolished to clear the flood plain. Baldwin says they have been unable to live in their homes, but they've been required to maintain them. She says some have had to continue paying mortgages. Baldwin had pressed for the funding, which a Jefferson County official says could amount to $2 million.
7-29-10 waupun man convicted of child abuse for burning son with cigarette
A Waupun man accused of burning his eight year old son with a cigarette has been convicted of felony child abuse. A Dodge County jury found 34 year old, Daniel Bryan guilty following a two day jury trial and six hours of deliberation. A criminal complaint says the boy told his mother that his father burned him with a lit cigarette as punishment for kicking the defendant during horseplay. At trial the boy switched his story back to a fall from a wagon. However, a child abuse expert from Children’s Hospital testified that the child’s elbow injury was consistent with a cigarette burn.
7-29-10 caller threatens to casts spell on police officer
Waupun police say an alleged scam artist threatened to cast a spell on an officer investigating a complaint filed by a Waupun resident. Police Chief, Dale Heeringa,says the scam victim told police
she received a call from a woman who said she was from a casino fraud unit in Las Vegas. The caller stated she was going to send an FBI agent to her Waupun home to obtain paperwork regarding
a lottery scam. Heeringa the caller phoned again when a police officer was at the residence. When the officer identified himself the caller said she would cast a spell on him. 7-29-10 highway 151 study
Fond du Lac county property owners affected by a Highway 151 project are encouraged to attend an informational meeting this week...even though construction is still probably at least 20 years down the road. The DOT is hosting a public information meeting on the planned upgrade of Highway 151 to a freeway between Waupun and Fond du Lac. As part of the upgrade, existing direct access points such as roads and driveways will be eliminated...with access at highway interchanges. Fond du Lac County Highway Commissioner, Tom Jahnke, says the DOT is initially proposing interchanges on 151 at county highway TC and Vielbig Road and at Dehring Road and 151. "From the county's perspective we've always stated that Highway TC is very important. We would like to see an interchange located off of Highway TC," Jahnke said. "It makes sense to maybe realign TC and Vielbig Road to provide access both ways." The meeting will be held from 6pm to 8pm Thursday at the Lamartine Town Hall
in Oakfield.
7-29-10 energy tour
UW Extension offices in Fond du Lac and Green Lake counties are hosting a Local Energy Tour this upcoming weekend to illustrate how energy use is a serious economic concern for not just the nation...but state and region as well. Extension Community Educator, Diana Tscheschlok, says in 2008 Wisconsin residents spent $22.5 billion dollars on imported fossil fuels. She says that equates to $9000 per household leaving the state every year. The bus tour will stop at six sites including Mercury Marine to see the company’s central compressor and back-up generators. Tscheschlok says the Wildlife Acres subdivision is an example of how the built environment can adjust for energy production. The tour will also visit a home powered by a geothermal pond. The tour is this Saturday, July 31st from 8:30am to noon. 7-29-10 governor seeks applicants for dodge county district attorney
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that he is seeking applicants for appointment as district attorney in Dodge County. The appointment will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of District Attorney William Bedker. The new district attorney will begin serving in August. An applicant must be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Wisconsin and must reside in Dodge County at the time the appointment becomes effective. Those interested may obtain an application form from:
Office of the Governor
Attention: Libby Gerds, Appointments Director
PO Box 7836
Madison, WI 53707-7863 Elizabeth.Gerds@wisconsin.gov
Completed applications should be returned to Libby Gerds at the above address no later than Thursday, August 5, 2010. Potential applicants with questions about the appointment process may call Libby Gerds at 608-266-1212.
7-29-10 governor seeks applicants for winnebago county judicial vacancy
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that he is seeking applicants for appointment as circuit court judge in Winnebago County. The new appointment will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schmidt. An applicant must be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Wisconsin and must reside in Winnebago County at the time the appointment becomes effective. Those interested may obtain an application form electronically from:
Office of the Governor
Attention: Libby Gerds, Appointments Director Libby.Gerds@wisconsin.gov
608-267-7888 (fax)
Completed applications should be returned to Libby Gerds no later than Wednesday, August 4, 2010. Potential applicants with questions about the appointment process may call Libby Gerds at 608-266-1212.
7-29-10 petri to host grants and small business conferences
Noting that the federal government offers a myriad of programs which can help local governments, small businesses and nonprofits leverage their limited resources to successfully meet their various needs, Rep. Tom Petri is hosting two conferences in August: "Government Grants and Programs Conference," which will take place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) at 1290 North Avenue in Cleveland. LTC is conveniently located off of U.S. Highway 43 between Sheboygan and Manitowoc. "Assistance to Small Business," which will take place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on Monday, August 16, 2010, at Moraine Park Technical College at 235 N. National Avenue in Fond du Lac. Both conferences will feature specific workshop sessions for local government, businesses and nonprofits. Throughout each program, panel presentations will provide opportunities for those who have been successful in capturing federal dollars to share their tips and ideas. Space is limited and registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee includes materials, morning refreshments, and a luncheon. The deadline for registration is August 6, 2010. More information can be found in the Upcoming Events section at Petri's website at http://petri.house.gov or by calling his Fond du Lac Office at (920) 922-1180 or toll free at (800) 242-4883.
7-29-10 new computers for kids at fdl public library
April Vermillion of Fond du Lac, mother of three girls – Ellison, 7; Ava, 5; and Ivy, 3 – thinks the Fond du Lac Public Library’s new Early Literacy Stations are “awesome.” “I love that they’re built just for kids,” she said while stopping in the Children’s Room on Thursday. “They have bright graphics, the desks are just their size, the buttons are color-coded and even the mouse is just right for their small hands.” The Vermillion girls were spending time on the new computers playing games they probably didn’t recognize as educational. The stations are for ages 2 to 10 and are packed with age-appropriate programs that were selected by development specialists, educators and families. Kids wear earphones connected to the computer so they have a one-on-one link with what’s happening on the screen. Kids can choose from more than 50 programs in English and Spanish on topics that include math and problem solving, reading and phonics, science and nature, music and arts and writing and computer skills. The Early Literacy Stations are free and located in the Children’s Room at the library. Library summer hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. 7-29-10 fdl county taxes due by july 31st
Fond du Lac County Treasurer, Julie Hundertmark reminds Fond du Lac County residents that the second installment of 2009 property taxes is due on or before July 31, 2010.
Payments should be made payable and mailed to:
Fond du Lac County Treasurer
P.O. Box 1515
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1515
A postmark (not metered mail) will determine timely payments. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if a payment receipt is requested. The County Treasurer’s Office is located in the City-County Government Center 160 South Macy Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 7-29-10 county highway w closure
County Trunk Highway (CTH) W from CTH WH to CTH WW in the Village of Mt. Calvary and Town of Marshfield was closed to thru traffic Wednesday, July 21 for construction. Construction is expected to last about a month, weather permitting. The Fond du Lac County Highway Commission will replace culverts and guardrail, pulverize and resurface the highway. The highway is closed to thru traffic, but open for local traffic. The highway is detoured via CTH WH and CTH WW. For updates and more information on other County Highway construction projects, go to the Fond du Lac County Highway Construction Projects web page at http://www.fdlco.wi.gov/Index.aspx?page=1112.
