KFIZ News Thursday 6/16/16

FDL Man Indicted In Extortion Case Involving FDL Businessman

A Florida man allegedly involved in the extortion of a Fond du Lac businessman is being indicted. Three felony charges were brought against Ray Batista this week in federal court, which is expected to bolster a betting extortion case against Real Money Sports Inc CEO Adam Meyer. Meyer was arrested two years ago for allegedly extorting more than $25 million out of a Fond du Lac businessman. Meyer allegedly used fraud and threats to scam the victim. He and Batista allegedly extorted $10 million out of the victim in 2012 by threatening him at gunpoint.  Meyer’s trial in federal court in Milwaukee starts next month. Batista has been charged with extortion and brandishing a firearm.

Two Hurt In FDL Accident

Two people were hurt in a three-vehicle accident at Pioneer and Johnson in Fond du Lac Tuesday afternoon. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says an eastbound vehicle was trying to turn north on Pioneer Road. He says it collided with two westbound vehicles. The eastbound vehicle rolled over on West Johnson Street. Two people in one of the westbound vehicles were hurt and had to be taken to St. Agnes Hospital. Klein says the injured were a 33-year-old woman and 4-year-old girl both from Columbus. The woman driving the vehicle that overturned was not injured. The accident was reported at 3:33 p.m.

Two Hurt In Oshkosh Accident

Oshkosh Police say a driver suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash at County Highway A and Snell Road late Wednesday morning. A 1999 Hyundai struck a 2015 GMC truck that tried to turn in front of it. The Hyundai drive got trapped in the car and had to be extricated. That driver was taken to ThedaCare in Neenah. The GMC driver was also taken to ThedaCare for an arm injury. The accident happened shortly after 11 a.m.

Window Smashing Spree On West Ninth

The windows of 13 vehicles were smashed in a random act of vandalism on West 9th Street Saturday night. Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein says they got a call from Corrente Automotive about some juvenile males who caused the damage. He says they took a sledgehammer and some type of blocks or bricks and were smashing out the car windows. He says three cars were damaged at Corrente’s, one near Strong Plumbing, and nine more in the area of Taller Automotive. He says in addition a window at Taller Automotive was smashed. Klein says they are still looking for those juveniles.

Girl Drowns In West Bend Pond

West Bend Police say a 6-year-old girl died after being pulled out of a pond in Regner Park Saturday. Swannie Her died at Children’s Hospital in Wauwatosa Tuesday. Police say she went swimming with several family members during a relative’s birthday celebration. Another swimmer found her in the water about a half hour later. Police say her death was an accidental drowning.

Envision FDL

The president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation encourages people to take a look at the Envision Fond du Lac website. Steve Jenkins says there was roundtable process to gather information for the visioning process a couple of years ago. He says it is an important process for Fond du Lac and others who benefit from a strong City. He says they identified three areas that need strengthening. He says they are Our Economy, Our Identity, and Our Next Generation. Jenkins says over the next five years activities will be held to strengthen those priorities. Jenkins says growth is important. He says our community has to offer the highest level of livability possible because without population growth you don’t have a lot of future. The Fond du Lac City Council was recently updated on the Envision Fond du Lac program.  

FDL Summer Reading Program Underway

The Fond du Lac Public Library’s Summer Reading program, Ready, Set, Read! is underway. It began June 1st and runs through August 13th. Library Community Information Coordinator Terri Fleming says they have programs for three age groups of readers. Those levels include kids from birth to age 12, teens in grades 6 through 12, and everyone older than that fits into the adult program. She participants get cards and you fill in spots for every 30 minutes you spend reading. When you are done with the card you turn it in at the library for instant prizes. She says no matter what you read you can count it towards the program. Kids who turn in all four reading cards by August 13 get to pick out a free, new book. Adults are entered into weekly prize drawings, and all teen and adult cards are entered into grand prize drawings at the end of the program. Those interested in the program can sign up online or at the library.

MEC Tops FAB 40 List For Sixth Straight Year

Mayville Engineering Company (MEC) has been named first on the FAB 40 list of the nation’s largest fabricators which is published by The Fabricator magazine. It is the sixth consecutive year that MEC has led the list. MEC Chairman, President and CEO Robert Kamphuis says the ranking is a testament to the hard work of their dedicated employee shareholders. The company has extensive operations in Wisconsin with manufacturing facilities in Mayville, Beaver Dam, Neillsville and Wautoma. MEC operates 17 manufacturing facilities in five states and employs about 2000 employees.