Local News Briefs Wednesday 5/14/14

The 52-year-old Eden man injured in a one-vehicle accident on Fond du Lac County Highway F last weekend is improving at a Madison hospital. A spokeswoman for the UW Hospital in Madison says Wade Plautz is in good condition. Plautz went off County Highway F with his truck early Sunday morning and hit a tree. He wasn’t wearing a seat belt and alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.

Ripon College Student Charged For Battery To Police Officer

A 20-year-old Ripon College student has been charged with battery to a police officer and resisting an officer after an incident at the college last Sunday. Ripon Police say they were called to the campus after Colin Stewart of Marengo, Illinois was found unresponsive in a bathroom. When officers eventually woke him he began punching and kicking them. They used a stun device to get him under control and took him to the Fond du Lac County Jail. One officer needed medical treatment after the incident. Stewart was charged Monday and released on a $500 cash bond. Absolute sobriety was one of the terms of his release. He will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 20th.

FDL City Council Preview

The Fond du Lac City Council tonight will be asked to approve the sale of nine acres in the Southwest Industrial Park to a Lomira company that plans to build a manufacturing plant in Fond du Lac. Jor-Mac makes metal fabrications and assemblies. They plan to construct a 30,000 to 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility, with the ability to expand in the future. Construction would begin next year on the facility that would employee 50 people within three years. The sale price for the nine acres is $234,000.  The Council will also be asked to appoint a new member to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilman Dan Manning. Following interviews Monday the Council took a straw vote and selected Greg Giles. The Council meets at 6 p.m. at the City-County Government Center.

Army Investigates Death Of Kiel Soldier

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-The U.S. Army is investigating the death of a soldier from Wisconsin.  Her family said 33-year-old Sergeant Heidi Ruh, of rural Kiel, was shot and killed last Friday at a base in Kosovo, where she was stationed.  Relatives were not told what happened.  Ruh’s father Scott says that his daughter was an 11-year Army veteran, and she repaired surgical machines in a medical unit.  Scott Ruh said Heidi began her Kosovo assignment in February.  She spent eight years at Fort Hood, Texas, including during the 2009 massacre in which another Kiel resident – Amy Krueger – was killed.  Ruh and Krueger were a year apart in their class groups at Kiel High School.  Ruh’s family plans a public memorial service once her body is returned to Wisconsin.

Governor’s Tourism Council Holds Meeting In FDL

The Fond du Lac Convention and Visitor’s Bureau will host a visit by the Governor’s Tourism Council today and Thursday. CVB President Craig Molitor says it will begin with a reception at Bernie’s Pub at Schreiner’s Restaurant tonight. State Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett is expected to attend. Schreiner’s and Bernie’s owner Paul Cunningham is a member of the Tourism Council. Molitor says it’s an honor to host the Council’s meeting. He says while the Council is here they will visit some of the success stories of the area including La Clare Farms. There will also be visits to the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts and Trinity Restaurant in Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac County tourism revenue grew by 7.55 percent in 2013 to $119 million placing it fifth among the County’s with the biggest growth in visitor spending. 

Applications Coming In For FDL High School Principal’s Opening

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says they have been getting applicants for the High School Principal’s job that will open up in July with the resignation of Jon Wiltzius. He says the posting for that position remains open through next Monday. He says they are working with a shorter time frame given that the school board accepted the resignation Monday and the new school year begins July 1st. He says Fond du Lac High School is one of the larger high schools in the state and the principal’s position is attractive for someone who is looking to move on to a larger role at a good school. Sebert says ideally they can be a bit flexible with the starting date for the principal’s job given what needs to be done over the summer and the fact that they have four assistant principals.

Ripon Schools Recognition

Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says the school district recently received a couple of unique recognitions. She says they were recognized as a Level 3 pacesetter for advanced placement exams in the state. She says the recognition came for the number of students who took the exam and their scores. Whitrock says more than 10 percent of their students took the exam and over 60 percent got a score of 3 or higher, which means they can get some advanced placement when they go to a college or university. Whitrock says the community was also recognized as one of 387 communities across the County as a 2014 Best Community for Music Education.

FDL County Sheriff Benevolent Association Fund Raiser Today

The first fund raiser for the newly formed Fond du Lac County Sheriff Benevolent Association will be held on the first floor of the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac today. Sergeant Eric Halbach says they started putting together the non-profit organization a little over six months ago. Their fund raiser today is a bake sale and Brat Fry. The bake sale starts at 7 a.m. and the Hamburger and Brat Fry will run from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sergeant Paul Rottscholl says future fund raisers will be held throughout the County. Halbach says in addition to raising money for student scholarships and community needs the association’s fund raisers will allow Sheriff’s employees to create a more positive relationship with the community.

FDL County Holiday Hours For Memorial Day

The County offices in the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center, the Sheriff’s Office Lobby Window, the Portland Street Annex including the Veterans Service Office, the Department of Social Services and the Highway Department will be closed all day on Monday May 26th in observance of Memorial Day.