KFIZ News Saturday 1/21/17

Fox Lake Man Sentenced On Vehicular Homicide Charges

The 69-year-old semi-truck driver responsible for the death of a 9-year-old boy in an August 2014 accident has been sentenced to two years in prison and five years of extended supervision. Lee Henricksen of Fox Lake was sentenced this week in Dodge County Court on vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges. He was driving a semi-truck on County Highway A near the intersection of Indian Hills Trail in the Town of Beaver Dam when he ran into the back of another vehicle. That pushed the vehicle into the opposite lane where it struck another. A 9-year-old boy from Lindenhurst, Illinois died of the injuries he suffered in the accident. Two other two drivers were seriously injured.

Waupun Man Arraigned On Burglary And Theft Charges

A 29-year-old Waupun man suspected of stealing $400 from a friend’s home was arraigned in Dodge County Court this week. Lucas Roets pled not guilty to the charges he faces. Roets allegedly stole the money to support his heroin habit. He took the two jars of stolen change to a nearby bank where he was recognized.

Former Fox Lake Correctional Nurse Arraigned

The former Fox Lake Correctional nurse suspected of having sex with an inmate was arraigned this week in Dodge County. Forty-four-year-old Jennifer Stehling of Fox Lake pled not guilty to two felony counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault by Corrections Staff and Delivering Illegal Articles to an Inmate. She allegedly committed the offenses last January while she was still working at the prison. Her sexual relationship was with a 30-year-old inmate.

Schraa Will Be Busy With Committee Assignments

State Representative Michael Schraa says his committee assignments will keep him busy this legislative session. Schraa will chair the Assembly’s Corrections Committee. He says with seven state prisons in the 53rd Assembly District he is well aware of how important Corrections is. He says there are a lot of issues with 500 corrections officers vacancies and prison overcrowding. The Corrections Department has a $1 billion budget. Schraa is also vice-chair of the Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee, which he feels will see a lot more federalism and state rights issues with Donald Trump’s presidency.

Superintendent Candidate Likes Trumps Nominee For Education Secretary

A candidate for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Superintendent’s seat likes President Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos. Lowel Holtz says DeVos has always been a champion for parents having control over their child’s education. He says she is a quality person who will make it easier for people in Wisconsin to give back control of education to parents. He says DeVos has committed her own time, money and effort to making things better.

MPTC Looking At New Program Offerings

Moraine Park Technical College President Bonnie Baerwald says they will have some new program offerings over the next year. She says among them will be a business analytics program and a mobile application developer in their IT program. She says they will also have a new program on the Beaver Dam campus once the facilities are set up for it. She says that will be a gas utility technician program, but it won’t start until June of 2018. 

Chocolate Fantasy Tickets

Tickets are available for the Soroptimist of Fond du Lac’s 21st annual Chocolate Fantasy. It will be held on Sunday, January 29th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall in Fond du Lac. Chocolate Fantasy is a delicious celebration that features samplings of chocolate goodies from a wide variety of local vendors; a huge gift-basket silent auction; three raffles; photo booth; and – new this year – a chocolate themed make-and-take painting session. Tickets are $12 in advance and available online at www.hometowntickets.com  and at Annie’s Fountain City Café, Bank of Oakfield, EP-Direct, Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fox Valley Savings Bank, The Goldsmith, Hometown Bank on Peters Avenue and Wegner’s Office Supply. Tickets at the door are $15. All ticketholders will receive a to-go box and bottle of water.