Local News Briefs Friday 1/2/15

Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies rescued two black labs who walked out onto a creek and broke through late New Year’s morning. Sheriff’s Lieutenant Steve Brewer says 56-year-old Susan Bott was walking her dogs “Gus” and Sam at the Waukau Nature Center when the dogs walked out onto the frozen creek and went through the ice. The two dogs struggled in the cold water conditions.The dogs were able get their front paws on the ice, but couldn’t lift themselves out of the water. Deputies rescued the two pooches and they weren’t injured. The incident happened around 11 a.m.

Marion Wisconsin Man Gets Prison For FDL Robbery

A 37-year-old Marion man involved in the armed robbery of the Speedway gas station in Fond du Lac last January has been sentenced to three years in prison and five years of extended supervision. Jeremiah Owens acted as a lookout during the robbery. Sixty-year-old Paul Tennis Jr. of Fond du Lac was charged for the actual robbery. He will be sentenced on Monday, January 12th. Owens was also ordered to pay restitution.

Marshal Service Involved In Search For Sheboygan Shooting Suspect

The search for a Sheboygan shooting suspect now involves the U.S. Marshal Service. Twenty-two-year-old Israel Littleton was involved in a shooting incident at a Sheboygan home at the end of November. Officials say a couple, a man and a woman, were shot during a drug deal that went sour.   Both victims have since recovered. One other person was arrested in connection with the incident.  

Food Insecurity An Issue

The Executive Director of the Fond du Lac Area United Way says it’s important to note that some people are really insecure about where their next meal will come from. Tina Potter recently penned a column for the Fond du Lac Reporter on the subject of Food Insecurity. She says it’s heartening to hear about efforts that help restock local food pantries and shelters, but that food goes quickly.She says people are proud, but sometimes come up short when trying to put food on the table for their families. She says the point of the article was about how the community steps up to try and meet that need. She says she mentioned the UW-Extension and ADVOCAP because of their educational programs on how to use food to capacity. She says area food pantry programs, the WIC program, Farmers Market and Empty Bowls are just some of the community efforts that try and address the need.

Skills Training Important In Closing Skills Gap

State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac says he’s trying to do his best to help close the skills gap so businesses will have the skilled employees they need. He says Wisconsin Fast Forward legislation helped provide money for training. He says some grant programs offered opportunities to high schools to provide certified training for students in the trades so they could be hired out of school or try and advance that training through technical colleges. Gudex says not all students will be going on to a college or university. He says he’s aware of the skills gap through the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce and it means taking a different approach to education. He says he hopes during the next legislative session to build on the success of programs like Wisconsin Fast Forward.

Cops For Kids Program Christmas Distribution Helped Over 40 Families

The Cops For Kids Foundation in Fond du Lac recently distributed Christmas gifts and foods to a little over 40 families. Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says the organization was started in 2000 after police saw a need to help out families in need that they encountered on duty. He says some police were shelling out of their own pockets to help out those families and particularly young children. He says funds donated to the organization make an impact on those children. He says Holiday Automotive has donated gifts over the years that have really helped their Christmas distribution. He says the Holiday employees donate gifts from their own gift exchange program for the benefit of children.

New Online Reservation For FDL County Parks Camping

Fond du Lac County’s new online reservation system is now available, which means you will be able to make your summer camping reservations sooner than in the past.  All the reservations will be made through the new software, even the ones made through the office, so you can take advantage of making reservations from the comfort of your own home with all of the information you need right at your fingertips!  To get started click here.

Area Nonprofits Get Alliant Grants

The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce is getting a $1,000 grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation for its Leadership Fond du Lac program. Alliant officials recently announced the awarding of fourteen grants to area nonprofit organizations totaling more than $13,000. The Fond du Lac Humane Society, Just Fare Market and Green Lake County Fair’s Adopt-a-Pen program also received grants.

BookCellar Mega Zine Sale Begins Saturday

The Fond du Lac Public Library BookCellar will hold its annual Mega-Zine Sale January 3, 5, 10 and 12. Bundles of magazines from 2012 will be sold for 25 cents each and will include such popular titles as Vanity Fair, Shape, Outdoor Life, Fortune, Poetry, NASCAR, Outside, Field & Stream, Car & Driver and Women’s Health. The BookCellar is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Mondays from noon to 7 p.m. The shop, in the lower level of the downtown library, is run primarily by volunteers.