Local News Briefs Friday 7/12/13

An 8-year-old child was shocked by some fallen power lines after a car crashed into a utility pole in Sheboygan County last night. Sheriff’s officials say the accident happened on County Highway EH in Elkhart Lake just before 8:30 p.m. A man driving a car lost control of his vehicle. It crossed into a ditch and hit a parked car. However he also hit a sign and the power pole causing the power lines to fall.  The child was playing in a nearby yard. Sheriff’s officials say the child was flown to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee.  Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

 

Bicyclists Injured In Collision

 

The Fond du Lac Fire Department treated and transported two bicyclists to St. Agnes Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The two collided on a bike trail off of Highway 151. The accident happened around 9:30 last night.

 

Missing Sheboygan Man Sought

 

Sheboygan Police are looking for a man who was last seen at a Piggly Wiggly store in Sheboygan on June 25th. Police say 39-year-old Brian Peter Behrensprung is white, has blue eyes and short blonde hair. He stands 6 foot 1 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. Police say there’s no criminal activity associated with his disappearance, but that the family hasn’t been able to contact him for more than two weeks. Anyone with information should contact the Sheboygan Police Department.

 

Couple Facing Charges For Washington County Thefts

 

Washington County Sheriff’s officials say charges have been referred to the District Attorney’s Office against a Town of Trenton couple suspected of stealing items from parked cars. A 25-year-old man has confessed to several thefts and his 24-year-old live-in girlfriend allegedly had some of the stolen items. The thefts occurred in West Bend and the Town of Trenton. A deputy conducting a traffic stop found some of the stolen property inside the male suspect’s vehicle. A number of cases and victims have been identified through the follow up investigation. The male suspect remains in jail. Some property has been returned to the victims.

 

Walleye Weekend Soccer In Jeopardy?

 

Fond du Lac Youth Soccer Association President Greg Winkler says he’s happy for Youth Baseball that they got a proposal to build two new baseball diamonds in Lakeside Park approved by the City Council. However he’s not pleased with the City about not allowing more time for discussions with other user groups who use the fields. Winkler wasn’t able to attend the Council’s meeting this week when they approved the proposal and narrowly denied a motion to table it. He’s not sure how the soccer tournament can continue the way it has at Walleye Weekend. Winkler did an interview on the Morning Show this week along with Ryan Haus of Youth Baseball and felt afterwards a compromise might be reachable. He says Haus’s final comment to Council that Youth Baseball didn’t need to be involved in those compromise talks was the nail in coffin, but he says Youth Soccer will try and make soccer a possibility at Walleye Weekend. Fond du Lac Public Works Director Jordan Skiff said during the meeting that there were nine field alternatives within the park for soccer use during Walleye weekend including two for full-size soccer.

 

State Rep Thiesfeldt Concerned About Smart Meter Uses

 

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt has introduced legislation that would allow residents to opt out of having smart meters installed their homes for utility readings. The meters allow private and public utility companies to transmit the information from your home. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says there are two reasons to be concerned about the use of smart meters for health and privacy issues. He says he’s particularly concerned about the privacy concerns because the smart meters could provide information on utility use that could end up in the hands of outside sources including law enforcement. He says some of the things that could be tracked through the smart meters are whether a home is occupied, if a home security system is activated and whether a computer is being used.

 

Proactive Approach To EAB Appreciated

 

Fond du Lac’s City Council President says he appreciates the City’s efforts to be proactive when it comes to the threat of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation to the City’s ash trees. Public Works Director Jordan Skiff updated the City Council this week on those efforts. That includes removing up to 200 ash trees a year that are in poor condition or might be encroaching on power lines. City Councilman Gary Miller asked why not wait until the Emerald Ash Borer arrived. Skiff says that could mean removing a lot of trees all at once, which could cost up to $1 million. Council President Sam Meyer says the proactive approach is more cost effective. Homeowners will also have the option of adopting trees if they’d like to get them treated, something they can check with Skiff on. Skiff also told the Council the Department of Natural Resources will hold a workshop at the City Council Chambers at 4:30 p.m. on October 28th to answer residents’ questions about the Emerald Ash Borer.

 

Senator Olsen Goes After Family Members Who Aid Felons

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-State Senator Luther Olsen of Ripon is renewing a push to make it easier to prosecute family members who help criminal suspects. Under current state law, family members can avoid prosecution if they try to protect a fugitive suspected of a serious felony. Olsen says right now family members can’t be charged for destroying evidence, lying to police or hiding that person. Olsen is circulating a draft of a bill that would allow those family members to be charged with a felony. Previous versions of the bill have failed to get much traction in the Legislature. Olsen is hoping the current proposal will have better luck. He says one form or another of similar legislation has been around for years, but hasn’t been passed. Olsen is currently seeking co-sponsors for the legislation.

 

Arndt Street Bridge Closure

 

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department tells us the Arndt Street Bridge between Hickory Street and Brooke Street will temporarily be closed for bridge deck repairs. The closure will begin at 7 a.m. next Monday morning. The bridge roadway will remain closed to cars and trucks for about three weeks. The bridge will remain open for pedestrian traffic. Arndt Street between Hickory Street and Brooke Street will be open for local traffic. After completion of repairs, both bridge sidewalks will be opened for pedestrian traffic and the bridge roadway will be open for vehicular traffic.

 

Salvation Army Red Kettle Mini Fundraising Drive

 

It’s a little bit of Christmas in July as the Fond du Lac Salvation Army used a tried and truth method of fundraising for them to pick up some donations. Salvation Army Community Development Director Denise Shaffer says funds are down in the summer say they are doing some bell ringing. She says it’s something the Madison and Green Bay area Salvation Army Corps do during the summer. She says the red kettle collections are only for six days and started yesterday. They were out yesterday and will be out again today and tomorrow and Thursday through Saturday of next week hoping to raise at least $12,000. The red kettles will be located at Pick ‘N Save locations on Pioneer Road and West Johnson, the Fleet Farm, Festival Foods and Piggly Wiggly in Fond du Lac. She says they can use some bell ringers during those days.

 

Downtown Sidewalk Sale Saturday

 

Downtown Fond du Lac will have its annual Sidewalk Sale this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Main Street will be closed to traffic to allow leisurely shopping and bargain hunting. Courtesy cart rides will be provided at no cost to all shoppers. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County will be hosting the Chalk It Up! Chalk art contest in Main Street Plaza from 8 a.m. to Noon. Fox Valley Savings Bank will present the Downtown Fond du Lac “Cash Cart.” Mimicking the popular TV show “Cash Cab,” riders will have chance to ride the cart and test their knowledge of downtown trivia. Correct answers win cash prizes. Hours for the Sidewalk Sale are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.