Local News Briefs Monday 7/29/13

A plane on its way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh crashed in a field west of Oshkosh shortly before noon yesterday. Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say the plane’s engine failed. It was a 1997 Kitfox. Neither the 61-year-old pilot nor his passenger was hurt as a result of the emergency landing in the field near 5678 Fisk Avenue. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident.

 

Fatal Plane Accident Victim Was A Veteran Pilot

 

Officials say a pilot who was killed when his plane crashed in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee Saturday was a veteran pilot. The Coast Guard identified the pilot as 75-year-old William Gensler of Racine. Gensler and another man were on their way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The two were killed in the crash in the lake off the suburb of Cudahy. Gensler ran an aviation company at the Racine Airport. The identity of Gensler’s passenger hasn’t been released yet. The plane was a 1975 Piper Arrow.

 

Milwaukee Man Bound Over For Trial In FDL Drug Death

 

The 34-year-old Milwaukee man suspected of supplying heroin to a Fond du Lac woman that led to her overdose and death has been bound over for trial. Roy Whitelow was in Fond du Lac County Court last Friday afternoon for a preliminary hearing. He is charged with 1st degree reckless homicide, heroin trafficking, and battery to a law enforcement officer. He’s being held on a $400,000 cash bond. The case was transferred to Judge Peter Grimm for further proceedings.  Whitelow is suspected of supplying the heroin that led to the February 12th death of 27-year-old Heather Fugate of Fond du Lac.

 

Sheboygan Men Bound Over For Car Fires

 

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-The Two 20-year-old Sheboygan men charged for allegedly starting three area car fires have been bound over for trial.  Mark Holtz and Jordon Sprengel recently made their latest appearances in Sheboygan County Court.  Both waived their right to a preliminary hearing. The two are alleged to have used gasoline to fill alcohol bottles and set fire to vehicles last March -one in the town of Sheboygan and the other in Sheboygan Falls.  Sprengel is being held on $5,000 cash bond, Holtz on $10,000.

 

Dodge County Sheriff’s Department Looking Into Hit And Run Accident

 

(WBEV-Beaver Dam)-Dodge County Sheriff’s officials are investigating a hit and run that occurred in the Town of Fox Lake last Thursday night. It happened on Highway 68 near County Road F-F just before 10:30 p.m. Officials says a 65-year-old woman had pulled over to the side of the road. When she got out of her vehicle a dark colored truck or SUV hit her and didn’t stop. The woman’s injuries were minor enough that she took herself to the hospital. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department.

 

FDL Alcohol Licensing Committee Reviews Liquor License Renewal Ordinance

 

Fond du Lac’s Alcohol Licensing Committee this afternoon will look at proposed changes to the City’s ordinance for liquor license renewals. The City Council asked for the review at their July 10th meeting. The City spent much of the first half of the year working with the owners of the Retlaw Hotel over taxes and fees due the City. The money was paid just before the Council’s last chance to renewal licenses at the end of June. The City also ran into some issues with the liquor license holder for the Scott Street Shell over monies owed the City. For that reason the Council is looking for recommendations from the Committee regarding delinquent taxes, assessments and claims, and liquor licenses issued to limited liability corporations and corporations. The Committee meets at 4 p.m. in rooms D & E on the first floor of the City County Government Center. 

 

EAA Economic Impact

 

EAA AirVenture gets underway in Oshkosh today bringing with it a major economic impact to the area. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski says a UW-Oshkosh study determined just how much of an impact that is each year and puts that impact at $110 million. He says by comparison the PGA’s tournament at Kohler also has a major economic impact, $75 or $80 million, but not as much as AirVenture. Knapinski says more importantly the vast majority of that money, 75 percent, comes from visitors from outside Wisconsin. Knapinski notes that about 1,400 jobs are created just because of AirVenture each year.

 

RMC Wellness Center

 

In addition to its new 120,000 square foot facility the Ripon Medical Center will have a wellness center attached. Ripon Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Catherine Vergos says the Ripon Medical Center Foundation is funding the $2.4 million center. She says it will include rehab and wellness services. Fitness will only be one focus of the 9,000 square foot facility. She says they will also have wellness classes and other educational opportunities. She says whether it is being used by patients or community members it will have separate entrances for ease of convenience. The new Ripon Medical Center is expected to open in late summer or early fall of next year.

 

Close Call Video Gets More Than 58,000 Views

 

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-By now you might have seen the dash cam video of a recent traffic stop in Sheboygan County that nearly turned tragic. The video that has gone “viral” shows a semi tractor-trailer driver speeding past a Wisconsin state trooper on the shoulder of 1-43, striking the squad car along the way. State Patrol Captain Nick Scorcio says the Department of Transportation’s YouTube video has been seen by a lot of people. In fact the video has gotten more than 58,000 views. He says Inattentive drivers could be a factor in ignoring the move over law. Scorcio says this incident — and the dash cam video — can be used to educate motorists. Had the trooper not been as attentive as he was, he could easily have been struck and killed that day. See the video.

 

 

FDL Police Benevolent Association Scholarships

 

The Fond du Lac Professional Police Benevolent Association recently announced that Briana Mathes, Kristina Konen, Evan Henderson and Ian Loch are the 2013 Fond du Lac Professional Police Association scholarship award recipients.  Each year the Association provides scholarships to local high school seniors in the Fond du Lac area. Association Scholarship Committee Chairman, Steve Kaufman stated, “this year’s recipients were judged on the basis of multiple achievement, character, leadership, community service and scholarship.” The scholarships are made possible in part through various annual Fond du Lac Police Benevolent Association fund raisers.  Officer Ragan Pecore of the Benevolent Association presented the scholarship checks to the recipients.