Local News Briefs Monday 8/25/14

Sheboygan Police are investigating a possible drug overdose death from early Friday morning.  Lt. Mike Williams says a call was received around 1 a.m. for EMS to assist in reviving an unresponsive female.  Efforts to revive the 26 year old were unsuccessful.  An investigation into the death is ongoing.

Senator Johnson In Chilton Today For Town Hall Meeting

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson will hold a Town Hall meeting in Chilton this afternoon. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh will be at the Chilton Public Library in the large meeting room from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Johnson will give his State of the Nation address and will take questions from the public following that. 

Catalytic Converter Thefts Need To Be Reported

The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to check any vehicle on their property to ensure the catalytic converter has not been removed. Friday a vehicle was seized containing catalytic converters that had been removed from other vehicles. Sheriff’s officials are asking anyone who has had the catalytic converter stolen from their vehicle to contact their local law enforcement. Investigators are attempting to obtain evidence from the vehicles.   

State Grant Provides Needed Training Through MPTC

The Vice President of Academic Affairs for Moraine Park Technical College says a $1.2 million grant for worker training will help them fill needs for area employers and manufacturers. Dr. Jim Eden says the money they will receive over the next two years through the Governor’s Blueprint for Prosperity program will help them fill needs in several areas including medical coding for health care agencies where records keepers need the latest training. He says they’ve also seen a need in the Tool and Die Industry and will be creating a manufacturing skills academy for other manufacturers.  Eden says they will also be using a mobile Computer Numerical Control machining trailer to offer training for inmates at area prisons. The grant runs through 2016 and will train up to 126 workers.

Habitat ReStore New Location Will Lead To Arts Collaboration

Now a new neighbor of the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac the new location for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore lends itself to some artful collaboration. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says you will see some art classes offered at the new ReStore at 65 West Scott Street. He says local artists have already recognized the value of re-purposing some of the household improvement items that the ReStore sells to make some creative pieces of art. Habitat Board of Directors President Julie Woznick says she too is amazed at what an artist can do with a window frame or ladder. The ReStore completed its move from its old location on South Brooke Street with a celebration at their new site Saturday.

Safety In The School Zone

As students prepare to head back to school an official with the State Department of Transportation reminds drivers about safety in school zones. Larry Corsi is the Pedestrian Safety Coordinator with the DOT. He says parents need to have a talk with their kids about watching for vehicles on their way to school. He says safety in and around school zones is a shared responsibility. He says drivers need to slow down and pay attention – always watching out for students, school buses and crossing guards. Children need to use crosswalks and, as the popular safety message goes, always look both ways before crossing the street. A school bus with red lights flashing and stop-arm extended mean drivers approaching from both directions must stop at least 20 feet from the bus and should stay stopped until the bus resumes motion and the red lights are turned off.

Movie Company Executive A FDL Native

One of those attending a screening of Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac last Friday is a Fondy native who was responsible for getting the film to the big screen. Deborath Wettstein is the CFO for Indian Paintbrush a privately owned California-based production company. She’s a St. Mary’s Springs graduate who moved to California and worked in the insurance industry before getting her graduate degree from USC. After that she worked for several film companies in finance and distribution. She says it was a lot of work to get to where she is today. One of the companies she worked for was Morgan Creek. She’s worked for Paint Brush the last eight years. As for Anderson she says he always has a great relationship with his cast and crew. Her mother still lives in Fond du Lac.

FDL City Offices Closed Labor Day

City offices in the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center will be closed next Monday for the Labor Day holiday. The Municipal Service Center will also be closed for all services. There will be no refuse and recycling collection Monday. Refuse and recycling normally collected on Monday will be collected on Tuesday along with the normal Tuesday collection. The Senior Center and Fond du Lac Public Library will both be closed. City Transit buses will not operate next Monday.