Local News Briefs Thursday 5/29/14

Three area residents are being charged for a robbery that occurred at the Tucker’s Restaurant on West Johnson Street four years ago. A $5,000 signature bond was set for 22-year-old Bobbie Lahn of Fond du Lac and 19-year-old Thomas Livangood when they were charged Tuesday in Fond du Lac County Court with being party to the crime of robbery with use of force. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for June 27th. Twenty-year-old Vincent Hanes of Kewaskum faces a similar charge when his initial hearing continues on June 17th. During the May 15th 2010 robbery a female employee of the restaurant walked out of the employees’ entrance that evening carrying the night deposit bag. Two men walked up from behind her and one of them grabbed the bag before the two took off running. Police say Lahn was a Tucker’s employee at the time and allegedly drove Livangood and Hanes to the restaurant to commit the robbery. 

Information Sought In Auburn Lake Shooting

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials are hoping to get some calls to their tip line about an accidental shooting on Auburn Lake that happened last Sunday afternoon about 5 p.m. Sheriff’s Lieutenant Cameron McGee says a 51-year-old Campbellsport area man was out fishing in his boat when he was struck by a small caliber bullet in the leg. Deputies weren’t able to find the bullet. McGee says the shooting wasn’t intentional. The man was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend where he was treated and released. McGee says they would like to know who shot the round and what they were shooting at. He says they’d appreciate a call from anyone that has information to their tipline. The number for the tipline is (920) 906-4777.

Dodge County Fatal Accident

The Dodge County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 46-year-old Neosho man who died when a truck overturned on him Tuesday morning in the Town of Ashippun. Medical Examiner P.J. Schoebel say Paul Kuck was walking near the truck when it tipped on its side and fell on top of him. Kuck’s family couldn’t find him, but knew he was driving the truck and called 911. Fire and EMS were able to free him, but Schoebel pronounced Kuck dead at the scene. The accident was reported shortly after 8:30 a.m.

Street Closure For Thelma Event Brings Up Concerns

The Fond du Lac City Council last night approved allowing the closure of a portion of Sheboygan Street for an event the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts will host next month, but some questions came up. Thelma will be holding a street party with two local bands performing. City Councilwoman Lee Ann Lorrigan is also an officer for the Elks Club. She told fellow Council members the Elks hadn’t been notified about the use of the street on June 12th. She says the Elks are a service club and like Thelma hosts a number of events for other organizations, which could have created some problems if they were hosting an event that night.  She says in this particular instance there isn’t a problem. City Manager Joe Moore said Thelma will have to do a better job in the future of notifying the Elks and the Library about events that would lead to street closings in the future.

New FDL City Council Member Sworn In

Greg Giles was sworn in to the Fond du Lac City Council last night filling the void created by the resignation of City Councilman Dan Manning. Giles will serve through April of next year. Also during the meeting he was appointed to the Housing Authority and as an alternate to the School Resource Officer Committee. The Council also eliminated one committee the Fond du Lac County Hazardous Materials Executive Team. City Manager Joe Moore told the Council that committee had outlived its original purpose. Also during Wednesday night’s meeting the Council approved allowing the Police Department to apply for an $18,744 federal grant for the purchase of equipment. Assistant Police Chief Steve Thiry told the Council it was an annual grant.


Longtime FDL Wastewater Superintendent Honored

The Fond du Lac City Council last night honored Wastewater Superintendent John Leonard who will be retiring Friday. Leonard has been with the City for 30 years and one month. He was presented with a proclamation and a Key to the City. Leonard told the Council he had served under five different city managers and four public works directors. He said he felt he was leaving on a good note. The Council last night amended a City ordinance having to do with water use. Public Works Director Jordan Skiff told the Council they wanted to comply with State Public Service Commission standards regarding how the city handles frozen water services following this past winter. Skiff says when the City asks people to keep a tap open to prevent the freezing of water lines it will reimburse or credit those customers for the extra water that is being used.


FDL County Committee Discusses E-Cigarettes

Fond du Lac County officials are discussing what to do about the use of E-cigarettes in their buildings. County Director of Administration Erin Gerred says the County’s Finance Committee Tuesday night kicked off the discussion about the possibility of adopting a policy for the City-County Government Center, other County buildings or employees. She says it could be some time before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration makes a decision about the regulating of E-cigarettes. She says technically the vapor that’s produced by E-cigarettes is considered an aerosol, but not enough is known about its possible harmful effects on the user or those around them. She says for now they are asking people not to use them in the City-County Government Center. She says the City-County Building Board and Finance Committee are taking a look at the issue, which could eventually go to the County Board.

Lifeguard Shortage In FDL

There are not enough life guards for the two City of Fond du Lac outdoors pools to staff both pools at once. Due to that one pool will be open at a time during the first week and a half. Fond du Lac Recreation Department Director Renee Wagner says they are offering lifeguard training and certification the first two weeks of June. One runs June 2nd through the 4th and possibly the 5th. The second session is June 9th through the 12th. She says those who want to be lifeguards will have to pass a skills test. She says it will involve a 300 yard swim using a front crawl and breast stroke, a deep water retrieval test, and the ability to tread water with just their legs. She says the pool schedule has been adjusted due to the lifeguard shortage. The goal is to have two new trained lifeguards by June 14th. Taylor Pool passes will be honored at Fairground Aquatic Center through June 14. 

Lomira Drug Forum

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Lomira Police Department and Lomira School District will hold a community presentation tonight on how heroin and other drugs are impacting children and the community. It will be held at the Lomira Middle School at 6:30 p.m. with a question and answer session following. The presentation is open to all parents and is for adults only. In Dodge County over the past year the number of people who have died from opiate overdoses has doubled.