Local News Tuesday 5/14/13

Highway 41 Accident In FDL County

 

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department and State Patrol worked the scene of an accident that happened early this morning. The right lane of Highway 41 North Bound at County Highway F was closed after a vehicle reportedly struck a Highway 41 bridge at a high rate of speed. The accident was reported at 1:21 a.m. The State Patrol says that lane of traffic was reopened at 5:19 this morning.

 

Chemistry Has To Be Right For 7^th FDL City Council Member

 

Karyn Merkel a billing manager for Charter Communications Call Center emerged as the frontrunner for a vacancy on the City Council following interviews of the six finalists Monday night. Merkel has the support of four Council members while former Ramada Plaza Hotel owner and businessman Ron Schmitz and lifetime Fond du Lac resident Lynn Farr each have the support of a council member. Merkel has also served on the City Redevelopment Authority and Advisory Park Board. Council President Sam Meyer says chemistry is important for the Council and the seventh person to be seated on the Council should be able to fit in with the rest of the Council. Council member Gary Miller felt it was important that the Council be unanimous in its decision about who will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilman Jim Sabel for health concerns. The Council is hoping for just that when they vote next week on who will fill the term until April 15th of next year. 

 

Second Beaver Dam Burglary Suspect Pleads

 

Both suspects who broke in to an AmeriGas location in Beaver Dam have now reached plea agreements. The latest is 20-year-old Anthony Kavcich of Madison who recently pled no contest to two felony charges in Dodge County Court. Eleven other charges were read into the record and dismissed. He will be sentenced on July 30th. His co-defendant, 27-year-old Joshua Travers of Baraboo, last week also pled to two felony charges. He will be sentenced on July 7th. The two broke into the AmeriGas location in Beaver Dam on January 18th and previously burglarized that business in March of last year.

 

Information Sought On Markesan Car Wash Burglary

 

Green Lake County authorities are looking for tips about the burglary of the Shiny Car Wash in Markesan on Wednesday or Thursday April 24th or 25th. Markesan Police say someone forcibly entered the car wash and took cash, tools (wrenches), and 50 free car wash coupons. Anyone with information is asked to call the Green Lake County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-GET-THEM (1-800-438-8436), texted to GETTHEM at 847411, or e-mailed to getthem@co.green-lake.wi.us.    Tips can remain anonymous and may be eligible for up to a $1000cash reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects or recovery of this property.

 

State Veterans Affairs Secretary Holds Veterans Listening Session In FDL

 

In FDL Area veterans and the public are invited to join Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos for a Town Hall listening session in Fond du Lac this evening. It will be at the American Legion Post on Fond du Lac Avenue. John Townsend is the Chair of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Board. He says it’s a chance to give your input on the Governor’s Budget as it pertains to veterans and also on veterans’ benefits and services. He says the public is also welcome. Townsend says it will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. The Town Hall Listening session will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Listening sessions will be held in all eight of Wisconsin’s Congressional Districts.

 

Filling The Skills Gap

 

The Fond du Lac area is preparing now for a shortage in skilled workers it’s expecting in the next decade. Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce President and CEO Joe Reitemeier says 51 percent of those working now in the area are planning to retire in the next 15 years, which could create a void of about 12,000 unfilled jobs. He says there are solutions, which would involve training students to fill those jobs. He says they also have to work on the retention of workers. He says some people who will be taking early retirement may decide to continue to work, but it will take some health care incentives which may require some changes in law. Reitemeier says other things that will have to be considered will be job sharing and offering some who want them fewer hours.

 

NFDL Pride

 

North Fond du Lac Village President Jim Moore says the village has a lot to be proud of. Moore was one of those Bob Hoffmaster interviewed during his visit to North Fond du Lac last Thursday morning. Moore says the village is a great place to raise a family. He says it’s a safe community.

He says while economic development efforts were hampered by the downturn in the economy they continue to forge ahead. He says the close proximity to Fond du Lac also means competing with the city for economic development. This Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to Noon Bob Hoffmaster will be doing The Morning Show in Campbellsport.

 

Thiesfeldt Listening Sessions Coming Up

 

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt will be holding listening sessions in the area on Wednesday, May 29th. He will be at the Oakfield Village Hall from 10 to 11:30 that morning, the Taycheedah Town Hall from 2 to 3:30 p.m., the Byron Town Hall from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center from 6 to 7:30 that evening. Thiesfeldt represents the 52nd State Assembly District.

 

Commencement Ceremonies At Marian University And MPTC This Weekend

 

Two of Fond du Lac’s three colleges will hold commencement ceremonies this weekend. Marian University’s School of Nursing and Health Professionals pinning ceremony will be Friday at 5 p.m. in the Sadoff Gymnasium. The School of Education will also hold its pinning and commissioning ceremony on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Dorcas Chapel. The graduation ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on the University quad. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Sadoff Gymnasium. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Bruce Prall, professor of Chemistry at Marian. He will be retiring following the spring 2013 semester after 42 years of service to the University.

 

Moraine Park Technical College will hold its commencement ceremonies on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Fond du Lac High School Field House. Dr. Sheila Ruhland MPTC president, will preside over the ceremony. The commencement keynote speaker is Jim Wessing, co-founder and president of Kondex Corporation in Lomira. Wessing is a trustee of the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union Building Association and Ag Sector Board Director of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

 

FDL County Office Closings For Memorial Day

 

County offices in the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center, the Sheriff’s Office Lobby Window, the Portland Street Annex including the Veterans Service Office, the Department of Social Services and the Highway Department will be closed all day Monday, May 27th to observe Memorial Day.