7-2-14 marian university names new athletic director

Jason Bartelt has been named as Marian University’s Director of Athletics. Bartelt will oversee the Athletic department and its strategic plan, represent Marian with all NCAA, NACC and NCHA relations, manage Marian’s athletic facilities and all 19 varsity sponsored programs in the Athletic department.  “Marian University is honored that Jason has accepted the position as our Athletic Director,” said George Koonce, Jr., Ph.D., vice president for advancement of Marian University. “His knowledge, enthusiasm and leadership will continue to inspire our student-athletes with a holistic experience that is rich in the Marian tradition.”  Bartelt has served Marian for more than 13 years, and has served as interim director of athletics, assistant director of athletics for athletic facilities and as head baseball coach. While at Marian, Bartelt has overseen the construction of Herr-Baker Field, Marian’s baseball stadium, and the addition of Lenz Field House, Marian’s state-of-the-art indoor practice facility. Bartelt has coached more than 70 All-Conference players, three All-Region honorees and one Academic All-American student-athlete. Prior to coming to Marian, Bartelt served as the assistant baseball coach, sports information, and Wehr Center building supervisor at Lakeland College.  Bartelt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and a secondary Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Education from Lakeland College.

7-1-14 o'leary named fire chief of the year

Fond du Lac Fire Chief has earned the distinction of the Wisconsin Fire Inspectors’ Association 2014 Fire Chief of the Year.  Peter O’Leary was recognized at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs’ Association Saturday in Milwaukee.  O’Leary was nominated by several members of his department and was ultimately selected by the Inspectors’ Association.  “I cannot adequately express the level of personal gratitude I have for this incredible recognition,” said, O’Leary. “For my entire career I have tried to make a difference through education and prevention and I share this honor with every firefighter who works to make their communities safer.”  O’Leary began his fire service career in 1979 and has worked in fire departments in Illinois, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin.   

7-1-14 missing wedding ring found

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman who lost her diamond wedding ring five years ago had given up all hope of finding it after searching high and low. It turns out her mischievous dog had it all along. Lois Matykowski, of Stevens Point, was eating Popsicles two weeks ago when she noticed her granddaughter's 10-year-old mutt the family calls the "food burglar" had swallowed one whole. Two days later, Tucker vomited, revealing her missing ring.

6-28-14 attempted homicide charge dismissed against fdl woman

A Fond du lac woman convicted of attempting to kill her six year old daughter and injure her boyfriend no longer faces an attempted homicide charge.  On Friday Fond du Lac County Circuit Court judge Robert Wirtz dismissed a charge of attempted first degree intentional homicide against Kenna Bowe.  Bowe is still scheduled to go on trial August 4^th  on a charge of first degree recklessly endangering safety.   Bowe was serving a 14 year prison sentence when she withdrew her no contest plea  in February.   She was also granted supervised visitation with her daughter.   According to court records a toxicology expert testified at a post conviction motion hearing in December that the victim could not have died from the amount of narcotics administered.   According to a criminal complaint Bowe forced her young daughter to swallow what doctors descriobed as a potentially lethal dose of sleeping pills and attempted to stab her live-in boyfriend.  The child survived and the boyfriend received superficial wounds to his hands.  Police say Bowe was depressed because she had lost her job and was breaking up with her boyfriend.  She had no prior criminal record.

6-27-14 plea deal in fdl county heroin overdose death case

A plea  deal is in the works for a Fond du Lac man accused of helping to supply  the heroin that led to the death of a Fond du Lac County man.   WFDL news has learned Jason Van Norman is expected to enter a plea next Tuesday avoiding a trial That was scheduled to begin next month.   Van Norman is charged with first degree reckless homicide and delivery of heroin. He is accused of supplying the heroin that led to the death of Devin Perry.

6-27-14 bucks take parker

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have taken forward Jabari Parker with the second overall pick in the NBA draft, a pivotal selection for a team in transition.  The one-and-done Duke star immediately becomes a face for an organization with new ownership seeking to invigorate its fan base following a franchise-worst 67-loss season.  The 6-foot-8 Parker has been lauded for his maturity and offensive skills. He would join 19-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAHN'-ihs ahn-teh-toh-KUHN'-poh) and Brandon Knight as promising team cornerstones.  General John Hammond likes Parker for his ability to fit into multiple positions in the frontcourt. Parker's defense, though, is considered a work in progress.  Parker figures to have an easy transition in Milwaukee. He's from nearby Chicago, and former Blue Devils assistant Steve Wojciechowski is now head coach at Marquette.

6-26-14 ripon woman killed in three vehicle crash

On Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 2:31 pm the Fond du Lac County 911 Center  received a report of a 3 vehicle crash on Hwy 23 at Willow  Rd in the Town of Ripon.  Preliminary investigation indicates a westbound pickup truck was stopped waiting to turn left onto Willow rd when it was rear ended by another westbound SUV.  This impact caused the westbound pickup truck to travel into the eastbound lane, colliding headon into an eastbound vehicle.  The driver of the eastbound vehicle, a 63 year old Ripon woman, was killed at the scene.   The victim has been identified as Linda Trotter of Ripon.  The driver of the westbound SUV,  25 year old Heather Cleveland of Fond du Lac sustained life threatening injuries and was flighted to Theda Clark Medical Center.  The driver of the westbound pickup truck, 33 yr old Waylon Zrinsky of Ripon, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.  Responding  agencies:  Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, Ripon Fire Dept and EMS, Brandon Fire Department, Flight for Life, Wisconsin State Patrol, Fond du Lac County Highway Department, Rosendale PD, Town of Ripon PD and City of Ripon PD.  The crash remains under investigation by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office.

6-26-14 dove and teal seasons

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved an early teal hunting season and an extended dove season.  The board voted Wednesday to offer the early teal-only duck hunting season beginning in September 2014. The board also approved adding 20 days to the end of the current 70-day dove hunting season, ending it on Nov. 29 instead of Nov. 9.  The early teal season will take place before the regular duck season and run from Sept. 1 through Sept. 7. Only blue-winged and green-winged teal may be hunted and there will be a daily bag limit of six.  Kent Van Horn, the Department of Natural Resources migratory game bird ecologist, says duck hunters have been asking for the changes for years.  There are about 130,000 migratory bird hunters in Wisconsin.

6-25-14 fdl house fire

On 06-25-14 at 12:26 a.m. the Fond du Lac Fire Department responded to 132 E. Cotton St. for a reported house on fire. An alert neighbor noticed smoke coming from a second floor window and called 911.  When police arrived, they saw smoke coming from the residence and checked to see if anyone was home. Fire crews arrived quickly and made an initial interior fire attack. The bulk of the fire was near a dishwasher and some of the structure surrounding it on the first floor. After further investigation it is believed that an electrical issue inside the home is what may have caused the fire. As a precaution Alliant Energy secured both electrical and gas services.  The residents were not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.  “The alert neighbor who witnessed seeing smoke coming from the house probably prevented a much more devastating outcome”, said fire chief Peter O’Leary.  The residents are staying overnight with friends until an electrician can assess the condition of the home’s electrical system.  Fond du Lac police provided assistance with traffic and on-scene management.  

6-25-14 lawnmower accident seriously injures brownsville toddler

A Brownsville toddler was seriously injured after being run over by a riding lawnmower.  Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann says the dispatch center received a call that a three year old boy was struck by a lawnmower at a town of Lomira residence off Highway 175.  Initial reports indicate that the young child ran toward the lawnmower,  as the child’s grandfather was making a backing maneuver, striking the child.  The child suffered severe injuries  including a severed hand and was transported to the hospital via Flight for Life helicopter.   Sheriff Ninmann states “The accident is not suspicious in nature, and our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the young child and family”.  

Assisting the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was Lomira Police Department, Brownsville Fire and First

 Responders, Mayville EMS, Theresa Fire, and Flight For Life.

                      

6-25-14 lakeside park study committee applicants-list

The City Council on June 11, 2014 voted to form a Lakeside Park Exploratory Committee consisting of 15 City of Fond du Lac residents. The City of Fond du Lac has received 41 applications to serve on this committee. At the end of business today the following have submitted their applications:
Billy Belongia                    Johnathan Braker
Patrick Caulfield               Dennis Comeaux
Sara Cujak                         Ruth Dauterman
John Dobyns                    Deborah Doll
Kris Fehrenbach               Velesca Fleschman
Stephanie Fox                  Louise Gudex
Amy Hansen                     MJ Hart
Brian Kolstad                    Ray Lapierre
Anthony Leon                   Paul Levandowski
Lori Anderson Lurvey       Jennifer Matteson
Joan Cunningham               Shawn McCrary
Craig Molitor                      Jennifer Neibauer
Nick Nell                            Heather Pedersen
David Pergande                  Jane Ricchio
John Short                            Sarah Spang
Anthony Steffen                     Douglas Teletzke
Anna Thomas                         Samuel Tobias
Luke Wacek                          Debra Wamser
James Wamser                        Mary Wilcox
John Zettler                             John Zorn
Amy Samens              

6-23-14 lomira man dies from injuries in rollover crash

A 22 year old Lomira man has died from injuries suffered in a one vehicle rollover accident on Highway 41 in Fond du Lac County.  Jeffrey Thill died Friday at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center in Neenah.    The accident happened a week ago in the southbound lanes of 41 south of Highway B.  Investigators say Thill veered to the right and overcorrected before rolling over.  A passenger, 21 year old Katelyn Freund, of North Fond du Lac received non life threatening injuries.

6-20 Planned Parenthood To Close In Fond du Lac

Planned Parenthood says it will shut down its clinic in Fond du Lac on September 25th.  C-E-O Teri Huyck blamed the closure on the governor and Legislature.  Majority Repubilcans voted last year to eliminate a million dollars in reproductive health care funding in the current state budget.  The G-O-P has been working to put curbs-and-controls on abortion facilities in the last session.  But Huyck says the Fond du Lac clinic does not provide abortions -- and neither did the other four Planned Parenthood facilities that have closed in the last two years due to a lack of state funds.  Huyck called the Fond du Lac closure a loss for families who rely on the agency for cancer screenings, health exams, birth control, and treatments for sexually-transmitted diseases.  She says the Fond du Lac facility served about 11-hundred patients each year -- and they'll be referred to the group's closest clinics in Oshkosh and West Bend

6-19-14 teens killed in washington county car crash

KEWASKUM, Wis. (AP) — The State Patrol says wet pavement from heavy rain may have caused a car two teens were in to lose control and hit a deputy's squad car head-on. The teens died in the crash this morning in Kewaskum in Washington County. The sheriff's deputy suffered minor injuries.

6-18-14 severe thunderstorm warning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...

JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

ROCK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

EASTERN DANE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

SOUTHERN DODGE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

SOUTHEASTERN COLUMBIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

WESTERN WALWORTH COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 845 AM CDT

* AT 811 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MARSHALL...

MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND PENNY SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...EXPECT DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...

EASTERN MADISON...JANESVILLE...BELOIT...SUN PRAIRIE...WATERTOWN...WHITEWATER...STOUGHTON...FORT ATKINSON...ELKHORN...JEFFERSON...

MCFARLAND...MONONA...LAKE MILLS...MILTON...EDGERTON...EVANSVILLE...COLUMBUS...MARSHALL...WATERLOO AND DELAVAN LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

INTENSE THUNDERSTORM LINES CAN PRODUCE BRIEF TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE. ALTHOUGH A TORNADO IS NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...IT IS BEST TO MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. THIS STORM MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE.

6-18-14 lawmaker donations

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new report says that nearly two-thirds of the money Wisconsin lawmakers raised last year came from donors who lived outside of the recipient's legislative district.  The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign report released Tuesday examined donations from individuals of $100 or more given to members of the state Assembly and Senate in 2013.  The percentage of money that came from people outside of the lawmaker's district was the same for both Democrats and Republicans — 64 percent to 36 percent.  Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald raised the most from out-of-district donors at about $137,000. Rep. Jon Richards, who this year is running for attorney general, raised the most among Democrats at nearly $43,000.  The Democracy Campaign report findings are consistent with odd-numbered years dating back to 2003.

6-17-14 highway 41 rollover

A 22 year old Lomira man was critically injured and a 21 year old Fond du lac area woman received non life-thrreatening injuries in a one vehicle rollover crash on Highway 41 in Fond du Lac County.  Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s captain Rick Olig says the crash happened shortly after 7am Monday in the southbound lanes of 41 south of Highway B.  Olig says a car driven by 22 year old Jeffrey Thill of Lomira veered to the right and overcorrected before rolling over.  Flight for Life helicopter landed on the highway to transport the
Thill to the hospital backing up traffic for miles.  A passenger, 21 year old Katelyn Freund of North Fond du Lac was transported to St,. Agnes Hospital with non life threatening injuries Olig says both southbound lanes on Highway 41 were closed for several hours.  Olig says Thill was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected.  Freund was buckled up.

6-14-14 injury boat accident

At approximately 6:22am on Friday, June 13, 2014, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an overturned boat on Lake Winnebago. Upon further investigation it was learned that 2 boats collided as they were leaving the Lakeside Park Harbor. As a result of the collision, 2 occupants on the boat that was struck received injures. They were transported to St. Agnes Hospital and treated for their injuries and later released. The striking boat operated by a 41 yr. old Fond du Lac man and his 2 passengers were not injured. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating the accident. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the FDL City Police Department and Whealon Towing.

6-13-14 oversized packers ring

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A Packers fan is crediting pressure from fellow fans in helping get back his stolen ring.  Steve Tate, of De Forest, has been a fixture at Packers games since 1998, often wearing his foam cheesehead with "NFL Owner" written on it.  Tate's oversized commemorative Super Bowl 45 ring was taken at a fundraiser May 24 near West Bend. He handed it to a fan, but never got it back.
Press-Gazette Media reports a package with the ring arrived in the mail Wednesday.  Tate says he believes the ring is his. He says he's unconcerned about why the item was taken and who took it. But he thinks societal pressures helped the person do the right thing.  Tate had previously received two offers to replace the ring, which cost him $160.

6-11-14 car hits apartment unit

One person was injured when a vehicle crashed into a Fond du lac apartment unit last night.  Rescue personnel were called to the scene at 70 East Merrill Avenue shortly after 10pm Tuesday to a report of vehicle collision with a multi-family unit apartment.  The FDL paramedics treated and transported one individual to St. Agnes Hospital.  No other injuries to residents of the home.  Fire crews had to shore up the structure with t-bracing supports, so the vehicle could be 

removed from the scene.  FDL Police assisted with traffic control.