5-22-14 local unemployment rates fall

The Department of Workforce Development reports that preliminary unemployment rates dropped in all but two counties in April. DWD reported Wednesday that unemployment dropped in all of the state's 32 largest cities between March and April. The Fond du Lac County rate fell from 6.5 to 5.5 percent.  The Dodge
County unemployment rate dropped from 7.3 to 6.2 percent. The April unemployment rate in the city of Fond du Lac stands at 6.4-percent...down a full percentage point from March.  The only counties where unemployment increased were Menominee and Iron. Dane County has the lowest unemployment rate at 3.8 percent.  Racine maintained the highest unemployment rate of any major city in Wisconsin at 10.2 percent. It was followed by Beloit at 9.2 percent unemployment and Milwaukee at 8.4 percent. Those three had the highest rates in April 2013.  The state's overall seasonally adjusted rate is 5.8 percent. That is the lowest it's been since October 2008.  The national unemployment rate is 6.3 percent.

5-21-14 three fdl county communities among the 50 safest in wisconsin

Three Fond du Lac county communities have made their way onto another positive list –

being named one of the 50 Safest Cities in Wisconsin.   The report, put out by SafeWise, combined data from the most recent FBI Crime Reports with their own research to create the list.   The report lists North Fond du Lac at number 23.  North Fond du Lac police chief Darren Pautsch says its a community accomplishment.  The report says the village had 1.98 violent crimes per thousand residents and a property crime rate of 11.88 per thousand.  Waupun is ranked 30^th on the list and Ripon is number 35 Mayville was ranked 42^nd on the list.  The city of Fond du Lac is not on the list.  Freedom came in on the list as number one for the safest city in Wisconsin.  SafeWise is an informational company dealing with home security and safety

advice.  The full list of cities can be found on their website, www.safewise.com.

5-21-14 retlaw theater demolition permit

Nearly two decades after designating the Retlaw Theater as an historic site, the Fond du Lac Historic Preservation commission is being asked to approve a demolition permit for the building.  The commission meets this evening to review an application for a demolition permit.  Fond du Lac Redevelopment Director Dyann Benson says the theater stopped showing movies in 1998 aand the property has been substantially vacant since 2009.  In 1997 a Performing Arts Center Ad Hoc committee studied the possibility of converting the theater into a performing arts center, but decided the cost to renovate the property was too expensive.  Benson says since that initial feasibility study, the high school performing arts center,  and the UW Fond du Lac Prairie Theater were constructed.  The Thelma Sadoff Cener for the Arts also

Completed an expansion.  Commonwealth Development wants to tear down the theater for parking and convert the front of the building into office and apartment space.

                     

5-21-14 homes sales down

Home sales in Wisconsin dropped by 9 percent in April  compared to last year.  Despite hopes for a spring turnaround, it marks the fourth consecutive month that sales have dropped compared to the previous year. The Wisconsin Realtors Association says unusually cold weather in February and March, combined with rising interest rates and home prices likely played a role in the decline.  Association economist David Clark says  another factor in the slump could be a tightening inventory of homes on the market.  The state median price for a home  in April was about $140,000.

5-21-14 dodge county sheriff resume

A former Dodge County sheriff’s detective says the incumbent sheriff was at the very least misleading when it came to her education on her resume before she was appointed to the post, the sheriff says that’s nonsense.

Former detective Bob Neumann says Ninmann falsified her resume by implying she had an associate’s degree in criminal justice, when she was still six credits short.  Ninmann says isn't hiding anything or trying to be misleading and says Department of Justice investigators were aware of her educational status when they interviewed her for the job.  Ninmann was appointed sheriff when Todd Nehls retired last year.  Nehls

recommended her for the post.  Ninmann is running for re-election and faces a challenge from sheriff’s sergeant Dale Schmidt in the Republican primary In August.

5-21-14 eaa rentals warning

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — The Winnebago County Health Department has sent letters to some residents who offer short-term apartment rentals through a popular website.  It warns them of fines if they continue to list their property on the Airbnb site without a permit.  While the letters focus on Airbnb users, the issue could have implications for the hundreds of property owners who rent during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture.  Health Department Director Doug Gieryn says the letters focused on properties that involve the owners leaving the premises, which makes them transient properties. A bed and breakfast, on the other hand, has owners on the premises.  Gieryn says he's requested more guidance from state officials to see if Wisconsin law would impact those who rent their homes during AirVenture.

5-21-14 former dnr warden accused of stealing guns

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Investigators say a former state Department of Natural Resources warden charged with multiple counts of theft and misconduct in office was stealing guns from people he cited.

According to a criminal complaint, David Horzewski was fired in July for using state equipment for personal purposes, including using a DNR boat to take his children fishing.  Horzewski's supervisors were reviewing his records when they discovered four firearms he reported as seized were missing. The DNR handed the matter to the state Capitol Police investigators. They discovered eight rifles Horzewski had seized in Horzewski's basement in March.  He's scheduled to make an initial court appearance on June 11.