Top Stories, February 11th

Fondy Workers Implicated in $100K Embezzlement

2/11/10 - Three Fond du Lac city government employees allegedly embezzled thousands-of-dollars worth of electronics and other goods, by using a fraudulent ordering-and-billing scheme. The three work in the city’s Management Information Systems department – and at least one former M-I-S worker was also said to be involved. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Dan Kaminsky and state Attorney General J-B Van Hollen made the case public this morning – a day after search warrants were executed. The investigation began after an informant went to the D-A late last year. Kaminsky said false invoices apparently covered up the ordering and purchasing of personal items – and surplus parts owned the city might have been sold for personal profits. Officials say the scheme might have gone back several years. They’re still tallying up the value of all the losses. Kaminsky says criminal charges are expected once the investigation fully ends.

Clyman Treatment Plant Plans Underway

2/11/10 - Village officials in Clyman say they have already begun laying the groundwork on the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. The village settled a lawsuit with the Justice Department this week that requires them to construct a new $4 million plant, among other upgrades. Village President Jeff Wagner says land on Highway J just northeast of Clyman has already been procured. MSA Professional Services has been hired to perform engineering work and the plans have already been sent out for bid. The village has secured a $1.7 million dollar grant and a low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development for the remaining $2.3 million.

Wagner says the USDA loan caps the amount utility customers will be required to pay for the upgrade at approximately 50%. While communities like Columbus and Fall River were able to team-up to construct a new facility, Wagner says efforts by Clyman to enter into a partnership with nearby Reeseville and Lowell were rejected by the DNR. Groundbreaking is planned for April with the plant scheduled to be completed by July of next year.

Juneau Man Committed For Stabbing

2/11/10 - A Juneau man will be committed to a mental health facility for up to five years for stabbing a man with a pair of scissors. 22-year-old Richard C. Gholston is said to have bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia and was found not guilty by reason of insanity on a felony charge of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety. A felony charge of Substantial Battery was dismissed but read into the record. The incident was reportedly sparked by remarks made by the victim’s 5-year-old son, which Gholston misconstrued as racist. According to the criminal complaint, Gholston lunged at the child repeatedly shouting “I will kill you” and the victim jumped in front of the boy and was stabbed five times in the back arm and shoulders.

Local Engine Maker Declares Bankruptcy

2/11/10 - A Green Lake County company that makes engines for NASCAR and other motor sports has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Wegner Motor Sports is headquartered near Markesan. It filed the papers Tuesday in Milwaukee Federal Bankruptcy Court. Wegner lists assets totaling a million dollars -- and liabilities at 2-point-6 million. The filing indicates the company's biggest creditor is First National Bank of Berlin.

Oshkosh Corp Announces Another Contract

2/11/10 - The Marines have told the Oshkosh Corporation to build 400 more heavy supply trucks to be used in Afghanistan. That brings the total order to 13-hundred vehicles – which are designed to carry fuel, heavy equipment, and other supplies to Marines in the field. The first such vehicles arrived in Afghanistan last September. Today’s new order will net 158-million-dollars for Oshkosh – which has gotten four-billion dollars in total military business over the last year. The largest of those orders is a mine-resistant truck designed to replace the Humvee in the rough Afghan terrain.

State High School AP Scores Up

2/11/10 - Wisconsin high school students continue to out-perform the nation in getting college credits for their high scores on advanced placement exams. The College Board says that over 17-percent of Wisconsin students who took the A-P exams did well enough to get either college credits, or an advanced standing at most U-S colleges. Wisconsin’s percentage of stand-outs was almost one-and-a-half percent higher than the national figure. Also, the percentage of high school students in the Badger State who took at least one advanced placement test grew from 19-percent in 2004 to just over 25-percent last year. But that’s still below the national participation rate of 26-and-a-half percent.

Texting While Driving Ban Gaining Momentum

2/11/10 - It won’t just be teens who will be banned from texting while driving under a bill moving through the state Legislature. However, teens will probably be the most affected since texting is now one of their primary means of communication with their peers. One study says the average teen gets or receives nearly 3,000 text messages a month, or about 100 a day. American Automobile Association spokesperson Beth Mosier says no matter what your age is texting while driving is extremely dangerous. Mosier says teen drivers present a special problem because they often don’t sense the danger of texting behind the wheel. Versions of the ban have passed both the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly, but one would impose stiffer fines. The difference will be worked out in conference before the bill is sent to the Governor.