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News 12.05.17

5 December 2017 News


Five people were injured, three seriously, in two separate head on collisions in Fond du Lac County over the weekend. Shortly after 4pm Saturday a southbound vehicle on Highway K near Drumlin Drive, driven by 58 year old Kenneth Gudex of Campbellsport crossed the center line and struck a northbound pickup driven by 15 year old Blake Wondra of Lomira. Gudex was flown by helicopter to the hospital with serious injuries. Wondra and a passenger, 64 year old Dennis Wondra were treated at the scene and released. Gudex was not wearing a seatbelt and investigators say alcohol was a factor in the crash. Shortly before 5:30 pm Saturday sheriff’s deputies responded to another head on crash on Highway M near Gallagher Road in the town of Waupun. A vehicle traveling northbound on driven by a 20 yr. old Ripon area man crossed the centerline and struck a southbound vehicle head-on which was operated by a 62 yr. old Ripon woman. The man was flown by helicopter to the hospital with serious injuries. The female victim was transported to Waupun Memorial Hospital. Both operators were pinned in their vehicles and had to be extricated. Alcohol is not considered a factor in the crash.

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A 9-year-old Wisconsin girl is living a new life more than a year after receiving a life-saving kidney from a teacher at her school. Oakfield Elementary School teacher Jodi Schmidt gave third-grader Natasha Fuller a kidney. Natasha had been sick with prune belly syndrome since birth. The condition causes urinary tract disease and the need for kidney dialysis. Natasha has gained nearly 40 pounds since the surgery. She has more freedom in her diet, including the ability to eat chocolate and French fries. Natasha has her blood work and medication levels checked on a regular basis at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. She tries to see her friends at the dialysis center when she visits.

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The Green Bay Packers have opened another development around their stadium as a way of attracting fans year-round. The Titletown District outside Lambeau Field includes a hotel, sports medicine clinic, ice skating rink, restaurant and tubing hill. The nearly 45-acre (more than 18-hectare) district is holding a Winter Jubilee throughout December that includes ice sculptors, Santa and a light show. Most of the activities at the district are free, though there is a fee for skating and tubing. Team president Mark Murphy says the team will contribute at least $65 million to the estimated $165 million project. The project will also include a technology and innovation center with Microsoft. It will act as an accelerator and incubator for emerging businesses, have a venture capital fund and an innovation lab where companies can get technological assistance from Microsoft.

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Wisconsin legislative leaders’ decision last week to deny public access to sexual harassment complaints in the Assembly and Senate isn’t the only example of how top policymakers sometimes operate in secret. The chief clerks of both houses last week refused to release any complaints their offices have received. Republican and Democratic leaders in both chambers said the records should be kept confidential out of privacy concerns. Wisconsin’s open records law generally applies to the Legislature, although unlike other government officials, lawmakers can destroy records unless someone has requested them. The law requires legislators to decide whether releasing records will serve the public interest. The Legislature also is allowed to meet in closed-door party caucuses and isn’t required to post public notices of any committee meetings or floor sessions.

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