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News 06.21.16

21 June 2016 News


The Brown County Bomb squad is called to Fond du Lac after a man cleaning out a home found old fireworks-making materials. Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue says the man showed up at their department Monday morning with the materials in his vehicle, trying to figure out how to dispose of them. Due to the nature of the materials, the Bomb Squad was called. No one was evacuated from the area. Another instance of this nature occurred back in April when a man cleaning out his home found a World War II-ear bazooka round. In that situation, the man took the round to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, the Bomb Squad was called and a two block radius was blocked off. If you find old ammunition, fireworks, gun powder or something of the like, the Fire Department says to call 911 first instead of transferring the item or items.

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A hunger strike continues in area prisons in the hopes of getting solitary confinement to end. The Industrial Workers of the World, a labor union working to draw attention to the strike, worked with ten inmates between the Waupun Correctional Institution and Columbia Correctional Institution to refuse food starting June 10th. The union issued a press release over the weekend stating in addition to the hunger strike, one of the Waupun inmates, Cesar DeLeon, has stopped drinking prison water out of concerns it’s contaminated with copper and lead. A Department of Corrections spokesman says they will continue to monitor the inmates to ensure their health and safety. No other information has been released by the prisons.

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The Fond du Lac Area Convention & Visitors Bureau says NETFLIX is now airing the documentary film, “The Frozen Chosen,” about the sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago. The documentary was produced and directed by six-time, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and Wisconsin native, Steve Boettcher. “The Frozen Chosen” follows the annual 16 day spear-hunting expedition on Lake Winnebago, as fishermen pursue the giant lake sturgeon. Convention and Visitors Bureau director Craig Molitor says Boettcher spent two seasons following local families and sturgeon spearing experts, filming more than 75 hours of footage. Fond du Lac hosted the world premiere of “The Frozen Chosen” in 2014.

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A Sheboygan convenience store owner is speaking out against the heroin epidemic by posting signs on his store warning of the dangers of drugs. Dick Hiers says he’s lost more than 30 customers to overdoses. So Hiers says he decided to bring some awareness to the problem. Hiers has posted signs on the Northeast Standard BP station, including “Heroin is killing people — help wanted.” Photos of the signs appeared on social media. But Hiers says he was disappointed by the community’s lack of response. Hiers says he is now working with two groups, Samaritan’s Hand and the Christian Intervention Program, two faith-based addiction support programs. To raise awareness, Samaritan’s Hand is holding a “Prayer at the Pump” on June 29.

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A vintage vehicle restored by a Wisconsin woman in honor of her late father sees success at the 8th annual Father’s Day car show in Green Bay. Jamie Fletcher says she decided to use nearly all of her life savings to fix the black 1960 Corvette that belonged to her father, Ron, after he passed away about eight years ago. She spent the past year and a half or so repairing and remodeling the car in hopes of making it look like it did the last time it hit the pavement more than 40 years ago. The Father’s Day car show marks the first time the Corvette has been put on display since it has been restored. Fletcher’s Corvette won three first place trophies.

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A roller coaster accident at a Green Bay amusement park sends three people to the hospital. Green Bay Fire Department Lt. Cody Johnson says the accident happened Monday afternoon at the city-owned Bay Beach Amusement Park. Johnson says one train on the Zippin Pippin ride apparently ran into another. Johnson says the two workers and a rider that were hurt were conscious when they were taken to the hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known. Green Bay parks director Dawne Cramer says the state last inspected the ride at the start of the season, while parks workers inspect it daily. The accident remains under investigation. The ride is currently closed, and is expected to remain closed for at least a week.

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