News 12.21.16
21 December 2016 News
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information in regards to the theft of multiple tools from a residence in the Town of Marquette. Green Lake County Chief Deputy Mark Putzke says over the summer months, a large amount of tools, along with a BMX Bike, were taken from a location on Lakeview Drive West. Putzke says some of the tools have green automotive paint on them for identification. Those include ratchet wrenches, well sockets, pliers and a MacTools Security bits with driver box set. Other items have yellow and red spray paint on them. Those include vice grips, and other wrenches. Three saws were taken, including a Stihl Model #015 – orange and white in color, an Echo chain saw and a new red and silver Skill Saw. Putzke says the BMX bike is described as purple in color with Ansar Pro Forks. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 920-294-4134.
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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students who were scheduled to participate in commencement Dec. 17 will have their day. UW Oshkosh has rescheduled its commencement ceremony for Jan. 21, 2017. The original ceremony was canceled due to a winter storm. More than 1,100 graduates will be recognized as part of the Midyear Commencement Ceremony, which is now being held to align with the official end of the fall semester. Of those, nearly 900 will graduate with a bachelor’s degree and more than 140 with a master’s degree. The Jan. 21 ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at Kolf Sports Center, 738 High Ave., on the UW Oshkosh campus. The ceremony will last about two hours. Following the formal ceremony, a reception for faculty and new alumni, their parents and guests will be held in Kolf’s lower level.
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A former Fox Lake Correctional officer accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of an inmate is bound over for trial. Forty-five year old year old Thomas Lukas of Beaver Dam waived his preliminary hearing in Dodge County Circuit Court. He’s charged with one count of abuse of residents of penal facilities. The victim alleges that on multiple occasions, Lukas would simulate a sexual act on him. The victim also alleges Lukas placed an article about gay marriage in his cell, and that Lukas harassed and demeaned him and other inmates. Lukas, a 16-year veteran of the Department of Corrections was fire in August of 2014. An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for January 24th.
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Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says it’s possible that his office may charge one or more people in connection with alleged abuses against inmates at the Lincoln Hills juvenile prison. Schimel says his office also may “step back in” and re-launch its own investigation that ended in April. Federal investigators have been leading the probe into a variety of allegations including prisoner abuse, child neglect and sexual assault since February. Schimel says, “We had developed some evidence in our investigation that may lead to some enforcement actions. We’ve got that option.” Schimel also says any decision on whether to close the troubled prison about 30 miles north of Wausau is “a call for someone else to make.”
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Wisconsin National Guard officials say crews are cleaning all affected areas of armories that tested positive for lead at levels higher than the federal safety standard. Federal documents showed that hundreds of armories nationwide had high levels of dust made from the metal. Lead levels are a concern in armories because many had or have an indoor firing range. Of the 39 Wisconsin armories with testing records, all showed traces of lead. But spaces in 18 armories tested significantly higher than the federal standard, Wisconsin National Guard Deputy Director Capt. Joe Trovato says all affected areas have been or will be cleaned. He says community facility rentals will be suspended until the work is done.
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Miller Coors says advertisements touting the alcohol content of one of its cheapest beers are aimed at transparency so consumers can make informed choices. Billboards along the city’s freeways say the alcohol content of Milwaukee’s Best Ice is now 6.9 percent, up from 5.9 percent. Some experts connected to the beer industry are surprised the company is making alcohol content its primary pitch. John Szymankiewicz, a North Carolina attorney who specializes in the craft beer industry, says Miller Coors is featuring the alcohol content increase as a reason customers should buy it. Father Michael Pfleger, a priest in Chicago who has campaigned against alcohol advertising in poor neighborhoods, has criticized Miller Coors’ move. Miller Coors spokesman Marty Maloney says that the company has a long-standing commitment to fighting alcohol abuse.
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