News 04.29.16
29 April 2016 News
Dashcam video of Neenah police shooting a man outside a downtown motorcycle shop shows the hostage was not warned before officers opened fire. Sixty-year-old Michael Funk of Neenah died after running out of Eagle Nation Cycles during a standoff last December. The police video shows that Funk had a gun and was running toward officers, who shot him without a warning. Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson says officers did exactly as they were trained. On the day of the shooting Wilkinson said Funk did not follow orders to drop the gun. He says that was based on witness statements – and he was wrong. He says he was also wrong that Funk received immediate medical treatment. The video shows Funk was left where he fell. Still, Wilkinson says he’s been waiting for the video to be released. Funk’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against police. The state justice department is still investigating the shooting. The U-S-A Today Network-Wisconsin released the video.
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Two Dodge County men are in custody facing felony weapons charges following the execution of a search warrant. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team executed the search warrant Wednesday at a town of Lowell residence recovering 35 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and suspected illegal drugs. An ordnance device was located within the home as well. As a precaution, the Milwaukee County Bomb Squad responded and determined it to be inert and safe. Fifty six year old Kirk Lupton was arrested on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and 34 year old Richard Nutter was arrested on a probation violation. The search warrant and arrests was part of a lengthy joint investigation by the sheriff’s office, and Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Dodge County sheriff Dale Schmidt says he wants to assure the community that they are safe. The case remains under investigation.
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Nobody is injured in a dust collector fire at Fond du Lac’s Mercury Marine. Shortly before 11:30pm Wednesday, Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue responded to Mercury Marine Plant 98 for a report of a fire in the dust collector inside the structure. Upon arrival crews found moderate smoke showing. The sprinkler system activated and kept the fire in check until crews were able to enter the structure and extinguish the fire. Fire was contained to the area of the dust collection system. Access to the dust collector was limited, so overhaul was time consuming.
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The Waupun Area School District is surveying the community to get feedback on a possible $30 million school referendum. Schools Superintendent Tonya Gubin says a facility advisory committee has been working since last July to compile the greatest needs for the schools. Gubin says it’s important school district residents participate in the survey so they can more accurately make a plan that reflects the wants and needs of both the district and residents. Questionnaires have been mailed out this week, and residents have until May 16th to complete them. The information will be presented May 23rd at 6 pm at Rock River Intermediate School.
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The state DNR is going to help communities replace aging water pipes. The D-N-R will provide almost 12-million dollars to disadvantaged communities, to help homeowners pay for all or parts of their shares to replace their older lead pipes. The funding comes from a program that loans money to replace aging pipes to avoid lead contamination, but for this campaign, homeowners will not have to pay the state back. The funding begins July first and will cover the second half of this year.
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Menard Inc. has agreed to change some practices after the National Labor Relations Board found it was violating federal labor law. The board found in April that the Eau Claire-based retailer has been improperly requiring employees to sign mandatory-arbitration agreements that bar them from engaging in class-action lawsuits. The board also found that Menards has withheld merit pay raises for workers engaged in protected union activities. In a settlement agreement with the board Wednesday, Menards agrees to rectify those issues. Seth Goldstein, a representative with the Office and Professional Employees International Union who filed the initial complaint with the board, called it a major victory for employees. A company spokeswoman says Menards has no comment at this time.
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