Fond Du Lac County, WI

FOND DU LAC, WI — A Fond du Lac County man is found guilty on possession of child pornography and arson. Michael Miller was convicted on 12 felony charges. Those include five counts of Child Pornography possession, two counts of Arson, two counts of reckless endangering safety, one count of burglary and two counts of criminal damage to property.

A 45-year-old North Fond du Lac man has been found guilty of 12 felony charges. Those charges against Michael Miller include five counts of possessing child pornography, two counts of arson, two counts of first-degree reckless endangering safety, burglary, and two counts of criminal damage to property. The court revoked bond and a pre-sentence investigation report was ordered. Miller will be sentenced on September 23rd. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says Miller’s actions victimized children and the series of fires he set throughout the county placed community members, first responders, and fire fighters in danger. During the arson investigation detectives discovered Miller possessed child porn. Several charges were read into the record and dismissed.

FOND DU LAC (WLUK) –A man accused of using clothing to start fires at homes in Fond du Lac County has been found guilty of 12 felony charges, including arson and child pornography possession. Michael L. Miller was found guilty of five counts of possessing child pornography, two counts...

There is not much change in the area unemployment rate. The Dodge County unemployment rate in May is 2.4 percent, down from 2.5 percent in April. In Fond du Lac County the jobless rate was up a tenth of a percent to 2.4 percent. The unemployment rate in the city of Fond du Lac increased from 2.3 to 2.6 percent in May. Statewide unemployment decreased or stayed the same in 13 of Wisconsin’s 35 cities and 66 of the state’s 72 counties.

A North Fond du lac man has been convicted of setting multiple fires in Fond du Lac County. Michael Miller has been convicted on two counts of arson, five counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of 1st Degree Reckless Endangering Safety, Burglary, and two counts of Criminal Damage to Property. When he is sentenced September 23 he faces a possible maximum sentence of 150 years in prison. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says Miller was arrested nearly two years ago after investigators received a tip following several fires in North Fond du Lac and the town of Friendship, and learned he was involved in other fires as well. According to a criminal complaint Miller admitted to using underwear stolen from area laundromats, children’s swimsuits and rags to set the fires.

The Fond du Lac County Board has a new chairperson. Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman, who was the chairperson until he resigned after being elected county executive, chaired the meeting Tuesday night until a new chairperson could be elected. Steve Abel who has been on the board for more than 10 years was elected the new chairperson. Abel was the county board’s Second Vice Chair. Marty Ryan will remain as the First Vice Chair and Supervisor Dean Will was elected Second Vice Chair. Kaufman was elected county executive during a special election on June 7th. Longtime County Executive Allen Buechel died unexpectedly on March 27th with about 3 years left in his term.

Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Fond du Lac County Board. Board Chair, Steven Abel, has announced that he is accepting applications for a member to serve on the Board of Supervisors representing District 7 . The district covers the Oakfield and Waupun area. The term expires in April, 2024. The appointment will fill the unexpired term of Sam Kaufman, who was recently elected county executive. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to the Fond du Lac County Clerk no later than Wednesday, July 6.

A Montello man has been arrested for his 5th OWI following a short high speed chase in Fond du Lac County. A state patrol trooper last week attenpted to pull over a vehicle that was driving erratically on Interstate 41 near Lost Arrow Road in Fond du Lac County. The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle struck a tire deflation device on 41 northbound south of state Highway 21, and the driver was arrested. Fifty eight year old Michael Welch of Montello made his initial Fond du Lac court appearance on charges of OWI 5th offense and eluding. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 12. The Fond du Lac and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Offices assisted in the pursuit.

Additional Charges Brought Against Ripon Burglary Suspect. Nine additional charges were filed last week against a 52-year-old Ripon man already suspected of stealing a coin machine and prying open two arcade games at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites in Ripon last November. New charges brought against Jimie Neidlinger stem from a burglary at the Splish Splash Clothes Bath in Ripon also occurring last November. According to the criminal complaint a change machine was broke into after it was removed through a wall in the mechanical room behind it. The mechanical room door had been pried open. Video footage from a neighboring business showed a vehicle parked next to the room and audio picked up “metal and dragging” sounds. A witness allegedly spoke briefly to Neidlinger when he was in the parking lot. Neidlinger will make his initial appearance on the new charges in Fond du Lac County court on July 5th. He is charged with felony counts of burglary, criminal damage to property, theft and 6 misdemeanor counts of bail jumping.

Newly elected Fond du Lac County executive Sam Kaufman is attending his first county board meeting tonight as county executive. Kaufman was elected to the post earlier this month in a special election. “The idea that I will be attending as county executive replacing Allen Buechel. That I think is what will be going through my mind,” Kaufman told WFDL news. Buechel died in March from a heart attack after serving as the longest serving county executive in state history. The board will elect a new county board chairman at Tuesday night’s meeting. Supervisor Marty Ryan is the board vice chair and Steve Abel is the second vice chair.

For the second year, Soroptimist International – Fond du Lac has run a video contest for junior and senior girls living or attending school in Fond du Lac County. The winners received their prizes and recognition at the Soroptimist member meeting June 1st, 2022. First prize of $500 went to Molly Johannes of Laconia High School, who aspires to become a pediatric neurologist. The Soroptimist group is also providing an additional donation on her behalf to New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center. Second and third prizes were won by Ella Blackburn and Isabelle Coon of St. Mary’s Springs Academy. They received $300 and $200, respectively. Ella is interested in pediatric gastroenterology and chose a donation to the Samaritan Health Clinic. Isabelle will pursue nursing and her donation will go to the National Alliance on Mental Health. For more information on how Soroptimists help the community by empowering women and girls and this award in particular, visit the website at https://fdlsoroptimists.wixsite.com/bestforwomen/dreamcasters.

The new Fond du Lac County Board chairman says he will strive to continue the tradition of his predecessors in running county board meetings in a nonpartisan fashion. Steve Abel was elected this week as Fond du Lac County Board chairman. “I felt that I’ve got strong leadership skills. I’ve served on the board for 13 years,” Abel told WFDL news. Going back more than three decades Abel is only the sixth chairman of the Fond du Lac County Board. Sam Kaufman served as county board chairman for about a month before he was elected county executive in a special election earlier this month. “The one thing I think I have seen is that the Fond du Lac County Board is a non-partisan board and that it’s important that it stays that way.” Following the death of longtime county executive Al Buechel in March, and with new leadership on the county board, Abel says the county is beginning a new chapter in its history. “Fond du Lac County has done well in electing Sam Kaufman, very stable person, to take the reigns from Allen (Buechel) after Allen’s passing. Now we have the county board that I think was left in good hands as well. I’ll do my best to maintain that consistency that we’ve had for the last several decades with Al at the helm.”

With above-normal temperatures expected through the work week, staying cool is going to be a priority for many in northeast Wisconsin communities.  The National Weather Service in Green Bay has issued a heat advisory for areas west of Green Bay and the Fox Valley as heat indices are expected to hit up to 105...

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Campbellsport Ambulance and Fire responded to a single vehicle rollover accident on US Highway 45, south of State Highway 67 in the Town of Auburn just before 9:30 Saturday night. An investigation determined the 39-year-old Kewaskum man driving the vehicle south on US Highway 45 lost control, went left of center and entered the east ditch. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its wheels. The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle had to be extricated. Flight for Life flew him to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee with serious injuries. Assisting at the scene were Eden Fire Department and First responders, City of Fond du Lac Ambulance, Campbellsport Police Department, the State Patrol and DNR.

There has been a changing of the guard on the Fond du Lac County Board. The board elected supervisor Steven Abel Board chairman. Abel had been the second vice chair. Abel and board first vice chair Marty Ryan were both nominated for chairman. Abel represents District 11 in the city of Fond du Lac. Supervisor Dean Will was elected board second vice chair. The meeting also marked the first for newly elected county executive Sam Kaufman. Kaufman was elected in a special election earlier this month. Prior to that he had served on the board for seven years as a supervisor in District 7 representing the Waupun area. Kaufman replaces the late longtime county executive Al Buechel who died in March from a heart attack at the age of 74.

Operating vehicles while intoxicated is a “no-no” on the road, and also on the water. An effort coordinated between the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, the state DNR and others will help emphasize that point during the upcoming July 4th weekend with Operation Dry Water. The three-day weekend will see an increase in outreach, education and enforcement surrounding boating under the influence.

Inflation and supply chain woes are being blamed for driving up prices and driving down availability of tampons. According to Bloomberg, the average price for a pack of menstrual pads rose more than eight percent this year through the end of May, while the price of tampons was up nearly 10 percent. A Walgreens spokesperson says the pharmacy chain is dealing with a shortage. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says it is a public health issue. Mueller says tampons are health care products and says it’s similar to the recent baby formula shortage that left families across the country scrambling. What can you do to aoid getting stuck without a tampon? Mueller says buy in advance until waiting until the moment you need them. If there is a shortage locally, you can look online from a reputable site. Also, just like with baby formula, don’t use homemade tampons.