Author Archive
Kewaskum Woman Sentenced On Negligent Homicide Charge
Fond du Lac County Judge Dale English Friday sentenced a 27-year-old Kewaskum woman to three years in prison and two years of extended supervision for killing a Ripon woman in a traffic accident. Heather Cleveland was texting on her phone minutes before running into a pickup that was turning.
Brantner Trial Day 10 “I did not kill her”
A Fond du Lac County jury Friday watched a video police took with Dennis Brantner at the Kenosha Police Department in March of 2014. Brantner was living in Kenosha at the time. He was confronted with fingerprint evidence taken from Berit Beck’s van. Brantner said he had been drinking
Day 9 of Brantner Trial Puts Brothers Face to Face
It was brother testifying against brother during the ninth day of a Fond du Lac County homicide trial. Michael Brantner testified in his brother Dennis Brantner’s trial Thursday. He says he got a call from Dennis’s employer in March of 2014 saying Dennis hadn’t shown up for work.
Man and 8-year-old boy killed in crash on I-41
Two people in a Chevy Cruze were killed when the driver slowed to a stop for a semi and the car was hit from behind by Jeep Grand Cherokee on I-41 in Fond du Lac Wednesday. The Wisconsin State Patrol says those killed were a 26-year-old man and 8-year-old
Day 8: Dennis Brantner Murder Trial
Bart Naugle, a DNA analyst from the State Crime Lab told the court he tested about 30 different items from Berit Beck’s van, but got little to no DNA that would be helpful in the case against Dennis Brantner. Judy McLeod, one of Brantner’s ex-wives, also testified. She said
Dairy Advocate Criticizes Packers Quarterback
She said it nicely, but a Fond du Lac area dairy advocate criticized Packers’ Quarterback Aaron Rodgers over his comments about ditching dairy from his diet. Brenda Gudex, the Director of Agricultural Programs for the Fond du Lac Area Associate of Commerce, penned a rebuttal in the Fond du
Fond du Lac accident claims 2 lives, injures 3 more
Two people were killed and three others injured during a three vehicle accident on I-41 in Fond du Lac late Wednesday morning. It happened just south of State Highway 23 and involved a semi, jeep, and another vehicle. The jeep overturned and the person in it was ejected. Flight
State agency returns $13 million through unclaimed property
Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Division Chief Troy Haase (HAH-zee) says if you come across old explosives call 911. He says a Fond du Lac man did the right thing in brining what appeared to be old fireworks to the fire station on South Main Street Monday, but
Brantner case continues today in Fond du Lac County court
One of the key reasons 62-year-old Dennis Brantner is standing trial for the murder of Berit Beck was the fingerprint evidence found in the Beck van. Monday one of the witnesses called was Steven Harrington who worked as a fingerprint analyst for the State Crime Lab. He retired in
Home Sales Increase in Fond du Lac County
Fingerprints found in Berit Beck’s van is one of the main reasons Dennis Brantner is standing trial in Fond du Lac County court of the 18-year-old Sturtevant woman’s murder. Monday’s testimony included that of Steven Harrington who worked as a fingerprint analyst for the State Crime Lab when prints
Week 2 of Berit Beck homicide trial gets underway
The homicide trial of a 62-year-old Kenosha man enters its second week in Fond du Lac County. Dennis Brantner is accused of killing 18-year-old Berit Beck of Sturtevant in July of 1990. Prosecutors could rest their case on Thursday, at which time the defense would start calling witnesses. Last
FDL man injured after jumping into boat propeller
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say a 32-year-old Fond du Lac man suffered a severe leg injury when he was struck by a boat propeller on Lake Winnebago Sunday afternoon. The boat was three-quarters of a mile north of Fond du Lac towards the west shore. When rescuers
State Rep. in FDL mulls gas tax for road projects
State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt said he is waiting for the results of a state audit on the Department of Transportation before he starts thinking about ways of increasing the funding for road projects. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac said he knows from talking with other
Online auction ahead for Retlaw Hotel in FDL
An online auction at the end of the month could determine the next owner of the Retlaw Hotel in downtown Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Steve Jenkins said they have been working with a potential developer on what could be a $20
Serious injury accident in neighboring FDL County
Authorities in Fond du Lac County said alcohol was a factor when a man was injured in a rollover accident in the Town of Rosendale on Saturday night. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials said the accident on County Road M was reported shortly after 9 p.m. The driver
Largest cookie plant in Ripon is closing
The last cookie plant in Ripon will be closing. That plant is now owned by Treehouse Foods. It remained open after ConAgra Foods closed the main plant, which employed 285 people. The remaining smaller factory will close in the final quarter this year. Ripon Mayor Gary Will
Check presentation from FDL Fire /Rescue
Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue and Firefighters Local 400 will present a check to the American Red Cross during the City Council meeting tonight. The check is from proceeds raised by the Fire Department’s annual brat fry last month. Also during the Council meeting the Council will consider
Cigarette the source of fire in Fond du Lac
A discarded cigarette started a fire at 364 4th Street in Fond du Lac shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday night. Fire Chief Peter O’Leary said a delivery driver for Joe’s Fox Hut noticed the fire on a 2nd floor deck and alerted nearby residents who called 911. The
WWII Purple Heart medal returned to FDL family
A long lost World War II Purple Heart medal was returned to the family of a marine in Fond du Lac Saturday. Private First Class Woodrow Wilson Grubb died on July 9, 1944 in the Battle of Saipan in the Marianna Islands. The medal was returned to Phyllis Grubb England
Fire and Rescue in Fond du Lac recognized for work trying to save State Trooper Trevor Casper
This week the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue handed out its annual awards including honoring the crews of Med 473 and Engine 483 for their efforts to try and save the life of State Trooper Trevor Casper. During his first day working solo on the job
Fond du Lac H.S. guidance counselor killed in Hwy 23 accident
The 35-year-old Cedar Grove man killed in a two-vehicle accident east of Fond du Lac on Thursday morning was a guidance counselor at the Fond du Lac High School. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Sergeant Paul Rottscholl said they got a call at 7:26 a.m. about an accident on
Former Fond du Lac Police Chief Mel Heller has died
Former Fond du Lac Police Chief Mel Heller passed away over the weekend. He served with the Police Department from 1949 to 1990 retiring as Chief. After retiring he served nearly 20 years on the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors. Former Fond du Lac Police Chief Tony
Al Buechel to be honored for his 40 years in county government
Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel will be honored for his 40 years in county government during a special reception on Tuesday, April 19 at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac . At 5 p.m. there will be a reception in Rooms D and E, which
Heidi Cruze campaigns in Fond du Lac
Heidi Cruz and former Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina spoke on behalf of Presidential candidate Ted Cruz in Fond du Lac Wednesday evening. Fiorina told the gathering Republican front runner Donald Trump has made his billions buying people like Hillary Clinton off. She said he won’t challenge the system or