News – July 21, 2022

(Beaver Dam) There was a debate last night at the Beaver Dam Veteran’s Center in the contested race for Dodge County sheriff. Before a packed house, incumbent Sheriff Dale Schmidt and challenger Mark Colker – a 24 year law enforcement veteran – fielded questions from the media, each other, and the community. Topics ranged from school safety, Crisis Intervention Training, and the sheriff’s role in reducing recidivism rates. The primary election is on August 9th and barring a write in vote, will determine who the next Dodge County sheriff will be. Audio and video of last night’s debate is available at DailyDodge.com.

(Waupun) A Waupun man convicted of killing his grandmother was sentenced Wednesday to 13-and-a-half years in prison and was placed on extended supervision for seven-and-a-half years. Gregory Spittel beat Carol Foreman who was found in his basement with serious head injuries in August of 2019. The 75-year-old died four days later.

(Lomira) A multi-county pursuit that ended in Dodge County resulted in a significant number of drugs being seized. The 14-mil chase began in Winnebago County went south on Interstate 41 into Fond du Lac County, and ended after the 28-year-old Racine man crashed near Quad Graphics in Lomira. He was found hiding in some tall grass and was arrested. Seized during the incident were A loaded handgun, a digital scale, 2,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, and three bags of suspected cocaine weighing 84 grams. The case is still under investigation.

(Fond du Lac) Fond du Lac County prosecutors have charged two men who allegedly made a homemade bomb that exploded in a residential mailbox. According to the criminal complaint, 24-year-old Elliot Schneider of Sparta made the bomb and placed it at the Doty Street home in the city of Fond du Lac in 2016 because someone there (quote) “ripped him off” for $1,200. Schneider and the other person implicated, 23-year-old Jonas Johnson of Fond du Lac, were seen running from the area after the explosion. A $30-thousand-dollar signature bond was set for Schneider during his initial appearance court. Johnson had cash bond set at $100-thousand-dollars.

(Fond du Lac) The state’s Department of Transportation is reminding motorists that portions of the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 23 in Fond du Lac will be closed for five days starting Thursday. The closure will specifically impact the northbound Interstate 41 off-ramp and the mall entrance. That will allow crews to pave concrete at the Highway 23 or Johnson Street and Pioneer Road intersection. The closure will be from 5am Thursday through midnight next Tuesday. Eastbound Highway 23 traffic will be detoured to take southbound Interstate 41 to northbound Highway 151 to 23 and Westbound Highway 23 traffic to southbound 151 to northbound I-41 then to 23.