February 12, 2012

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School bus driver charged with exposure, sexual assault

October 12, 2009 By

The Superintendent of the Fond du Lac School District says they worked quickly to get a school bus driver removed from his route, once an exposure charge came to light. It wasn’t until later that 57-year-old William Rangel of North Fond du Lac was also accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, who was not a student on his bus route.

District Superintendent Jim Sebert says when police notified them on September 23rd that Rangel had allegedly exposed his genitals to an elementary school student they worked quickly with Johnson Bus Service to have him removed from his driving duties.

AUDIO: Jim Sebert (:17 MP3)

Sebert says the district sent a letter home to the parents of about 35 students who ride Rangel’s bus, but not until after he’d been arrested last week.

AUDIO: Jim Sebert (:17 MP3)

Sebert says Johnson Bus Service does background checks on all its drivers and that information is shared with the district. However he says the checks can’t predict future behavior.

AUDIO: Jim Sebert (:17 MP3)

Rangel was charged Monday in connection with both the exposure and sexual assault allegations.

KFIZ’s Bob Nelson submitted this report

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Dells schools reopen

October 12, 2009 By

Classes are back on in the Wisconsin Dells School District. School doors opened Monday morning, after closing last week because so many kids called in with with flu-like symptoms. Administrator Charles Whitsell says at one point, there were about 32 percent out at the high school alone.

AUDIO: Charles Whitsell (:17 MP3)

There are still some kids out: In fact, 19 percent called in at the elementary schoo, 16 percent at the middle school and about about 10 percent at the high school, to the effect that they’ll have to come and pick up any sick kids.

WIBA’s Chandra Lynn contributed this report

Filed Under: Education

Students star in anti-drunk driving film

October 12, 2009 By

While state legislators in Madison debate how to pay for increased penalties for drunk drivers, students at one Wisconsin high school are featured in a new film, which highlights the dangers of drunk driving. A party gone wrong is played out by McFarland High School students for their peers. The film is called ‘Shattered‘ and has a showing in McFarland for the public tonight. Senior Kyle Kubecheck plays a non-drinking student who goes to a party where alcohol is served – but who does nothing to stop it or prevent others from getting behind the wheel

AUDIO: Kyle Kubecheck (:17 MP3)

Kubecheck and other McFarland students wanted to get the message across to prevent a drunk driving tragedy from happening to their community. Kubecheck says peer pressure in high school is a major factor in decisions about drinking

AUDIO: Kyle Kubecheck (:15 MP3)

The student body has been shown the movie this month, and it’s also being shown to the general public. There’s another showing at the high school tonight.

WIBA’s Robin Colbert submitted this report

Filed Under: Human Interest

WI hunter groups call for traditional opener

October 12, 2009 By

Some objections are cropping up, to the latest deer management plan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Earn-a-Buck is gone, but in order to control the herd, the DNR proposes a sixteen day season, and moving opening day up a full week. That’s a bad idea, according to Greg Kazmierski with the Hunters Rights Coalition.

AUDIO: Greg Kazmierski (:15 MP3)

Kazmierski says the traditional opener is “kind of like a sacred day” in Wisconsin. So, how to bring down deer herd numbers? The coalition suggests free Herd Control Unit tags be given to hunters, for at least 2 years prior to the implementation of more extreme measures.

AUDIO: Greg Kazmierski (:13 MP3)

Kazmierski says coalition supporters are being urged to attend public hearings been held by the DNR this month and next, or to submit comments on-line.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation

Looking for compromise over payday loans

October 12, 2009 By

A cloudy future for attempts to cap interest rates on short term loans in Wisconsin. State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) says some people are really getting ripped off with interest rates that exceed 500 percent. Hintz’s bill would cap the interest rate on the short term loans at 36-percent but Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan is saying that is “too low.” Hintz is hoping to work out a compromise.

The Oshkosh Democrat says the current system involves loans made with no consideration of income and with unreasonable payment terms which lead to a “debt trap.”

The payday lending community says they offer a service to people with poor credit and cannot access other types of loans.

AUDIO: John Colbert (MP3 :39)

Filed Under: Business, Legislature
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