News 06.03.16
3 June 2016 News
The City of Ripon is donating two properties to Habitat for Humanity. City Administrator Lori Rich says the city received two lots when hospital officials built the new Ripon Medical Center. Rich says the council decided to let Habitat for Humanity use the lots to build new homes. Within a few year, Rich says homes will be built, put back on the tax roll and in turn, also help the city. The lots are located at 923 and 955 Metomen Street. Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County will be building a home in Ripon this year.
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The state Department of Justice files a Notice of Appeal to continue improvements to widen Highway 23 to four lanes between Fond du Lac and Plymouth. The state is appealing a decision made last month by federal judge Lynn Adelman to deny a motion by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to restart the construction project. Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says he is pleased the state is moving forward with an appeal. Last year judge Adelman halted the project following a lawsuit filed by the environmental group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Governor Scott Walker has officially gone on record supporting the project. In a statement issued Wednesday the governor says the project is crucial for families, communities and businesses throughout the state. He says the expansion will improve mobility and provide greater access to local businesses and recreational areas, but more importantly, it will significantly improve safety for Wisconsin Highway 23 travelers between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac.
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The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is now equipping its officers with Narcan in an effort to treat and reduce fatalities due to opioid overdoses. Sheriff John Matz says specifically, the heroin epidemic has created many devastating situations for families, friends and community members. Officers have been to many overdose situations and Matz says by giving police Narcan, they have another tool to potentially help individuals. Matz says the Sheriff’s Office has entered into a written agreement with a local physician, and has trained Deputies in administering a single dose nasal spray if the deputy believes a person is undergoing an opioid related drug overdose. Deputies are also able to make sure people get follow-up medical care. In addition, Matz says Deputies in the jail have also been trained in the use of Narcan and have access to the medication if needed.
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Wisconsin’s transportation chief says he won’t ask for any major tax or fee increases in his upcoming budget request. Secretary Mark Gottlieb says his budget due in September will focus on maintaining the state’s bridges and highways instead of expanding the well-traveled roads and preserving those lesser traveled. The request would be in contrast to the proposal Gottlieb submitted two years ago. He asked for about $750 million in new taxes and fees in the 2015-2017 budget, including those on fuel sales and on new-vehicle purchases. Lawmakers did not adopt those proposals. Gottlieb says maintaining bridges and U.S. interstates and highways will be a priority. But, he acknowledges that will come at the expense of maintaining other roads.
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Investigators say at least one of three people who died in a house fire and explosion in Racine County had been fatally shot. Sheriff’s officials say 41-year-old Craig Lambert killed his 43-year-old girlfriend, Kimberly Howe and her 17-year-old son, Nicholas Chaulkin before he took his own life at their house in the Town of Burlington last month. Authorities determined the teen had been shot in the head. Injuries to Howe and Lambert were so severe that a cause of death could not be determined. Investigators found a gas line had been removed in the basement, allowing the house to fill with gas and explode when ignited. Officials say Lambert and Howe had recently been in a domestic dispute and Howe had planned to ask Lambert to leave.
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The manager of a Wisconsin recycling company says there are no reports of injuries following an explosion at a Madison plant. All Metals Recycling manager A.J. Vedvig said the explosion Wednesday happened in a scrap steel pile. Vedvig says the scrap steel pile stands about three stories tall and contains between 20 to 30 semitrailer loads of material. The recycling plant is about 2 miles south of the state Capitol. The city’s fire department posted on Twitter that it was responding to multiple calls of an explosion shortly after 4 p.m. Photos from the scene showed billowing black smoke and flames shooting into the air. Police and fire officials urged residents to avoid the area.
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