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Thursday 11/29/18

29 November 2018 News


Dodge County Homicide Suspects Charged

Two people suspected in the murder of a 36-year-old Beaver Dam man made their initial appearances in Dodge County court Wednesday afternoon. Twenty-year-old Nigel Schultz of Portage is charged with five felonies including first degree intentional homicide and 32-year-old Rebecca Wolc of Beaver Dam with harboring or aiding a felon. Bradlee Gerke’s body was found in a shallow grave is a cow pasture in the Town of Lebanon on Halloween. The body at N901 Redwing Road had been covered with gasoline and shot multiple times in the head and chest. Schultz told investigators he had taken Gerke’s phone and Food Share Card and confessed to the shooting. He said Wolc watched the murder.

Big Order For Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh Defense has gotten a big order from the U.S. Army for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. The nearly $1.7 billion contract is for 6,107 of the vehicles, which will be used to replace older vehicles in the Army and Marine Corps fleets. An Oshkosh Defense official says the vehicles are a technological leap forward that also provide enhanced protection and extreme mobility. Oshkosh Corporation notes its the tenth order in a military contract that began in August of 2015. The company has delivered more than 2,600 vehicles to the military.

Grothman Bill Would Restrict Access Of Invasive Species

Congressmen Glenn Grothman and Mark Pocan, this week introduced a bipartisan bill that would help keep Wisconsin’s lakes healthy by restricting the access of invasive species of fish. The bill would amend the Federal Power Act requiring that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consider the threats posed by invasive species on native fish before mandating a new fishway be built. One threat is Asian Carp found at the base of the Prairie du Sac dam. The Fish and Wildlife Service has ordered the installation of a fishway there that could provide Asian Carp a way to migrate upstream to the Wisconsin River, Lake Wisconsin, and eventually the great Lakes, which has a $7 billion fishing industry.

Petting Zoo Kangaroo Hit And Killed

Authorities in Shawano County are looking for a man who injured a 69-year-old Shawano man and struck and killed a petting zoo kangaroo with his pickup truck. It happened Tuesday night on Porter Road. The Shawano man told Sheriff’s officials he and his wife had heard about the kangaroo “Lulu” which had gotten away from its home in Bonduel. They were coaxing it to come closer when the truck sped up. The man tried to get the driver’s attention, but he was hit in the chest by the truck’s side mirror and it drove over his foot. It then struck and killed the kangaroo. The driver stopped a short distance up the road, got out and apologized and drove off. He was said to be in his mid-20’s.

Ripon Area United Way Funding Supports Prevention Education Program

Funding from the Ripon Area United Way helps to fund a sexual assault prevention education program given to over 1,600 kids in the Ripon Area School District. Rhiana Zuleger of ASTOP is a prevention educator. She says they provide the education for kids from 4K through High School. The message is tailored depending on the children’s ages. She says it’s important because the average age of a sexual assault victim for boys is four-years-old. “We know the average of assaults for reporting is 4-year-old. Which is why it is so critical that we are in those 4K programs so that if something has happened to them they do have a safe place to go and they do have a safe person to talk. It is a little bit different for females the average age is between13 and 17.” She says in the earlier grades they talk about what to do if someone makes you feel unsafe, while in the older grades they can also talk about the confidential services ASTOP can provide for victims of sexual assault. Zuleger says feeling scared around an older person can sometimes be an early warning sign for kids.

Winter Driving

Town of Ripon Police Chief Howard Stibb says we could be seeing some significant snowfall next week so adjust your driving accordingly. He says people sometimes forget about how they need to drive during the start of the winter season, so he reminds us “When there is snow, go slow.” “Just because you see a speed limit sign that says ’55’ or ’70’ on the Interstate when you get roads that are slippery you can’t drive that kind of speed and you’ve got to use more caution than what you’re doing.” He also points out that having four-wheel drive may help with traction, but doesn’t guarantee you will be able to drive any better or safer when you’re on slippery roads.

Cookie Extravaganza

The Ripon Senior Center will be hosting a “Cookie Extravaganza” on Tuesday, December 11th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Ripon Children’s Librarian Linda DeCramer will be doing some storytelling, there will be cookie decorating and games. Some students from Barlow Park Elementary School will also be there. Senior Center Director Noreen Johnson says everyone is welcome to attend. “This is open to everyone to come on down. If you watch your grand kids during the day bring them down. If you’re just looking for something to do with your grand kids bring them down.” She says it is great opportunity to meet new people, make new friends or find out about mentoring students.


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