Monday News 4/8/19
8 April 2019 News
Driver Identified In Fatal Beaver Dam Accident
Authorities in Beaver Dam have released the name of the driver involved in a fatal crash into the Beaver Dam River last Tuesday morning. Police say 23-year-old Cindy Lara-Esparza drove her car off the Madison Street Bridge. She was rescued from the river’s icy waters by four police officers. The officers were treated for hypothermia. Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jared Frakes also of Beaver Dam, was killed in the crash. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the tragedy. The accident is still under investigation.
Plan Approved For Ripon Students That Need To Make Up Snow Days
The Ripon School Board recently approved a plan for making up snow days for 7th through 12th graders. Students in those grades need to make up 258 minutes. This will be accomplished through digital learning. Over the course of four weeks, teachers in Grades 7-12 will provide 33 minutes of digital learning for each of their courses to be broken up into the scheduled hours over four weeks over the next two months. Teachers will utilize either Google Classroom (7-12) or Canvas (9-12) to push out content on Friday after school for students to complete the following week.
Tornado Drills This Week
This week has been designated as “Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Fond du Lac County and the rest of the state. To prepare for the upcoming severe weather season, on Thursday a mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 pm followed by a mock tornado warning at 1:45 pm. There will be another mock tornado warning issued at 6:45 pm. Everyone is encouraged to use those times to practice their severe weather safety plans. In Fond du Lac County, the sirens will be activated for both of the mock warnings. Weather radios will be activated, however, the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will not be activated on cell phones. If there is a threat of severe weather on Thursday, the drill will be postponed until Friday.
United Way May Have To Adjust Goal
The Ripon Area United Way campaign ended up short of its $90,000 goal, which may lead to setting their sights a little lower. The campaign ended up with $72,543 in donations or about 80 percent of the goal. The Board of Directors decided to pull money out of reserves to make up the difference. Board President Jeff Puhlmann Becker says that made a significant dent in their reserves, but they hate to disappoint the agencies that they help fund. “The hard part is we have all these organizations come and meet with us in person and talk about their programs and what they do in the community and it is almost unheard of that they walk out of the room and we say they don’t get all of the money they need they are not doing enough in the community, in most cases we wish we could give them more.” He says they may have to set a lower goal for the next campaign and eventually work their way back up to a $90,000 goal. United Way donations benefit 21 agencies that serve the community.
Bridge Closings For Inspection And Annual Maintenance
The state’s Department of Transportation says some bridges in Oshkosh and Menasha will be closed this week for annual inspections and spring maintenance. Today in Oshkosh the Main Street or U.S. Highway 45 Bridge will be fully closed from 6 am to 4 pm and the right lane of the southbound lane of Wisconsin Street or State Highway 44 Bridge will be closed from 1 to 3 pm. Tomorrow the Oregon Street Bridge in Oshkosh will be closed from 6 am to 4 pm and the right lane of Congress Avenue or State Highway 21 Bridge will be closed from 1 to 3 pm. Wednesday the Racine Street Bridge in Menasha will be closed from 6 am to 4 pm. Thursday the Wisconsin Street or State Highway 44 Bridge in Oshkosh will be closed from 6 am to 4 pm.
Limited Number Of Ripon Wine Walk Tickets Still Available
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith urges those who want to participate in this April’s Wine Walk to get their tickets soon. He says they have less than 20 tickets left. “It’s always a fun time, it’s a great retail event. People really, really like it. It sells out quickly and it is always well attended. Come on down and be part of it, chance to get into some businesses maybe you are unaware of in downtown Ripon and do a little shopping and learn a little bit more.” He says they will cap participation for Friday’s event at about 550 people. The Wine Walk will run from 5:30 to 8:30 that evening. Tickets are available at the chamber office.
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