Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 10/25/19
25 October 2019 News
Ixonia Woman Convicted In Dodge County Murder Cover Up Case
The 21-year-old Ixonia woman suspected of helping cover-up a Dodge County murder has pleaded no contest to a charge of harboring or aiding a felon. Dakota Schlesner will be sentenced on January 9th. In August Nigel Schultz of Portage was found guilty of first degree intentional homicide in the October 2018 shooting death of 36-year-old Bradlee Gerke of Beaver Dam. According to the criminal complaint Schlesner told authorities she helped hide the body. District Attorney Kurt Klomberg says Schlesner helped them during Schultz’s trial, but she should have come forward at the time of the murder.
Ripon Common Council Works On City Budget
The Ripon Common Council will be considering a proposed tax levy increase of $75,780 for the 2020 City Budget. The Council worked on the budget this past week. City Administrator Lori Rich informed the Council that health insurance costs for the city will be going up 6.9 percent, which was actually less than the 9 percent increase they had budgeted for. But employees will also be chipping in an extra $20 per employee for their premiums. The Council is also considering some fees. Rich says a possible wheel tax and transportation utility are on next Monday night’s agenda for discussion. The Council had already approved a recycling fee for next year, but that money won’t be available for the city to offset the budget until 2021. The city’s tax rate still has to be calculated.
Bids For Smith Elementary School Come In Low
The Oshkosh Area School District only received two bids for the former Smith Elementary School. The District’s asking price was $649,000 or a reasonable offer for the 32,690 square foot building and 2.32 acres of land it sits on. But the two bids that came in were much less at $450,000 and $358,000. The Oshkosh School Board will decide at its Wednesday, November 6th meeting whether to accept one of those bids for the 124-year-old school that closed in June.
Unemployment Rates Decline
For most area counties unemployment rates dropped by at least a half percent in September. According to federal labor statistics the Fond du Lac area had the biggest decline with 400 more people finding work. The county’s rate was 2.7 percent and the city’s 2.9 percent. Elsewhere Dodge County’s jobless rate was 2.6 percent, Green Lake and Waushara counties were both at 3.1 percent, Marquette County 2.8 percent, Waupaca County 2.9 percent, and Winnebago County’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent. Oshkosh’s unemployment rate was 3 percent for the month.
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Thanksgiving Meal Program For Needy Families
Once again this Thanksgiving the needy in the area will be able to enjoy a traditional meal thanks to a program provided by the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area. Ashley Bartol of the Club says they couldn’t do the program without Webster’s Marketplace in Ripon. “They are very generous they work with us to provide a full Thanksgiving Meal to families. So that means the turkey all the way down to the pumpkin pie and all the fixings in between. Last year we were able to give out 83 Thanksgiving Meals.” She says the program is based on referrals and serves people in the Ripon, Green Lake, Berlin area and other communities. Distribution for the program will be at the club on Monday, November 25th. Those who would like to know more can call the club at (920) 361-2717. The club also provides community meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Winter Parking Restrictions Going Into Effect Soon
With November just a week away we will start to see winter parking restrictions go into effect for area cities and villages soon. The villages of Brandon and Fairwater begin enforcement of their winter parking restrictions next Friday, November 1st. It will be in effect until April 1st. No parking is allowed on village streets or right of way from 2 to 6 am to allow for snow removal.
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