Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 3/6/20
6 March 2020 News
Sheboygan Fire Victim Identified
The Sheboygan man killed in a house fire Monday night has been identified. Officials with the Sheboygan Fire Department say 44-year-old Russell Doxtater III was found on the second floor of the home. He was taken to a hospital, but did not survive. A firefighter was also injured and was treated at the scene. Three other residents of the home in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue were displaced by the blaze, which caused an estimated $70,000 in damage.
Flu A Threat
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says unlike COVID-19, influenza is their current threat and very prevalent in Wisconsin right now. She says influenza has already impacted thousands of people, including hospitalizations and death. With that in mind she has some recommendations chief among them get a flu shot. It is also recommended that you keep your child home from school if they are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Disinfect surfaces like desks, counters and doorknobs. Stay away from those who appear to have the flu.
Vaping Concerns
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Coordinator for the Fond du Lac County Health Department says it will take a concerted effort to make parents aware about the dangers of allowing their kids to vape. Sandy Bernier says they have teamed up with Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County on programs such as a Hidden in Plain Sight Presentation that focused on vaping because electronic smoking devices are dispensing nicotine, which is a drug. But other substances can also be smoked out of those devices. “The idea that anything you can melt down on a spoon you can also put in these devices. We’ve been partnering together on this for quite some time and trying to get the message out to adults and parents.” Meanwhile she says Public Health best practice policies like raising the cigarette tax, getting rid of candy-flavored tobacco products, and putting legal tobacco products behind sale counters has helped reduce the smoking rate for children.
Consumer Protection Week
It’s a busy week for those in the state’s Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Department. They are celebrating both Consumer Protection and Weights and Measures Week. Lara Sutherlin is the Administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. She says their weights and measures team makes sure consumers are getting what they paid for at the gas pump and the check-out register. “Our weights and measures team goes out and everything that you buy that can be weighed we are regulating that and our team has conducted 306,759 inspections at nearly 7,000 (6,849) businesses this year.” As for consumer protection Sutherlin says they have a wide range of resources that can be accessed at their website or by calling their hotline at 1-800-422-7128.
Ripon Competing In Main Street Competition
Ripon is competing in the 2020 America’s Main Street Contest. Ripon Main Street Manager Craig Tebon is asking residents to vote for Ripon. The city is one of 75 communities competing in the first phase of the contest, which will be narrowed to a top 25 and after that to a top 10 by online voting. Ripon finished in the top 25 last year. The winner of the Grand Prize of a $25,000 grant to revitalize their Main Street will be announced on June 2nd. Tebon says, “The quality building restorations and new business openings are attracting a great deal of regional and national attention for our community.” Winners advancing to the next round of voting will be notified by April 19th.
To vote click here.
Agricultural Showcase In FDL Tomorrow
The Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo Center will host the 17th annual Agricultural Showcase tomorrow from 8:30 am to 3 pm. The theme for the event put on by Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agri-Business Council is Farm & Food: Fact versus Fiction. New this year is a pedal tractor pull, Agricultural Jeopardy with local FFA Chapter competing, and a robotic milker. There will be cheese and sausage and for those 21 and older free wine and beer tasting. “Cooking Mom” Amy Hanten will also give demonstrations at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Admission is $5 per person, children 10 and under will be admitted free.
Daylight Saving Time Reminder
Daylight Saving Time begins early Sunday morning. It’s time to “Spring Forward” or set our clocks ahead an hour. Fire departments also remind residents that it is a good time to replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace those detectors if they don’t work.
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