Hometown Broadcasting News Monday 5/18/20
18 May 2020 News
FDL County Health Officer On Rescinding Health Order
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says rescinding a public health order that shut down businesses because of the global pandemic wasn’t an easy decision for her. She says they believed that the order was done when the Governor issued an extension of his Safer at Home order. “So this entire time I thought that it was gone, but in talking and working with our corporation counsel it was decided that that would still be valid so just being consistent with and lessening confusion in the community I rescinded the order that I already thought was gone.” Mueller says Wisconsin was getting close to opening when the State Supreme Court overruled the Governor’s Safer at Home order. She says while other counties considered doing their own version of Safer at Home orders, she thought that businesses in the county should be given the opportunity to open. Mueller says COVID-19 hasn’t gone away and we still have to practice the basics like social distancing, wearing face masks in public, and constant hand washing.
Minimal Calls For Health Order Violations In Ripon During Safer At Home
Ripon Police Chief Bill Wallner says despite people being forced to stay at home because of COVID-19 they did not see an increase in criminal activity in the city. He says even with restrictions from Safer at Home and public health orders they did not get many calls for violations.“I would complement the citizens in our community. You know our calls specifically concerning, specifically concerning any type of health code violations were minimal. People took the law seriously, the stay at home order seriously.” He says the one thing they saw was a huge spike in the number of drug overdoses with 7 over a four week period. That led to an investigation and the execution of search warrants at two Ripon residences where methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin were found. That investigation continues.
Target The Source
State Representative Joan Ballweg says with the striking down of the extension of Governor Tony Evers Safer at Home order Wisconsin may still need to quarantine certain areas of the state if they see a large increase in COVID-19 cases. The state lawmaker from Markesan says contact tracers will trace the source of the outbreak and precautions will be taken to stop the spread. “Is it something that is perhaps in one of those senior citizen locations is it in a particular industry, what is happening and what is causing that? I think that is going to continue to be what is important.” Ballweg says the problem with the Safer at Home order is that it was essentially quarantining everybody in the state and not just those who were sick and should be targeted.
Shilling Resigns From State Senate
State Senator Jennifer Shilling submitted her resignation letter to Senate President Roger Roth last Friday morning indicating her intention to resign from her position as State Senator by the end of that day. It will allow her to explore career opportunities. Under state law she was required to do so if a potential employment opportunity could present a conflict of interest. Shilling is the former minority leader in the State Senate. She represented the 32nd State Senate District and prior to that the 95th Assembly District in the State Assembly.
Ballweg Named To Student Debt Task Force
State Representative Joan Ballweg of Markesan was recently named to the Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt. The task force was created through an executive order and is tasked with addressing the growing student debt crisis in the state. Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld will serve as chair of the task force. The task force consists of 29 members. The group’s first meeting was held last week.
Drive Thru Ag Venture Event Scheduled
Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agri-Business Council is teaming up with Vir-Clar Farms to host a Drive-Thru Ag-Venture on Sunday, June 28th as part of June Diary Month. The event will be held at Vir-Clar Farms at N5057 County Road K in Fond du Lac from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that Sunday. Cars must be in line by 1:30 p.m. to participate. The cost is $20 per car if purchased online in advance or $30 per car cash only the day of the event. Attendees will remain in their vehicles throughout the entire tour.
FDL County Offices Closed Memorial Day
Fond du Lac County offices in the City-County Government Center, the Sheriff’s Office lobby window, the Portland Street Annex including the Veterans Services Office, the Department of Social Services and the Highway Department will be closed all day on Monday, May 25th Memorial Day. The Moraine Lakes Consortium call center will also be closed all day next Monday.
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