Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 8/21/20
21 August 2020 News
FDL County Board Approves COPS Hiring Grant
The Fond du Lac County Board this week approved acceptance of a grant that will help pay for the addition of three patrol deputy positions for the Sheriff’s Department. It’s a three-year grant during which the county will have to pay 25 percent of the money for salary and fringe benefits the first year, 50 percent the second year, and 75 percent the third year. In the fourth year the county would take over full-funding of the positions, which would amount to nearly $314,000. County Executive Al Buechel says each year the county will be adding $75,000 of that cost to the county budget so they won’t have to look for that amount every year. He noted it’s been nearly 20 years since they added a deputy patrol position and this may be the only way to fund them. “This is the best deal we’re going to get if we are going to find funding for additional officers for the Sheriff’s Department and there is no doubt we need additional officers as our community continues to grow.” Sheriff’s Ryan Waldschmidt says the last time the county received a COPS hiring program grant to hire a new deputy was in 2001. He notes they’ve been eligible since 2009, but not awarded monies for their requests. The Sheriff’s Department is responsible for patrolling 724 square miles of roads in the county.
Fire Destroys Mobile Home In Beaver Dam
Fire destroyed a mobile home in Beaver Dam late Thursday morning. Two residents of the home on Forest Road were able to escape through a bedroom window and two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the blaze. The fire also damaged an adjacent mobile home and three nearby vehicles. The Beaver Dam Fire Department and Dodge County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire. 911 callers reported the fire started on the porch, but the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
COVID Question
A community health survey being conducted by Fond du Lac County will have one question on it about COVID-19. County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says the point of the survey is to collect data for a community health assessment much of that consisting of updating an assessment done in 2017. But she says the COVID-19 question in the survey is a point-in-time question because of the severity of the pandemic. “It’s a question related to vaccine and I think the question states something along the lines of, If a vaccine would be available would you get it?” She says that information could be very valuable when a vaccine becomes available and they have to prepare how to administer it. Postcards are being sent out to 2,000 addresses across the county over the next two months inviting those residents to take the survey.
Free COVID Testing At Waupun High School
Dodge County Public Health is offering a free drive-through COVID-19 testing event at Waupun High School over the next two days. Hours for the testing are 10 am to 6 pm both today and Saturday. Wisconsin residents that are five-years-of-age or older can be tested. You do not need to have any symptoms to be tested. Appointments aren’t necessary, but registration will be available 24 hours before or the day of the testing at the high school. A photo ID won’t be required, but you do need to provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.
Drive Sober Starts Today
Law enforcement agencies across Fond du Lac County and Wisconsin will be participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign that gets underway today and runs through Labor Day, September 7th. In addition to the Sheriff’s Department police departments from Brandon, Campbellsport, Fond du Lac, North Fond du Lac, Oakfield, the Town and City of Ripon, Rosendale, and Waupun will be pulling over suspected drugged or drunken drivers. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says it is about saving lives and preventing tragedies not stopping, citing or arresting motorists. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 6,058 alcohol-related crashes that injured 2,918 people and resulted in 140 deaths.
East Central Benefit Tractor Cruise Saturday
The East Central Benefit Tractor Cruise will be held Saturday. The event benefits food pantries in Ripon and in Green Lake County and student basic needs funds for the Berlin, Ripon, Green Lake, Rosendale-Brandon, and Markesan School Districts. The Cruise has a long route of 52 miles and a short route of 32 miles. There’s also a Tractor Cruise Chicken Barbecue tomorrow evening from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Heatley Farm on Dartford Road in Ripon. Tickets are $10 and carry outs are available.
To learn more click here.
Sexual Assault Survivor Services Billboards
State Attorney General Josh Kaul and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault have partnered to place billboards for sexual assault victim services in 29 counties. The billboards, part of the “By Your Side Wisconsin” awareness campaign, help sexual assault survivors and their families find advocacy and support services in their community. In Dodge County the billboard promotes the services of PAVE, in Green Lake County ASTOP, in Waupaca County CAP Services, and in Waushara County CAP Services and ASTOP. There are 35 billboard located in the 29 participating counties.
Bridge Maintenance
The state’s Department of Transportation says bridge maintenance will be performed on a couple of bridges in Marquette and Waupaca counties next week. The Marquette County Highway Department will be placing rock at four box culvert ends on I-39/US Highway 51 southbound between County Highway Z and County D. There will be single daytime lane closures from 6 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday. Meanwhile the Waupaca County Highway Department crew will be working on US Highway 10 eastbound and westbound bridges over Wisconsin 49/110 and County Highway F. Operations will require single daytime closures from 6:30 am to 4 pm next Thursday.
Pickett Lions Club Summer Ride Saturday
The Pickett Lion’s Club 7th Annual Summer Ride is this Saturday. Ann Schultz is the chairperson for the event. She says it will be a chance for people that bought their booklets to collect Grand Prize tickets from their sponsors giving them more chances to win. “People that bought the booklet have the chance to visit our sponsors and collect extra raffle tickets, extra chances to win. The Grand Prize is a Gator XUV or $6,000 their choice.” The Lions contribute monies to a number of organizations in the area, including funding three annual scholarships, the Pickett Community Center, Ripon High School Key Club, 4-H clubs in Winnebago County, Winnebago County Farm Bureau, the Utica and Nekimi Fire Departments and highway cleanup. Jasper’s Food and & Spirts in Pickett will host the Summer Ride Party with outdoors tents, food and beverages , 50/50 raffles, a live auction, the Mason Street Band will perform and more. Things will kick off at 1 pm and run through the early evening hours.
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