Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday 10/20/20
20 October 2020 News
Public Gathering Order Reinstated
A Barron County judge Monday reinstated Governor Tony Ever’s order limiting public gatherings in Wisconsin as the state deals with the COVID-19 outbreak. Following a two-hour hearing Judge James Babler denied keeping in place the temporary injunction that halted Emergency Order #3. The Tavern League of Wisconsin had requested the temporary restraining order remain in place while its lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Health Services makes its way through court. The Governor’s order directs restaurants, bars, and other small businesses to operate at 25 percent of capacity through November 6th.
Tackling The Substitute Teacher Shortage
The superintendent of the Ripon Area School District says finding enough substitute teachers is always a challenge, but especially so during the pandemic. Mary Whitrock says they’ve had teachers covering for teachers, principals covering some classrooms, and she even found herself teaching a 2nd grade class. “Some of our specialist teachers, I was just talking to the music teacher at one of our elementary schools and because the P.E. teacher was out and there was no sub she actually took two classes for an hour rather than one class for 30 minutes and just made it work and they had to move into a big space obviously and really spread the kids out.” Whitrock says one of the things they did is put in some additional Fridays where elementary students are home so teachers have the chance to plan and prep because they don’t have the time they should because they’ve been filling in for other teachers.
Highway Project Nearing Completion
State Department of Transportation officials say all major construction has been completed on the State Highway 76 reconstruction project in Winnebago County’s towns of Vinland and Clayton. State Highway 76 between Greenhill Court to County JJ was reopened last Friday; it was closed for construction on April 6th. The $10.2 million project is expected to finish ahead of schedule and on budget. Minor project clean-up and landscaping will be completed this week. That work will not impact traffic.
Ripon Drug Take Back Event Wednesday
The Ripon Police Department and Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County are teaming up for a Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The state’s Department of Justice is actually staging their event on Saturday, but the event in Ripon is tomorrow morning. The collection of old and unused prescription drugs is a drive-through event. It will start at the Ripon Senior Center parking lot from 8:30 to 9:30, followed by a collection at the Russell Manor parking lot from 9:45 to 10:45, and will conclude with a collection at the Willow Brook Apartments from 10:45 to 11:45 am. Medications should be placed in a zip-lock type bag. Ripon Police Chief Bill Wallner says with the current pandemic it is good time to take stock of your medications. “With these times that we are currently facing with COVID obviously anything we can do to help ease that burden of disposing of those medications becomes very important.” Ripon has two permanent drug drop boxes at the Police Station and Ripon Medical Center.
FDL County Board Meeting Preview
Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel will give his annual presentation on the County Budget to County supervisors tonight. The 2021 budget will be especially challenging with the impact on revenues by the COVID-19 outbreak. Among the items the board will consider is a purchase agreement to buy land north of Fond du Lac and to the east of Highway 151 for a future park. The county is offering $360,000 for the land, part of which is along the ledge. The board will also be asked to accept a $900,000 offer for the former county highway garage on Dixie Street in Fond du Lac. The meeting is at 6 pm in the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac. It will be held in the legislative chambers.
Sturgeon License Reminder
The DNR is reminding interested sturgeon spearers that they have until October 31st to purchase a license for the 2021 Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season. The spearing season for the prehistoric fish will open on February 13th for Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, running for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the pre-determined harvest caps are reached. All license holders must be a minimum of 12 years old. Licenses for the Lake Winnebago spear fishery must be purchased before October 31st except for military personnel home on leave during the spearing season and youth turning 12 years old between November 1st and the last day of the 2021 spearing season.
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