Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 12/11/20
11 December 2020 News
FDL Man Facing Fleeing Charge In Dodge County
A 49-year-old Fond du Lac man is facing a fleeing charge in Dodge County for leading Beaver Dam Police on a chase last month. Patrick Gipson was wanted by Fond du Lac County authorities on November 6th for a hit-and-run accident involving a child when Beaver Dam Police spotted him on Highway 151. They chased him toward Columbia County with speeds reaching nearly 90 miles an hour. A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy deployed a tire deflation device that disabled Gipson’s vehicle. He will make his initial appearance in Dodge County court on the felony fleeing charge January 11th.
Markesan Police Warn Of Online Shopping Scams
Markesan Police are warning residents about scams capitalizing on people’s online shopping. Police in the past few weeks they’ve received complaints about scams involving Amazon and other online stores in which the scammer tries to steal money from people. The scammer calls, texts or emails someone and tells them that their Amazon or some other account is frozen. Reasons given for that include a pending charge for a large amount of money, a suspicious purchase or they tell you they are trying to track down a lost package. The caller will ask for personal, banking or credit card information. Police say if you want to check on an order log into your Amazon account and any issues with the order will be posted along with information on how to remedy that.
Berlin Family Hit By Misfortune
A lot of families are having a tough time this holiday season, but a Berlin family has been hit harder than most. Chris Wittchow tells us her son Jon Erdmann, who lives in Berlin, has been out of work with stomach issues after an infection in his intestine caused it to burst. Then on November 28th Jon’s daughter, 15-year-old McKayla, was in a traffic accident that left her bedridden and unable to move despite three surgeries. Chris started a Go Fund Me page to help with doctor bills and family expenses. Chris and her other son Jim Erdmann have been making mortgage and utility payments for Jon and his family to help them out. They hope to raise $10,000 through the Go Fund Me page.
Fundraiser by Christine Wittchow : Help Mckayla walk again (gofundme.com)
COVID Vaccine Distribution
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says there are still a lot of unknowns about how they will vaccinate the public once the COVID-19 vaccines become available for mass distribution. She says they will be up for the challenge, but one thing they tried was drive-through flu vaccinations this fall for school children which could be a model for the way they deliver the COVID vaccine. “I do know that we will have it set up so you can come to a designated spot on designated days to get the vaccine and it would be available for the whole county.” She says whether the vaccine will be available through your primary health care provider and pharmacies like flu shots is something still being worked out. Mueller also says people will need two doses, which will have to be given 21 to 28 days apart depending on the manufacturer.
Air America Act
A bill by Congressman Glenn Grothman would right a long time wrong by recognizing American pilots who flew covert missions for the CIA during the Vietnam War. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says about 500 pilots worked for Air America from 1950 to 1976 and those who did during the Vietnam War weren’t given credit for working for the U.S. Government, which affects retirement benefits. “So they ran airlines frequently out of Thailand, over Laos. They would pick up troops in trouble they would drop off supplies not only to American troops, but our allies the Hmong.” Grothman’s bill would allow those pilots and their families’ access to the federal benefits they deserve. A Senate version of the bill by Senator Marco Rubio also has gained bipartisan support.
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
Ripon Area Fire District Chief Tim Saul says a couple of reminders should keep your home safe from fire this holiday season. He notes decorating for the season isn’t something you should take for granted for example a frayed extension cord or using too many of them could lead to a fire. “So you need to take precautions not to use too many extension cords. Don’t overload the extension cords. Check yours I just checked mine I had a brittle extension cord from probably from 15 years ago, just things like that. Check your extension cords make sure you’re not overloading them and make sure you’re not overloading the main outlet that everything gets plugged into.” He recommends electric candles rather than the real ones, but if you must use the real thing make sure there is nothing flammable around them and that they are out if you leave. He also urges residents to turn off their Christmas tree lights if they leave the home and if it is a real tree that it is well-watered during the Christmas season. According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires each year between 2014 and 2018 that started with a Christmas tree. Saul also says working smoke detectors are something you should have in your home.
Santa Tours Continue In Ripon
Santa continues his neighborhood tours of Ripon this weekend courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce and Ripon Area Fire District. He arrives via fire truck instead of his traditional sleigh and fire sirens will announce his presence in those neighborhoods. The tour is being done by wards so Saturday he will visit Wards 11 and 5 from 10 am to Noon and Wards 3, 4, 6 and 10 Sunday from 1 to 3 pm. It’s a socially distant event so kids will have to wave from their front porches or sidewalks. A Ward map is available on the Chamber’s website under the Dickens of a Christmas tab. There’s also a drive-through opportunity at Mr. and Mrs. P’s Eatery in Ripon Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm.
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