Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday 4/1/21
1 April 2021 News
Face Covering Mandate Struck Down
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Wednesday struck down Governor Tony Evers face covering order effective immediately. Evers says our fight against COVID-19 isn’t over and while we work to get folks vaccinated as quickly as we can, we know wearing a mask saves lives. He urged state residents to “mask up.” Meanwhile State Senate Majority Leader Devon LeMahieu applauded the court’s decision saying it ended a constitutional crisis in the state in which the Governor was repeatedly abusing his emergency powers.
Oshkosh Face Covering Ordinance Goes Into Effect
With the state’s face covering mandate struck down the City of Oshkosh has implemented its ordinance requiring face coverings of anyone five years or older in buildings and other enclosed spaces in the city. The ordinance will remain in effect until April 30th. The Oshkosh Common Council approved the ordinance requiring the use of face coverings at its March 9th meeting in the event the state mandate would no longer be active.
Two Suffer Smoke Inhalation During Kitchen Fire In FDL
Two people were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation following an apartment fire in Fond du Lac last evening. Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue officials say the fire at the Countryside West Apartments was caused by a flare-up of grease while someone was cooking in a kitchen. The fire was contained to that kitchen and it was quickly knocked down, but left the second-floor apartment uninhabitable. The rest of the tenants in the 24-unit apartment complex were allowed to return to their units.
De Pere Man Arrested In Winnebago County For Fifth OWI Offense
The State Patrol arrested a 51-year-old De Pere man early Wednesday morning in Winnebago County for his 5th operating a motor vehicle under the influence offense. Daniel Deyo lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a concrete culvert on County Highway II west of Spring Road Drive. Deyo fled on foot, but was located a short time later. The investigating trooper smelled intoxicants on him and Deyo was arrested after failing field sobriety tests on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Blood sample results are still pending.
Fremont Woman Suspected Of Driving Drunk In Outagamie County
A Waupaca County woman was arrested for his 6th operating a motor vehicle under the influence offense after the State Patrol Fond du Lac Post took a complaint about a possible impaired driver in Outagamie County Wednesday morning. A state trooper witnessed 45-year-old Dawn Bowden-Higginbotham of Fremont make unsafe lane deviations on County Highway U. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and the woman displayed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tests were attempted and Bowden-Higginbotham was arrested for her 6th OWI and cited for operating after revocation.
Ripon Area United Way Exceeds Campaign Goal
The Ripon Area United Way campaign quietly met and exceeded its goal of raising $80,000. Board of Directors President Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says about two weeks ago they send out letters to past contributors because they were about $3,000 shy of the goal and needed a little push. They exceeded the goal by about $3,000. Puhlmann-Becker says he was positively optimistic that with the pandemic they would be lucky to reach 85 percent of their goal, but this was a very pleasant surprise. “A lot of people suffered financially in the last year and people have lost jobs and even salaried people have been cut back I know several people where they got cut back and benefits cut back and businesses have struggled.” He says about half of their contributions come from individuals and the other half comes from businesses and organizations all of whom suffered in the past year. The United Way helps out 17 different agencies and programs that help out people in the area.
Businesses Weathered Pandemic
Ripon Main Street Executive Director Craig Tebon says some businesses have struggled during the pandemic, but overall the downtown business district has done pretty well given the circumstances. He says the vacancy rate at least on Watson Street has remained extremely low and when there is a vacancy its filled fast. “I think Ripon has done better than a lot of communities. I travel across the country meet with other people travel across the state and meet with other downtowns and you don’t have to go far to see communities that are doing far worse than we are.” He says a couple of new businesses are opening up on Watson Street and the opening of the Mapes Hotel in the last year added a new component to the downtown.
Share |