Home
  • Home
  • News
  • Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 10-1-21

Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 10-1-21

1 October 2021 News


Update On Human Remains Found In High Cliff State Park

Calumet County Sheriff Mark Wiegert says human remains found by two hikers in the High Cliff State Park this week belonged to an older man. He says they are not associated with any Native American burial site however the remains appear to have been at the location for an extended period of time. The hikers that found the remains have been identified and are cooperating with law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office along with the State Crime Lab and anthropologists are continuing their investigation at the site. The upper park area will remain closed until noon today.

Drowsy Driver In Waupun

Wisconsin State Patrol photo

Police in Waupun are investigating an accident in which a semi went off a street hit a parked car and pushed it up onto the front porch of a home. It happened Wednesday afternoon when the truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. The semi came to rest in the front yard of the home. The State Patrol posted photos of the accident on its Facebook page saying thankfully nobody was hurt, but it was a reminder about the dangers of drowsy driving. Waupun Police are handling the investigation while the State Patrol will provide the post-crash inspection.

Body Camera Video Of House Fire Rescue

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department has released body camera video of Deputy Derek Rehfeldt’s rescue of 66-year-old man and his 31-year-old son from a house fire in the Town of Waupun last Friday. The school resource officer and patrol deputy just happened to be passing by the house and saw smoke and flames coming from the rear of the two-story home. When he went up to the house he saw the two men inside and noticed their exits were blocked by smoke and flames. He used a Halligen tool to break open a window to get the two men and dog safely out of the home. As the video details they were somewhat reluctant to have the window broken and go out that way, but he convinced them of the necessity.  A lawn mower had been parked in front of the garage and next to an entry door. It started on fire and quickly spread to the garage and home.

Body Camera Video Link

Columbus Man Sentenced For Meth Trafficking

A Dodge County judge Thursday sentenced a 36-year-old Columbus man to 7 years in prison and 5 years of extended supervision for methamphetamine trafficking. This past January Beaver Dam Police Officers and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office set up three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Joshua Rennock. In April Rennock picked up a confidential informant drove back to his house and fronted the informant more than 14 grams of meth. While they were there another person showed up, took some of the drugs and was told to drive the confidential informant back to the informant’s home. Rennock was on active probation during those incidents.

Ripon Considers Open Intoxicants Ordinance For Community Events

The Ripon Common Council will consider a new ordinance at its October 12th meeting which would allow people to have open intoxicants like beer and wine, but not hard liquor on city streets during certain community events. Ripon Main Street Manager Craig Tebon brought the request to the Common Council this week for discussion. Tebon used a model of an ordinance that the city of Watertown has, which he says is comprehensive. It would be for non-profits and would work for events like Riponfest, Septemberfest, Wine Walks and Concerts on the Square. Event organizers would have to have a detailed plan of the areas where open intoxicants could be consumed and have identifiable security. Tebon is hoping the new ordinance will be in place for the Wine Walk in November.  Police Chief Bill Wallner says the proposed ordinance would be better than what they have in place now, which is more difficult to enforce. Organizers would also have to serve non-alcoholic beverages at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Mask Approach Varies

Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says they have four tiers when it comes to wearing face masks in the classroom and their buildings. She says there are the optional and recommended tiers, and the requested and required tiers. She says at this point with the high COVID-19 activity in the community the Middle and High Schools are in the required tier, while the elementary schools fall into either the requested or required tier. She says they know there are strong feelings about whether you should wear a face mask and they want school to be as normal as possible for the students. She says they are grateful for the support of parents. She says it is tough for students because they are now in their third school year of dealing with COVID-19. Whitrock says they have done over 1,000 tests for COVID-19 for students, staff and their families.

Access To COVID Vaccination A Problem For Some

Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force member Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says a certain segment of the population is willing to get vaccinated, but has problems getting access to it.  He says one survey pointed out that as much as 10 percent of the unvaccinated would like to get it, but have hurdles in accessing it. He says an illustration of that would be a working single mother with four kids who has difficulty getting off of work and transportation to a vaccination site. Puhlmann-Becker says sometimes those receiving the vaccine don’t feel well for a day or two and that can be a problem for someone that has problems getting time off from their job.


Share