3/25/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
25 March 2022 News
Oshkosh Defense Gets First Order For Next Generation Of Mail Trucks
Oshkosh Defense has gotten its first order for the next generation of fuel efficient and low emission mail trucks from the U.S. Postal Service. The initial order is for 50,000 of the vehicles and is valued at nearly $3 billion. The first order also includes a minimum of over 10,000 Battery Electrical Vehicles. The vehicles will be built at Oshkosh Defense’s Spartanburg, South Carolina Factory. Union workers criticized the decision to build the vehicles in South Carolina rather than Wisconsin. Oshkosh Defense evaluated sites in multiple states, including Wisconsin. Requirements for the program were met by the South Carolina location. No jobs will be lost in Oshkosh because of that decision.
Ripon School Board Approves Catalyst Charter School Closing
The Ripon School Board this week voted unanimously to close the Catalyst Charter School at the Ripon Middle School. The Catalyst Charter School Governance Council on March 1st voted to recommend the disbanding of the school after the 2021-2022 School year due to declining enrollment. District Superintendent Mary Whitrock says it has had declining enrollment over the past few years as more parents decided to have their kids go through the traditional rather than project-based learning curriculum. She says it was a worthwhile and innovative effort that did have a positive impact on the Middle School. During the 2015-2016 School Year the Catalyst Charter School had 146 students. The projected enrollment for the 2022-2023 School Year was only 60 students.
Large Barn Fire In Columbia County
More than 5,000 chickens were killed in a barn fire in the Columbia County village of Pardeeville Wednesday night. Pardeeville firefighters were dispatched to the 30 by 202 foot barn on Vaughn Road for the large fire. The barn was fully engulfed and was threatening a nearby structure. The fire was successfully contained to the barn. Nine other fire departments responded to the scene. Although no one was injured 2,300 chickens, 3,000 chicks and 1 steer were killed in the blaze. The estimated loss was $125,000 to $150,000 in value. Pardeeville firefighters were on the scene for nearly six and a half hours. Several EMS departments, Columbia County Emergency Management, and the Salvation Army also responded to the scene. No cause was given for the fire.
Couple Suspected Of Passing Counterfeit Bills
Police in Chilton are looking for a couple suspected of passing counterfeit $50 bills to purchase items at a store. The suspects are an African American man and woman. Chilton police posted photos of the suspects on their Facebook page, physical descriptions, and descriptions of what they were wearing. They appeal to anyone who recognizes the suspects or has information regarding the crime to contact the Chilton Police Department or Calumet County Dispatch Center.
Public Meeting On Oshkosh Bridge Project
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation will hold a live online public involvement meeting to discuss proposed improvement alternatives for the Oregon/Jackson Street Bridge in the city of Oshkosh. The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams at 5 pm on Monday, April 4th. People will only be able to use the internet link to join the meeting at the time of the public meeting. The DOT’s project website contains a conference call number and conference ID for those who want to join the meeting via phone. A question, answer and comment period will follow the live presentation.
Project website:
https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/ne/oshkoshbr/default.aspx
Wastewater Way To Track COVID
A member of the former Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says one of the more accurate methods of gauging whether the coronavirus’s impact is rising or falling in a community is through its wastewater. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says the problem is that only bigger cities have the ability to do that with Milwaukee being one of the few cities in Wisconsin to have that capability. He says it is a more reliable method of gauging the virus’s activity in a community. Puhlmann-Becker says it is a scientific method to track virus activity that could help us out down the road.
Perceived American Weakness
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson feels weak leadership moves by the Biden Administration helped to create a perception of weakness that emboldened Russia to attack Ukraine in the first place. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says it is not just one thing but a number of thing adding up like the rush of illegal immigrants into the country on our southern borders, federal spending that pushed inflation, and the way we surrendered Afghanistan. He says at the heart of it though has been the administration’s inability to heal and unify the nation which was one of President Biden’s initial goals.
FDL Assistant Fire Chief Retiring
The Fond du Lac City Council Wednesday honored Assistant Fire Chief Todd Janquart on his upcoming retirement. He was presented with a copy of a proclamation and a key to the city by Council President Kay Miller. Janquart served with Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue for 25 years. He is currently oversees the Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division. His expected retirement date is next Thursday.
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