3/29/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
29 March 2022 News
Jury Trial Scheduled In Hate Crime Homicide
A 7-day jury trial has been scheduled in August for the 28-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of intentionally hitting and killing a motorcyclist with his father’s pickup truck in July of 2020. Daniel Navarro (pictured) is charged in the hate crime homicide of 55-year-old Phillip Thiessen of Fond du Lac who died at the scene of the crash on Winnebago Drive in the Fond du Lac area. Navarro told investigators he was harassed by white co-workers because he was Mexican. Navarro was found competent to stand trial last October and subsequently entered a not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect plea. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney will prosecute the case which is scheduled for trial beginning August 2nd.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced For Fentanyl Overdose Death In FDL County
A 31-year-old Milwaukee man was sentenced in Fond du Lac County court Monday on a charge of first degree reckless homicide for his role in delivering fentanyl in Milwaukee, which was brought to the county where it caused an overdose death on March 27th of 2020. A Fond du Lac County jury found Sonny Lawrence guilty of the charge on September 17th of 2021 following a 5-day trial. Lawrence was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney prosecuted the case. He notes the county experienced nearly 50 fentanyl related overdose deaths from 2020 through 2021 compared to approximately 16 fentanyl related overdose deaths from 2007 through 2019.
Ripon Common Council Will Allow Voluntary Sampling For PFAs
The Ripon Common Council Monday night approved allowing the city to be part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources voluntary drinking water PFAs sampling project. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says Ripon has not tested for PFAs in its drinking water, but hasn’t specifically tested its wells for them. He says PFAs can cause all kinds of health issues over time if they are present in a city’s drinking water supply. The City’s Water Department is recommending the water sampling, which will become mandatory in 2024. Sonntag also said the City’s Fire Department doesn’t use fire-fighting foam containing PFAs. Also during last night’s meeting the Council observed a moment of silence out of respect for the passing of Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel over the weekend.
Fire Destroys Mobile Home In Waupaca County
Fire destroyed a mobile home in Waupaca County’s Town of Lind Sunday night displacing four people. No one was injured, but the blaze totally destroyed the mobile home at E2747 Crystal Road, which is about 3 miles south of Waupaca. Officials with the Waupaca Fire Department say the cause of the fire is unknown. They were assisted by three other fire departments.
FDL County E Public Information Session
A public meeting will be held at the Metomen Town Hall in Brandon from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday to present the preliminary engineering design concepts and project timeline for improvements to Fond du Lac County Highway E between State Highway 44 and Radio Road in the Towns of Metomen and Ripon. The proposed project consists of culvert replacement, excavation, base aggregate, pavement and shoulder widening, and hot mix asphalt paving. The project isn’t scheduled yet but will be done sometime between 2024 and 2028. During the meeting at the Metomen Town Hall there will be a brief presentation on the project at 5:15 pm. Representatives from Fond du Lac County will be available to explain the proposed improvements and listen to residents’ thoughts.
Hire Me Now Event Will Benefit Students And Businesses
A Destination Marketing Grant will help the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce organize a summer job hiring event that will benefit students and businesses. Chamber Executive Director Lisa Meier says the “Hire Me Now” event on Thursday, May 19th has two components with student job skills and job expos from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm and a business expo from 10 am to 2:30 pm at the Heidel House in Green Lake. Student sessions will be broken up into a morning session for 8th through 10th graders and the afternoon session is for grades 11 and up. She says they will help students learn some skills they may not have experience with like customer service etiquette and soft skills. Other breakout sessions will cover skills needed for an interview, paperwork needed for a job, and financial planning. Students will also learn about the youth apprenticeship program. Businesses looking for help have been invited too. Students from schools in Berlin, Green Lake, Markesan, Princeton and Ripon will be participating. More information is available on the Chamber’s website.
Travel Wisconsin – Green Lake, WI | Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (visitgreenlake.com)
Voting Reminders
Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson is reminding anyone voting absentee that recent court decisions have banned the use of drop boxes for absentee voting, unless the drop box is staffed. Also, voters are required to mail their absentee ballot, return their absentee ballot to the municipality in person or take it to the polling place before the polls close on Election Day. Another ruling requires that only the voter may return the absentee envelope containing the ballot. The voter may no longer give the absentee envelop to someone else to return or take to the polls. Finally, voters are encouraged to use myvote.wi.gov to determine their correct polling place if they live in a municipality with multiple wards and more than one polling location.
Virtual Raffle Will Benefit Ripon Community Hospital
The Foundation for Ripon Medical Center will be hosting a virtual raffle drawing on Wednesday, April 20th at noon. The drawing will be shown live on the SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region’s Facebook page. Kim Laws is the Director of Development with the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation and Foundation for Ripon Medical Center. She says proceeds will benefit expanded behavioral health services at Ripon Community Hosptial. There are five top prize packages with the Grand Prize being a 14-Karat While Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings, valued at $2,040, donated by Diedrich Jewelers. Other packages include a Shopping and Gifts Galore on Watson package, Welcome Home package, Links & Lunch package, and Nights’ Out on the Town package. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five. Tickets are available at Diedrich Jewelers, Dear Prudence, Headliners Hair Salon, Hillside Dental Associates, Knuth Brewing Company, MUGS Coffeehouse, Ripon Ace Hardware, Ripon Drug and the Ripon Community Hospital Information Desk.
Deputy Dallman
State Representative Alex Dallman recently participated in the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office training simulator. This type of training simulator is one of kind in the State of Wisconsin and allows for law enforcement agencies and members of the public from across Wisconsin to experience situations that police officers deal with on a daily basis. The state lawmaker from Green Lake says, “The simulator provides invaluable, real-time feedback to officers, so that they may better handle these stressful situations in the field.” He adds it was an “eye-opening experience” and he is grateful to Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt and his fellow deputies for allowing him to participate.
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