6/2/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
2 June 2022 News
New Charges For Waupaca County Arson Suspect
New charges have been brought against a 24-year-old man suspected of setting a house fire on County Highway P in Waupaca County and of mutilating a corpse. Steven Eggert faces more than dozen charges stemming from the April 27th fire but yesterday was charged with one count each of soliciting first degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit first degree intentional homicide. He is also charged with making false statements regarding his military service. The new charges are the result of a Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. According to a criminal complaint special agents interviewed multiple inmates at the Waupaca County Jail the last week of May about Eggert’s attempts to hire someone to kill witnesses in the arson case. In that case Eggert allegedly found the victim dead in the home, but didn’t report it thinking he would be blamed for the victim’s death. He was also worried that if a search warrant was issued weapons he was not supposed to have because he is a felon would be found. Eggert is being held in the Waupaca County Jail on a $1 million cash bond in the murder-for-hire plot. He will be back in court on June 14th.
Canine Search Conducted At FDL High School
Fond du Lac Police promised an increased presence at the high school following a threat earlier this week and upped that presence Wednesday. A multi-agency canine search was conducted in the parking lots of the high school. That required a temporary lock down of the school while the search was being conducted. Police say they will continue to work with the Fond du Lac School District and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe environment for all students and staff. Although the search was only an exercise it comes on the heels of a perceived threat on Snapchat Monday that led to cancellation of classes at the high school Tuesday. Police were able to determine that a male student made the comment on the social media site.
Three Running For FDL County Executive
Fond du Lac County’s election for County Executive is next Tuesday with three candidates running for office, but only one will be listed on the ballot. Sam Kaufman filed the necessary paperwork and nomination signatures to be listed on the June 7th ballot. The other two candidates Richard Gedemer and Tiffany Brault are write-ins. Kaufman is a lawyer from Waupun and current County Board Chairperson. He’s been on the County Board six years and on the Waupun Town Board for four years. Gedemer is the Deputy Director of the County’s Social Services Department and a Fond du Lac School Board member. Brault is a Fond du Lac City Council member. The special election Tuesday stems from the unexpected death of longtime County Executive Allen Buechel on March 27th.
JFC Approves Funding To Train And Equip Urban Search And Rescue Task Force
State Senator Joan Ballweg joined her Joint Finance Committee colleagues Tuesday in approving funding to provide training and equipment for the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. Senator Ballweg and State Representative Amy Loudenbeck authored the law earlier this session that creates the framework that transitioned the Wisconsin Structural Collapse Team into an Urban Search and Rescue Team. The designation allows Wisconsin to respond to an expanded scope of incidents. Ballweg noted Tuesday was the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Didion Milling plant in Cambria. The state lawmaker from Markesan says if you talk to her local firefighters who helped respond on that day and they can tell you about the important role the Wisconsin Structural Collapse Team played in making sure they were able to safely save as many lives as possible. She says without the team’s specialized equipment and training, there are things smaller units would not be able to do on their own.
Be Kind
The Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health for SSM Health’s Treffert Center and Autism Services in Fond du Lac says improving relationships and our physical and mental well-being boils down to two words, “Be Kind.” Dr. Matt Doll says there is too much hate which we’ve seen through the Uvalde, Texas school shootings and another mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. He says we need to reach out to each other, practice patience and understanding. He says Love is passed on from generation to generation, but unfortunately so is hate.
More Summer Gatherings Could Spread COVID
With more gatherings during the summer people who have had COVID will have to decide whether to inform their guests ahead of the event. If you’ve tested positive and been through the coronavirus and no longer have it everyone should be safe if it has been more than a week. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker formerly of the Ripon COVID-19 Task Force says it’s up to the individual but it still might be a good idea to inform your guests ahead of the event that you recently had COVID in case someone lives with them that is immunocompromised or may be in a high-risk group. The CDC recommends isolating yourself for 5 full days after symptoms start and wearing a well-fitting mask for 5 additional days after that.
June Dairy Day In FDL Saturday
National Exchange Bank & Trust in downtown Fond du Lac will host the annual June Dairy Day this Saturday from 9 to 11 am. Envision Greater Fond du Lac President and CEO Sadie Vander Velde says the event in the bank’s parking lot at 130 South Main Street will feature a petting zoo with a variety of farm animals, dairy games, prizes, and more. There will also be generous samples of Wisconsin’s finest dairy products. She says it is also a chance to learn more about the dairy industry, which is the second leading industry in Fond du Lac County. The free community appreciation event is open to the public.
Public Health AmeriCorps Grant
The Be Well Fox Valley AmeriCorps Program is one of four organizations in Wisconsin to receive federal Public Health AmeriCorps funding for capacity-building at health-oriented organizations. Those organizations would include public health departments, health systems, health clinics, schools, early care centers and nonprofit organizations. Through Be Well Fox Valley, a community-clinical initiative created to improve health and well-being, AmeriCorps members have been improving community health in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties since 2018. The new grant will provide $259,200 in the first year, with the opportunity to receive up to $1.3 million in support over five years. Public Health AmeriCorps is a partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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