8/1/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
1 August 2022 News
Hate Crime Homicide Suspect Enters NGI Plea
A Fond du Lac County jury trial will proceed this month for the 29-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of intentionally hitting and killing a motorcyclist with his father’s pickup truck in July of 2020. During a hearing Friday Daniel Navarro pled not guilty by mental disease or defect. He 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. District Attorney Eric Toney will prosecute the case. He says jury selection for phase one of the trial will begin next Monday, August 8th. If needed, the second phase of the trial to address the plea is anticipated to start on Wednesday, August 10th. Navarro told the court Friday he anticipates testifying during the jury trial.
Kleefisch Campaign Coming To The Area
Former Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will make several stops in the area tomorrow in her campaign for Wisconsin Governor. The GOP candidate will be in Green Lake at 8 am at the Goose Blind restaurant, at the Winnebago County GOP Headquarters at 738 North Main Street in Oshkosh at 9:30 am, and in Fond du Lac at the American Legion Post at 11:30 am. Kleefisch is one of four Republicans running for Governor. The others are Adam J. Fischer, Tim Michels, and Timothy Ramthun. They face each other in the Tuesday, August 9th Primary Election with the winner facing incumbent Governor Tony Evers in November.
Vacancy For FDL County Judge
Governor Tony Evers announced Friday he is seeking applicants for Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Branch 1 judge. Current Circuit Court Judge Dale English is resigning effective December 1st. The appointee will complete Judge English’s term which runs through next July 31st. Applications are available on the Governor’s website under the “Apply to Serve” tab. To apply email the completed application and supporting materials back to the email address included in the application. Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on Friday, August 19th. Those with questions about the process can contact the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel at 608-266-1212.
Official site of Governor Tony Evers (wi.gov)
Thefts From Boats And Piers Crimes Of Opportunity
Green Lake County Sheriff’s officials say thefts from boats and piers are continuing around Big Green. Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk asks that residents make sure to take all fishing equipment and valuables with them when they leave their boat. Many of the thefts appear to be crimes of opportunity, so by removing your items and locking them up, the thief or thieves won’t have any items to take. He says marine batteries are also targeted by thieves. Anyone with information about these crimes or any others can report them anonymously to the Green Lake County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-438-8436 or text them to GETTHEM at 847411. You can also email them to getthem@co.green-lake.wi.us. Tips may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of any suspects.
Orbeez Guns Being Misused
Police in Oshkosh have investigated 38 incidents so far this year involving Orbeez Guns. They are plastic air soft facsimile weapons that use water-filled projectiles. Some closely resemble real firearms, such as hand guns and rifles. If they are mistaken for real firearms the results can be catastrophic. There is a current trend on social media encouraging individuals to post videos of themselves shooting the gun at random people. Oshkosh Police have made four arrests for this type of behavior. The projectiles can injure people and also cause property damage. Two children were injured this past week by an individual firing this type of gun out of a moving vehicle. Parents are being asked to monitor their kids if they own one of these Orbeez guns and explain the consequences of shooting these guns at people or property.
Improvements To Main Street In Berlin On The Way
It may not occur until the end of the decade but the Berlin Common Council recently gave the mayor permission to sign an agreement with the state’s Department of Transportation for improvements to Huron Street and Broadway Street which is also State Highways 49 and 91. Alderman Luke Dretske says it doesn’t cover the whole route but will go up to the 4-way stop near the Boys & Girls Club and a stretch east of town. He says the project isn’t slated until 2029, but they are hoping it will be moved up a couple of years. Dretske says the state is paying for the project if the city wants anything that deviates from the design the city will have to pay for those improvements.
Getting Help For Mental Health And Substance Abuse Issues
The supervisor for Ripon Community Hospital’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Department says people should not feel ashamed to ask for help if they have mental health or substance abuse problems. Laurie Rechek of SSM Health says a stigma shouldn’t be attached to those kinds of issues. She urges those who see someone struggling to ask them if they need help or urge them to get it. Rechek notes simply asking someone if they need help might end up saving a life. Rechek says those who need help can reach out to their primary care physician or call SSM Health’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Department at 920-926-4200. For those in crisis there is also the new suicide prevention and substance abuse hotline number 988.
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