1/25/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
25 January 2023 News
Eldorado Teen Killed In Crash Identified
The obituary for an Eldorado teen killed in a car crash on Golf Course Drive in Fond du Lac County’s Town of Taycheedah has been posted online. Sixteen-year-old Nevins “Nevy” Zoch died at the scene of that accident early last Saturday morning. According to the obituary posted by Zacherl Funeral Home of Fond du Lac Nevins was a sophomore at Laconia High School who dreamed of being an engineer. It goes on to say he had a heart of gold and cared about everyone around him. He enjoyed sports and was an active outdoorsman. Visitation will be held for family, friends and relatives Friday evening at Holy Family Catholic Church in Fond du Lac. A private memorial mass will be held. Two other teens were injured in the crash. One of them, Tommy Koenigs of Mounty Calvary suffered life-threatening injuries. Authorities say he has been declared brain dead and will be taken off life support today. Koenigs attended St. Mary’s Springs Academy. In an email to families St. Mary’s President Stacey Akey says Koenigs will be donating his organs to others. A third teen, a 16-year-old girl from Fond du Lac was taken to St. Agnes Hospital after the accident. She attends Fond du Lac High School.
Nevins A. Zoch Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information (zacherlfuneralhome.com)
Offering Support
Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says their hearts go out to all of families and school staff affected by a tragic accident in the Town of Taycheedah last week that claimed one teen’s life and led to injuries for two others. The students were from Laconia High School, Fond du Lac High School, and St. Mary’s Springs Academy. Whitrock says they offered one of the districts help by providing additional counselors. She says the Ripon Area School District has been fortunate over the years that neighboring districts have come to their aid when the district has experienced loss. Whitrock notes that while districts are competitive they are also supportive of each other at these times.
Bond Conditions Modified For Murder For Hire Suspect
Bond conditions have been modified for a 39-year-old Berlin man who along with his father is suspected of trying to hire someone to kill his brother. Tuesday Green Lake County Judge Mark Slate ordered that Jason Hoppa is not allowed to have contact with his father Joseph Hoppa, the intended victim, and the victim’s children. Last week the judge also ordered 62-year-old Joseph Hoppa not to have contact with the intended victim. Joseph and Jason Hoppa allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill the victim for $40,000. Prosecutors suspect the two were angry about the victim inheriting most of a relative’s estate. Both are charged with solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide. They both have preliminary hearings on February 28th.
Horicon Man Facing Resisting Arrest Charges
A 38-year-old Horicon man is facing charges in Dodge County for a foot chase and struggle with Sheriff’s deputies at a Rubicon tavern last Saturday. According to the criminal complaint a Sheriff’s deputy got a tip that Robert Coffey Jr. had a warrant out for his arrest and was in the tavern. The deputy learned Coffey wasn’t wanted on a warrant but a bond condition for an open felony case included absolute sobriety. Coffey had been drinking and tried to flee on foot when he was being escorted out of the bar. He put up a struggle when he was caught and a TASER had to be used on him. A deputy suffered an abrasion to his knee. Bond was set at $500 cash and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 2nd.
Ripon Common Council Approves Development Agreement For Former American House
A property the City of Ripon once considered razing will be going through continued redevelopment. After reconvening from a closed session Monday night the Common Council approved a Development Agreement with Knuth Brewing Company for 230 Watson Street the former American House site. Following approval of that agreement the Council approved the submission of an application for a WEDC Community Development Investment Grant with Knuth Brewing Company for 230 Watson Street. City Administrator Adam Sonntag said the grant amount they are applying for from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is $250,000. Terms of the development agreement were not announced.
Former Dodge County Public Health Officers Passes Away
A former Dodge County Public Health Officer passed away last Friday at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee surrounded by her family. Abby Sauer of Theresa served as the County’s Public Health Officer during the height of the pandemic. She resigned from that position in January of last year. She was currently employed at SSM Health in Beaver Dam in family practice as a triage nurse. She had served as a combat nurse in Iraq between 2003 and 2005. A visitation and memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lomira Saturday. Memorials can be directed to Baggin’ for a Cure, a Mayville based non-profit whose mission is to help families that have battled or are battling cancer. Abby Sauer was 44-years-old.
Abby K. Sauer – Koepsell Funeral Home (koepsellfh.com)
State of the State Reaction
Governor Tony Evers delivered his State of the State address last night and area state legislators weighed in. State Senator Joan Ballweg says, “Wisconsinites are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Like the governor mentioned, we’ve seen a critical lack of child care, school performance plummet due to the transition to and from virtual schooling and multigenerational businesses close on our main streets.” She says she’s encouraged the governor has promised to address those issues.
State Representative Alex Dallman says, “Wisconsin has three major areas that I feel need to be focused on in the upcoming session and as we heard in the Governor’s address, are a priority that both sides of the aisle recognize. The issue of K-12 education, our workforce shortage across the state, and lastly, Wisconsin must continue to ease the tax burden on its citizens.”
State Representative Jon Plumer says, “With an historic budget surplus projected it is important we find a way to make significant and transformational tax reform to continue reducing the burden on Wisconsin families, seniors, and job-creators. We must also address workforce issues across the state, so businesses have the employees they need to grow and thrive. Continuing to improve education, addressing our local roads, and dealing with increased mental health and opioid treatment issues will be top priorities as well.”
Stop Fentanyl Act Introduced
Congressman Glenn Grothman recently introduced the STOP Fentanyl Act, a bill to reduce the threshold for mandatory minimum penalties for fentanyl-related offenses putting it on par with quantity thresholds for another deadly drug, methamphetamine. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says in the past year there were more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. from illegal drug overdoses and Winnebago County saw 40 deaths. He says the bill would reduce the threshold amounts for fentanyl offenses to trigger 5 and 10 years sentences and 20 if you smuggle it across the border with Mexico. Grothman says to put it in perspective more people are dying from illegal drug overdoses in a single year than died during the entire 12 years the U.S. was involved in the Vietnam War.
Statewide Referendums
State legislators last week voted to put two referendums before voters in April. One would be a constitutional amendment reforming bail in the state. State Senator Joan Ballweg says it would give judges more discretion to decide bail. She says judges in other states can consider a person’s criminal history, but in Wisconsin judges can only consider whether a person will show up for their court dates. The other is an advisory referendum asking whether an able-bodied, childless adult should have to look for work to receive welfare benefits. Governor Evers vetoed some similar legislation during the past legislative session. People receiving unemployment benefits in the state are required to look for work.
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