1/30/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
30 January 2023 News
Massive Pileup on Southern Wisconsin Interstate
Snowy conditions last Friday led to a massive traffic pileup on Interstate 39/90 in southern Wisconsin. Officials at Beloit Memorial Hospital say at least 27 people were treated for injuries suffered in the crash. The extent of those injuries wasn’t reported. The State Patrol says the crash occurred around 12:30 in the afternoon between Janesville and Beloit and involved 85 vehicles. Southbound lanes of the Interstate reopened shortly before 8:30 pm Friday night. Snow, ice and whiteout conditions were factors in the crash. One fatality was reported in an unrelated crash. The area got more snow on Saturday.
Reeseville Man Convicted Of Stabbing
A 22-year-old Reeseville man has been convicted of first degree recklessly endangering safety for a stabbing that occurred in Dodge County last August. Jose Damian Pineda recently pled no contest to that charge stemming from a stabbing that occurred on August 6th. Three other charges were read into the record and dismissed during last Wednesday’s hearing. The victim suffered three serious, but non-life threatening, stab wounds to the head and neck. Damian Pineda admitted to being drunk and angry telling investigators, “I’m not sure what went through my head when I did it.” A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 28th.
Five Fatal Snowmobile Accidents This Month
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources says entering last weekend five snowmobile fatalities had been reported this month. Department officials urge snowmobile operators to make sure safety is the top priority for every ride. DNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator Lt. Jacob Holsclaw says, “One fatality is too many. This is not the way the DNR wants to start the New Year.” The five snowmobile fatal crashes involved single adult operators, ranging from 42 to 68 years old. In addition, four of the five victims were male. Two of the fatal crashes were in Vilas County; the others were in Barron, Bayfield, and Oneida counties. One accident involved the use of alcohol, test results are pending for the other four. Three of the crashes were the result of striking a tree, one snowmobile hit another sled traveling in front of it, and the other was struck by a pickup truck crossing a highway.
Reported Missing
A missing 86-year-old Kenosha man was found safe Sunday afternoon. A Silver Alert was issued for Robert Badillo early Sunday morning after he went missing Saturday night. He had left home in his car.
Meanwhile, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Missing Endangered Person Alert for 17-year-old Daniela Velazquez who was reported missing by her family late Saturday night. She was wearing red pajama pants and a gray and black sweat shirt when she was last seen. Anyone who has seen her or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 920-391-7450, option 8.
Ice Not Safe On Area Water Ways
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says the ice on area water bodies isn’t safe. A Princeton man died after falling through the ice on the Fox River Thursday. Vande Kolk says the man was likely looking for his dog. Vande Kolk says what ice is on the river is very thin and there hasn’t been much ice on Big Green or other area lakes. He says if you are going to venture out on a lake take precautions like telling somewhere you’re going and when you expect to be back, and it would be a good idea to take some safety equipment with your as well such a life preserver, a length of rope and ice picks or spikes to drag yourself out if you go through the ice. He also recommends calling a sports shop or fishing club to check on ice conditions before you go out or check out the Lake Link.com website.
Berlin ARPA Spending
The Berlin Common Council this month approved spending some of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds on improvements that will benefit the city and its residents. Some of that money will be used to repair the City Hall and Library’s roofs. Alderman Luke Dretske says this will take care of those issues for the long term. He says the City Hall roof in particular is something they couldn’t afford to put off. He notes last May or June they had approved updating playground equipment for Forsyth Park but their maintenance crew has a busy schedule so they are having the company they purchased the equipment from put it together. They also wanted to purchase an additional security camera for the pool area, which will discourage possible vandalism to the new playground equipment.
Childhood Vaccinations Rates Fall Off
A pediatrician with SSM Health’s Ripon Community Hospital urges parents to make sure their children are getting vaccinated against childhood disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that vaccinations for kindergartners dropped during the 2020-2021 school year. Dr. Jeanne Lyke says there has been an increase in cases of the mumps because children are not getting both the initial dose of vaccine and booster needed to ward off measles, mumps and rubella. The national vaccination rate for pre-kindergartners is 94 percent, but in Wisconsin that rate is closer to 85 percent. She says children also need to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough which also require two doses, as well as chicken pox. The CDC says there were a variety of reasons why parents didn’t get their children vaccinated including virtual schooling during the height of the pandemic. Lyke says measles and whooping cough are highly contagious and children should be vaccinated against them.
Oshkosh Sex Offender Release
Oshkosh Police tell us a 57-year-old sex offender is moving into 215 Division Street on February 14th. Christopher J. Sullivan is currently incarcerated at Racine Correctional Institution. He will be on probation and parole until March 20th, of 2027 and will be on electric monitoring. Sullivan was convicted of burglary in 2009 in Winnebago County. He broke into the apartment of adult female neighbors and stole undergarments and photographs. He also looked into a neighbor’s home a number of times while she was undressing or was nude.
State Representative Dallman Listening Hours Scheduled
State Representative Alex Dallman of Green Lake recently announced listening sessions for residents of the 41st Assembly District. On Monday, February 6th he will be in the City of Berlin Council Chambers from 10 to 11 am, the Princeton City Council Chambers from 1 to 2 pm, and the Ethel Everhard Memorial Library in Westfield from 3 to 4 pm. On Thursday, February 9th Representative Dallman will be at the Killbourn Public Library in Wisconsin Dells from 3 to 4 pm and Portage City Council Chambers from 5 to 6 pm. Listening sessions provide an opportunity for constituents to offer their input, comments and opinions regarding topics such as legislation, budget priorities, or assistance with state agencies directly to Representative Dallman.
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