1/5/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
5 January 2023 News
Dodge County Bank Robber Sentenced
A 44-year-old Columbus man was sentenced in Dodge County court yesterday to 12 years in prison and 12 years of extended supervision on bank robbery charges. Alan Schade was given credit for the 342 days he has already spent in jail and was ordered to pay over $2,100 in restitution. According to the criminal complaint Schade robbed Horicon Bank in Neosho last January 26th. Approximately $4,155 was taken during the robbery. When he committed the robbery Schade was out on bond from three other counties and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor. Schade is being prosecuted for a second bank robbery alleged to have been committed two days prior to the robbery in Dodge County. District Attorney Kurt Klomberg says Schade is “extremely dangerous and needs to be removed from society for the public good for a very long time.”
Missing Neenah Man Found Safe
A missing Neenah man, the subject of a statewide Silver Alert, was found safe last night. The alert issued for 88-year-old Raymond Rast was issued shortly after 4 pm Wednesday. Prior to being found he had last been seen in Appleton about 8 am in the morning. Silver alerts are issued for people who are missing and are believed to have dementia or some other cognitive impairment. Rast was missing for the better part of 5 hours.
Opposition Expressed to Iola Car Show Project
Waupaca County residents showed up in large numbers for a Town of Scandinavia meeting last night about proposed changes at the Iola Car Show property. No decision was made about a proposed mining project. Because of the turnout the meeting had to be moved from its original room to a connecting fire garage. In October residents received a letter from Faulks Brothers Construction and the Iola Car Show. It explained the project which involves the removal of sand and gravel to construct level parking lots in six different areas of the car show property. Faulks Construction would need to open a pit to extract and process the materials. Two parcels of land would be affected by the excavations: the larger is in the Town of Scandinavia and the smaller one in the Village of Iola. Opponents have concerns about groundwater, potential blasting and crushing of rocks, and loss of wildlife.
Teen Arrested Following New Year’s Day Chase In Columbia County
Columbia County authorities arrested a teen New Year’s Day after a chase involving two stolen vehicles. The Sheriff’s Dispatch Center got a call late Sunday night about people rummaging through cars in the area of Arbor Valley Road in the Town of Lodi. Deputies responded and the drivers of two vehicles sped off. Those vehicles were later determined to be stolen. Speeds reached 115 miles an hour as the chase entered Interstate 90/94. The driver of one vehicle, a 14-year-old Madison boy, crashed into a light post exiting the interstate onto County Highway V near Deforest. The other fleeing vehicle continued on. The teen in the crashed vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital for medical clearance, but wasn’t injured. Charges have been referred to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
Stolen Snowmobiles Reported
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office is asking state residents to be on the lookout for two snowmobiles that were stolen from a seasonal cabin in the Town of Homestead. Both sleds were taken during the early morning hours of December 23rd. They were seen by a snowmobile rider parked alongside a trail in the Town of Aurora on December 24th unoccupied. One was a 2001 Arctic Cat 600 lime green in color with a Michigan registration sticker of QH4109, the other a 2013 Arctic Cat 800c black and orange in color with Michigan registration sticker of RD9982. Anyone with information is asked to call the Florence County Sheriff’s Office at 715-528-3346.
Dodge County Chief Deputy Retires
Dodge County Chief Deputy Scott Mittelstadt retired Tuesday after a 28-year career in law enforcement. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says Mittelstadt molded many leaders in their agency and helped to put the agency in a position for a very successful future. Mittelstadt was with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for just under six years. Prior to that, he put in 22 years with the Sheboygan Police Department as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. With the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office he was Operations Captain and Chief Deputy. He also coordinated the County’s Child Abduction Response Team and leadership training.
Progress Being Made On United Cooperative Development In Waupun
Progress is being made on the first phase of a $100 million development project by United Cooperative in the industrial park on the south side of Waupun that will bring new jobs and create more tax base for the city. Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop says the first building, a $44 million structure, can be plainly seen from anywhere around Waupun. When the three phases are complete United Cooperative will have a feed production, soybean processing and grain storage facility. It will bring 50 new jobs to the city. It will also create more rail and truck traffic to and from Waupun. Bishop says City Administrator Kathy Schlieve put in some hard work over the years attracting what will be the biggest economic development project Waupun has ever had. He notes the facility should be operational next year.
COVID No Longer Dominating Headlines
Three years removed from the initial cases of COVID-19 being detected in the U.S., the coronavirus is no longer the dominant news topic it once was. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker of the former Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says that’s because we can test for it, get vaccinated for it, and know more about the disease so it is no longer the threat it once was. He says even the billboards that local health departments like Fond du Lac County used to put on their webpages are disappearing from the landscape. He says websites and social media pages for the CDC and other health organizations still carry recommendations about taking precautions to protect yourself, for example stay away from others if you’re sick, have COVID tests on hand, and make sure you have had the bivalent booster shot. Wednesday was the two-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccines being administered.
Domestic Violence Services
The Director of Behavioral Health Services for SSM Health’s Greater Fond du Lac Region says they can help victims of domestic violence. Tiffany Parker says it is a struggle for victims to report, but more so do something about it. She says their Domestic Violence Services in Fond du Lac can offer psychotherapy and for those who need it court advocates. She says they also can offer safety or escape planning including how to find the financial resources to get away from an abuser. They also have group programs available. She urges anyone who could use the help to call their Domestic Violence Services at 920-926-4207.
Radon Action Month
January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause among non-smokers. Radon is a gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock and may collect in your home. In 2022, 43 percent of tests performed in Fond du Lac County had high levels of radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk. During the month of January, the short-term radon kits are available free at the Fond du Lac County Health Department in Fond du Lac Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Kits may also be available at your local city or town clerk’s office. Short term radon test kits are available year-round for $10. For more information about radon, visit www.lowradon.org or contact the Fond du Lac County Health Department at (920) 929-3085.
Share |