1/9/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
9 January 2023 News
Domestic Violence Incident In FDL
Police in Fond du Lac are looking for a 46-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of beating a 39-year-old Fond du Lac woman during a domestic violence incident in the city early Saturday morning. After fleeing from her apartment in the 100 block of South Main Street the woman showed up in the after-hours lobby of the police station at 3:30 am with lacerations to her arms and neck. She was taken to St. Agnes Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Officers gathered information about the suspect who had fled and are asking for the public’s help in finding him. Anyone with information related to the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call the Fond du Lac County Communications Center at 920-906-5555 or the Crime Alert line 920-322-3740. Callers can request to remain anonymous.
Berlin Man Suspected Of Fourth OWI
The State Patrol arrested a 36-year-old Berlin man for his fourth driving under the influence offense late Friday night in Winnebago County. A state trooper stopped Kevin Pimental for speeding on State Highway 76 at County Road G. When the trooper approached Pimental the trooper observed signs of impairment. Pimental was arrested after field sobriety testing. He was taken to the Winnebago County Jail on a felony charge of operating while intoxicated fourth offense.
Dodge County Treasurer Retiring
Dodge County Treasurer Patti Hilker announced her retirement Friday. In her announcement Hilker said she gave it a great deal of reflection and her last day of work will be on Monday, April 3rd. She says she has had a wonderful career, working with people who have become friends. She says she takes a great deal of pride in what she and her team have accomplished over the past 20 years. Hilker says in the future you will find her, golfing, hunting, fishing, and hanging out at the Mayville Gun Club. She also thanks Dodge County residents for trusting and electing her to a job she loves to do.
Butter Cleanup From Portage Fire
The state’s Department of Natural Resources helped local officials with cleanup of a butter spill that resulted from a fire at the Associated Milk Producers in Portage last Monday. DNR staff says approximately 20 gallons of butter entered the adjacent canal via a storm sewer. Absorbent booms were deployed in the canal to contain the discharged material. The butter has since been removed. Most of the butter left the facility through the sanitary sewer and traveled to the wastewater treatment plant. The DNR says environmental impacts were minimal. Meanwhile Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase says the melted butter caused issues for firefighters. He says it was about three inches thick running down steps so his crews were up to their knees in it trying to go up the steps to get to the top of the plant.
Representative Dallman Will Have More Say on State Budget
State Representative Alex Dallman of Green Lake will have more say on the state budget this legislative session thanks to his assignment to the Joint Finance Committee. The Committee is responsible for shaping the budget after the Governor puts out his proposal. Part of the discussion will be over what to do with an estimated $6 to $7 billion surplus. Governor Tony Evers has already said in his inauguration address that his priorities will education and doing a better job of revenue sharing with counties and municipalities. Dallman says Republicans also believe in the revenue sharing but will differ on education where they would also like to see more school choice. Dallman says they have to be cautious with that huge surplus because a lot of it is derived from inflationary spending which they cannot depend on in the future.
Agricultural Enterprise Area Designated In Green Lake County
The state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has designated more than 40,000 acres across Green Lake and Saint Croix counties as Agricultural Enterprise Areas. Landowners within the designated areas are eligible to enter into voluntary farmland preservation agreements committing all or a portion of their farm to agricultural use and maintaining state soil and water conservation standards. In return, they may be eligible to claim the annual farmland preservation tax credit. In Green Lake County the new designated area includes more than 17,000 acres in the towns of Princeton and Brooklyn. Local government and partners joined seven landowners to petition for the designation.
Wautoma Solar Project
Work is progressing on construction of a 99-megawatt solar project in the Waushara County town of Dakota and city of Wautoma that would generate enough electricity to power nearly 26,000 homes. The construction crew recently marked two construction milestones. Crews completed pile installation on site in mid-December. Having installed nearly 100 percent of the site’s 44,000 steel piles, workers continue to install the tracking system which consists of long metal racking tubes placed horizontally across the piles to hold the solar panels. The tubes are than connected to a series of gearboxes and electric motors to allow the rows of panels to rotate throughout the day following the movement of the sun. The first solar panels were also installed. Over the coming months nearly 240,000 panels will be installed.
COVID 19 Vaccine Critics Use Player’s Collapse
Critics of vaccines for COVID-19 used the collapse of Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin during last week’s Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game for online fodder. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker was a member of the former Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force. He says although there was no medical basis for it some of those critics attributed the tragedy to the NFL’s mandate that players be vaccinated against COVID. Those critics claimed Hamlin’s collapse was due to side effects from the vaccine. He says millions of people have received COVID vaccines with no such reported side effects. Out of respect for Hamlin, players, coaches, and the public the NFL cancelled the game.
Smoking Triggers
The Tobacco Control and Prevention Coordinator for Fond du Lac County recommends trying to avoid situations that trigger smoking if you’re planning on quitting. Johanna Brotz says there are situations and even routines that act as a trigger mechanism for smokers which make it more difficult to quit. She says stress can play into that behavior as well. She says other triggers can include having a smoke after you eat, when you’re driving, or when you go out to a bar, tavern or restaurant. For those trying to quit she recommends nicotine replacement therapies like patches, lozenges, and gums which they consider a harm reduction tactic. Brotz says the Wisconsin Quit Line can supply you with two weeks’ worth of nicotine replacement therapies which can help you kick the habit. Their phone number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW, that’s 1-800-784-8669.
Alliance Laundry Systems Scholarships
Alliance Laundry Systems, based in Ripon, is increasing the amount of some of the scholarships it offers through the Alliance Cares program and is adding two new scholarships. Those new scholarships will go to students pursuing their education at a technical college or trade school. Six scholarships are available for the children of US-based Alliance Laundry Systems employees who are graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled at a college or university, or trade or technical school. Four $2,500 scholarships are for colleges or universities, and two $1,500 scholarships are for a trade or technical school. Two $1,500 scholarships are for any graduating Ripon High School senior. Applicants can find complete details and a scholarship application on the Fox River Scholarship Center website. Applications are due February 28th.
Fox River Scholarship Center: Alliance Laundry Systems Scholarship
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