2/17/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
17 February 2023 News
Father and Son Facing Drug Charges In FDL County
Bond has been set at $100,000 cash for a 35-year-old Waupun man facing drug charges for a traffic stop in Fond du Lac County early last Sunday morning. Sheriff’s K9 Rip sniffed out drugs in the car that Dwaun Fleming Sr (pictured) was in. Drugs found in the vehicle included fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Fleming’s 17-year-old son Dwaun Fleming Jr of Milwaukee who was in the vehicle with him is facing the same drug charges as a party to a crime. Fleming Jr.’s bond was set at $25,000 cash. Both have preliminary hearings next Friday. Fleming Sr. was already on probation for a cocaine trafficking conviction in Winnebago County.
Webster Foundation and Family Make Major Donation To Boys and Girls Club Project
The Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area this week got a big boost to their capital campaign for building a facility in Ripon. Appropriately it came on Valentine’s Day Tuesday as the Webster Foundation and the Webster/Baker Family announced the awarding of $89,000 in grants to over 50 area service organizations. Before those grants were awarded local philanthropist and former grocery store owner Rob Webster made a major announcement. The family and foundation will be funding 10 percent of the cost of building that Boys and Girls Club facility in Ripon. That would work out to about $1 million. The Club has kicked off a capital campaign during the past week attempting to raise $10 million for the building of the facility. The Club will break ground this spring for the facility. This was the 20th year for Webster Foundation’s Annual Grant Presentation which was held at Hillside Assembly. A list of grant awardees can be found in an article in the Ripon Commonwealth Press.
Site Plans Approved For Ripon College Stadium Boys and Girls Club Facility
The Ripon Plan Commission this week approved site plans for two major building projects. The plans were for a 2,000 seat Ripon College Red Hawks Stadium at 612 West Thorne Street and a Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area facility on East Blossom Street. Both were approved providing some concerns were addressed which included storm water issues, parking, and public safety. Police Chief Bill Wallner brought up the parking and public safety issues. He was concerned about foot traffic for people attending games at the stadium and going to the Boys and Girls Club. Wallner said given the width of Blossom Street they have to consider restricting parking to one-side of the street. Concerns were also expressed about the height of a fence for a playground enclosure planned for the club. Officials want to make sure the fence is high enough to discourage someone from attempting to take a child. The club will be located at the former Republican House site.
State Highway Projects In Green Lake County
Governor Tony Evers Thursday signed a $2.1 million contract to improve stretches of state highways in the Green Lake County towns of Manchester, Princeton, Marquette and Green Lake. Improvements will be made to State Highways 44 and 73 between County Highway U and County Highway T and State Highway 23 between County Highway T and County Highway A. Crews will resurface State Highway 23 and repair or replace culverts along State Highways 44/73 and Highway 23. Six culverts along State Highways 44 and 73 will be replaced. On Highway 23 five culverts will be replaced and five culverts will be lined. Additional improvements along State Highway 23 include replacing three curb ramps to meet ADA standards, installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips, and new pavement marking. Construction will begin in May and should be completed by August. Northeast Asphalt is the prime contractor for the project.
FDL County Wage and Benefit Study
It’s been 23 years since Fond du Lac County’s last wage and benefits study, but that will change next month. County Executive Sam Kaufman says they’ve hired a firm to take a look at the wages and benefits they offer their employees. He points out that they are not able to fill vacancies and are losing people to private industry and other counties and municipalities that offer more. He is particularly concerned about what will occur over the next 5 to 10 years because they have an aging workforce. For instance the average age in their Highway Department is 48. Kaufman says in the next dozen years there will be more people living in the county who are retirement age than there will be youth to fill out the workforce. Kaufman says he hopes the final report for the study will be done by August so they can make wage adjustments for the 2024 County Budget.
OASD Improvement Effort Discussion
The Oshkosh Area School District will be hosting a community conversation to preview and discuss its continuous improvement efforts. The community event is happening on Wednesday, March 1st from 6 to 7:30 pm at the UW-Oshkosh Culver Family Welcome Center in Oshkosh. During the event District Superintendent Bryan Davis and District leaders-along with Ted Neitzke, CEO of CESA 6-will explain the District’s plan. The plan was created based on the District’s Strategic Plan 3.0. Participants will be invited to ask questions and share ideas about how they can support the District making improvements toward achieving key performance indicators. The conversation is an annual event.
Congressman Grothman Committee Assignments
At the beginning of the month Congressman Glenn Grothman received his committee assignments for the current session of Congress. He will continue to serve on the House Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. On the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Congressman Grothman has been named Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. Grothman says he’s looking forward to his work with the subcommittee which will allow them to take a closer look at spending on the war in the Ukraine and this country’s own defense spending. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says although the House Committee on the Budget only takes a periphery look at the budget, but it gives him an opportunity to educate the public about overspending in the Government.
EAA AirVenture Remembers Vietnam War 50 Years Later
It’s a big year for EAA AirVenture which will celebrate its 70th edition of the annual fly-in convention at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh this summer. Dick Knapinski says each summer they look for an aviation anniversary tie-in to highlight and with the end of the Vietnam War occurring 50 years ago aircraft from that conflict will be among the things that will be highlighted. He says for instance the Huey Helicopter had a major role in that war for the U.S. But he says there were a lot advances in technology and aircraft innovation during that war. In addition, the annual Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight is scheduled to return on Friday, July 28th focusing on Vietnam veterans departing Oshkosh for a day trip to the monuments in Washington, D.C. prior to returning at the end of the day’s air show. EAA AirVenture will be held July 24th through the 30th.
Benefit for Bielmeier Family Saturday
A Benefit will be held for the Bielmeier Family tomorrow from 2 to 6 pm at the Redgranite Lions Club Hall. One-year-old Josie Bielmeier was born with a rare defect. It causes considerable pain and bloating in her stomach. Only a few people in the world have the defect. For Josie it has meant 6 surgeries and 27 hours on the operating table. She spent three months in Children’s Hospital and got home just before Christmas. The benefit will include a silent auction, raffles, food, beverages, and activities for kids.
Polka on Ice
The Village Green in Downtown Ripon is the site for Polka on Ice tomorrow from noon to 5 pm. Knuth Brewing Company is presenting the event which includes live entertainment, handcrafted artisan beer, a tent with heaters, and ice skating. Copperbox will perform from 2 to 4 pm with Mechanic Street featuring former members of Avalanche Lilly opening and closing the event. Skaters need to bring their own skates. The Village Green is privately owned by Ripon Main Street and is located in the 400 block of Watson Street.
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