2/7/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
7 February 2023 News
Gun Brought To Oshkosh School
Oshkosh Police will have an additional presence at the Vel Phillips Middle School-Webster Stanley Campus today in the wake of an incident at the school yesterday. At 1 pm a school resource officer was told that earlier in the day, a student had brought a firearm to the school. School staff immediately responded to the situation and contacted police. At the time the incident was reported the student and the firearm were no longer at the school. Follow-up investigation located juveniles involved and the firearm. Today’s additional police presence is just a precaution. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700 or if you wish to remain anonymous use the P# tip app for the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers.
Emergency Landing in Calumet County
Calumet County Sheriff’s officials say a 63-year-old Downers Grove, Illinois man was able to safely land his single engine airplane on private property in the Town of Stockbridge early Monday afternoon after the engine on the plane quit. The Sheriff’s Office was notified by Austin Straubel air traffic control that the plane’s engine stopped working after it left Appleton. Its last known whereabouts were south of High Cliff in the Town of Stockbridge. The pilot told authorities the plane’s engine quit about 10 minutes after he took off from the Appleton airport. He was able to land it on a snow-covered plowed field. The pilot was on his way back to Lewis Airport in Illinois when the plane experienced engine trouble. The FAA is investigating the incident.
Ice Rescue In Door County
The U.S. Coast Guard, Wisconsin DNR, and Door County Sheriff’s Department responded to rescue 11 people, including 5 children, trapped on ice floes that broke away from the shoreline Monday. Nine people floated away on one piece of ice in the Bay of Green Bay, three-quarters of a mile off Sherwood Point. A separate group of 2 was found floating on another piece a quarter-mile from Sherwood Point. The Coast Guard says the 11 were very lucky because many were surrounded by water without warning when a crack appeared, breaking up a lot of ice. The group was out fishing when the ice began to break up. Coast Guard officials say the 11 were stranded for about an hour but were dressed for being outside for an extended period of time. Airboats were launched to bring the group back to shore.
Waupaca Woman Sentenced For Role In Son’s Death
A 37-year-old Waupaca woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the shooting death of her son who was suspected of stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of reptiles. In addition Tiffany Powell will be on extended supervision for 8 years after she completes her prison term. She was given credit for the 691 days she has already served in jail. Powell was sentenced in Waupaca County Monday on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety and felon in possession of a firearm. Forty-six-year-old William Zelenski of Waupaca is suspected of killing Powell’s son Rylee Manente-Powell in October of 2020. According to the criminal complaint Zelenski suspected the victim and another teen of burglarizing his home and of stealing his exotic pets. Zelenski had befriended Powell and the two confronted the victim about the theft on Van Street. Zelenski was armed with a shotgun. After the shooting Zelenski called 9-1-1 and claimed the teen had attacked him. Zelenski is charged with murder and a status conference in his court case is scheduled for February 22nd.
Spy Balloon
Congressman Glenn Grothman feels the United States should have shot down a Chinese spy balloon before it was out over open water off the South Carolina coast. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says given Montana’s wide open spaces it would have been smarter to shoot down the balloon said to be the size of three school buses while it was traveling over that state. He also says the balloon continued collecting data as it continued across the U.S. He doesn’t feel there will be any major repercussions from China which is still a major trading partner with the U.S. But he also feels it was reckless for a committee chairman to make the statement that he expected China to be at war with us within the next two years.
Solar Power Notification Process
A bill State Representative Jon Plumer authored would push for more local control when it comes to the development of solar power projects. The state lawmaker from Lodi says under current state law a developer that is not a utility does not have to notify local authorities when they are soliciting land for solar power projects under 100 megawatts. He says the 42nd State Assembly District has two solar power projects going at this time. He says local municipalities and adjacent landowners should get some advanced notice so they can have some say on a project. He says constituents have expressed their concerns about it. His bill would require developers who are not utilities to give 30 days’ notice to local municipalities and adjacent landowners before they begin soliciting for land on a project. It would also require them to come to an agreement with counties and municipalities about a project.
Berlin Housing and Economic Development Plan
Berlin Alderperson Luke Dretske says he agrees with some but not all of recommendations in a Housing and Economic Development Plan put together for the city. The plan found the city has a housing affordability challenge and a stagnate population. It recommends modernizing the city’s zoning code, enhancing the downtown and developing housing options in the north industrial park. Dretske says they should focus on the recommendation about developing housing options in the north industrial park. He feels the plan will be helpful in setting their objectives over the next 5 to 10 years and also in getting certain grant approvals. The plan was reviewed at the Berlin Common Council’s regular meeting last month.
New Submissions Sought For FDL County Flag
Fond du Lac County is beginning the process of redesigning the Fond du Lac County flag. It was designed by Donna Heldt of Campbellsport many years ago. The County is looking to residents to submit their designs for the flag that will then be adopted as the new county flag. It is encouraged that designers incorporate their own thoughts on what appropriately represents Fond du Lac County. Only submissions from county residents will be accepted. Required criteria for flag submissions should include representation of parks and recreation within the county, representation for agriculture, and representation of business and manufacturing. The winning submission will become property of Fond du Lac County. The designer of the winning submission will be recognized at the May County Board meeting, as well as receive a $100 Envision Greater Fond du Lac gift certificate. All submissions must be in a digital format; a vector, PDF, PNG, or JPG format. All submissions should be emailed to Stephanie Dahlke at stephanie.dahlke@fdlco.wi.gov by April 1st. For additional questions contact Stephanie at 920-929-3154.
OASD Executive Leaders Retirement
The Oshkosh Area School District recently announced the retirement of two executive leaders effective the end of the 2022-2023 school year, pending approval by the school board. Dr. Dave Gundlach, District Deputy Superintendent, and Dr. Andy Jones, District Executive Director of Administration, will retire from public education on June 30th. Their retirements will go to the Board of Education for approval during their regular meeting tomorrow. Gundlach and Jones have served the Oshkosh Area School District for 13 and 12 years, respectively, and have a combined 71 years of service in public education.
Exotic Pet Surrender
The Fond du Lac Public Library this month will be offering people a way to donate exotic pets they no longer can care for. The Exotic Pet Surrender Event will be held at the library in downtown Fond du Lac on Sunday, February 19th from noon until 3 pm. J & R Aquatic Animal Rescue will accept fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals, and plants-no questions asked. A presentation on invasive species also will be held from 12 to 12:30 pm. Animal ambassadors will be on hand to meet and learn from, and a photo booth will be available where you can take your picture with a rescued pet.
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