4/21/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
21 April 2023 News
OSHKOSH MAN SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS IN SECURE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY
A 38-year-old Oshkosh man charged with murdering a man in the 300 block of Oxford Avenue in Oshkosh last Memorial Day found not guilty by reason of insanity has been sentenced to 45 years in a secure psychiatric facility. During a hearing in Winnebago County court Thursday a judge sentenced Joshua Johnson to 40 years on a second degree intentional homicide charge and 5 additional years on a felon in possession of a firearm charge. According to the criminal complaint Johnson believed a family was plotting against him and if he didn’t kill the victim the victim would kill him. The victim’s nephew told police the family was trying to get help for Johnson, but he refused it. The victim was shot in the head.
FDL COUNTY BOARD APPROVES PURCHASE OF HOUSING FOR VIOLENT SEX OFFENDERS
The Fond du Lac County Board this week voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a second temporary housing unit for violent sex offenders to be located at the county highway department grounds in Fond du Lac. There is already one violent sex offender housed on the grounds. The purchase would be for $200,000 for a two-bedroom housing unit. A second offender is being released from the Sandridge Treatment Center in Mauston and two others are in the petition phase. Supervisors were given more background on state statute regarding the housing of violent sex offenders and it is difficult to find housing for them when they can’t be located within 1500 feet of a school, park, playground, daycare center or home with children. Finance Committee Chairman Marty Ryan says it’s a problem they will have to come up with a solution for. County Supervisor Michael Conley was going to vote against the resolution, but changed his mind once he heard more information about the placement procedure. But he also promised he was going to be a stickler on the issue.
UPDATE ON STATE HIGHWAY 21 PROJECT IN WAUSHARA COUNTY
State Transportation officials gave an update this week on construction of State Highway 21 between Coloma and Wautoma in Waushara County. Crews will replace two pipe culverts and install box culverts for two creeks that cross under the highway. The new culverts at Little Pine Creek and Lunch Creek, both of which are Class 1 Trout streams, will allow trout populations improved movement up the water way. In addition, crews will remove a hill on State Highway 21 and widen the paved shoulder at the County Highway B intersection. The local Amish population frequently use the road for their horse and buggies and the wider shoulder will help provide a safer environment. The at-grade intersection will also provide a better line of sight for motorists to help improve safety. Construction is scheduled for completion in October. (Wisconsin Department of Transportation photo).
SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS MOVED TO TODAY
Fond du Lac County will be activating its outdoor sirens during statewide tornado drills today at 1:45 and 6:45 pm. County Communications and Emergency Management Director Amy Haase says those two times give people a chance to practice their emergency drills at school, work, or home. She says nowadays there are multiple ways of keeping track of potential severe weather including local radio or television stations, weather radios, and your phone. It’s also suggested you create an emergency plan, know where designated shelters are including your home, and create an emergency kit for your home. This is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually and has already seen 13 tornadoes this spring. Because of the event of real severe weather yesterday the drills were moved to today.
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN ON BORDER VISIT
Congressman Glenn Grothman recently returned from a trip to our southern border where he went on a ride along with border patrols. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says they were on the outer edge of an Indian Reservation when they encountered a group of about 21 illegal immigrants from Mexico who were having a tough go of it. He says the drug cartels had dropped the group off about 2 hours from the border. Congressman Grothman says drug cartels use the illegal immigrants to get their drugs across the border dropping off groups of immigrants who want to live in the U.S. He says all the people being dropped off to cross the border keep the border patrol busy while others are smuggling drugs across.
WAUPUN SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER
Officials in Waupun hosted a visit by Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfield last week. One of the places she toured was the current Senior Center. The city received a nearly $5 million Neighborhood Investment Grant that will be used to build a new Senior/Community Center. Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop says it will have all the things you would expect to see at a Senior Center, but it will double as a community center(where people of all ages can visit to play basketball or even pickle ball. An ad-hoc committee was formed to suggest the design for the building. Bishop says the groundbreaking will be sometime this fall with the center opening in late 2024. (City of Waupun photo: Blumenfield and Bishop).
ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT IN RIPON SUNDAY
Sunday Grant’s PackageHub of Ripon is holding an electronic waste recycling event from 10 am to 4 pm. It will be next to the Ripon Town offices at 625 South Douglas Street. Those participating should enter South Douglas Street from the south off of State Highway 23. Grant’s owner Theodore Grant says they will take some items for no fees, but there will be fees for others due to labor and shipping costs. He says if you bring in a computer or laptop it’s up to you whether you want to wipe its memory first. Some items like batteries and light bulbs they won’t be accepting. You can find lists and details about the event at Grants Stores.com. Grant says if Sunday’s drive-through event is successful they hope to do it on an annual basis.
FDL COUNTY SHERIFF’S LIEUTENANT HONORED
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Lieutenant of Detectives Chris Randall this week was honored by the Internet Crimes Against Children agency as this year’s Excellence in Outreach and Prevention Award winner. The award is presented to an agency that excels in providing information and training throughout the community on internet safety tips for children and parents and is an extension of the work done throughout the year by the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputies assigned throughout the county. Deputy Tyler Tikkanen who works with the Oakfield School District, Deputy Steven Kastenschmidt who works in the Laconia School District, and Deputy Kiernan Weed who works in the Campbellsport School District conduct Internet Safety presentations at their respective districts throughout the year. Those deputies also hold ACE or Anti-Crime Education courses for students throughout the year where they learn about ways to keep themselves safe in today’s world and especially on the internet. The Detective Bureau, headed by Lieutenant Randall, follow-up on numerous complaints throughout the year dealing with Internet Crimes Against Children-related investigations. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
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