4/28/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
28 April 2023 News
DODGE COUNTY HUBER WALK AWAY
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a Huber Inmate walk away. Thirty-six-year-old Michael Kirk failed to return from work release permitted through his court-ordered Huber privileges. An active arrest warrant was issued through Dodge County. Kirk’s last known residence was in the City of Beaver Dam on North Center Street. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Michael Kirk is asked not to make contact with him. Instead contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 920-386-3726 or call your local law enforcement agency. (Dodge County Jail Photo above of Michael Kirk)
SHARED REVENUE PLAN UNVEILED
Assembly Republicans and officials from around the state Thursday unveiled a plan that would provide unrestricted shared revenue aid to counties and municipalities. State Representative Alex Dallman says the plan includes using $1.5 billion in sales tax revenue to fund shared revenue to local government. That money would include $300 million in new money to encourage economic innovation, $227 million for law enforcement, first responders, and public works. It would also fund local government upgrades for 911 dispatch systems. The plan also calls for elimination of the personal property tax and a minimum of a 10 percent increase in shared revenue for every municipality. Representative Dallman says he’s proud of the plan and grateful he had the opportunity to be a voice for rural Wisconsin.
LARGE BOG THAT BLOCKED RAT RIVER ACCESS NO LONGER AN OBSTACLE
The large bog that blocked boat access from the Rat River to the Wolf River has been cleared from the waterway. That’s thanks to winds which pushed the 200 foot by 120 foot bog out of the way. The bog had gotten wedged in the river last Saturday blocking navigation for boats. Despite spending several hours that day trying to remove the impediment the DNR and Boom Bay and Poy Sippi Fire Departments were not able to. Leave it up to Mother Nature to take care of the issue.
RIBBON CUTTING PLANNED FOR PEOPLE IN NEED DROP BOXES
Ribbon cutting ceremonies will be held in Ripon and North Fond du Lac on Wednesday, May 10th for drop boxes for items to help people in need. Five participants of Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Leadership Fond du Lac Program came up with the idea. In partnership with Hope on the Block, the pantries will not only contain physical resources for people in need, but also provide them with a list of resources that can help them on a more permanent basis. Each drop box will be available 24/7 and contain items such as toiletries, feminine hygiene products, oral hygiene products, diapers, wipes, gloves and socks. The Ripon box will be located outside of the Traded Treasures & Community Food Pantry. In North Fond du Lac the box will be located outside the Spillman Library. The ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 10th in Ripon will be at 9 am and 11 am in North Fond du Lac at the host locations. Leadership Fond du Lac team member Mandy Kimes says, “We hope that this resource will help fill a gap when a need suddenly arises or at a time that is outside the hours of operation for area food pantries or shelters.”
WAUPUN LOW SPEED VEHICLE CONCERNS
Waupun Police say there has been some chatter around town about golf carts being driven on the roadways. Police point out there is a difference between a golf cart and Low Speed Vehicle or LSV and Neighborhood Electric Vehicle or NEV. A low-speed vehicle must meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and must have a certification label stating that the vehicle meets those standards. Most LSV’s in Waupun look like golf carts, but a regular golf cart is not considered an LSV because they don’t have the certification and safety features. Waupun Police are asking residents to brush up on their LSV information at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.
Wisconsin DMV Official Government Site – Low-speed vehicle (LSV) (wisconsindot.gov)
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN ON FEDERAL HIRING
Congressman Glenn Grothman feels the Biden Administration has gone too far with diversity and inclusion when it comes to federal hiring. He notes one study found that during President Biden’s first two years of the 97 federal judges appointed only 5 were white and two of those were gay. He says Biden is too focused on the numbers and not who the best people are for the job. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says another example was an inexperienced air traffic controller in Texas who may have been responsible for a near mid-air collision between two planes. He says people need to speak up, but politicians are afraid that if they do they will be labeled as racist.
CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS
Recently Wisconsin celebrated the third anniversary of the passing of the constitutional amendment known as “Marsy’s Law” which gives crime victims’ rights helping level the playing field between them and those accused of the crimes against them. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says he’s seen those rights used in courtrooms in the county by crime victims. Victims can ask to be heard during bond hearings, when a request has been made for an adjournment, and during sentencing. Toney cites two changes as really making a difference. One of them is protecting the privacy of victims by keeping their names out of criminal complaints that are made public. Victims can also ask that a case be moved forward without reasonable delay. This week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
AUSTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH
The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Autism prevalence rates show 1 in 36 children or about 2.8 percent of the population have some form of autism. Meg Puddy is the Manager of Autism Services for the SSM Health Treffert Center in Fond du Lac. She says there is no one common form of Autism. She says children with Autism may interact, communicate, and socialize with others differently. She says parents who suspect their child may be autistic should not panic about it. She recommends consulting with your pediatrician, check to see if the Treffert Center can be of assistance, also check the resources offered by the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin. More importantly she asks them to remember that “Love is a good therapist” and building a positive relationship can really help. April is Autism Acceptance Month.
DODGE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL CEREMONY
The Dodge County Law Enforcement Association will hold its annual law enforcement memorial ceremony next month to honor fallen law enforcement officers who paid the ultimate price in service to their communities. The memorial ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 17th at 11:15 am at the Dodge County Law Enforcement Memorial Site in front of the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau. The event is open to the public. The keynote speaker for the event will be Chief Justice, Annette Ziegler of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Over the years a dozen law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Dodge County.
MPTC COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER TABBED
Dave Ertmer, chief operating officer at West Bend Mutual Insurance, will be the keynote speaker for the 2023 Commencement Ceremony for Moraine Park Technical College. The ceremony is Saturday, May 20th at Fond du Lac High School. Ertmer is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree and has almost 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined West Bend Mutual Insurance in 2009 after working for General Casualty Insurance for 15 years in various leadership roles. He is currently chief operating officer for West Bend Mutual Insurance. He also has leadership roles with the West Bend Mutual Charitable Fund, Family Promise of Washington County, the American Red Cross of Southeast Wisconsin, and the West Bend Police and Fire Commission.
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