5/5/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
5 May 2023 News
SPEAKERS AT RIPON HPC MEETING CRITICIZE LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE MOVE
The moving of Ripon’s Little White Schoolhouse during the past month continues to be a contentious topic in the community. Four people spoke during the public comment section of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission meeting Wednesday night. They took issue with the move, the potential loss of National Landmark status and the transparency of information made available to the public about the move. Orlando Nieves Rubio of Ripon talked about the misinformation, disinformation, and deception connected with the move and wanted some answers from the commission, but the commission does not comment on things during the public comment section. Rob Wittchow a Green Lake resident and formerly of Ripon talked about a conversation he had with Commission Chairman John Splitt. He said three times during that conversation on April 14th Splitt assured him the Little White Schoolhouse would not be losing its historical status on the state or national level. He accused Splitt of lying. The Little White Schoolhouse move was also the subject of an opinion-editorial in the Ripon Commonwealth Press this week. It was written by Dan Zimmerman a former caretaker for the schoolhouse, former Ripon School Board member and he also served as Wisconsin’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs during the Scott Walker Administration.
WILD RIDE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
Just before nine o’clock Wednesday morning a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy tried to pull over a speeding vehicle on Kent Road in the Town of Dekorra. It led to a wild ride with the fleeing vehicle traveling through several farm fields trying to shake the deputy. The suspect’s vehicle eventually became disabled after leaving a farm pasture and the deputy pinned the vehicle with his squad car to prevent it from continuing to flee. The driver 29-year-old Cody Murdock and passenger 34-year-old Paula McGowen, both of Reedsburg were arrested. Both are facing multiple charges. The vehicle they were in was stolen. A portion of the chase was caught on the deputy’s dash camera and can be seen on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Facebook page.
STOLEN TRACTOR REPORTED
The Calumet County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen tractor. The John Deere Utility Tractor 4066R was taken from a jobsite on Laura Street in the Village of Harrison within the past week. If you see a tractor similar to the one in the picture they posted on their Facebook page you are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (920) 849-2335 Extension 0 (zero).
UNITED WAY MERGER
Ripon Area United Way Board of Directors President Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says once they merge into the Fond du Lac County United Way it won’t be practical for them to provide funding to some of the agencies they have in the past. This past year’s campaign provided funding to 12 different agencies. Among them were two day cares. He says it would be impossible to provide funding to all the child care facilities across the county. But he says the Fond du Lac Area United Way which they are merging with does have grant writing and administrative expertise which could help those facilities. He says they also will no longer be able to fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Project in Ripon. Nationally the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has two big supporters, the United Way and Rotary. He says they are talking with Ripon Rotary about taking over the program in Ripon. Puhlmann-Becker says the new Fond du Lac County United Way will continue funding the 12 agencies over the next three years trickling down from 100 percent, to 66 percent, to 33 percent before ending for some.
FDL COUNTY WORKER RELOCATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM RENEWED
After a brief hiatus the Fond du Lac County Worker Relocation Incentive Program has been renewed. Envision Greater Fond du Lac CEO and President Sadie Vander Velde says the program came up on its first anniversary last September. It was discontinued while the County’s Finance Committee reviewed it and it was reauthorized. The program allows employers to offer employees from outside the county up to a $15,000 incentive to relocate with Envision reimbursing that employer up to half of that if the employee is still living and working in Fond du Lac County after a year. Vander Velde says the program has few new stipulations. Private businesses and employers have to hire someone from more than 100 miles away. She says the program gives employers another tool to attract new employees.
WAUTOMA SOLAR POWER PROJECT
Alliant Energy officials say they are making exciting progress on their 99 megawatt Wautoma Solar Project in Waushara County. This spring, they received final approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to adjust the layout of the project to place panels on the Wautoma Airport property. The proposal was made based on feedback from the community to shift panels away from neighborhoods and use additional land from the city that lines the airport. In the coming days and weeks, the power company expects to begin working on the property with pile driving, tracker installation and eventually panels. Other work is in various stages of completion. They have also poured the foundation for the project substation. Next they will install the conduit and ground the area before continuing with the control house, transformers, and energization. They expect to complete the project later this year. Once complete it will generate enough electricity to power nearly 26,000 homes.
STATE PATROL AWARDS HANDED OUT
The Wisconsin State Patrol held its annual awards ceremony in Wisconsin Dells Wednesday to recognize employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The event honored 33 state employees and one civilian responder for their lifesaving efforts and exceptional public service. Employees were nominated by their peers and selected to receive recognition for their actions by the State Patrol Awards Committee. Among those to receive Lifesaving Effort Awards were Troopers Nicholas Erickson and Caleb Truax of the Fond du Lac Post. Governor Evers praised the winners saying, “We are glad to recognize their service and sacrifices-and the service and sacrifices of their loved ones and families.”
SHREDDING EVENT AT WAUPUN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SUCCESSFUL
Traffic was steady during SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital’s free drive-thru paper shredding event Wednesday in celebration of Earth Day. About 100 cars drove through the hospital back driveway leaving behind 4,500 pounds of shredded materials. SSM Health partnered with Iron Mountain Information Management, LLC, to shred confidential documents which will ultimately be recycled to make paper towels, napkins, tissue, and toilet paper. DeAnn Thurmer president of Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital says, “Caring for the environment is an important part of the Mission of SSM Health.” (SSM Health photo.)
BERLIN STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC OF NEW ORLEANS
About 50 Berlin High School music students had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans during spring break. Berlin Schools Superintendent Emmett Durtschi was one of the 14 chaperones that went along for the trip. He says the students enjoyed visiting the sites, the historic French Quarter, and street music which included Dixieland and Jazz. Durtschi says the district got a lot of positive feedback about how well the students represented the district on their trip. He says the public is invited to watch students from their various grade levels at concerts throughout this month at the schools. Durtschi feels music has had an important role in getting students through the COVID-19 epidemic over the past four years.
MARKESAN JUNE DAIRY OFFICER NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
The Markesan Police Department is accepting nominations for Honorary Youth June Dairy Officer. The program was started as a way to give a deserving child in the area a chance to experience the fun and excitement that June Dairy Days has to offer. The only criteria for the nomination is that the child live in the Markesan School District, is between the ages of 8 and 18, and has shown a great deal of character, integrity, and courage. You can nominate someone by sending a private message on Facebook to the Markesan Police Department explaining who you are nominating and why. You can also mail or drop off a short letter telling them who you are nominating and why. Letters can be mailed to Chief Will Pflum at PO Box 352, Markesan, Wisconsin 53946. Nominations are due by May 25th.
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