6/26/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
26 June 2023 News
WAUPACA MAN FOUND GUILTY OF TEEN’S SHOOTING DEATH
Following three hours of deliberation Friday a Waupaca County jury found a 46-year-old Waupaca man guilty in the shooting death of 18-year-old Rylee Manente. William Zelenski was charged with first degree intentional homicide for shooting Manente with a double-barreled 12 gauge shotgun in October of 2020. In February the teen’s mother 37-year-old Tiffany Powell was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in his death. According to the criminal complaint Zelenski suspected the victim and another teen of burglarizing his home and of stealing $17,000 worth of exotic pets. Zelenski had befriended the boy’s mother and the two confronted Manente about the theft on Van Street. Zelenski was armed with the shotgun. After the shooting Zelenski called 9-1-1 and claimed the teen had attacked him. The jury’s decision followed a week-long trial. Sentencing has been set for August 22nd.
THERESA CAR ENTRIES
The Theresa Police Department and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office took a number of vehicle entry complaints in the Theresa area Friday. The vehicle entries appeared to have occurred throughout the village and likely occurred between midnight and 4:30 am. Residents are being asked to check their cameras and report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. All entries occurred on unlocked vehicles. Residents are being urged to always lock their vehicles, garages, and homes even when they are home. An unlocked vehicle makes for an easy target and usually thieves will move on to another vehicle once they know your vehicle is locked. A couple photos of people of interest in the crimes can be seen at the Dodge County Sheriff’s Facebook page. Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the Theresa Police Department through the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 920-386-3726. (Dodge County Sheriff’s photo.”
GREEN LAKE COUNTY NOT IMMUNE TO BIG CRIME
A 911 call on Thanksgiving Night 2019 launched a sex trafficking investigation in Green Lake County that has resulted in federal prison time for seven men and time in state prison for four other men. The victim a 16-year-old girl was transported from a foster home in Madison to Green Lake County where she was forced to perform sex acts on dairy workers and “loaned” out to other farm workers. Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande (van-dee) Kolk says they appreciate the collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local officials on the investigation which started with a 911 call from the victim that snowballed from there. He says while Green Lake County is a rural community it isn’t immune to big crimes. “We live in a beautiful rural community that has all the benefits of being rural and small, but we also have to keep in mind that sometimes the big crimes come to us as well.” He says for over 20 years law enforcement has asked that “If you see something, say something,” and that still applies. Many of the defendants were part of a Guatemalan national farmer worker community in Green Lake County.
FREMONT MAN FEDERALLY INDICTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
A Federal Grand Jury this past week returned an indictment alleging that a 34-year-old Fremont man distributed child pornography. According to the indictment Joshua Ozment knowingly distributed a sexually explicit image of a prepubescent child via the internet. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. If convicted, Ozment faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FUNDING
State Representative Alex Dallman recently championed an amendment to the state budget for $5 million in funding for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin. There are currently 28 agencies around Wisconsin which help operate approximately 200 clubs located across approximately 74 cities. The $5 million of new spending will be specifically allocated for the “Be Great: Graduate” program. The state lawmaker from Green Lake says he toured the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area in Berlin and was impressed with what they have to offer. Dallman says in the 41st Assembly District there is the Boys & Girls Club in Berlin, one on the way in Ripon and a brand new Columbia County/Portage Club in Portage. He says the clubs make lasting impacts on hundreds of youth each year. Dallman is a member of the state legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.
SENATOR JOHNSON STAFF AVAILABLE IN OMRO TUESDAY
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s staff will be available for an office hour in Omro tomorrow afternoon. The office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Senator Johnson’s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters. Johnson’s staff will be available at the Carter Memorial Library in Omro Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 2 pm.
SPEECH THERAPY PROGRAMS LAUNCHED FOR PARKINSON’S VICTIMS
SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac recently launched a couple of speech therapy programs for Parkinson’s victims at its hospitals in Fond du Lac, Ripon, and Waupun. Angela Hall is a speech language pathologist. She says 90 percent of those with Parkinson’s disease end up with difficulty speaking, communication and even swallowing. She says before a person can begin the programs they need to consult with their physician to get a referral for a speech therapist. After that they will be evaluated to see if the SPEAK OUT!® program is something they would benefit from. It is an in-person session three times a week for four weeks. She says there is a follow up program THE LOUD® Crowd a weekly group therapy session, which hasn’t started yet but will once people get through the SPEAK OUT!® program. To learn more visit the Parkinson Voice Project.com website or call Hall at 920-926-5370.
NEW SENIOR DINING SITE IN MARKESAN
Senior Dining has a new location in Markesan. Individuals 60 and older can now enjoy those meals at Calvary Chapel at 649 North Margaret Street. The meals are served Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:30 am. There is a suggested contribution of $4. Reservations are required. Those attending are asked to RSVP before noon at least one business day prior to the meal. You can do that by calling Green Lake County Nutrition Coordinator Kathy Mulhern at 920-294-4070.
FDL COUNTY HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS
Fond du Lac County has announced its office closings for the 4th of July Holiday. The City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac, Sheriff’s Office lobby window, Department of Social Services, Portland Street Annex and Highway Department will be closed all day on Monday and Tuesday, the 3rd and 4th of July. The Moraine Lakes Consortium call center will have normal business hours on July 3rd, but will be closed all day July 4th.
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