7/19/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
19 July 2023 News
RIPON DRUG INVESTIGATION
Ripon Police used surveillance video, cell phone records and other information during a 3 ½ month investigation that led to the charging of four Ripon residents and one resident of Monroe for their involvement in the drug overdose death of an 18-year-old Ripon man. According to the criminal complaint the victim took a Percocet pill on April 7th that contained the deadly drug Fentanyl. When he overdosed one of the suspects threw him over his shoulder and took the victim from the home they were in outside and left him on a sidewalk. His money and drugs were tossed into Silver Creek. Police used cell phone records to trace the suspects’ movement the night before and the early morning of the victim’s death and surveillance video from two churches and a school. Police also gathered information from threads of messages on cell phones they seized and cell phone records they got through warrants. Ripon Police Chief William Wallner says every officer in his department was involved in some way with the case. He says, “The victim in this case was a son, a friend, and community member.” You can read more at Hometown Broadcasting.com.
FORMER YOUTH CAMP COUNSELOR SENTENCED ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE
The 34-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man suspected of touching a 10-year-old’s genitals at a religious camp in Waushara County has been sentenced for one count of second degree sexual assault of a child. Remington Nystrom has been sentenced to seven years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision. In April he entered a no contest plea to the charge. He was suspected of committing the act at the Mount Morris Camp and Retreat Center in Waushara County in July of 2009 when he was a camp counselor. The victim reported the assault to the Attorney General’s Clergy and Faith Leader Initiative. Nystom was added to the state’s sex offender registry in 2019 after pleading no contest to fourth- degree sexual assault of a child and causing mental harm to a child charges in a separate Waushara County case.
ARSON SUSPECT CONVICTED
A 25-year-old man suspected of setting a house fire on County Highway P in Waupaca County in April of last year rather than reporting a man’s death was convicted Monday in Waupaca County court. Steven Eggert entered an Alford plea to one count of soliciting first degree intentional homicide. It is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges evidence would likely lead to a conviction. He also entered no contest pleas to arson, mutilating a corpse and other charges. Other charges were dismissed. According to a criminal complaint during an investigation in May of 2022 multiple inmates at the Waupaca County Jail were interviewed about Eggert’s attempts to hire someone to kill witnesses in the arson case. In that case Eggert found a 62-year-old man dead in the home but didn’t report it thinking he would be blamed for the man’s death. He was also worried that if a search warrant was issued weapons he was not supposed to have because he is a felon would be found. A sentencing date has not been scheduled yet.
BPJ PRINCIPAL RESIGNS
Barlow Park Journey Elementary Principal Dr. Tanya Sanderfoot (shown) has resigned her position. Ripon Area School District Superintendent Mary Whitrock informed District families Monday. Whitrock says she appreciates the leadership Sanderfoot has provided Barlow Park Journey over the past 8 years. Dr. Sanderfoot, who earned her doctorate in 2021, stated she wishes to spend more time with her family and pursue a position at Brain Balance Learning Center. Whitrock says she is looking forward to working with staff, students, and parents to hire the next leader for the two innovative Early Childhood-2nd grade schools. She says the goal is to have a principal in place by the start of the school year. Dr. Whitrock says Barlow Park Journey families are welcome to share their input as the district goes through a selection process. That includes offering to be a member of the interview team on July 31st and August 3rd. Finalist meet and greet sessions will be held on August 3rd. The position is currently posted and it is hoped a candidate will be recommended at a special meeting of the school board on August 10th.
HIDDEN CAMERA INVESTIGATION
A 45-year-old West Bend man is suspected of secretly recording people in a public bathroom at Froedtert West Bend Hospital. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say the man was arrested last Friday for allegedly capturing images on a camera mounted underneath a restroom sink. Investigators say the man, A Froedtert health support staff employee admitted to investigators he had been placing the camera inside the same bathroom for the past several months and then saving some of the captured footage. West Bend Police uncovered information during an unrelated investigation and passed along the information to the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s investigators found the camera under the sink in the restroom used by both staff and the public. The suspect is being held in the County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. Based on the amount of data that needs to be analyzed, and the number of potential victims, investigators need additional time before specific formal charges can be sent to the district attorney for review. A significant number of felony charges may be requested.
SEVENTH OWI
A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy arrested at 55-year-old Lodi man for his 7th operating while under the influence offense during a traffic stop on State Highway 60 near Interstate 39-90-94 last Thursday morning. David Miller was pulled over for a registration violation. When the deputy made contact with him Miller showed several signs that he was impaired and Miller was driving without a valid driver’s license. A probable cause search was also completed and cocaine was found on Miller’s person. Miller was arrested and was taken to the County Jail in Portage. He’s facing OWI and cocaine possession charges in addition to several traffic citations. (Columbia County Sheriff’s Jail photo).
SPECIAL BADGE
Those attending the Fond du Lac County Fair this week may notice Sheriff’s deputies wearing a special badge. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says the department is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year and they wanted to do something special to honor the milestone. He says each deputy was given the option of purchasing the special badge which notes the years 1848 to 2023. He says today’s badges have 7 points on them which this badge features, but it also has an “old school” 5-star badge in the middle of it. Sheriff Waldschmidt says last fall they researched the history of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s badge design over the years, and a final design was chosen that integrated the old with the new.
SING ALONG INVITATION
Officials at the historic Wild Rose Presbyterian Church are inviting people to their annual Welsh/English Hymn Sing at 2 pm Sunday at the church in Wild Rose. Reverend Joe Corbin of Omro will direct, accompanied on a century old reed organ by Reverend Tom White of North Fond du Lac. There will be special music by Ann Lemmenes and Chris Cutts. The Sing along will be followed by refreshments and fellowship. The church is air-conditioned but there are stairs. For more details call Pastor Alyson-Janke at 608-547-9096.
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