10/11/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
11 October 2023 News
SUSPECT IN RIPON DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH SERVING TIME IN GREEN LAKE COUNTY CASE
One of five people charged in the overdose death of an 18-year-old Ripon man is serving a 7-month sentence in the Green Lake County Jail for a separate case. Twenty-two-year-old Michael Manske was convicted in Green Lake County in May of 2022 of two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of theft. This May his probation was revoked and in June he was sentenced to 7 months in jail. Meanwhile in Fond du Lac County Manske is charged with first degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime, marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, and maintaining a drug trafficking place. According to the criminal complaint on April 7th the victim took a pill believed to be Percocet at Manske’s home and overdosed. He was taken from the residence and left on a sidewalk. The pill contained fentanyl. A plea and sentencing hearing in Manske’s Fond du Lac case is scheduled for December 11th. If he maintains his innocence during that hearing a trial will be scheduled.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT EFFORT IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY TODAY
The Wisconsin State Patrol pilots will be keeping an eye out for traffic violations from the air during an enforcement effort in Winnebago County today. Specifically the effort is for drivers who will be speeding or driving aggressively on Interstate 41. When a pilot observes a violation, they communicate with ground-based units to initiate a traffic stop.
ATV AND UTV USE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED ON RIPON STREETS
The Ripon Common Council last night removed a sunset clause for an ordinance which will allow the continued use of ATV and UTVs on city streets. The ordinance was put into effect for a year and the Council was supposed to revisit it. That year expired on September 26th. During the public comment section of the meeting one resident spoke in favor of removing the sunset clause to allow ATV and UTV use on city streets. Mayor Ted Grant quoted from a letter a resident had sent saying she had issues in her neighborhood with underage riders riding the off road vehicles and doing so with no helmets on. Ripon Police Captain Troy Damsteegt told the Council they had not received a complaint from the woman but they would monitor that area. He also said they had gotten one complaint about ATV and UTV use during the past year during which they addressed a couple of things. Mayor Grant also asked those using the off road vehicles to have respect for their neighbors saying he himself had heard revving of ATVs as they went down the street late at night.
MIGHTY MAVERICK COMING HOME
A softball game between members of the Beaver Dam Police Department and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office raised money for a Beaver Dam family whose four-year-old son is battling brain cancer. The game on September 23rd raised $7,200 for Maverick Matuszeski and his family. Maverick’s father is Mitchell Matuszeski who is the EMS Chief of Ripon Guardian Ambulance. Maverick is currently receiving chemotherapy at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He is expected home tomorrow and will take a month off before getting more chemotherapy treatments but closer to home at the UW-Hospital in Madison. People in the Ripon area have also been contributing to the family through a GoFundMe page and during a one-day fundraiser at Kristina’s family café last Sunday. Nearly $19,000 has been contributed to the GoFundMe page. (Beaver Dam Police Department photo).
SYPHILIS CASES ON THE RISE
The state’s Department of Health Services has issued a memo to health care providers in the state calling for increased awareness and testing for the sexually transmitted infection syphilis. Recently released 2022 surveillance data showed a continued rise in cases in the state. Cases of syphilis increased from 1,608 to 1,916 cases from 2021 to 2022, a 19 percent increase. Among those cases, congenital syphilis increased from 16 to 29 cases during the same time period. By comparison, the state had an average of zero to 2 congenital syphilis cases per year in the last decade. Syphilis is a type of bacteria spread through sexual contact. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person with syphilis passes the infection to their unborn child which can have serious impacts on an unborn baby.
FLU AND RSV VACCINES RECOMMENDED
The public health officer for Fond du Lac County encourages residents to get vaccinated against the flu before the influenza season. Kim Mueller says usually the flu season gets going in November. She notes they didn’t see many flu cases during 2021 when people were taking more precautions against COVID-19, but the flu bounced back in 2022 with hospitals filling up with flu, COVID, and RSV patients. She says hospitals can take care of other patients if they aren’t busy dealing with people who have the flu. She also recommends that pregnant women who are between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and adults who are 60 or older consider talking to their primary care physician about getting the new RSV vaccine, which is something that wasn’t available before.
OVERSEEING THREE HOSPITALS
SSM Health’s leader at hospitals in Ripon, Waupun, and Baraboo says being given the additional responsibility of leading St. Clare in Baraboo wasn’t just about a promotion. DeAnn Thurmer was already the President of Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital when she was also given that title for St. Clare in August. Thurmer says the three rural hospitals have some similarities in the care they provide for their communities. Thurmer has worked in the Ripon and Waupun areas for the past 35 years, but she is learning more about St. Clare and Baraboo. She says because its near Wisconsin Dells, St. Clare sees increased volume in its emergency room during the summer months but otherwise it too has a priority in taking care of the community. Thurmer says she is able to split her time between the three hospitals because she works with wonderful teams that make it possible.
SEPTEMBERFEST SUCCESS
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says they got some nice feedback about last month’s Septemberfest celebration. Everyone has their favorite activities associated with the fall festival. For Kimes she enjoyed the chalk art that decorated some of the pavement along Watson Street. The theme had to do with favorite decades and people got to vote for their favorite pieces of chalk art. She says they try and bring something different to the festival each year and axe throwing was one of their new twists. The car show and petting zoo were among the usual favorites. Kimes says unfortunately the weather didn’t hold up for the sing-along outdoor movie “Grease” so they’ve rescheduled it for Saturday, October 28th.
OSHKOSH EVENTS MOVED DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION
The Oshkosh Parks Department will be moving two upcoming special events to the Leach Amphitheater due to ongoing road construction taking place in Menominee Park. Brews at the Leach is a Halloween craft brew party on Friday, October 20th. It will feature local craft beers, food trucks, and live music. It is from 5 to 9 pm and there is free admission for adults. The next day, on Saturday, October 21st from 11 am to 3 pm is Zooloween Boo. Kids will be able to trick-or-treat throughout the Leach Amphitheater grounds. Community volunteers and businesses will line the Leach Amphitheater with treat stations and games. Families can expect costume contests, games, food trucks, and family entertainment. Zooloween Boo tickets are available for purchase in advance at the Oshkosh Parks Department office or online.
3.1 WEB – Ticket Search (oshkosh.wi.us)
OCI ACTIONS
Insurance agents in Campbellsport and Oshkosh were among those the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance took administrative action against last month. Tammy Backhaus of Campbellsport had her insurance license revoked based on allegations of owing delinquent Wisconsin taxes. Richard Bowhousen of Oshkosh was ordered to pay a forfeiture of $500 based on allegations of failing to report a criminal charge and conviction to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in a timely fashion. Any forfeitures are deposited in Wisconsin’s Common School Fund administered by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Earnings from the Fund are distributed to all public K-12 schools in the state and are used by school libraries to purchase materials such as books, newspapers, and computers.
DEER HUNTER WILDLIFE SURVEY
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to participate in this year’s Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. The survey is an opportunity for hunters to report which animals they observe while deer hunting. Data from the reports helps DNR researchers to better understand the relative abundance and distribution of mammals, birds, and other species of wildlife across Wisconsin. Past efforts have provided the DNR with valuable information for managing wildlife species. The survey period is open now through January 7th, requires no registration and observations can be submitted from the field with a smartphone, from a home computer, or through the mail. Details are available at the DNR’s website. (Wisconsin DNR photo).
Wisconsin deer hunter wildlife survey | | Wisconsin DNR
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