12/8/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
8 December 2023 News
PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR RIPON ATTEMPED HOMICIDE SUSPECT RESET
A preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for a 45-year-old Ripon man suspected of stabbing and beating a 35-year-old man with a pipe last month. During yesterday’s hearing for Carlos Mendez Villegas in Fond du Lac County court attorney Curtis Julka, who represents Mendez Villegas, asked for more time to prepare since he had just been appointed defense counsel the day before. The hearing was rescheduled for February 2nd. Mendez Villegas is charged with attempted first degree intentional homicide and aggravated battery. According to the criminal complaint on November 18th Mendez Villegas went to an apartment building in Ripon and confronted the victim about a girlfriend he had dated for several years, but was now dating the victim. The victim suffered a laceration to his forehead and a puncture wound to his lower abdomen, both of which required several stitches.
DODGE COUNTY VEHICULAR HOMICIDE SUSPECT BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
The 36-year-old Sun Prairie man suspected of causing a crash that killed a horse and buggy operator had a preliminary hearing in Dodge County court yesterday. Eric Schmoldt is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. Probable cause was found during the hearing and he was bound over for trial. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash scene on Highway 16/60 near County Highway J in the town of Lowell on September 10th of 2021. According to the criminal complaint they found a mangled horse drawn buggy and a damaged SUV. Schmoldt, said he had lowered his visor because of the sunlight. He said he couldn’t see a lot and thought he had hit a speed limit sign. Schmoldt allegedly sent a text message just moments after the crash saying, “just got into another car accident…this time it was my fault.’ The SUV had struck the horse and buggy while trying to pass it. Schmoldt will be arraigned on February 27th.
SEVEN ARRESTED IN OSHKOSH
Oshkosh Police tell as a result of a drug investigation and execution of a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of Walnut Street, seven men were arrested. Wednesday detectives, members of the Vice and Narcotics Unit, and the SWAT team executed the search warrant. The men arrested range in age from 24 to 59 years old. One man was arrested for maintaining a drug trafficking place, two were arrested for possession of methamphetamine, three for violating their probation and parole rules, and one man was wanted on two outstanding warrants.
APPLESAUCE PUREE RECALL
The state’s Department of Health Services is advising food retailers and consumers to dispose of specific brands of applesauce containing cinnamon following a nationwide recall related to several brands of cinnamon applesauce puree pouches. The products may contain harmful levels of lead. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for the following brands of applesauce puree that contain cinnamon. They are WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, Schnucks cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, Schnucks applesauce variety pack, and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches. Multiple cases of lead poisoning have already been identified in several states, including three suspected cases in Wisconsin that are being investigated, due to children eating one of these products.
REPRESENTATIVE PLUMER BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
A bill authored by State Representative Jon Plumer was signed into law this week by Governor Evers. The bill cuts government red-tape and simplifies the specialized wheelchair repair approval process. Plumer, who represents the 42nd State Assembly District, says “This change will help folks get the necessary repairs done on their wheelchairs more quickly so they can get back to living their lives.” The state lawmaker from Lodi says the bill simplifies the process to get a specialized wheelchair fixed under Medical Assistance. He also thanked Senator Felzkowski for her leadership working with the stakeholders to get the bipartisan legislation accomplished.
RAFD REPORT CARD
The Ripon Area Fire District will be issuing a report card to the community. The Ripon Area Fire District Board discussed the report card at their meeting this week. Chairperson Ellen Sorensen says they’ve been working on it for about a year. The report card, which will be issued to the media to share with the community, will stress the progress the department has made following some rough patches with administration and accountability. Sorensen says they were very fortunate that the department has held together while improvements were being made. The report card will share information about how inspections are conducted, who is responsible for their internet and social media, and more. No date was given for the release of the report card which is being finalized.
TAX BILLS BEING SENT OUT
City of Ripon residents will soon be getting their property taxes and will see a slight bump in the tax rate from the City. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says they wanted to keep the tax rate between $8.90 and $9.00 and it worked out to $8.97. He says that’s an increase of seven cents for the city’s share, but with the school district, county, and tech college the overall increase in the rate will be 87 cents from last year. He says they were able to take care of some long standing infrastructure issues with some of the capital projects they’ve scheduled for next year including St. Wenceslaus Street, buying a street sweeper, new radios for the police department and EMS, and more capital purchases. He notes they were able to fully fund the police, public works, parks and recreation department, and library and in some cases expand services.
ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS
Congressman Glenn Grothman says he’s surprised how unsympathetic presidents of some leading universities are about the antisemitism going on at their campuses. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce this week invited the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT to testify about how their schools are taking appropriate action to stand strong against the antisemitism Jewish students are experiencing on campus. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says protests, demonstrations, graffiti, and anti-Semitic chants are going on across the nation. He was particularly shocked how hard it was for Harvard’s president to say that the vilest things shouldn’t be said on her campus.
MAILBOX VANDALISM
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Sheriff Matt Vande Kolk says he finds nothing funny about mail box vandalism. From time-to-time the County experiences a spate of mailbox vandalism. In the past month it was reported in the Town of Berlin. Vande Kolk says it may not be the “Crime of the Century,” but it’s aggravating for the owners of the mail boxes. He says when a mailbox is damaged the owner has to deal with replacing it and notifying the post office and law enforcement. He’s sure they would rather be spending their time on other pursuits that are important to them. Vande Kolk says if you witness such vandalism or a crime the Green Lake County Crime Stoppers would like to hear from you and you can remain anonymous. You can call them at 1-800-GET-THEM, that’s 1-800-438-8436. You can also text GETTHEM at 847411. Tips may be eligible for up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects.
VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER MOVING TO OSHKOSH
Oshkosh Police tells us a 57-year-old sex offender will be released from a state facility and will be moving to 851 West County Road Y on Tuesday, December 19th. Rayfe Paulick will be on GPS monitoring the rest of his life. In 1988 he was convicted in Winnebago County of first degree sexual assault. His victims were 8 and 10 year old girls that he knew. In June of 1996 he was judged to be a sexually violent person and was committed to the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston and has been there ever since.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS ENCOURAGED
Every month, the Green Lake County Food Pantry provides emergency assistance to hundreds of families and individuals in need, which means that the shelves need replenishing continually. Thrasher Opera House officials are encouraging their friends and neighbors to bring a donation of non-perishable food items or a cash donation to the annex/lobby of the Thrasher. Your generosity will help make the holidays brighter for area families in need. And while you’re in the lobby, take a moment to look at the beautiful art currently on display or visit the Harvest of Bargains Shop, an excellent spot for recycled, restored, and repurposed items-all decked out for the holidays. The Annex/Lobby is open Monday through Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm.
HOLIDAY TREE DISPOSAL PLAN
The state’s Department of Natural Resources is encouraging residents to make a plan now to properly dispose of their holiday trees after their celebrations wrap up. State law generally prohibits landfill disposal of yard waste. The DNR recommends chipping or composting yard waste because that organic waste takes up a lot of landfill space, has value for gardening and landscaping and creates harmful greenhouse gases when it breaks down in landfills. If your municipality or a private service provider offers drop-off or curbside tree collection for residents, remove lights, decorations and wires before placing the tree on the curb or taking it to the drop-off center. If tree management is not offered in your area, check out the Wisconsin Recycling Markets Directory online for a list of licensed composting facilities by selecting “Licensed Composter Facilities” in the drop-down menu.
Wisconsin Recycling Markets Directory – UW-Green Bay (uwgb.edu)
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