1/18/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
18 January 2024 News
FDL MAN CHARGED IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH
Bond has been set at $100,000 cash for a 44-year-old Fond du Lac man charged with first degree reckless homicide in a man’s drug overdose death. Julio Batista is also charged with two felony counts of bail jumping. He made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County court Tuesday and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 4th. Charges stem from a drug overdose death in the Village of Eden on May 22nd of last year. According to the criminal complaint several anonymous sources provided information that Batista had been selling fentanyl and crack cocaine throughout the county. Investigators were able to link Batista to the victim. Fond du Lac County Chief Medical Examiner Adam Covach found the victim’s cause of death to be a combination of “alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl toxicity.” An injection mark was found in the victim’s right arm during autopsy. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
FIVE INJURED IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY TRAFFIC CRASH
Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say five people were injured in a three-vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 43 northbound near Sheboygan Wednesday afternoon. A 31-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man from Sheboygan County in one vehicle suffered minor injuries. Another vehicle had three people from Brown County in it including a 38-year-old woman and two children. Two of them were taken to a local hospital. A third vehicle was driven by a 19-year-old Manitowoc woman. She was also taken to a local hospital. Investigators say road conditions and inattentive driving are believed to be factors in the crash, which was reported at approximately 3:30 pm.
WASHINGTON COUNTY STANDOFF
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies helped out the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday morning in West Bend with a standoff incident. West Bend Police requested help when a 41-year-old Illinois man violated a restraining order and fled to his mother’s home with the barrel of a handgun placed onto the victim. His 76-year-old mother lives in the Town of West Bend. Due to the possible hostage situation tactical units including the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s armored rescue vehicle were dispatched to the area. Negotiators were able to speak to the suspect on the phone. Ultimately the man voluntarily exited the home and was safely placed in custody. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say due to the nature of the incident there was a heavy police presence, but also because of the need to rotate personnel due to exposure to the extreme cold temperatures.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSE FIRE
Early Wednesday morning firefighters responded to a house fire at a single family residence in the 3600 block of Mayfield Road in Washington County’s Polk Township. The property owner reported the fire advising there was an electrical fire in the attic of the two-story residence. The caller was able to use a fire extinguisher to suppress the fire. Sheriff’s deputies and eight fire departments responded. No one was injured. Preliminary damage estimates are believed to be around $100,000 due to fire, smoke, and water damage to the home. Lifestar Ambulance, WE Energies, the county highway department, and the Red Cross also assisted at the scene.
WARRANTS ISSUED FOR MISSOURI MEN
Dodge County authorities have issued arrest warrants for two Missouri men who impersonated law enforcement officers as they attempted to rob a Hustisford homeowner last January. Sixty-year-old Robert Ledbetter and 45-year-old Anthony Smith are facing charges of attempted robbery, impersonating a peace officer, false imprisonment and criminal trespass. According to a criminal complaint the two allegedly approached a home in Hustisford last January and told the owner that a suspected murderer was hiding inside. At gunpoint they ordered the owner to get on the ground. Then they asked where the valuables were kept as they searched drawers and cabinets. When the homeowner asked if they were cops they claimed to be “higher up” and were from a bureau.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S APPEAL
With this week’s frigid temperatures Green Lake County Sheriff’s officials are appealing to homeowners to check their furnace exhaust to ensure that frost and ice is not building up or blocking the exhaust pipe. A blocked pipe can cause furnace problems or even create a carbon monoxide build up in your home that could potentially be lethal. They also urge residents to test their carbon monoxide detectors. They ask that if you have a neighbor, friend, or relative that could use a hand, to check their exhaust too. (Green Lake County Sheriff’s photo).
PLUMER BILL ADDRESSES DENTAL CARE ACCESS
The State Assembly this week unanimously passed State Representative Jon Plumer’s bill expanding access to dental treatment and helping reduce costs. Plumer’s legislation allows the licensure and practice of Dental Therapists to serve dental patients directly within their scope of care. Dental Therapists provide the same type of important mid-level care as a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner do in a doctor’s office. Provisions laid out in the bill will ensure quality of care. Plumer, who represents the 42nd State Assembly District, says, “Many Wisconsinites suffer from a lack of adequate access to dental care.” The state lawmaker from Lodi says the legislation addresses that. He also says he’s grateful for the unanimous support his colleagues in the State Assembly gave the bill.
ROSENDALE BRANDON REPORT CARDS
The superintendent of the Rosendale-Brandon School District says their students are achieving. Wayne Weber says they placed well when the state’s Department of Public Instruction issued their annual report cards for school district’s and their schools, and a couple schools were also among U.S. News and World Reports top schools. Rosendale Intermediate and Brandon Elementary Schools placed among the top 40 percent of elementary schools in Wisconsin according to U.S. News and World Report. Schools were assessed on students who were proficient or above proficient in math and reading/language arts state test scores in the context of socioeconomic demographics. Weber feels there is still room for improvement which will help students to be successful in school and after school in whatever career path that they choose. The Rosendale-Brandon School District has approximately 850 students.
UNITED WAY NEARS GOAL
Fond du Lac County United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says they are very close to closing out their 2023 fundraising campaign. She says they are nearing their goal of $575,000, but are waiting on some of the bigger national contributors that have a presence in the community to send in their contributions. She says those from the Ripon area who contributed before the end of 2023 will see their donations go to the charities and agencies the Ripon Area United Way supported prior to the merger of the United Way chapters. Those who would still like to contribute toward the 2023 campaign can do so by going to the Fond du Lac County United Way website or mailing them a donation to 74 South Main Street, Suite 201, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935.
ENVISION 101
Envision Greater Fond du Lac will be offering a program in Waupun that they haven’t offered in some time. Envision President and CEO Sadie Vander Velde says the Envision 101 program will be presented at the Fox Valley Savings Bank in Waupun on Tuesday, January 30th from 8 to 9 am. She says those attending will learn about all of the benefits of being Envision members and some of the work they do that isn’t directly tied to membership benefits. Vander Velde says their economic development efforts directly benefit some communities, but the impact really is county-wide because of the work they do on talent and business attraction, business retention and expansion. Space for the program is limited so registration is encouraged. Those interested in attending can register at the Envision website on their events page.
Events (envisiongreaterfdl.com)
Share |