1/5/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
5 January 2024 News
SUSPICIOUS DEATH IN WAUPUN
Shortly before five o’clock yesterday morning Waupun Police and EMS responded to a medical call in the 100 block of West Brown Street. It was believed a man inside the residence was dead. When officers entered the home they observed a 74-year-old man that appeared to be deceased. The Dodge County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene. During the preliminary investigation, investigators determined the death was suspicious in nature. The Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crime Laboratory was contacted to assist in processing the death scene. The death remains under investigation.
CONTRACTOR COMPLAINTS
Police in Beaver Dam says they’ve seen an increase in the number of complaints they have received about contractors not completing agreed upon work. Police says often the cases are perceived as civil in nature, but there are times when they are criminal. Police say if a contractor accepts money and does not deliver material, return money or complete work by a certain specified date and time, that can be considered theft and contractor fraud. That type of case would be appropriate for law enforcement to investigate. It would be a civil case if the contractor accepts money and delivers material that has a value of what has been paid and never completes the work or completes work that is not satisfactory. Beaver Dam Police recommend researching the contractor before hiring them. Ask for word of mouth referrals, check the Better Business Bureau for reviews or check the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program for civil cases involving the contractor or business.
IRO INSPIRED DONATION
Inspired by the critical care K9 Iro received when he was shot in October, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office has made a generous donation. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says one of the critical treatments early on after Iro was wounded in the line of duty was oxygen. Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue paramedics provided Iro’s handler a “pet mask” and bottle of oxygen at the scene to place over Iro’s snout, and that mask directed a flow of oxygen to Iro during transport to the hospital in Appleton. Sheriff Waldschmidt says they learned that many ambulance and first responder services in the county do not carry pet masks, and knowing how critical oxygen was for Iro they wanted to ensure every law enforcement K9 regardless of where they are in the county, would have access to a mask from medical personnel if ever needed in the future. The masks can be placed over the faces of animals who inhale smoke at fire scenes. Using funds donated to the Sheriff’s Office, 20 sets of masks were purchased and distributed to medical services across the county. Iro presented the masks to paramedics at Station 1 in Fond du Lac Thursday afternoon after a follow up visit at the UW Veterinary Clinic in Madison. His care has transitioned from surgical recovery to a physical therapy team. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
FIRE INSPECTIONS
The president of the Ripon Area Fire District Governing Board says one of the things they worked on in the past year was to do a better job on fire inspections. Ellen Sorensen says they have someone doing the inspections in partnership with their consultants McMahon and Associates to make sure they get in two inspections a year for each building per state law. She says there is an initial inspection and a follow-up to make sure they are in compliance with state law. To help with the inspections they purchased two iPads compatible with their software. All buildings are inspected in coordination with property tax rolls. She says the initial reaction by the business community was positive.
BERLIN RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING
The Berlin Area School District has created a Community Education and Recreation Department. Berlin Schools Superintendent Emmett Durtschi says with the city of Berlin scaling back on recreational programs due to budget issues, the school district will fill that niche by opening some of its facilities to the community for recreational and educational programs. He says their motto for the programs is “B Active.” They are starting out modestly by opening the pool to lap and open swim programs for only $2. Anyone can take advantage of it whether they are community residents or not. Durtschi says with their facilities they will have all kinds of opportunities for adult programs as well. He says they can use the school kitchens for cooking classes or other classrooms for arts and crafts for example. He says there will be minimal fees for materials for the programs they create.
SOUTHERN BORDER CRISIS
Prior to the Christmas holidays U.S. Senator Ron Johnson held a roundtable in Winnebago County to discuss the Southern Border Crisis and how illegal immigrants are affecting local services. He says during a similar roundtable in Whitewater officials talked about the influx of 5,000 immigrants mostly from Nicaragua and Venezuela was really straining their resources in the schools and housing. He says they had to spend over $100,000 on additional translators for the 400 additional children. Johnson points out an additional 5,000 people in a community of 15,000 can be a real problem. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says we have to do everything we can to secure the border and he is doing what he can about getting the Biden Administration to do that. About 60 Congressmen recently visited the Southern Border to get a firsthand look at the issues the border patrol are facing.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAW OF THE MONTH
The Wisconsin State Patrol’s January Law of the Month encourages all state residents to learn about human trafficking and help stop the crime in our state. Human trafficking is a felony that involves the use of force or threats for sexual exploitation or labor. Traffickers manipulate their victims through force, fraud and coercion, and use psychological tactics to maintain control. Trafficking is often a hidden crime that happens in urban and rural communities across the country, including in Wisconsin. Recognizing key indicators of trafficking can help save a life. Signs someone is vulnerable include a sudden or dramatic change in behavior, becoming disconnected from family, friends or community organizations, signs of mental or physical abuse, or deprivation of basic needs, and indication of being coached on what to say or not in control of their own decisions. If you encounter a situation, you suspect is human trafficking, do not approach anyone involved. Gather as much information as possible and contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733. If there is an immediate danger call 911.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY AEA
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection designated more than 21,000 acres in Green Lake and Sauk counties as new agricultural enterprise areas effective at the beginning of the year. An existing area in Monroe County has also been expanded by more than 20,000 acres. Landowners with designated agricultural enterprise areas or AEAs are eligible to enter into voluntary farmland preservation agreements, committing all or a portion of their farm to agricultural use and maintaining state soil and water conservation standards. In return they may be eligible to claim the annual farmland preservation tax credits. The new Marquette AEA located in Green Lake County includes more than 13,000 acres in the towns of Marquette, Green Lake, and Kingston. Local government and partners joined seven landowners to petition for the designation. They hope to promote small scale agriculture and support regenerative agricultural practices.
SENIOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN APPLETON PURCHASED
Health Dimension Group, a leading post-acute, long-term care, and senior living consulting and management firm has acquired Dimension Living® Appleton, a senior assisted living and memory care community in Appleton. Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey CEO and principal at Health Dimension Group says the acquisition represents a significant milestone in their growth. With a central office in Minneapolis, Health Dimension Group owns and manages 49 senior care and living communities and serves more than 2,800 residents throughout the nation.
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