2/20/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
20 February 2024 News
FDL MAN ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
A five-day jury trial is underway in Fond du Lac County court for a 58-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected in the death of 51-year-old Jacquelyn Jo Rooney. Gary Davis is charged with first degree intentional homicide, mayhem, and hiding a corpse. Rooney was reported missing on November 12th of 2022. Her car was found outside a bar and when Fond du Lac police went to her residence they discovered her body under blankets and debris. She died of a dozen stab wounds to her torso and blunt force trauma to her head. It’s believed she was killed on November 9th. According to the criminal complaint she and Davis were dating and both lived in the same apartment building. Investigators learned the two were having relationship problems and Davis had physically attacked her at some point.
DENSE FOG ADVISORY
A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington counties until 9 am this morning. Visibility could be a quarter mile or less in the dense fog. Freezing fog is possible with temperatures below freezing. Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous. Slick spots are possible on untreated surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and driveways. Calumet and Winnebago counties could also see some fog and freezing fog.
PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
It’s a primary election day, but there are few primary races for voters to cast their ballots on today. Fond du Lac and Green Lake County voters have no seats to vote on today. In Winnebago County there is a circuit court race to narrow down. Dodge County has a handful of primary races including three candidates vying for representation of District 31 on the County Board and a mayoral primary in Mayville also featuring three candidates. Most races will be decided in the April election which will include Wisconsin’s Presidential Primary and a couple of state referendum questions.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION
The State Assembly recently passed a package of legislation from the Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking. State Representative Jon Plumer was a member of the task force that met over the course of the last 6 months. The state lawmaker from Lodi says, “Human trafficking is a scourge that unfortunately exists in every corner of our nation and our state, and we must continue fighting against it.” He added that the bills will help prevent human trafficking, support survivors, and hold individuals who commit those crimes accountable. There are nine separate bills in the package including one that requires age-appropriate instruction on combatting human-trafficking in grades 7 through 12.
BGCTC RIPON FACILITY UPDATE
Officials with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area say the cost of building a facility in Ripon is going up but their donors are committed to seeing the project come to fruition. Board member Craig Johnson says they hope to break ground soon on the now $13 million plus project and have it completed by June of 2025. About $12.3 million of that cost has been donated or pledged. Club CEO Jason Presto says the facility will have the same offerings as most Boys & Girls clubs but have some other offerings as well including child care and skilled trades programs. Presto says for kids it is a place they can eat, shower, socialize and participate in high-yield enrichment opportunities, but it is more than just a place for kids after-school. He says they will also help kids develop job skills and be prepared for life beyond high school graduation. Donations for the Ripon facility can be made at the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area website.
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN ON MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT VOTE
Congressman Glenn Grothman says with the crisis at our southern border and the number of illegal immigrants entering our country blame had to fall on someone. He says since it is a threat to our security impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made sense and may be a good way to make the public more aware of the problem. He says the Senate won’t convict him. He says those who are concerned about the problem wanted something to do be done about it, but Democrats weren’t going to, so Republicans in the house pushed for Mayorkas’ impeachment. Congressman Grothman voted in favor of Mayorkas impeachment. Mayorkas was the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since 1876.
RIPON ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Ripon Main Street Incorporated and Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s IGNITE program announce the return of Ripon’s Entrepreneurial Development Program. The seven-week course is designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through a step-by-step approach to writing a professional business plan. The course is designed for those who are considering starting a business, but is equally beneficial for existing small enterprises aiming to expand their operations. The cost to participate in the entrepreneurial training course is only $150, which includes essential handouts and materials. The course takes place every Tuesday evening from March 5th to April 16th. As an added incentive, all completed business plans will qualify for a $5,000 cash prize awarded to the creator of the best concept. Main Street and IGNITE will host a complimentary introduction to business-planning seminar titled “Starting a Business in Ripon.” The session is next Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, located at 110 Blackburn Street. The seminar will cover fundamental aspects of launching a business and provide an opportunity for prospective entrepreneurs to register for the Ripon Entrepreneurial Training Program. For more information call the Ripon Main Street Office at 920-748-7466.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DISASTER VOLUNTEER RECEPTION CENTER
Fond du Lac County United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says volunteers are needed when disasters occur to man a Disaster Volunteer Reception Center. Where that center will be located depends on where and when a disaster arises in the county, but Kilawee says we know from past events like tornadoes and flooding that disasters do occur in the county. She says they would be working with Fond du Lac County’s Emergency Management Office. She says disaster volunteers will require supervision and they need volunteers to coordinate them. She says those working at the Disaster Volunteer Reception Center will learn how to vet out volunteers for work at disaster locations. Those who might be interested in the opportunity are encouraged to visit the Fondy Volunteers.org website.
EV HYBRID STICKERS BEING SENT OUT
The state’s Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles is sending EV Hybrid stickers to current owners of electric and hybrid vehicles. A new law requires that the orange and black “EV Hybrid” stickers be attached to each license plate issued for an electric or hybrid vehicle. Wisconsin had nearly 146,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on the road in 2023. The Wisconsin law was passed last year for the safety of first responders when dealing with electric powered vehicles in emergency situations. First responders will be able to quickly identify the vehicle as having electric components by the orange and black “EV Hybrid” sticker. All current owners of electric or hybrid vehicles with valid registration will automatically be sent their stickers and should receive them by June. For standard-sized license plates the sticker should be attached to the upper right corner of each plate, just to the right of the bolt holes.
MPTC ENROLLMENT UP
Moraine Park Technical College is continuing to see significant improvements in overall enrollment trends in spring 2024 and looking ahead to the 2024-25 academic year. Last fall the College announced a 1 percent increase in overall credits enrolled and the highest increase in overall headcount in three years. Program student headcount enrollment numbers on February 1st was 3,389 compared to 3,233 at the same time last year. High school students in dual credit and Start College Now opportunities saw the most significant increase with overall headcount up by over 40 percent. There was a 50 percent increase in the number of overall credits earned by high school students. Over $3.2 million in financial aid was distributed for spring 2024 with a majority as financial gifts in the form of scholarships or grants. Enrollment in Moraine Park’s Associate of Arts/Associate of Science University Transfer agreements has tripled since last year. Moraine Park’s instruction in the areas of business and entrepreneurship with the Department of Corrections has seen an increase in unduplicated headcounts of over 40 percent.
CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS RETURNING TO EAA GROUNDS
Following a record-setting 2023 holiday festival, the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights will return to the Experimental Aircraft Association grounds in Oshkosh annually through 2028, after the two organizations finalized an agreement this month. The yearly festival, which runs between Thanksgiving weekend and New Year’s Eve, is an Oshkosh tradition with more than 1 million lights within dozens of displays. The event had moved from Menominee Park in Oshkosh to the EAA grounds last year because of the unavailability of the park grounds. More than 22,000 vehicles passed through the Celebration of Lights grounds, created in the EAA’s Camp Scholler area traditionally used for camping during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. That 2023 attendance total was nearly 60 percent higher than the previous year. In addition, more than 6,000 youngsters visited Santa Claus at his headquarters established at the EAA Air Academy Lodge.
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