2/9/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
9 February 2024 News
NINE RESCUED FROM BAY OF GREEN BAY
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says they participated in three ice rescues on the Bay of Green Bay yesterday saving nine people. Three people were rescued in the Town of Scott area off Point Comfort when they were trapped on the ice. Shortly afterwards rescuers responded to Bayshore Park. The Coast Guard was already on the Bay and had rescued four people trapped on the ice. About the same time two people were rescued from the ice near Red River Park. All nine people were fishing when they were safely rescued.
WISCONSIN EXPERIENCES FIRST EVER FEBRUARY TORNADO
Wisconsin experienced its first ever February tornado Thursday evening. The Green County Sheriff’s Office says it received several 911 calls reporting damage in the Town of Decatur around 5:30 pm. Albany Fire Department crews were in the area monitoring the storm. They saw a funnel cloud and possible tornado touch down near the Village of Albany. Officials say five residences were damaged, two mobile homes and multiple other structures. No injuries were reported in Green County. There was also damage reported in Rock County near Evansville. Rock County officials received reports of about 25 buildings, power line or other structures damaged.
FOUR GREEN BAY CHILDREN ABDUCTED
A Child Abduction Alert has been issued for four young children in Green Bay. The children 1-year-old Journee Hargrove, 4-year-old Tru Ward, 6-year-old Jada Hargrove, and 7-year-old Genesse Hargrove were last seen at 835 South Van Buren Street in Green Bay. They are all Native American. Police believe they may be in the company of 34-year-old Deanna Ward and 57-year-old Diana Halfaday, who are also Native American. Authorities do not know what means of travel there were using. Anyone who may have information on the children’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Green Bay Police Department at 920-448-3208. For more click here.
SUSPECT IN FATAL WRONG DRIVING ACCIDENT PLEADS NG TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS
The 47-year-old Neenah man facing four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for a fatal wrong-way crash that killed four siblings in Waupaca County has pleaded not guilty to four traffic citations related to the incident. The written pleas were submitted yesterday on behalf of Scott Farmer. The traffic citations were for speeding, possessing open intoxicants, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, and reckless driving endangering safety. He will be back in court on the traffic citations on February 20th. During the December 16th crash on Highway 10 in Weyauwega Daniel, Fabian, Lillian and Daniela Gonzalez died when their SUV was hit by a wrong way driver. All four siblings are originally from Ecuador. For their deaths Farmer is charged with the four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, operating with a revoked license causing death, and his fifth OWI. He has a preliminary hearing in the criminal case on February 23rd.
ENLARGED PROSTATE NOT UNCOMMON FOR OLDER MEN
A physical therapist for SSM Health’s Ripon Community Hospital says an enlarged prostate is common for men once they hit the age of 70. Jesse Schulz says it’s not always prostate cancer. King Charles III of England was being treated for an enlarged prostate when they found cancer, which was treated and removed through surgery. An enlarged prostate can cause problems with the urine stream, dribbling afterwards, and increases the frequency. Schulz says sometimes back and hip problems can also cause those issues. After prostate surgery he can help with strengthening the muscles in the pelvic area or pelvic floor. He also provides therapy for the hip and back. He recommends having your primary care physician check you out if you believe you have an enlarged prostate or something more serious.
FARM FOREIGN OWNERSHIP BILL
State Representative Jon Plumer is hoping a bill he co-authored limiting foreign ownership of Wisconsin farmland and processing plants will make it into law. The state lawmaker from Lodi says to him foreign actors buying up farmland and processing plants is a huge national security issue. Representative Plumer and State Senator Rob Stafsholt authored a bill that limits foreign ownership of agriculture land at 50 acres. Plumer doesn’t feel there are any practical reasons for foreign government to own farmland or processing plants in Wisconsin. Plumer says the bill hit a snag and is stuck in committee, but he remains hopeful. Plumer represents the 42nd State Assembly District and Senator Stafsholt the 10th State Senate District.
GOHLKE HAS A NEW ROLE WITH BERLIN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Berlin Area School District has hired its first full-time Communications Specialist. Allison Gohlke worked for a few years with the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a Berlin native. She graduated from the school district and has two young children. She says she is passionate about the community, school district and all the positive things they have going on in the school district and community. She says she is happy to be on board and excited to share all the good things happening in the Berlin community. Berlin Schools Superintendent Emmett Durtschi says they do have a lot of positive things going on in the district, but other than parents and teachers not a lot of people in the community are aware of it. Durtschi says so much of what he does as superintendent is about public relations and Gohlke will have an important role in that.
FDL COUNTY BOARD MEETING CANCELED
The Fond du Lac County Board meeting scheduled for next Tuesday has been canceled. According to Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg the next meeting of the County Board of Supervisors will be on Tuesday, March 19th at 6 pm at the City-County Building in Fond du Lac.
DNR BEGINNING PRESCRIBED BURNS
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tells us fire management crews are starting to perform prescribed burns on DNR properties throughout the state where local conditions can provide a safe and effective burn. DNR crews will be burning cattail marshes, wetlands, prairies and oak/pine barrens to clear the buildup of dead vegetation and to open waterways for waterfowl to feed and nest. By burning in winter staff take advantage of wet conditions, which reduces the heat and intensity of cattail marsh and barren burns. When conducting prescribed burns near roads and recreational trails, the DNR will post signs to notify the public. They ask that people avoid areas while a burn is being conducted. The DNR also notifies local law enforcement and fire officials in advance about when and where DNR prescribed burns will take place.
WAUPUN UTILITIES 2023 IN REVIEW
Waupun Utilities, Waupun’s locally owned, not for profit public power provider supported the community through various programs and volunteer efforts in 2023. Waupun Utilities disbursed $8,300 to support nonprofit organizations, educational programs, local economic development, area sponsorships, and special events. Last spring the utility awarded scholarships to Central Wisconsin Christian and Waupun High School seniors Elise R. and Olivia K. The utility contributed over $558,000 to help relieve the local tax burden through payments to the city in lieu of taxes. The utility assisted five local businesses in completing lighting upgrades, energy efficiency upgrades and energy planning projects. Additionally, eleven businesses received incentive funding from Focus on Energy to help with costs for efficiency upgrades. The projects are expected to save local businesses about $36,000 in electric costs every year. Residents also received roughly $17,300 in rebates for energy efficient projects and household equipment. Waupun Utilities was also recognized as a Reliable Public Power Provider and as a Smart Energy Provider.
SKIPLANE FLY IN CANCELED AT WINTER FLIGHT FEST
The annual Winter Flight Fest will bring family activities aplenty to the EAA Aviation Museum on Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. The day is designed for all ages and is a family-friendly series of activities through the museum at its Pioneer Airport facility in Oshkosh. Due to a lack of snow the skiplane fly-in has been canceled. That includes the skiplane fly-in make-up date of February 17th. Among tomorrow’s highlights included with regular museum admission are the Wright Flyer simulator, paper airplane launcher, aviator Bingo, pararescue challenge, Indoor model airplane flying, and rotorcrafting. The EAA Aviation Museum is located just off Interstate 41 at the Highway 44 exit in Oshkosh.
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