4/11/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
11 April 2024 News
KITCHEN FIRE IN THE TOWN OF FOREST
Ten fire departments responded to a fire at a home at N5691 County Highway G in the Town of Forest Wednesday afternoon. The homeowner called 911 to report a fire in a kitchen stove. The homeowner and pets were able to safely evacuate the residence before Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies and St. Cloud Fire and Mt. Calvary Fire and Ambulance arrived. It is believed the fire started in the oven when the homeowner used a cleaning cycle in the oven. The fire was contained to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. Gail Johnson is the property owner.
WAUPACA SCHOOLS LOCKED DOWN DURING THREAT INVESTIGATION
Schools in Waupaca were locked down Wednesday as a precaution after a threat was received. Waupaca Police say around 2:25 pm, a staff member at Waupaca Christian Academy received an email. It included a threat toward the school. A similar threat was reported in another jurisdiction in the state last Thursday. Police determined the threats were not credible. Schools in the district were put in lock down while police investigated. The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department and State Patrol assisted in the investigation.
OSHKOSH SEX OFFENDER FEDERALLY INDICTED
An Oshkosh sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that 27-year-old Dakota DeGroot possessed electronic files containing child pornography on or about January 18th. He was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Winnebago County in 2016. As a repeat offender DeGroot could face 10 to 20 years in a federal prison if he is convicted. He could also be fined up to $250,000. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Corrections-Division of Community Corrections investigated the case.
PROJECT DELAYS
Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag informed the Common Council Tuesday night that a couple of projects have been delayed. He says improvements to Selfridge Park can’t move forward until some soil remediation occurs. Alliant Energy contacted the city about Alliant’s obligations for site contamination. City staff, Alliant representatives and project engineers met to discuss the plans Alliant has for the site. That work will include soil excavation and capping. Alliant hopes to complete the project this year, which would push the city’s project to late this year or early 2025. Sonntag also told the Council the Tygert Street Bridge project has been delayed due to permitting from the DNR. He says the city received a permit from the DNR Monday night, but the permit requires a 30 day public comment period. Contractors have been able to remove the bridge decking.
TORNADO AND SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK
Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes a year and last year had 21, but 15 of those came in on March 31st of 2023. During this Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week state residents are being urged to be weather aware. Andrew Beckett of Ready Wisconsin says that starts with having a way to be notified of watches and warnings whether that is a NOAA Weather Radio or through other means. That could include local media or a weather app on your cell phone. It is also important to know where to shelter in your home or if you’re out in public. Have a place you can meet outside of the home when the threat is over and have contact information for the entire family in case, they aren’t all at home. He says you should also have a plan and an emergency kit that will get you through at least three days. The State of Wisconsin will have two tornado drills at 1:45 and 6:45 pm today. In case of inclement weather the drill may be postponed until Friday. Some counties including Fond du Lac and Dodge will be sounding outdoor sirens for the drill.
UWO CONCERNS
Oshkosh Common Councilman Elect Jacob Floam says as a stakeholder in the UW-Oshkosh, the city is of course concerned with issues surrounding the school. Last week the American Federation of Teachers local union had 72 percent of 229 faculty members that voted express a no-confidence vote in UWO Chancellor Andrew Leavitt. Even before that there was the $18 million deficit discovered last summer that led to hundreds of staff members being laid off or offered early retirement. More recently tuition fees are being hiked which Floam hopes won’t fuel declining enrollment. Floam is also hoping that the worst is behind the school and that enrollment will bounce back.
DRUG TAKE BACK EFFORT IN FONDY
The Fond du Lac County Health Department is collaborating with the Fond du Lac Senior Center and Fond du Lac Police Department to host a pop-up Drug Take Back Event on Friday, April 26th. It will be held from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Senior Center on East 1st Street in Fond du Lac. It will provide a safe disposal for prescription and over-the-counter medications. Permanent Drug Drop Box locations can be found at police departments throughout the county, Hayat Pharmacy in Campbellsport, SSM Health hospitals in Fond du Lac, Ripon, and Waupun, Walgreens on North Main Street in Fond du Lac, and Walmart in Fond du Lac. Wisconsin has continually been a leader in collecting unused and expired medications during national drug take back days.
FEYEN PICKS UP ENDORSEMENTS FOR 20TH STATE SENATE RUN
State Senator Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac is being endorsed by Congressmen Scott Fitzgerald and Glenn Grothman in his run for the new 20th State Senate District. In addition, he has the support of State Representatives Rick Gundrum, Rob Brooks and Jerry O’Conner who represent the 58th, 59th, and 60th Assembly Districts respectively. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt, Ozaukee County Sheriff Christy Knowles, Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, and Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman are also backing Feyen. Among his other prominent endorsements are Town of Auburn and Fond du Lac County Supervisor Ken Depperman and Campbellsport Village President and Fond du Lac County Board Supervisor Tom Dornbrook.
RED WHITE AND BOOM
The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a nice 4th of July celebration. Chamber Executive Director Mandy Kimes says they are teaming up with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Ripon Noon Kiwanis for the Red, White and Boom celebration. Kimes says the city has a nice 4th of July Fireworks display and they are plenty of other activities being planned. That includes the Kiwanis Softball Game, a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting, a replica of the Little White Schoolhouse and more. Kimes says plenty of communities have events scheduled around the 4th of July, but for those who want to enjoy it in Ripon they will have a good lineup for family fun.
FDL COUNTY SHERIFF’S K9 KODA RETIRES
This week the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the retirement of their K9 Koda. Koda has served the citizens of the county since 2017. After 7 years of service, he is retiring to live the good life at home with his handler and family. He was also treated to a little Culver’s frozen custard to celebrate. Since the beginning of Koda’s career with the sheriff’s office he was deployed 455 times. That resulted in the seizure of numerous drugs, weapons and cash. Examples of illegally possessed items seized include 244 grams of Cocaine 130 grams of Heroin or Fentanyl, 155 grams of Methamphetamine, 10,707 grams of Marijuana, 340 grams of Ecstasy, 30 Weapons, and nearly $30,000 in cash. He also entertained and educated school students, businesses and organizations in Fond du Lac County at public presentations. In 2018 Koda was awarded the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Associate Meritorious Track award. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
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