5/1/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
1 May 2024 News
BGCTC RIPON FACILITY GROUNDBREAKING
Work officially began on the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area Ripon facility with a private groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon. About $12.3 million has been raised with a little over a $1 million to go. 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 childcare and skilled trades programs. Once the building is up and running it will serve about 700 kids a year or about 100 to 150 on a daily basis. Club officials hope to have the nearly 40,000 square-foot two-story facility completed by June of 2025. (Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area photo).
BOND REDUCTION DENIED FOR ELIJAH VUE’S MOTHER
A motion to reduce the bond for the mother of 3-year-old Elijah Vue was denied in Manitowoc County court Tuesday. Thirty-one-year-old Katrina Baur is facing child neglect charges. She’s being held in the Manitowoc County Jail on a $15,000 cash bond and her attorney had asked that be reduced to a signature bond. Baur’s plan was to live at home in Manitowoc County, but the prosecutor pointed out her prior convictions and missed court appearances in previous cases. The judge denied her motion. There’s a status conference scheduled in her case on May 28th. Baur and her boyfriend Jesse Vang both face charges for the missing toddler’s alleged treatment. Vang is back in court for a status conference in his case on June 28th. Vue was staying with Vang when he was reported missing on February 20th. Efforts to find him continue. No one has been charged in connection with his disappearance.
SUCCESSFUL OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center successfully tested the county wide tornado siren system yesterday at noon. Outdoor sirens failed to go off during the weekly test at noon last Saturday. An internal review found that was due to human error. A dispatcher selected an “end siren test” button rather than “start siren test” button on a screen. That triggered the siren paging system to send the command to turn the sirens off, rather than to activate them. In response to the error law enforcement will now confirm whether outdoor sirens were working during the Saturday noon tests. Additionally, in the event of a hardware or software malfunction during a real storm event, the communications center has a secondary plan in place in which each municipality with sirens is notified to manually activate the siren system within their jurisdiction. A Fond du Lac Public Works electrician notified the dispatch center Saturday that the sirens hadn’t activated. The secondary plan was activated and each community was notified that they may need to manually activate their sirens in the event of a storm until the county could troubleshoot the cause of the testing failure.
GRAND RIVER MARSH WILDLIFE AREA DRAWDOWN
The Wisconsin DNR will be conducting a full drawdown at Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area in Marquette and Green Lake counties. The drawdown will begin this spring, and water levels will be lowered slowly until full drawdown is achieved in early summer. The drop in water levels is necessary to conduct cattail mowing within the marsh. By drawing down the water, DNR staff can access and mow select areas. Drawdowns also mimic a natural part of the wetland cycle. Exposing underwater areas to sunlight allows many seed-producing plants to grow, providing an abundant food source for waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife. Once the marsh is drawn down, mowing will occur during the summer months, prior to waterfowl season. Water levels will slowly be raised after mowing is complete to provide open water, cover and food for waterfowl and other wildlife during fall migration.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY SHERIFF RETIRING
Sheboygan County Sheriff Cory Roeseler is retiring. He submitted his resignation to the Governor’s Office with the intent to retire on June 3rd. He has been Sheboygan County’s Sheriff since 2018. He began his law enforcement career with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy on January 8th, 1991. Over the next 27 years he rose through the ranks to corporal detective, lieutenant of criminal investigations and captain of patrol/criminal investigations. He was appointed Sheriff in 2018 and won subsequent reelection in 2019 and 2023. Roeseler’s term runs through 2026. The Governor will appoint a successor.
FAB LAB GRANTS
Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes Tuesday announced 18 school districts across the state will receive more than $493,000 in “fab lab” grants. The labs train students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics or STEAM skills and prepare them for careers using advanced technologies. A fab lab, short for fabrication laboratory, is a high-technology workshop equipped with computer-controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers, and plasma cutters. Among the school districts receiving “fab lab” grants are the Tri-County Area School District in Plainfield and the Weyauwega-Fremont School District. Both are getting $25,000 grants.
IRO CRITICAL CARE KEY TO RECOVERY
The critical care Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s K9 Iro received after being shot five times during an incident last October saved his life. Saturday night the Wisconsin Professional Police Association recognized Iro and his handler Deputy Blaine Evans, Deputy Michael Vis, Fond du Lac Police Officer Charles Beckford and a team from BluePearl Pet Hospital with awards. Dr. Lisa,a trauma veterinarian from the hospital, told the gathering during the first 48 hours after the shooting it was impressive the care and concern they saw for Iro. She went on to say that over the past 20 years they’ve seen a vast improvement in the care a law enforcement K9 injured in the field receives thanks to training. She says as more law enforcement teams and first responders become comfortable with K9 care at the scene, more dogs will be saved. In Iro’s case his handler Deputy Evans, Deputy Vis, and Officer Beckford all have experience with K9s. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
RIPON COLLEGE LAUNCHES ESPORTS TEAM
Ripon College has established its inaugural esports team which will begin competitive competition in the fall of 2025. A national search will be conducted this fall for an experienced director or coach. Plans are to join the National Association of College Esports with the Ripon College team participating in intercollegiate competitions showcasing their skills and sportsmanship. Ripon College Director of Athletics Chris Schumacher expressed enthusiasm for the launch of the esports team, stating, “We are thrilled to embrace the esports phenomenon.” You can read more about the Ripon College esports team launch at the college’s website.
Ripon College to launch competitive esports team in fall of 2025 | Ripon College
PAWJECT RUNWAY
The Waushara County Animal Shelter will hold their first annual Fashion Show Fundraiser “Pawject Runway” at Camp Lakota in Wautoma on Saturday, May 18th from 2 to 5 pm. Jane Pfaller of the shelter says they are calling it their first annual, but some women organized a similar event at the Waushara County Country Club pre- COVID. She points out they are also allowing some pop-up shops so people can come and shop at 2 pm then enjoy the Fashion Show which starts at 3 pm. By the way no pets will be modeling fashions that will be left up to models working for Spot a clothing shop in Sister Bay and Egg Harbor. The show is also being catered with beverages, light sandwiches and snacks. Tickets are $30 per individual or $200 for a table of eight. You can get your tickets by calling 920-279-9795 or visiting the Shelter’s Facebook page. The event will be held indoors.
SAMARITAN CLINIC CASH RAFFLE A WEEK AWAY
There is a week left for those planning to purchase tickets for the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation’s annual Samaritan Cash Raffle, with the top prize of $50,000. The 2024 drawing is scheduled for noon next Wednesday on the SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Facebook page. The SSM Health Samaritan Clinic-which opened in 1992-provides health care to around 500 underinsured patients annually. Foundation Executive Director Shawn Fisher says it is important to help people who otherwise might fall through the healthcare coverage gap. Fisher says chances are you know someone who at one time or another may have needed the help of the clinic. Tickets for the cash raffle are $50 each, four for $150 or nine for $300. They are available at a number of area businesses and information desks at Ripon Community Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital, and Waupun Memorial Hospital.
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