5/16/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
16 May 2024 News
FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR NFDL
A man was injured, and a woman killed when a motorcycle collided with a commercial motor vehicle on Fond du Lac County Highway OO at Rolling Meadows Drive near North Fond du Lac yesterday. According to the State Patrol the 33-year-old Ripon man driving the truck was heading west on County Highway OO and turned left in front of the motorcycle. The 30-year-old Fond du Lac man operating the motorcycle was heading east when the collision occurred. His passenger, a 29-year-old Fond du Lac woman, was killed. The Fond du Lac man was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Ripon man was not injured. The accident happened at 5:09 pm.
DODGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR ALLEGEDLY TAKES FIREARM TO SCHOOL MEETING
An outside agency helped investigate an incident at a Dodge County school district where a school board member allegedly took a firearm with him to a meeting with the district administrator. Dodge County Sheriff’s officials say Tuesday they received four separate reports from residents and the Herman/Neosho/Rubicon School District about the incident. School Board member Daniel Siegmann allegedly went to a district elementary school to meet with the district administrator. It was discovered he had taken a firearm with him, which violates state law. Siegmann also is a Dodge County Board supervisor and because he has been highly critical of the sheriff’s office operations the sheriff’s office asked the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the investigation. Siegmann was arrested prior to yesterday’s school board meeting. He was taken to the Dodge County Jail. A charge of possession of a firearm in a school is being requested against him. (Dodge County Board photo).
COLUMBUS MAN ACCUSED OF ELECTION FRAUD
Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced Wednesday that 66-year-old Martin Kehl of Columbus, Wisconsin is being charged with one count of felony election fraud-voting as a disqualified person in the November 22nd general election. Kehl is alleged to have been on felony probation for his fourth OWI offense in a Dodge County case. He is accused of registering in person and voting on Election Day, November 8th, 2022 at a Town of Alto polling location. He registered as a rural Waupun resident. According to the criminal complaint when he was interviewed by a Sheriff’s detective Kehl said he had forgotten he couldn’t vote and had gone to the polling location with his significant other to vote but she was told she couldn’t because she was a resident of Columbus and needed to vote there. Kehl’s initial appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th.
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL DEBATES AND APPROVES CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
The Ripon Common Council spent about an hour debating a certificate of appropriateness for improvements to a downtown business in the Watson Street historic district Tuesday night. Ultimately the certificate for Grant Endeavors LLC at 117 Watson Street was approved on a 6 to 2 vote. It started with Mayor Ted Grant, who owns the business, stepping out of chairing the meeting at that point. Council President Ellen Sorensen took over the chair for the item. The debate also featured Council member John Splitt speaking as a member of the public. Splitt also chairs the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. Most of the debate focused on a change to an entryway for the business and two doors. Splitt felt they should enforce all the historic preservation guidelines equally. Ripon Main Street Executive Director Craig Tebon was asked to weigh in. He said preservation always involves a series of compromises. He noted if the city isn’t pleased with the changes the design could be changed at some point down the line. The debate also included several tie votes when motions were made to “call the question.”
RIPON SCHOOLS FREE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM
The Ripon Area School District will be offering free meals for community children this summer. All children 18 and under may participate regardless of enrollment in the district. During summer school programming which runs June 17th through July 19th, breakfast will be available from 8 to 8:30 am at each school site on weekdays, with lunch running from Noon to 12:30 pm at Ripon High School Commons, Murray Park Quest Elementary, and Barlow Park Journey Elementary. Students who attend summer school will be provided breakfast and lunch daily at slightly earlier times. From July 23rd to August 27th, curbside meal packs will be available for pick up on Tuesday mornings at Ripon High School, from 7 to 9 am. Meal packs include seven complete breakfasts and seven lunches for a full week’s worth of food for a child. The nutritious meals feature fresh, easy to prepare or heat & serve options. Meal packs must be pre-ordered online. Anyone 18 and under is eligible to order a meal pack. Details about the program are available on the Food Service page of the District’s website.
Free Summer Food Service Program 2024 (ripon.k12.wi.us)
KIDS TO PARKS DAY
Five different Fond du Lac County communities will be celebrating the National Park Trust Kids to Parks Day this Saturday. Fond du Lac County United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says they got involved six years ago when Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac celebrated the launch of its first Born Learning Trail. She says others were added to Village Park in North Fond du Lac and Columbus Park in Campbellsport. This year Community Park in Brandon and the Ripon Public Library were added to the Kids to Parks Celebration with a variety of activities. The events will be from 10 am to Noon. There is no cost. The event at the Ripon Public Library is being held in conjunction with the Discovery Zone for Kids and Caregivers with activities both in the Silver Creek Room and outdoors.
BGCTC ALSO ACCEPTS DONATIONS FOR BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM
An official with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area says donations are appreciated any time of the year. The Club operates facilities in Berlin, Green Lake, and once its complete a new facility in Ripon. Kassidy Walters is the Club’s Resource Development Coordinator. She says kids attending their clubs have basic needs. That could include hygiene items for kids who shower at the clubs or school supplies for their Operation Backpack back-to-school program in the fall. New coats for the summer or winter and tennis shoes for Operation Backpack are also among their needs. Right now the Club is taking registration for their Drivin’ Fore the Club Golf Outing at the Mascoutin Golf Club on Monday, June 10th. Registration for the fundraiser is available through the Club’s website.
TIME RUNNING OUT TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR CELEBRATE RIPON DINNER
Time is running out if you would like tickets to the Ripon Chamber of Commerce annual celebration event, Celebrate Ripon. The dinner will be held at Vines & Rushes Winery next Wednesday. It is the first dinner the Chamber has hosted since before COVID. This year’s celebration will focus on Ripon’s 175th Anniversary. It will be themed around the nostalgic charm of the “Ripon Street Fair,” a beloved tradition from the early 1900s. Chamber Executive Director Mandy Kimes says it is open to both members and non-members, tickets are $50. The event will include dinner and desserts, games, a silent auction, community update, music from Copper Box’s Dan Jerabek, featured guest speaker Jeanne Lyke and historical displays. Tickets are available at the Chamber’s website. You can also call the Chamber at 920-748-6764 for more information.
Celebrate Ripon – 175th Anniversary | Ripon Chamber of Commerce (ripon-wi.com)
DOCTOR HORACE LO JOINS SSM HEALTH RIPON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Dr. Horace Lo, a board-certified general surgeon has joined SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and is accepting new patients. He offers a full range of surgical services, including advanced laparoscopic procedures, varicose veins, and colonoscopies. He specializes in robotic surgery, hiatal hernias, and reflux surgeries. With Dr. Lo’s return to the Ripon service area after previously serving patients in Berlin, many surgical concerns can be handled locally without the need for a transfer or travel time to a more distant facility. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lo, call 920-745-3540.
MPTC COMMENCEMENT ALUMNI SPEAKER
Alex Prunty of Kewaskum will serve as Moraine Park Technical College’s alumni speaker at this Saturday’s commencement ceremony. Prunty graduated from Moraine Park’s Engine Research and Development program in 2013. For the past three decades, the Prunty brothers have been synonymous with asphalt short track racing in Wisconsin. Since 1991, the Prunty family has clinched 15 championships at Slinger Speedway. At 31, Alex Prunty holds six championship titles and over 50 feature wins under his belt. Since graduating from Moraine Park he has applied his expertise as an Engineering Technician at Briggs & Stratton, working in the Engine & Products Innovation lab. He resides in Kewaskum with his wife, Cierrah, a graduate of Moraine Park’s Nursing program, and their daughter Ruby.
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