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5/17/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday

17 May 2024 News


TGIF FROM THE RIPON POLICE DEPARTMENT FACEBOOK PAGE:

For the past 21 years, Esther Acken has served the City of Ripon as a School Crossing Guard. Passerby’s will surely miss seeing her smiling and waving as she has officially retired from her duties. Tuesday night, the city honored Esther’s dedication and years of service, declaring May 14th to be “Esther Acken Day.” If you see Esther, please thank her for her service. (Ripon Police Department photo of Esther and Police Chief Bill Wallner)

NAMES RELEASED IN FATAL FDL COUNTY ACCIDENT

The State Patrol has released the names of the three people involved in a crash between a semi-tractor trailer truck and motorcycle on Fond du Lac County Highway OO at Rolling Meadows Drive in the Town of Fond du Lac Wednesday evening. Twenty-nine-year-old Anjelynn Breister of Fond du Lac, a passenger on the bike was killed. The motorcycle operator, 30-year-old Grant Breister also of Fond du Lac, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi driver, 33-year-old Scott Baszynski of Ripon, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but was not transported from the scene. Investigators say the crash happened when the westbound semi turned left in front of the motorcycle which was traveling east on County Highway OO.  Alcohol wasn’t a factor in the accident that occurred at 5:09 pm Wednesday.

THREE INJURED IN DODGE COUNTY CRASH

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highways 16 and 26 and Dodge County Highway J in the Town of Clyman Thursday afternoon. Sheriff’s officials say a 67-year-old Town of Clyman woman was driving an SUV on County Highway J and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection. She then pulled out onto State Highways 16 and 26 in front of car driven by a 58-year-old Juneau woman resulting in the crash. Both drivers were taken to Aurora Summit Hospital. The Juneau woman’s injuries were serious, but non-life-threatening. A 66-year-old man who was a passenger in the SUV suffered a minor injury. The accident was reported at 2:47 pm.

UPDATE ON FATAL CALUMET COUNTY ACCIDENT

Calumet County Sheriff’s officials have identified the 18-year-old New Holstein man killed Tuesday night when his motorcycle rear-ended a boat being towed by a pickup truck. It happened at the intersection of County Trunk Highway HH and Meyer Road in the Town of New Holstein just after 7 pm. The preliminary investigation showed Cohen Barajas rear-ended a boat being towed by a pickup truck. He died at the scene. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash. The two occupants in the truck were not injured. The truck was driven by Connor Wehmeyer of Glenbeulah.

EAA AIRVENTURE FATAL CRASH INVESTIGATION

An NTSB investigation into a deadly crash at last year’s EAA AirVenture is complete. Two people were killed when a helicopter and gyroplane collided in the air on July 29th. The helicopter’s pilot, 69-year-old Mark Peterson of Foley, Alabama and his passenger 72-year-old Thomas Volz of Amelia, Ohio died in the crash.  During their investigation the National Transportation Safety Board found the gyroplane collided with the helicopter after making a 360-degree turn, which event coordinators prohibit. The helicopter crashed into the ground. It came to rest upside down and started on fire. Other conclusions reached in the NTSB report, there were no mechanical issues and the pilot of the gyroplane Eric Bruce was sober. Bruce, who suffered head injuries in the crash, couldn’t recall the accident. He did not see the helicopter while making his turn.

RIPON BEEKEEPING ORDINANCE AMENDED

The Ripon Common Council this week approved amending the city’s ordinance on beekeeping. Council member Ellen Sorensen had been contacted by some local beekeepers about expanding the ordinance regarding the types of beekeeping hives that can be used. She explained that apparently newer types of hives provide greater access to those with disabilities who want to keep bees. She says they are also easier on the bees. The change to the ordinance was unanimously approved.  

CHECK WASHING SCAMS

The administrator for the state’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection says “check washing” is showing signs of making a comeback. Check washing scams involve changing the payee names and dollar amounts on checks and fraudulently depositing them. The scammer usually steals them from the mail or obtains them through other dishonest means. Michelle Reinen says there are a couple methods to check washing. One involves literally washing out the chemicals on the check and the other is to create a counterfeit check just by using the information. She says there are several things you can do to protect yourself from this type of scam. Mail your outgoing checks at the Post Office. Retrieve your mail frequently never leaving it in your mailbox overnight. If you’re going on vacation have the Post Office hold your mail or have someone pick it up for you. She says a cheap investment would be to buy a gel-pen and write your checks with that, which would prevent chemicals from being washed out.

APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR SHOOTING RANGE GRANT PROGRAM

The DNR is accepting applications for the Shooting Range Grant Program through July 15th. The program has $800,000 available for range improvement projects. The grant program provides financial assistance for creating safe and accessible firearm and archery shooting opportunities for the public. All new construction must be ADA-compliant. In 2023, the DNR awarded the full program budget of $800,000 to 18 projects, leveraging $458,596 in matching contributions and $1.25 million in total project costs. A federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment makes the funding for the shooting range grant possible. More information about applying and eligible items can be found on the DNR’s Shooting Range Grant Program webpage.

Shooting Range Grant Program | | Wisconsin DNR

KIDS TO PARKS DAY

Community Park in Brandon and the Ripon Public Library will be participating in the National Park Trust Kids to Parks Day tomorrow. Hours for the program are 10 am to Noon.  The program at the Ripon Public Library will involve both outdoors and indoor activities with the Silver Creek Room serving as the indoor venue. Ripon Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says kids will be able to make their own flower pot. Fond du Lac County United Way also supports the Kids to Parks Day festivities. United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says the program will also be part of the Ripon Public Library’s Discovery Zone. She says kids will receive books, there will be goodies, and Webster’s Marketplace has donated all the items needed to make dirt cupcakes. The program is free.

LEADERSHIP FDL COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS

Participants in the annual Leadership Fond du Lac County program continue giving back. This year’s programs involved 29 participants on six teams. Each team worked with different partners and organizations to address a specific community need. Team Lift Them Up worked with The Arc Fond du Lac to purchase and install art displays cases and work with residents of The Arc to begin filling the display cases with art. Team Quick Response worked with Destination Lake Winnebago Region to promote their community events calendar. The team developed a QR code. Team History assisted the Fond du Lac County Historical Society in revamping the organization’s storage and cataloguing system.  Team Beautification commissioned a mural on the side of Stone + Suede in Waupun to beautify the area.  Team K-9; 220 partnered with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office to educate the public on the mission and work of their new certified therapy K-9, Josie, Badge #220. Team Warm Welcomes renovated the exterior of the Holy Family Warming Shelter, to make the space warmer and more welcoming.  In all, projects completed through Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Leadership Fond du Lac County gave back more than $23,000 to county communities through cash and in-kind donations.

IT’S ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

“Live from Ripon, it’s Almost Saturday Night Live!” or least it will be at the Ripon High School Auditorium tomorrow night at 7 pm.  The Ripon High School Drama Club will perform its first ever live sketch comedy show: Almost Saturday Night Live!  Seven students and a musical performer will get to perform their own version of the hit NBC show that has been part of million’s Saturday nights for 49 seasons. Ripon High School Drama Club Director Jeffrey Dodson says none of the students were really familiar with the original show so he suggested some of the all-time great episodes for research. Of course the students wrote their own skits and learned how to improvise. Dodson says auditions for the show were open to any Ripon High School student and he’s proud of the cast they came up with. The show is a fundraiser for the drama club so any donations above and beyond ticket prices are appreciated. Tickets are available for $5 for General Admission. They can be purchased online or in person at the box office at the performance. The comedy sketches parody contemporary culture and politics.

RHS Drama Club (google.com)

JOINT SAFE EXERCISE CLASS

Nurse practitioner Paula Kasuboski of SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Orthopedics will be leading a “Joint Safe Exercise Class” at the Ripon Senior Activity Center at 10 am on Wednesday, June 5th. She will discuss and demonstrate a variety of joint safe exercises. Joint-friendly exercises are low impact, which means they put less stress on the body, reducing the risk of injury. Participants will be able to use strength bands and light weights during the class to practice the exercises. For reservations call the Ripon Senior Activity Center at 920-471-1636 or register online at ripon.recdesk.com.


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