5/20/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
20 May 2024 News
FDL MAN BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL ON RECKLESS HOMICIDE CHARGES
The 44-year-old Fond du Lac man charged with first degree reckless homicide in a man’s drug overdose death has been bound over for trial. Julio Batista is also charged with two felony counts of bail jumping. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Fond du Lac County court last Thursday and pled not guilty to the charges he’s facing. Charges stem from a drug overdose death in the Village of Eden on May 22nd of last year. According to the criminal complaint several anonymous sources provided information that Batista had been selling fentanyl and crack cocaine throughout the county. Investigators were able to link Batista to the victim. Fond du Lac County Chief Medical Examiner Adam Covach found the victim’s cause of death to be a combination of “alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl toxicity.” An injection mark was found in the victim’s right arm during an autopsy.
MONROE MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO RECKLESS HOMICIDE CHARGES
One of the five people charged in the overdose death of an 18-year-old Ripon man was arraigned in Fond du Lac County court last Thursday. Eighteen-year-old Donavyn Mueller pled not guilty to being party to the crime of first degree reckless homicide and narcotics trafficking. He’s being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond. According to the criminal complaint on April 7th 2023 the victim took a pill believed to be Percocet at a Ripon home and overdosed. He was taken from the residence and left on a sidewalk. The pill contained fentanyl. The court cases for the four others facing charges are in various stages.
RIGGS COUNTY PARK ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND BEING INSTALLED
Nearly three years in the making an all-inclusive playground is being installed at Riggs County Park in Ripon. The project was a collaborative effort involving Fond du Lac County, the Ripon Early Bird Kiwanis and Ripon Noon Kiwanis Clubs. The two Kiwanis clubs raised $130,000 and Fond du Lac County contributed $170,000. Jeffrey Dodson is on the Board of Directors for the Ripon Noon Kiwanis. He says the installation is happening pretty quickly. He says bricks purchased by contributors to the project will also be laid. Dodson says they are grateful to the County, members of the two clubs, and those who provided grants for the project. Officials are hoping to have a “soft opening” Memorial Day weekend, with a grand opening celebration planned for July 13th.
OASD PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION
Elizabeth Armstrong is being recommended to serve as the next principal of Roosevelt Elementary School in Oshkosh beginning July 1st. The recommendation goes before the Oshkosh School Board during their meeting Wednesday. She currently serves as the literacy instructional support teacher and reading recovery teacher for Merrill and Webster Stanley Elementary Schools. She brings over 22 years of experience as an educator, with an impressive background in literacy and instructional leadership. The recommendation will fill the vacant principal position as Principal Kristin Burgert transitions to serve Carl Traeger Elementary School.
HOUSING TAX CREDITS AWARDED
Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority recently announced $32.6 million in Housing Tax Credits for multifamily housing developers statewide. The credits will be used to improve access to safe, stable and affordable housing. In total, 23 developments in 14 counties will provide 1,383 new affordable housing units in urban and rural communities struggling to provide housing for working families. Among those being awarded the housing tax credits is the Park Ridge Cottage project in Lomira, which is receiving nearly $1 million in federal tax credits to construct 45 new units. Meanwhile The Corridor project in Oshkosh is receiving over $1.6 million in federal and state tax credits to build 55 new units.
SUMMER HOURS CHANGED FOR RIPON CITY HALL
The Ripon Common Council last week approved a change in city hall hours for the summer. From Memorial Day to Labor Day hours will be 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursdays and 7:30 am to 2:00 pm on Fridays. City Administrator Adam Sonntag cited several reasons for the requested change. They see a lack of customers on Fridays during the summer months. Customers are better able to access services during the workweek when hours are expanded. Staff productivity and employee work-life balance were also reasons. Sonntag informed the Council that it has become common for other communities to implement City Hall “summer hours.” He says every community is different, but the number of city halls implementing reduced hours on Friday and closing anywhere from 11 am to 2:30 pm has grown significantly in the past 5 years.
ARPA FUND EXPEDITURE QUESTIONS
Green Lake County Supervisor Luke Dretske says it will be interesting to see how some committee members vote on the use of American Rescue Act Plan or ARPA funds for the new Highway Department Facility. The committee meets at 3 pm Wednesday at the Green Lake County Government Center in Green Lake. Dretske says at stake is whether to use $900,000 of the $1.1 million they have left in ARPA funding. He notes previously some members refrained from voting because of potential conflicts, but he feels they will vote on the matter this time. He feels it is premature to vote on it now without vital information like how much it will cost, where it will be built, and other issues.
SAFETY FIRST AT GARAGE AND YARD SALES
Getting a good bargain at a Garage or Yard Sale maybe a priority but an official with the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says safety should also be near the top of your list. Michelle Reinen is the Administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. She says make sure you check before you buy on whether an item has been subject to recall. Items like children’s toys, cribs, gates, play pens, baby bouncers and swings, and baby walkers all have seen possible recalls. She says children don’t see things we see as adults such as sharp edges or loose batteries. She also points out that you may come across items that were safe in their day, but aren’t today. She recommends checking battery compartments for signs of corrosion, looking for signs of damaged or repaired wiring and cords, and testing appliances and electronics on-site before buying, if possible. You can also check for possible recalls on your smart device at Safer Products.gov.
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