5/24/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
24 May 2024 News
THREE VEHICLE CRASH IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 36-year-old Mayville resident for driving recklessly and causing a three-vehicle accident late Thursday morning. The Sheriff’s Communications Center got a call about a white Ford car heading south on Interstate 41 at more than 100 miles an hour and passing vehicles on the shoulder. Minutes later there was a report about an accident involving injuries on State Highway 164 near Pioneer Road in the Village of Richfield. Investigators learned the Ford car was heading south, went left of center and struck a northbound GMC truck driven by a 54-year-old Richfield resident. The collision ripped off the front tire of the truck. The tire then struck a southbound vehicle driven by a 74-year-old Richfield resident. The Mayville resident was arrested for a fifth OWI offense and multiple traffic violations. The three drivers involved in the accident suffered no significant injuries.
SEX OFFENDER RELEASE IN OSHKOSH
Oshkosh Police say a 47-year-old sex offender is now living at 1902 Grove Street in the city. Matthew Leitz was convicted in Rock County in 2000 of second degree sexual assault of a child, and in 2012 in Milwaukee County of child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. His victims were a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl he did not know. He will be on GPS monitoring the rest of his life and is on probation until December 28th, 2028.
BUG TUSSEL WIRELESS BROADBAND EXPANSION PROJECT
The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors this week approved an initial resolution for $5 million in revenue bond financing for Bug Tussel Wireless. Bug Tussel’s Chief Development Officer and General Counsel Mitch Olson gave a presentation to the board Tuesday night about the resolution and the company’s history with Fond du Lac County and other counties on broadband expansion projects. The company’s first effort with the county in 2012 was for $5 million and led to 18 cell towers. Olson said the initial round of projects in Wisconsin was a $220 million effort and now they are looking at another $250 million in projects with a bigger emphasis now on fiber optic. Olson noted that the first project a dozen years ago provided 1,400 homes and businesses with broadband access, a second project 2,000 homes and businesses, and the current project would give 400 homes and businesses access. Nineteen of the board’s 25 supervisors needed to approve the initial resolution and all 21 of the supervisors present for the meeting voted in favor of the project.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DROP IN APRIL
Unemployment rates for area counties in April dropped by a half a percent or more. According to Federal Labor statistics the jobless rate for Columbia, Dodge and Fond du Lac counties fell to 2.5 percent and 2.6 percent in Winnebago County. Waupaca County’s rate was at 2.8 percent, Green Lake County’s rate was 3 percent, and the unemployment rate in Waushara County was 3.2 percent. The jobless rate for the cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac also declined to 2.7 and 2.9 percent respectively. Despite the drop in unemployment rates in April they were for most counties higher than April of 2023. Officials at Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development say 71 of the 72 counties in the state saw their jobless rates drop this April from higher rates in March.
SENATOR JOHNSON ON BORDER DEAL BILL
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says there’s nothing new about the bipartisan immigration bill Senator Chuck Schumer is having them revisit. Johnson says the so-called “border deal” is the same bill that failed in the Senate in February. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says it is a desperate political stunt during an election year. Johnson points out the bill would actually weaken presidential authority to secure the border and would end after 3 years. The bill also spends $20 billion but Johnson says the majority of that money wouldn’t secure the border but would make it more efficient to process and disperse illegal immigrants throughout America.
HOME REPAIR STORM CHASERS
The state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection urges property owners to be skeptical of door-to-door repair crews who use aggressive, high pressure sales tactics to secure contracts after the recent storms. After severe weather strikes that is when transient contractors make the rounds. They are sometimes referred to as “storm chasers.” They provide poor quality work or collect upfront payments and leave without any work done at all. Property owners with storm damage are encouraged to make a list and take photographs of damages. Call municipal officials to find out if a contractor holds the proper permits including for door-to-door sales. Contact a local building inspector to check if repair work requires a permit, and again to verify the work was completed adequately before you provide final payment. Obtain written contracts that specify exactly what work will be done, what materials will be used, a start and completion date, and warranty details. Request and obtain lien waivers from contractors hired for home repairs, and keep copies of receipts, contracts, correspondence, warranties, and written materials.
DRUG TAKE BACK SUCCESS
Wisconsin ranked number two throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2024 Drug Take Back. According to the state’s Department of Justice 55,122 pounds of unwanted medications were collected this spring. State Attorney General Josh Kaul says Wisconsin’s remarkable success with the Drug Take Back program has continued. Wisconsin has collected a total of 1.25 million pounds of unwanted medications since Drug Take Back began in 2010 under the leadership of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for the most medications collected since inception, falling only behind Texas and California which each collected just over 1.4 million pounds. Nationwide, since inception, 18.6 million pounds of unwanted medications have been collected during Drug Take Back events.
NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK
The state’s DNR is urging residents planning to boat or enjoy watersports this year to wear a life jacket. It’s National Safe Boating Week, and with warming weather, the DNR anticipates an increase in boating, paddling and watersport activities heading into Memorial Day weekend. So far this year there have been two boating fatalities in the state. In 2023, there were 28 boating fatalities, 27 of which involved a victim not wearing a life jacket. Operator inexperience, inattention, recklessness and speeding are the four leading causes of tragic watercraft crashes, and the leading cause of death is drowning. DNR officials recommend always wearing a properly fitted and fastened life jacket when on or near the water. Enjoy the waters sober and know your limits. Be careful around river shorelines and sandbars which pose unseen dangers. Keep an eye on the weather and always tell someone where you are going. Create a float plan and tell people when and where you plan to depart and return before going for a float or paddle.
NEW SURGEON AT RCH AND WMH
Dr. Horace Lo, a board-certified general surgeon recently joined SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital in 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. Dr. Lo says laparoscopic surgery is much less invasive surgery than traditional surgery and involves the use of a camera. He says you aren’t cutting through muscle so there is a much faster recovery, less discomfort, and less time in the hospital. He says robotic surgery is even better than laparoscopic surgery, but at this time isn’t offered at Ripon Community Hospital. He says it is expensive and they have had conversations about offering it. Dr. Lo used to practice in the Berlin and Ripon area, but left for about a year and a half. His return means 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.
RIPON PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMERTIME OFFERINGS
Guided water color painting, intro to pickle ball, disc golf, youth camps, a coed volleyball league, and yoga in the park are just a few of the summertime offerings of Ripon’s Parks and Recreation Department. Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says registration deadlines are coming up fast for some of those programs. The registration deadline for a program for 7 to 12 year olds called Found on the Farm is next Thursday. Zeien says it is done in collaboration with the Envision Greater Fond du Lac Agribusiness Council and also has a component where kids get to test their culinary skills. She says they are currently looking for teams for their coed volleyball league too. Registration and more information on all the Ripon Parks and Recreation Department offerings can be found on their website Ripon Rec Desk.com.
Ripon Recreation Department / Senior Activities > Home (recdesk.com)
Share |