5/3/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
3 May 2024 News
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
On their Facebook page the Green Lake School District posted this Wednesday:
Mrs. Radke’s Biology students went down to the mill pond to make observations on human interactions with abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. We found a very protective killdeer nesting near the tennis courts, saw the osprey returning from a hunting trip to the nesting box, and dug out some invasive species from the water. (Green Lake School District photo).
WINNEBAGO COUNTY BURGLARY
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect in a crime ring that targets Asian jewelry store owners. One such residence at 1573 Sheboygan Street in the Town of Algoma was burglarized Wednesday afternoon. An upstairs bedroom was ransacked, a small safe was pried open and a large amount of cash and jewelry valued at over $100,000 was taken. An expensive purse and $5,000 in cash inside it were also taken. The victims are Asian and own two jewelry stores and also make jewelry at their home. There have been similar burglaries in the U.S. targeting Asian jewelry store owners dating back to 2018. When the Town of Algoma homeowners were leaving their home Wednesday, they spotted a suspicious vehicle described as a new model Toyota Highlander silver or grey in color, believed to be displaying Louisiana Plates parked at the end of the cul de sac, just west of the victim’s residence. The driver was dark skinned, possibly black or Hispanic, with very short or shaved hair in his 30’s. The home hit in Winnebago County is directly next door to a Hampton Inn, which is where the suspect may have stayed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Detective Ron Timm at 920-236-7369. (Door Bell Camera photo).
FOX LAKE MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF RECKLESS HOMICIDE AND INJURY CHARGES
Following a four-day trial a Green Lake County jury has found a 63-year-old Fox Lake man not guilty of charges stemming from a fatal traffic accident. The jury’s decision Thursday afternoon was read in the courtroom after about three hours of deliberation. Carlton Schley Sr. was charged with second degree reckless homicide and second degree reckless injury. The accident occurred on July 22nd, 2020 at the intersection of County Highway A and Hickory Drive in the Town of Mackford. According to the criminal complaint Schley was operating a John Deere tractor sprayer with booms and failed to stop at a stop sign on Hickory Drive. A Toyota RAV4 driven by a 73-year-old man struck the tractor sprayer killing him and injured the 72-year-old woman who was his passenger. For Schley it was the second jury trial on the charges. A mistrial was declared in the first trial last December.
K QUARRY PERMIT ACTION DELAYED
Green Lake County’s Land Use Planning & Zoning Committee voted Thursday morning to delay taking action on two permits for a proposed limestone quarry for Kopplin & Kinas. The committee limited the public comment period for the meeting to 15 minutes but several people spoke in opposition to a conditional use permit for the quarry and a non-metallic mining reclamation permit. The K Quarry would be a half-mile east of what would have been the Skunk Hollow Mine on the same limestone ridge off County Road K. The proposed mine is being opposed for many of the same reasons there was opposition to the Skunk Hollow Mine. Stephanie Prellwitz CEO and Executive Director of the Green Lake Association had some environmental hydrological papers and additional conditions she wanted the committee to consider that they didn’t have a chance to review. For that reason and other reports the committee wanted to review the committee decided to delay a decision on the two permits.
WAUPUN FIRE AND EMS STAFFING REPORT
Waupun officials this week heard a presentation on a fire and emergency response staffing study that found increasing call volumes but a corresponding decline in available responders. The study also found times when a contracted ambulance service was unavailable for 911 calls. The Waupun Common Council commissioned the staffing study last year. Public Administration Associates, which did the study for the city, also issued a series of recommendations. Those suggestions include combining city and community fire services, increasing resources to recruit younger volunteers to the fire department, renegotiating the contract with the ambulance service provider, and if that is not possible consider combining fire and EMS services with more cross-training. The firm also suggests improving the public service building to include showers and lockers. City Administrator Kathy Schlieve says more conversation with the community is needed about the staffing issues. The Waupun Common Council will discuss the issue at its May 28th Committee of the Whole meeting. A copy of the firm’s presentation and the full report is available on the city’s website.
Fire and Emergency Response Staffing Study | Waupun Wisconsin (cityofwaupun.org)
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR SHEBOYGAN COUNTY SHERIFF
The Governor’s Office is seeking applicants for Sheboygan County Sheriff. Sheriff Cory Roeseler is retiring on June 3rd. The successful applicant will fill the remainder of Roeseler’s unexpired term which ends in January of 2027. To apply complete the application form that can be found on the “Apply to Serve” page on Governor Evers’ website. Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on Wednesday, May 15th. Those with questions can call the Governor’s Office Legal Counsel at 608-266-1212.
WILTON NAMED GREEN LAKE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has named Mark Wilton as its new Executive Director. Wilton succeeds Lisa Meier who left last month to return to Discover Wisconsin. Mark and his family moved to Green Lake in 2022. He’s originally from New Zealand. He quickly became involved in initiatives to improve the downtown area in order to attract more traffic, supporting local businesses and boosting the local economy. His passion for Green Lake paired with his extensive leadership and relationship management background in both small business and in the corporate world makes him a great fit for his role with the chamber. (Green Lake Chamber of Commerce photo).
MOUNT HOREB SHOOTING REACTION
Superintendents at a pair of local school districts sympathize with what students, parents, and school staff is going through after a 14-year-old student was killed by police as he tried to enter the Mount Horeb Middle School Wednesday with a gun. Berlin Schools Superintendent Emmett Durtschi used to work at the neighboring Verona School District in Dane County. He says its unfortunate a teen was killed, but quick action by police probably saved other lives. Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says they are thankful when families reach out to them when a student may be in crisis preventing things from escalating. She says they train with Ripon Police for active shooter scenarios and keep parents up-to-date each year on reunification policies should such an unfortunate event ever occur.
RIPON K9 CHANGE
The Ripon Police Department’s K9 program will turn over a new page in its history when current K9 Rony retires at the end of the year. Police Chief Bill Wallner says Rony’s handler Officer Trevor Hanke has had three dogs in more than 25 years and being closer to retirement himself doesn’t want to take on another. Officer Brandon Howell will take over as the new K9’s handler sometime early next year. The two will receive training starting in December. Meanwhile a fundraiser “Rony Recruit” is raising money for the new dog. Chief Wallner says the last time they equipped a squad car was for Rony in 2015 so they will need money to equip a new squad for their new K9 officer. Details on the fundraiser can be found at the Ripon Police Department Facebook page.
PIONEER AIRPORT REOPENS ON SATURDAY
EAA Aviation Museum attendees can take a trip back in time to airports from the early days of air travel, as Pioneer Airport reopens for the 2024 season tomorrow. Pioneer Airport will be open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays only until Memorial Day, when it will be open daily through Labor Day. Pioneer Airport is included with paid museum admission. More than 50 vintage airplanes are on display across seven hangars. The airplanes are from a variety of eras ranging from the 1920s to the early 1970s. EAA Director of Aircraft Operations Jeff Toline says, “Pioneer Airport was created by EAA founder Paul Poberezny nearly 40 years ago as a unique way for museum attendees to experience some of EAAs antique aircraft in a true barnstormer setting.”
WILD ROSE FISH HATCHERY EDUCATION CENTER OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY
The Wisconsin DNR will be hosting a spring open house at Wild Rose Fish Hatchery Education Center in Wild Rose from 8 am to 3 pm Saturday. The free event will give attendees a chance to celebrate the annual spring sturgeon spawn and learn more about Wisconsin’s oldest fish species. The open house will include activities for people of all ages, including casting instruction, fish identification, and following the sturgeon migration journey to spawning areas. Other hands-on activities include printing fish on tote bags, learning how to build a spinner and making a clay sturgeon. Attendees can also tour the original 1908 hatchery and explore the modern operation. The Education Center will provide guided tours from DNR staff every 45 minutes, with the last tour departing at 2 pm. The Wild Rose fish hatchery is a cool and cold-water hatchery that raises brown and rainbow trout, coho, and Chinook salmon, Great Lakes spotted muskellunge, walleye and lake sturgeon.
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