5/8/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
8 May 2024 News
WINNEBAGO COUNTY FATAL ROLLOVER CRASH
A 37-year-old Omro woman fleeing from a hit-and-run crash died in a rollover accident Tuesday night. Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say Omro Police were dispatched at 7:21 pm to a two-vehicle hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Michigan Street. Two people in the vehicle that was struck were not injured. Minutes later the silver ford pickup truck that struck their vehicle was involved in a rollover crash on Wayside Drive just west of 2nd Street Road. The pickup truck had gone off the road struck a tree and culvert and rolled over ejecting the Omro woman who was driving it. She was killed in the crash.
HIGHWAY 91 TANKER ROLLOVER IN OSHKOSH
The Oshkosh Police Department is investigating an accident that occurred on Highway 91 and Oakwood Road in the City of Oshkosh. Earlier this morning, at approximately 1:46 am, officers were dispatched to an accident on Highway 91 involving a single vehicle- an ethanol tanker that had rolled over. There did not appear to be a leak, but out of extra caution, Highway 91 between Oakwood Road and Clairville Road will be closed to traffic for a few hours and some nearby residences have been evacuated. No one was injured during the accident.
JURY TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR TWO FDL MURDER SUSPECTS
A two-week jury trial is scheduled in Fond du Lac County court next February for two Fond du Lac men charged in the shooting death of Tatyanna Zech. The trial for 15-year-old Parise Larry, Jr. and 18-year-old Antonio Johnston will be presided over by Fond du Lac County Judge Laura Lavey. The two are suspected of a shooting at the Maplewood Commons Apartments in Fond du Lac on May 7th of last year. According to the criminal complaint they were confronting someone there and Tatyanna Zech who was taking out garbage was hit by gunfire. She died and several others were wounded in the gang-related shooting. Both are charged with first -degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and a number of other charges. Charges are enhanced with modifiers for use of dangerous weapon and violent crime in a school zone. The shooting took place near Pier Elementary School and Theisen Middle School. The trial will begin on February 17th, 2025.
ATTORNEY FOR RECKLESS HOMICIDE SUSPECT WITHDRAWS FROM THE CASE
A 44-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of supplying a fatal dose of heroin to a Fond du Lac woman is looking for a new attorney. The lawyer for Omar Jabbar Simpson made a motion in Fond du Lac County court Monday to withdraw from the case and the judge granted it. Simpson is currently serving time at Stanley Correctional Institution. He is charged with 1st degree reckless homicide delivering drugs. According to the criminal complaint the victim was found dead in her bedroom on March 5th of 2022. An autopsy by the County Medical Examiner found the cause of death to be cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine toxicity. Dr. Adam Covach told a Fond du Lac Police detective the levels of cocaine in her were twice the lethal dose, but fentanyl levels would have killed her seven times over. Last May Simpson was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 3 years of extended supervision on a heroin trafficking charge in Fond du Lac County court.
FDL MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE
Bond has been set at $10,000 cash for a Fond du Lac man who allegedly hurt his 11-year-old son and was involved in a standoff incident with police and Sheriff’s deputies early Monday morning. Robert Hall is charged with physical abuse of a child-intentionally causing bodily harm and five counts of bail jumping. He made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County court Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 13th. According to the criminal complaint Hall was upset the boy and two younger children were not in bed. The boy told investigators Hall bit him and hit him a number of times and slapped a younger child in the head. He also claimed Hall chased him with a knife. The boy fled the residence and called 9-1-1. When police arrived Hall allegedly made verbal threats through a closed door. Police and Sheriff’s SWAT Teams were called in. The incident ended when Hall left the residence with a child and was taken into custody. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
JANESVILLE MAN ARRESTED FOR OWI AND BAIL JUMPING
A 22-year-old Janesville man is facing OWI and misdemeanor bail jumping charges after he was pulled over by a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy late Thursday night for excessive speeding. Bailey Lloyd was allegedly clocked doing 121 miles an hour on U.S. Highway 151. When the deputy made contact with him during the traffic stop, the deputy observed multiple signs of intoxication. Lloyd was arrested after field sobriety testing and was booked into the Columbia County Jail. Sheriff’s officials say excessive speed is among the most common cause of traffic crashes. There is an average of more than 18,000 speed-related crashes every year in Wisconsin. (Columbia County Sheriff’s photo).
STATE HIGHWAY 21 PROJECT ADVANCED
The state’s Department of Transportation tells us a proposed resurfacing project for State Highway 21 in Winnebago County has been moved up from 2027 to 2026. The project will begin south of the State Highway 21 bridge over the Fox River in the city of Omro and extend to just west of the North Washburn Street roundabout in the city of Oshkosh. The proposed improvement will provide safety benefits along the State Highway 21 corridor between Omro and Oshkosh. The State Highway 21 project is a resurfacing –level improvement that includes roundabouts at the intersections with County Highway FF, Sand Pit Road, and Leonard Point Road. It also includes offset left turn lanes at the State Highway 21 intersections with Oakwood Road and Westhaven Drive. Improvements further include concrete repair, shoulder work, upgrading curb ramps for ADA compliance, and beam guard replacement.
SEPTEMBERFEST DISCONTINUED
The Executive Director of the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce says making a decision to discontinue the Septemberfest celebration wasn’t easy. The festival started as Pumpkinfest in 1999 and became Septemberfest in 2007. Chamber Executive Director Mandy Kimes says they did some strategic planning and discovered it was becoming more difficult to staff the festival with the number of volunteers they needed. She says perhaps in the future they can reformat the Septemberfest in some type of fashion. For now they have other events to think about and offerings for their membership. On May 22nd they will have Celebrate Ripon at Vines & Rushes Winery which is the chamber’s annual dinner. Next Tuesday they are partnering with the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce for a Leadership Lab workshop at the Mapes Hotel and in July will partner with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department for a 4th of July Celebration “Red, White, and Boom!”
BGCTC RIPON SITE COORDINATOR LEARNING THE ROPES
While the new Ripon facility for the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area is being constructed the person who will coordinate that site is already getting in some experience with the club. Ashley Dodson says her family moved to the area four years ago. She says when she learned the club was planning a site in Ripon and saw the posting for a Ripon site coordinator she felt she had the skills to help the club out. Dodson had worked at summer youth camps and ran outdoor camps. She is originally from Monticello, Wisconsin. She likes that the Ripon facility will have child care and a trade skills area. For now she’s getting a good look at the inner workings of the club and gaining experience as the facility is being built. Club officials expect to open the Ripon facility in the summer of 2025.
WAUPUN FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE STAFFING STUDY
Waupun City Administrator Kathy Schlieve says as they consider the results of a Fire and Emergency Response Staffing Study they have to be mindful that answers may not be easy or inexpensive. She says a recommendation to combine community and city fire services would eliminate the cost of replacing a fire engine which would be around $1 million. A big challenge is to increase the number of paid on call volunteers for the fire service from the current 28 to 38. She says another recommendation from the firm that prepared the study for the city is to take a look down the road at combining Fire and EMS services to give them more full time staff. A copy of the firm’s presentation to the Waupun Common Council and of the study can be found at the city’s website.
Fire and Emergency Response Staffing Study | Waupun Wisconsin (cityofwaupun.org)
AGRICULTURE YOUTH COUNCIL SELECTED
The state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has announced the members of the next Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. The 15 students will be high school seniors during the 2024-2025 school year. Among the council members are Ashton Brusveen of Cambria, Jamie Damm of Columbus, Logan Harbaugh of Marion, and Max Luedtke of Beaver Dam. Members will meet each month of the school year during their one-year term. The council membership was selected after an application process. The goals of the council are to highlight agricultural-related careers, share resources available for farmers, provide insight in agricultural policy development, and increase networking opportunities for participants.
SSM HEALTH RIPON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BEE AWARD WINNER
A medical/surgical clinical partner at SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital has been named the newest recipient of the BEE or Be Exceptional Everyday Award. Megan Waller was nominated by Faye Becker, an LPN at the hospital, who wrote: “There was so much going on today with patients. Megan was phenomenal at helping out as we were experiencing many patient care needs, including patient discharges and admissions, patient monitoring, and attending to our patients’ specific needs. She always gives 200 percent to all she does. We love working with Megan!” The BEE Award is specifically designed to recognize non-nursing staff members who demonstrate great teamwork and communication skills, collaboration, professionalism, exemplary service, and a commitment to excellence.
In the photo: Mary Waller (second from left), an SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Medical/Surgical clinical partner, receives a BEE Award from Ripon Community Hospital colleagues and leaders, including (left to right) Nicole Gill, Faye Becker, Jen Bunker, and Desiree Stensrud.
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