7/12/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
12 July 2024 News
BOND FOR COLUMBUS MAN SET AT $10 MILLION
The bond for a 22-year-old Columbus man suspected in the July 4th shooting death of a Columbus tavern owner has been set at $10 million cash. Jonathan Luna made his initial appearance in Columbia County court Wednesday on first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and misdemeanor bail jumping charges. Luna is suspected in the shooting death of 42-year-old Jose Fuentes-Hernandez at Tequila’s Bar and Grill in Columbus early the morning of July 4th. According to the criminal complaint the two had a brief fight at the bar. Luna went home to his apartment to retrieve a gun and returned to the tavern. He waited for Hernandez to leave the bar and shot him as he left it. Luna then bought a bus ticket to Texas and was taken into custody at a hotel on the east side of Madison before he could leave. (Columbia County Jail photo).
BLACK BEAR ADVENTURE IN ROSENDALE
Just before 6 pm last night the Fond du Lac County Communications Center began receiving calls about a black bear roaming in the area of State Highway 23 and Hill Boulevard in the Village of Rosendale. Village Police, Sheriff’s deputies, and the DNR tracked the bear until it left the village. The bruin had quite the adventure at first just spotted walking down the road; it got chased by dogs, ran through a field, went by the fire department, and went through a cornfield. Altogether County dispatch took reports of 15 different sightings during the bear’s trek. According to one report a homeowner on Hill Road had a large pile of corn that the bear has been feeding on. Last month Markesan Police took several reports of bear sightings. Black bears are transient and their movement increases in June as breeding season begins and young bears disperse to find their own space. They are usually not dangerous to humans unless they feel threatened.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS TIPS NEEDED
The Green Lake County Crime Stoppers program is looking for tips about a vehicle believed to be associated with a theft in the Town of Marquette on Pine Road South. The theft occurred on or around June 16th. The vehicle is believed to be a Chevrolet Colorado. About $1,300 in property was stolen. A picture of the suspect vehicle can be seen at the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Facebook page. If you have any information that could assist in the case, call the Crime Stoppers at 1-800-GET-THEM, that’s 1-800-438-8436. You can also text GETTHEM at 847411. Tips may be eligible for up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects. You can report your tips anonymously. (Green Lake County Sheriff’s photo).
SEX OFFENDER MOVING TO OSHKOSH
Oshkosh Police say a 34-year-old sex offender is being released from prison and will be moving into the city on July 30th. Vernon Oppermann has no arranged residence at this time and would be considered homeless. He will be on GPS monitoring the rest of his life and will be on probation until August 8th, 2030. He was convicted in Winnebago County in 2014 of exposing genitals to a child and convicted of four counts of possession of child pornography. The victim in the first offense was a 15-year-old girl he knew. The other victims were young girls unknown to him. Oppermann is currently incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution.
ROOF PROTECTION SCAM
Washington County Sheriff’s officials say their investigators have been able to identify a suspect vehicle of two men trying to pull a door-to-door home improvement scam in the Town of Wayne this week. They had a tank in the bed of the pickup truck and were offering to spray a chemical on the roof of homes to prolong the life of the roof. The two were using the roof protection ploy to talk their way into a residence and then distract the victims while they committed theft. Investigators say the two suspects were from out-of-state and have now left Wisconsin. However, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office cautions that there are multiple traveling sealing crews in the area offering unsolicited services. They say although not illegal on their face this type of unsolicited service is often associated with unlawful scams. (Washington County Sheriff’s photo).
COMMUNITY MEETING IN MANAWA
A week after flooding devastated the City of Manawa, city officials now turn to healing. A public meeting will be held for the community at the Manawa High School Commons Monday night at 6 pm. The Red Cross will have mental health providers available as well. Meanwhile dumpsters for city residents will be available behind the Manawa High School tomorrow from 8 am to 1 pm, make sure to bring proof of residency. The City Council meeting has been moved to Monday, July 22nd at 6 pm. If you have water or sewer damage inside your home due to flash flooding on July 5th you are asked to fill out the City of Manawa Claim Form which is available online and submit it to the City Hall. There is a possibility that the City’s insurance may reimburse some funds. Forms will also be available at the community meeting on Monday.
city-of-manawa-claim-form.pdf (cityofmanawa.org)
RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATION AT RIGGS PARK
The Grand Opening for the All-Inclusive Playground at Riggs County Park in Ripon will be held tomorrow at 11 am. There will be a ribbon cutting followed by food and fun. 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.
REPRESENTATIVE DALLMAN ON UW CHANCELLOR PAY RAISES
State Representative Alex Dallman took exception to the Universities of Wisconsin System Board of Regents giving a second raise in less than four months to top administrative officials. The state lawmaker from Green Lake says, “Eight chancellors from campuses across Wisconsin will receive hefty raises and bonuses at a time when these Universities are hiking student tuition and arguing financial hardship.” He points out under the new structure; UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin will receive a 10 percent raise, which amounts to an extra $80,000 a year. It will bring her publicly-funded salary to nearly $900,000 annually. Dallman questions, “How many hardworking Wisconsinites have been lucky enough to have received one raise over the last year, let alone two?”
SENATOR JOHNSON STAFF HOURS
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s staff will be holding mobile office hours at different times and locations around the state during the next two weeks. They held office hours In Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago counties yesterday. On Thursday, July 18th they will be at the Fairwater Village Hall in Fond du Lac County from 9:30 to 10:30 am, the Hustisford Community Library in Dodge County from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, the Newburg Village Hall in Washington County from 2 to 3 pm, and Memorial Park in Cedar Grove in Sheboygan County from 4 to 5 pm. Staff-led mobile office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Senator Johnson’s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.
ACT 20 RIPON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
State funding may be held up for the implementation of ACT 20, but school districts across the state are moving ahead with the early literacy program. Chrissy Damm is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Ripon Area School District. She says while the program is intended for students in kindergarten through third grade the district has actually taken that even further. The district has focused on literacy across the district with 4K through fifth grades. She says one of the major components of ACT 20 is teacher training. She says the district is in a good place because it has been doing a lot of teacher training in literacy over the past two years. Damm says teachers will be working with their colleagues and a consultant from CESA 6 to learn more about best practices in literacy.
PICKLEBALL INJURIES
An orthopedic surgeon with SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic says if you’re thinking about trying your hand at Pickleball dive into the growing sport slowly. Dr. Benjamin Wiseley sees patients in Fond du Lac and Ripon. He recommends seeing your primary care physician first if you have any heart, lung or other medical issues. He says some players will play for a couple of hours, but if you’re just starting out limit yourself to 30 to 45 minutes. Warm up before hand with stretching exercises and cool down from your matches with more stretching exercises. He says hydration is also important and footwear. Some type of tennis shoe would be better for a tennis court-like surface than a running shoe. Dr. Wiseley says most of the injuries they see are from overuse so try not to overdo it.
GIVING TO DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS
The Administrator for the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection recommends giving to know charities if you want to donate for flood relief or Hurricane Beryl relief efforts. Michelle Reinen says two websites you can check out charities on are charity navigator.org and give.org. She says that will ensure the charities are reputable and your money is going where it is intended. She says not all pop-up charities have good intentions so giving money to someone like the American Red Cross or a local effort where you know who is behind it is better. Reinen says the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection would also like to know about those fake charities or scams so if you fall victim to one or just need more information call them at 1-800-422-7128.
MPTC CELEBRATES ANOTHER START COLLEGE NOW SUCCESS STORY
Moraine Park Technical College is celebrating the efforts of recent Kewaskum High School graduate Justin Toth. He took advantage of Moraine Park’s dual enrollment offerings and has a jumpstart on his career as an Electrical Power Distribution professional, all before graduating high school. Inspired by his brother Kyle, an EPD professional and MPTC alumni, Toth went through Moraine Park’s Start College Now program to complete five of the 17 required classes. In addition to getting his initial courses paid for through Start College Now, Toth received the Technical Excellence Award scholarship, offered through Kewaskum High School. Moraine Park will welcome Toth to the Beaver Dam campus this fall, and he is on track to earn his technical diploma next spring.
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