7/31/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
31 July 2024 News
SPEED AWARENESS DAY
About 100 law enforcement agencies, including the Wisconsin State Patrol, will join states across the Midwest to step up patrols for Speed Awareness Day today. Among the area county sheriff’s departments participating in the Speed Awareness Day are Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Green Lake. Law enforcement will be working statewide to stop drivers who are endangering safety on the roads. The goal of Speed Awareness Day is to educate the community on the dangers of speeding and save lives. In 2023, someone in Wisconsin was injured or killed in a speed-related crash every 1.3 hours. There were 16,401 speed-related crashes that resulted in 176 fatalities and more than 6,500 people were injured.
EAA AIRVENTURE 2024 A RECORD SETTER
EAA AirVenture 2024 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh set a new attendance mark. Official numbers were released Tuesday and approximately 686,000 visitors took in EAA compared to 677,000 in 2023. EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton says, “This year’s tag line was ‘Inspiring the Future of Aviation’ and AirVenture 2024 certainly did that in countless ways.” Some other figures from last week’s fly-in and convention more than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and there were 16,780 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 18th through the 28th. There were 2,846 total show planes, more than 15,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping. Nearly 6,000 volunteers contributed in excess of 250,000 hours. The 861 commercial exhibitors set another record. There were 1,600 forums, workshops, and presentations hosted during the week at 65 venues. More than 23.9 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels. EAA accounted for 2,581 international guests from a record-setting 98 countries. The estimated economic impact of AirVenture for Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown counties is $170 million.
MAYVILLE MAN SENTENCED ON CHILD PORN CHARGE
A 51-year-old Mayville man was recently sentenced to three years in prison and two years of extended supervision on a child pornography possession charge. Kevin Cannon pled no contest to the charge during a hearing in Dodge County court last Friday. Four similar charges were read into the record and dismissed. Charges stemmed from a Mayville Police investigation working off a cyber tipline report. When a search warrant was executed at Cannon’s apartment in September of 2022 police confiscated a laptop and a cellphone. According to the criminal complaint Cannon told investigators he was researching where he could find child porn so he could do a paper on the dark web. He claimed he couldn’t believe the “stuff” was out there and continued to search for more.
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR TRANSITION OF CLOSED UW TWO YEAR CAMPUSES
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the state’s Joint Finance Committee recently released $20 million to help out communities whose two-year UW college campuses have closed. The state lawmaker from Markesan is a member of the JFC. She says the money will be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and counties will have to apply for it. In fact applications become available for the funding starting tomorrow. Ballweg says Fond du Lac County is ahead of the game with what it has already done or put into motion for the former UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac campus. She says they can apply for up to $2 million for the work associated with the Fond du Lac County Campus conversion. She says the funding will cover just about any type of work for the campus transitions.
RIPON ART ADVISORY COUNCIL
The City of Ripon is looking for people interested in serving on the new Art Advisory Council. The Plan Commission recently created the Art Advisory Council on the heels of the Common Council approving a Public Arts ordinance. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says it will play an advisory role to the Plan Commission. He says ideally there will be five members including members of the public, the Ripon Chamber, Ripon Main Street, and a Plan Commission member. Those interested in serving on the Art Advisory Council can submit a form on the City’s website or give their information to Sonntag who will forward it to the Plan Commission for their consideration.
Committee Service Form – City of Ripon, Wisconsin
OSHKOSH CITY MANAGER RETIRING
After 41 years of service to local government, Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff has announced his retirement effective January 3rd. The City Manager acts as the chief executive and administrative officer for the city of Oshkosh. Rohloff says, “Serving as City Manager of Oshkosh for the last 16 years has been the honor of my career.” Mayor Matt Mugerauer praised Rohloff saying under his leadership the city has seen remarkable growth and development. Rohloff feels he will be leaving his position with a sense of optimism for Oshkosh. The Oshkosh Common Council will be working with city of Oshkosh Human Resources division to begin the process of recruiting Oshkosh’s next City Manager.
OSHKOSH CITY BUDGET AND CIP
The Oshkosh Common Council held a workshop on the 2025 City Budget last night. A second workshop is planned next month, with final approval during a regular city council meeting in November. Oshkosh City Councilman Jacob Floam says they also took a look at their five-year capital improvement plan. It includes some big projects including the replacement of several bridges. Floam says the big project for bridges isn’t until the end of the decade. In 2028 and 2029 the Jackson Street/Oregon Street Bridge will go from a draw bridge to a fixed span bridge. Other big projects on the CIP include expansion of the sewer plant, utility infrastructure, vehicle replacements, and the replacement of several fire stations including one by the airport.
BEAVER DAM CAR DEALERSHIP LICENSE REVOKED
The state’s Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles has revoked a wholesale vehicle dealer’s licenses at 1645 North Spring Street in Beaver Dam. This time it is for R & R Car Sales Incorporated for violating state law when they sold motor vehicles directly to consumers, rolled back odometers on vehicles and falsified title documents. Due to the nature of the violations, the department took immediate action revoking the license effective May 22nd. The decision to revoke the license was upheld by a DOT hearing on June 26th. Dealers are given 30 days to appeal a revocation. R & R Car Sales did not appeal and the decision is final.
OSHKOSH PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The Oshkosh Area School District has announced recommendations for three key leadership appointments within the district. The recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education during their special meeting today. Amanda Patza, current principal of Jefferson Elementary is being recommended for principal of Vel Phillips Middle School. Amy Ashton, current principal of Lakeside Elementary has been tabbed to become principal of Jefferson Elementary. Ryan King, current associate principal at Rock River Intermediate School in the Waupun Area School District, is being recommended for the principal’s position at Lakeside Elementary School.
REMINDER FOR GUN DEER HUNT FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES
The state’s Department of Natural Resources reminds eligible hunters hoping to participate in the Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities to contact and confirm a location with a hunt landowner sponsor before September 15th. Thousands of acres of land are available for this year’s hunt, which will take place October 5th through the 13th. Hunters should contact sponsors directly to participate in the 2024 hunt. Some properties can accommodate more hunters than others, so hunters are advised to contact potential sponsors as early as possible to determine availability. A list of hunt landowner sponsors is available at the DNR’s website.
DisDeerSponsors.pdf (widen.net)
WAUPUN COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital will be hosting a community blood drive from 11 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, August 20th in the Marsh Conference Room. The drive-through ImpactLife-is open to the public. Appointments are encouraged. Donors get their choice of a gift card, a donation to support Make A Wish, or bonus points to the ImpactLife store. To sign up, visit bloodcenter.org use code 4055 or reach out to smurhty@impactlife.org. Participants are asked to bring a picture ID and to not eat before donating.
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