8/15/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
15 August 2024 News
FATAL TRAIN ACCIDENT IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY
Sheboygan County Emergency Communications Center officials say a 66-year-old Kewaskum man was killed when the semi-truck he was driving was struck by a Wisconsin Southern train Wednesday afternoon. A 911 call just after 2 pm reported the accident in the W5100 block of Abbott Drive in the Town of Sherman. Sheriff’s deputies arriving on the scene found the truck loaded with 5,000 gallons of liquid manure had been operating on Abbott Drive. The semi was on its side in the ditch as it crossed the railroad crossing with Abbott Drive and was struck by the northbound train. Six of the train’s 22 cars and the engine were derailed. Only one car lost some of its plastic pellet load. The truck driver died at the scene. No one else was injured.
FIRE AT FDL APARTMENT BUILDING
Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue responded for a report of smoke coming from an apartment building at 175 South National Avenue in Fond du Lac early Wednesday morning. When fire crews arrived they found moderate smoke coming from an individual apartment. Firefighters entered the apartment and found a plastic garbage can that was smoldering. They removed the container and ventilated the structure. The building sustained minor damage. The cause of the fire was improperly discarded smoking materials. The time of the fire call was 1:30 am.
MADISON MAN SENTENCED FOR TRANSPORTING GUNS TO APPLETON
A 41-year-old Madison man was recently sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in federal prison and three years of extended supervision for being a felon in possession of five firearms. According to court records Edlando Watson transported five firearms from his home in Madison to a storage facility in Appleton. Because of a 2012 federal conviction for cocaine trafficking he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. At his sentencing last week Federal Judge William Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense, Watson’s poor prior record, and the need to protect the public. The case was investigated by the Madison Police Department, with the assistance of the Appleton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
RIPON MAYOR’S VETO STANDS
By a 6 to 1 vote last night the Ripon Common Council voted against overturning Ripon Mayor Ted Grant’s veto of the Council’s July 22nd vote to deny a rezoning application for the Ripon Event Barn. The vote may have been a moot point after City Administrator Adam Sonntag informed the Council that the developer’s attorney had informed city staff developer Wayne Chaney was reconsidering his redevelopment plan and would resubmit his alternative proposal to the Plan Commission. In his veto letter to the Council, Mayor Grant said he had asked Chaney to work with Envision Greater Fond du Lac to develop an economic impact study for the property as it relates to the entire community, including opportunities for local small businesses, non-profits, and for the enjoyment of all residents. Chaney had agreed to do so and Envision is already working with him on the study. It was the second time this year Mayor Grant has successfully used his veto powers. The first time had to do with his veto of the Council’s approval of adding the words Birthplace of the Republican Party to the Industrial Park Water Tower when it was being rehabilitated.
WELCOME BACK DON’T MIND THE CONSTRUCTION
Rosendale-Brandon Schools welcomed back students Wednesday for a new school year. With the success of an April 2023 referendum construction began on improvements and additions to the Laconia High School. Superintendent Wayne Weber says it was a race to get some of the work on the west end of the school done for the return of students. A parking lot has been added on the west end of the school and they redid the parking lot on the east side with both paved and stripped last week. He says they also had the slab poured for the high school addition. The new gym is taking shape with some of the steel already up. The west end of the high school will be the temporary main entrance and office. Other work is slated in March and work at the Intermediate School next year with the hope to have it all done by the fall of 2025.
RASD ENROLLMENT
For the first time in seven years the Ripon Area School District will see no decline in its enrollment for its brick-and-mortar facilities as it begins classes this fall. Business Manager Jonah Adams says they will see a small increase in their 4K and 5K enrollment. Four-year-old Kindergarten numbers will increase by 8 students to a total of 92 students, and 5K will be up by nine students. He says they are also seeing 10 additional students in their virtual school. Adams notes 117 students graduated from their high school at the conclusion of the last academic year and with their gains in enrollment in kindergarten students they will see no decline in enrollment for the first time in seven years. The official enrollment count will be taken on the third Friday in September.
RELISTING OF LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says they knew while they were at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with the replica of the Little White Schoolhouse that the real one was going to be relisted on the National Register of Historic Places. They had been getting emails during the convention that were leaning that way but were waiting for official word. She says they got the official word as the convention was wrapping up. Kimes says it was a long process to get “The Birthplace of the Republican Party” relisted but worth the effort. In 2023, the schoolhouse was moved to a new site, necessitating its reapplication to the National Register. This year the Little White Schoolhouse celebrated the 170th anniversary of the first meeting where the Republican Party was formed.
WAUSHARA COUNTY FAIR OPENS
The Waushara County Fair gets underway at the fairgrounds in Wautoma today. Some of today’s highlights include some animal and exhibit judging. It’s also wristband night from 5:30 to 10 pm for the carnival rides with $25 allowing the wearer to unlimited use of the rides. There will be music in the Midway Music Hall from 5 to 7 pm. At 7 pm you can watch bull riding. “The Biggest Little County Fair in Wisconsin” runs through Sunday. A full schedule of activities, ticket prices, and other information can be found at the Fair’s website.
AEROEDUCATE NEW COLLABORATORS
AeroEducate, EAA’s free online education program, has added three collaborators to its list of educational content providers. This partnership aims to tackle an ever-growing need for aviation education and interactive programming for young people. AeroEducate offers unique content for grades K-12. New collaborators include the Aircraft Electronics Association which has partnered with EAA to help develop avionics activities for all grade levels. PlaneEnglish Interactive Training Solutions has worked to provide automated and AI-assisted pilot communications activities for all levels of the student self-exploratory area of AeroEducate. SafeLaunch is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that uses aviation to educate youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
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