10/15/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
15 October 2024 News
HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT SUCCESSFUL
We are grateful to everyone that contributed to filling a truck at Webster’s Marketplace in Ripon with hurricane relief items and monetary donations over the weekend. The semi was packed with supplies and is heading to Florida to help with clean up. Hundreds of people stopped by Webster’s Marketplace to drop off items and offer support. Alliance Laundry Systems provided a $10,000 match for donations. JW Transport LLC provided the truck and driver and Hometown Broadcasting raised awareness. The Truck left Sunday night headed for the Pinellas Park Boys and Girls Club in Pinellas Park, Florida where the items will be distributed and donations will be put to use. (Alliance Laundry Systems photo).
SUSPICIOUS GARAGE FIRE IN THE VILLAGE OF FAIRWATER
Fire destroyed a detached garage at 311 Main Street in the Village of Fairwater last night. A passerby called 911 at 10:15 pm to report the fire to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center. The Brandon-Fairwater Fire and First Responders, Alto Fire, Ripon Fire and Ambulance, and Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched. The garage was fully engulfed when they arrived. Sheriff’s officials say the garage had a previous fire in August of 2023 and was never repaired. It isn’t known whether items in the garage were previously destroyed or damaged. Samuel and Gabrielle Scheps own the property. They were not home during the incident. No one was injured during the blaze and the cause of the fire is unknown. The fire is considered suspicious in nature and is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office.
DNR REINSTATES BURNING PERMITS FOR 13 COUNTIES
The DNR has reinstated DNR burning permits by issuing a Special Fire Order in 13 Wisconsin counties. The permit reinstatement began this morning in designated DNR protection areas until further notice. The permit reinstatement applies to extensive DNR protection area counties outside incorporated cities and villages in all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, and Waushara counties and portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant and Iowa counties. A DNR annual burning permit is now required for burning in a barrel, a debris pile and grass or wooded areas as outlined by the permit, unless the ground is completely snow-covered. Before burning in these areas, anyone wishing to burn must obtain a DNR burn permit and then visit WisBurn online for current burn restrictions.
RIPON MAN CHARGED WITH STALKING
A stalking charge has been filed in Fond du Lac County Court against a 54-year-old Ripon man. Bart Schepp will make his initial appearance on the charge on October 25th. According to the criminal complaint Schepp was fired from a Ripon business in February of 2023. He went to retrieve a firearm from a company vehicle and became agitated making threats toward the business. Following that there were multiple incidents involving stalking and threats toward the owner and the owner’s family. Police issued a harassment citation but that did not stop the stalking behavior. In an attempt to stop the stalking the victim hired private security and the victim and his family decided to move. That did not stop the behavior. According to the criminal complaint there was an incident at a high school basketball game, public threats, and death threats.
THREE STRUCTURE FIRES IN FOUR DAYS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Kewaskum firefighters put out a kitchen fire at 3404 Highway 28 in Washington County’s Town of Kewaskum late Monday morning. Two adults and 1 child had evacuated the home prior to firefighters’ arrival. Portions of the home had significant damage. A woman and child were taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons. The Red Cross is assisting residents of the home. It was the third structure fire in four days in Washington County.
There was garage fire at 5861 Monches Road in the Town of Erin last Friday. The homeowner was able to get out of the residence. A Richfield firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls. The firefighter was treated and released. The fire was mostly contained to the garage with about 10 percent of the home damaged by fire.
A fire Sunday damaged a residence on Trading Post Trail near County Highway A. The fire was contained to the attic and second floor portions of the residence, and the exterior remained largely intact. The remainder of the residence sustained smoke and water damage. Homeowners had a fire in the fireplace earlier in the day. The fire started in the upper chimney portion of the residence.
ADVOCAP DEVELOPING GOALS
In a couple of years ADVOCAP will mark its 60th anniversary. The agency works to “Create Opportunities for People and Communities to Reduce Poverty and Increase Self-Sufficiency.” Tanya Marcoe is ADVOCAP’s Executive Director. She says this is their 58th year of providing services in Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago Counties. She says they are focused on helping out low-income residents. She says their services include business and workforce development, providing affordable housing, homeless prevention services, volunteer services, weatherization, and Head Start. They have a classroom at the Early Learning Center in Ripon serving three-year-olds. ADVOCAP completed an extensive Strategic Planning process last year which included input from community partners and investors. They used that input to develop goals.
CYBER SECURITY MONTH
The Administrator for the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection has some tips about how to keep your devices safe for when you are using the Internet. Michelle Reinen says you don’t want your personal or financial information to be vulnerable to those who have the knowledge to hack into them. She recommends updating your software regularly which will fix security risks. It patches holes in security systems to keep bad actors out. Another suggestion is to regularly update passwords using strong passwords for each account. Reinen says think of a security phrase that will use numbers, letters, and symbols. October is Cyber Security Month. You can find more tips at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection website.
DATCP Home Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Here! What Will You Do?
WAUPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY
During Fire Prevention Week last week the Waupun Fire Department held an open house and also took the opportunity to celebrate its 150th Anniversary. Fire Chief B.J. DeMaa says they got their own chance to learn about the history of the department by working with the Historical Society. He says they had some of the pictures of the equipment that was used back in the day which gave them a chance to compare to what they have today. He says there is a big difference from 1874 when firefighters used horse-drawn hook and ladder trucks and the fire engines they use today which can cost in the neighborhood of $1 million for a new truck. DeMaa says the two constants between yesteryear and today is fire and the people willing to go into it to keep the community safe.
OSHKOSH PUBLIC MUSEUM DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
The Oshkosh Public Museum welcomes the community to its third annual Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead celebration, a free cultural event for all ages. It will take place on Saturday, November 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich tradition of the day including viewing the community altar, creating unique crafts, enjoying live ballet dancers performing to vibrant mariachi music. There will be complimentary face painting. Admission is free. Beyond the Museum walls, downtown Oshkosh will have free screenings of the Disney Pixar film “Coco” at the Time Community Theater. English-language screening will be show on Friday, November 1st at 7 pm. The Spanish-language version will be shown in a matinee at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2nd.
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