11/1/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
1 November 2024 News
FDL COUNTY PURSUIT AND ARREST
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies and North Fond du Lac Police arrested a 32-year-old North Fond du Lac man following a brief chase Thursday that ended up in a hayfield. A rental company had reported the man was driving a stolen vehicle. Due to previous contacts with law enforcement the man was deemed an “Officer Safety Risk.” He drove away from a traffic stop on County Highway V and called the County Communications Center saying he wasn’t going to stop because he questioned the legitimacy of the traffic stop. Ultimately he was boxed in when he entered the hayfield. Several squad cars were damaged during that maneuver. The pursuit lasted one mile. The man was evaluated by EMS and taken to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac for medical clearance. He was then taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of felony fleeing and eluding, operating without owner’s consent and two counts of felony bail jumping. He was out on bond for two felony cases in Fond du Lac County Court.
TWO ARRESTED FOR OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AND DRUGS
Police in Oshkosh Wednesday arrested a 33-year-old man and 41-year-old woman from the city on outstanding warrants. The two were also in possession of drugs when officers made contact with them in the 400 block of Sullivan Street. The man was taken into custody on seven outstanding warrants. He had been eluding arrest since January 2023. The woman was wanted on three outstanding warrants. The pair was wanted on warrants for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, prescription pills without a prescription, and bail jumping.
SENTENCING DELAYED FOR ERIK METZIG
The sentencing for a 27-year-old Fremont man who murdered his parents in their Town of Wolf River home has been delayed. Several motions were filed in Winnebago County Court Wednesday including one in which the lawyer for Erik Metzig withdrew from the case due to an “ethical conflict.” He was replaced by another attorney. Metzig had also filed a letter with the court which needs time to be investigated. A status conference has been scheduled for November 20th. In August Metzig pled no contest to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. The prosecutor has recommended 50 years in prison on each count, but that sentence to be concurrent or running at the same time. Metzig shot his parents to death, 72-year-old David Metzig and 71-year-old Jan Metzig, on March 18th of 2023. They were found dead of gunshot wounds during a welfare check. He was living with them at the time of the shooting.
PORTLAND STREET ANNEX SALE APPROVED
Fond du Lac County supervisors this week unanimously approved the sale of what is known as the “Portland Street Annex” to Meyer Property Group for $150,000. Supervisor Kat Griffith asked why the property at 48 North Portland Street, which the County bought in 2000 for $400,000 and was valued at $300,000 to $400,000, was being sold for basically half price. County Executive Sam Kaufman explained the building which houses county offices would need major repairs to be used for office space and with a glut of office availability in Fond du Lac now there may be a three to four year wait to sell with no guarantee on what they would receive for it. He says it would require $100,000 to fix the roof and by the time they got it into shape and sold it they might only net $100,000. Fond du Lac businessman Sam Meyer was interested in buying it and developing it into housing. He did not require the repairs Kaufman talked about. Kaufman says Meyer will turn it into an asset and provide much needed housing which is why they put the offer from Meyer Property Group before the board. Supervisor Griffith, a housing advocate, said she was pleased to learn that.
BERLIN SCHOOLS REFERENDUM
Berlin Area School District voters next Tuesday will have their say on an operational referendum for the school district. District Superintendent Emmett Durtschi says they are asking for a total of about $7 million over four years beginning with just over $800,000 for the next school year. He says it is not a recurring referendum and they are working to reduce costs by paying down debt on the Middle School and taking other steps so they won’t have to come back to taxpayers with another operational referendum after that four years. The estimated average tax impact of a successful referendum would be a $38 increase per $100,000 of value on a property. Durtschi says over the past few years 87 percent of the school districts in the state have gone to an operational referendum. The Markesan and Wautoma School Districts also have referendums on the ballot although those are capital improvement referendums.
AGE RECOMMENDATION HAS CHANGED FOR FIRST TIME COLONOSCOPIES
A general surgeon with SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic says recommendations on when someone should get their first colonoscopy have changed over the past 20 years. Dr. Horace Lo sees patients at Ripon Community Hospital. He says it used to be 80 to 85 percent of colon cancer was on the left side of the body, but over the years it has shifted to a 60/40 percent split between the left and right sides of the body. They also used to see more colon cancer in people over 60 recommending colonoscopies for those 50 or older. He says it takes 5 to 10 years for a polyp to develop into cancer if it does become cancerous. Dr. Lo notes they are now recommending both men and women should have their first colonoscopy at 45 years of age because they are now seeing colon cancer in people in their fifties. He says those who need a colonoscopy for the first time can call their clinic at 920-745-3540 for more information or to have a colonoscopy scheduled.
HAND RECOUNT REQUIRED FOR GENERAL ELECTION
Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says there will be a recounting of ballots following Tuesday’s General Election. She says there is nothing suspect about the voting, but per state statute they are required to recount a certain number of ballots after each general election. She states it will be for ballots cast in the Presidential and U.S. Senate races. It’s done by hand. She says usually the voting machines are more accurate than a hand count. She says the municipalities required to do the recount are picked at random, so they don’t know yet where that will occur. Freiberg will be informing the media about where that will happen so the public has a chance to witness the count if they wish to.
CAMPBELLSPORT AWARDED BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT SERVICES
The state’s Department of Natural Resources has awarded brownfield assessment services to the Village of Campbellsport to assist with the investigation of environmental contamination at the site of a former self-service gas station. The award will support the assessment of environmental conditions at the half-acre property where soil contamination was found during the removal of the gas station’s underground storage tanks in 2018. The property was transferred to the village from Fond du Lac County and is currently vacant. This new award will help determine the degree and extent of contamination on the property. The village plans to redevelop the property and information gathered through the assessment is necessary to move forward with the project.
AG DISTRIBUTION GRANTS AWARDED
Through a partnering of state and federal agricultural departments $3.1 million has been awarded for 41 projects through the Resilient Food System Infrastructure Program to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through the program 41 projects will be funded with Equipment Grants to support middle of the supply chain infrastructure. Among the funded projects Three Sisters Community Farm in Fond du Lac County is getting just under $99,000 to purchase a delivery vehicle to get products from rural producers for distribution to urban marketing channels. Governor Tony Evers says, “We have a proud tradition of agriculture here in Wisconsin, and it’s critically important that we’re able to get food from our farms and producers to our grocery stores, restaurants, and kitchen tables across our country and the world over.”
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME REMINDER
It’s time to fall back this Sunday with the end of daylight-saving time and set our clocks back one hour. Ready Wisconsin encourages people to take advantage of the time change to create a safer home for themselves and loved ones. Batteries in carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced at least once a year. The carbon monoxide alarm should be replaced every five to seven years, based on manufacturer’s instructions. Last year there were 341 emergency department visits and 35 deaths in Wisconsin due to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of every five home fire deaths occurred when smoke detectors were either not present or were not working properly. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be replaced at least once a year. The device itself should be replaced every 10 years. If you have an emergency kit at home, this weekend is also a great time to check for expired products or items that may have been borrowed for other purposes and need to be replaced. Pay attention to the expiration dates on batteries, first aid supplies and food.
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