11/5/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
5 November 2024 News
OSHKOSH MAN SENTENCED FOR VEHICULAR HOMICIDE
The 21-year-old Oshkosh man suspected of hitting and killing a Good Samaritan in Waupaca County on October 29th, 2023, has been sentenced to six years in prison and six years of extended supervision. Evan Barnick was sentenced Monday on charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, first-degree reckless endangering safety, and violating a court order by failing to install an ignition interlock device. He pled no contest to those charges in August. Seventy-seven-year-old Gerald Pagel was helping out a motorist that had been involved in a car-deer crash when he was struck by Barnick’s vehicle. Pagel died at the scene of the crash on County Highway W near Brehmer Road in the Town of Caledonia. The driver he was helping out dove into a ditch to avoid Barnick’s truck. Barnick fled from the scene. Barnick was previously fined $500 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration-his second offense which happened in July of 2022.
STATE HIGHWAY 91 PROJECT IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY COMPLETE
The state’s Department of Transportation tells us an improvement project on State Highway 91 between the towns of Omro and Algoma in Winnebago County has been completed. Construction began September 9th and finished on time and on budget. During the project pipe culverts between James Road and Clairville Road were replaced with a new, twin cell box culvert. The bridge over Waukau Creek was rehabilitated, which included surface repair, polymer overlay, and beam guard replacement. An at-grade railroad crossing at the State Highway 91 and Clairville Road intersection was also improved. Sheet Piling Services of Custer, Wisconsin was the prime contractor.
FIGHTER WING TRAINING AT NIGHT
The 115th Fighter Wing is conducting evening training flights through Thursday this week. They have shifted their typical daytime flights to the afternoon and evening, concluding at approximately 9:15 pm. The training is required to ensure Airmen’s readiness to operate in all conditions. Flight paths will be followed to minimize noise to area residents.
SHERIFFS ADOPTING SHERIFFS IMPLEMENTED
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Badger State Sheriff’s Association in raising funds for Hurricane Relief. The Association is implementing the Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs program to help Sheriffs’ employees in Florida and North Carolina. The relief program is designed to help Sheriffs’ employees and their families who have personally been impacted by this natural disaster. The relief project was recently authorized by the Association’s Board of Directors. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt also serves as the Association’s President. He says, “When these types of disasters occur all too often lost in the mix of the disaster is the fact that Sheriff’s emergency responders themselves suffered a major personal and family loss while still being expected to go to work, do their jobs, and continue to rescue and help others in need.” The Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs program will run in each county through November 22nd. In Dodge County donations can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office or mailed to Sheriff Dale Schmidt, 124 West Street, Juneau, Wisconsin 53039. When dropping off or mailing donations please note how the funds are to be applied. Checks should be made payable to “WI BSSA.”
GENERAL ELECTION TODAY
Voters go to the polls today to vote on a variety of offices and issues. There is voting for President, U.S. Senate, and Congress. At the state level voting will be for even-numbered Senate Offices, and all 99 State Assembly seats. In Fond du Lac County there is voting for District Attorney, County Clerk, County Treasurer, and Register of Deed although all the incumbents are unopposed. There is also a Wisconsin Constitutional Amendment. Quite a few school districts are staging operational or capital improvement referendums including Beaver Dam, Berlin, Markesan, and Wautoma. Many voters took advantage of early in-person absentee voting or absentee voting. In the City of Ripon 40 percent of registered voters took that option. Results will be posted on the Hometown Broadcasting.com website with links on our Facebook pages. Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm.
PUBLIC HEARING NEXT MONTH ON PROPOSED WHEEL TAX IN RIPON
Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag says the public is welcome to comment during a public hearing on a proposed wheel tax during the Common Council’s December 10th meeting. He says it is not something they included in the City Budget but it is a way to pay for pulverizing, milling and overlaying on city streets outside of the big street projects. He says at the current rate it would take 102 years to improve all 42 miles of streets in the city. Sonntag says they are coming off of 12 years of levy limits, and stagnant or declining revenue sharing from the state. Cities are also not allowed to implement a gas or sales tax. He says the alternative is to cut services and the residents don’t want to cut services like public safety, parks, or the library. He says other options to pay for road improvement such as larger debt services, tax increases, and special assessments could end up costing tax payers more. A wheel tax of $20 per year would generate over $154,000 and a $25 wheel tax $192,000 that would go into a capital fund for road improvements.
HY-VEE PRIMED FOR RIPON OPENING
The next chapter for what was Webster’s Marketplace begins in Ripon Wednesday morning when Hy-Vee opens their newest store in that location at 6 am. The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 am. Hy-Vee Regional Vice President of Operations Jamie Franck says the first 100 customers each day Wednesday through Friday this week will get free bags of groceries. Hy-Vee will operate the same hours that Webster’s did 6 am to 10 pm daily. Phil Hammermeister is the new Store Director. He leads the store’s team of assistant managers, Melissa Griffin, Stephanie Saurbrei, DuWayne Wichman, and Michael Wichman. Franck says their Aisles Online program will allow shoppers to shop online with the option to pick up their groceries at the store or have them delivered. He says you can save more by signing up for the Hy-Vee Perks Plus program. They will also have special events such as a free breakfast at the store for Veterans on Veterans Day next Monday. The breakfast is from 6 to 11 am.
POPULAR COLORECTAL TEST HAS DRAWBACKS
A general surgeon with SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic says a popular test for colon and rectal cancer has its drawbacks. Dr. Horace Lo sees patients at Ripon Community Hospital. He says Cologuard tests for DNA rather than blood and there is a lot of bacteria in the stool and the colon and all of them have DNA. He says if you test positive with Cologuard you will end up having to get a colonoscopy anyway. He says the other thing is it’s designed for people who are not at high risk. People at high risk of colon cancer include any family members or personal history of colon polyps, colon cancer or any colon diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Dr Lo says Cologuard is an adequate test if you don’t want to undergo a colonoscopy but it has a high false positive rate. He says if you have never had a colonoscopy and want to know more or would like to schedule one you can call their clinic at 920-745-3540.
ARTIST RECEPTION AT THRASHER
Green Lake’s historic Thrasher Opera House is currently hosting an exhibit featuring the art of Wisconsin-based artist Mikaela Nummerdor. The exhibit can be viewed Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm through the end of the year. For after-hour visits, call 920-294-4279 to schedule a time. Mikaela has exhibited her work in various shows across the Midwest and she has been featured in several publications. She draws her inspiration from nature. Her work explores the beauty and complexity of the natural world. She is influenced by Post-Impressionism. The public is invited to join Mikaela for an artist reception at the Thrasher Opera House on Saturday, November 16th from 5 to 7 pm. A cash bar will be available.
WMH SCHOOL LUNCH SUPPORT
The SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital Action Team is raising funds to support the student lunch program in the Waupun Area School District. The district provides breakfast free to all of its students every day, however lunch must be purchased. While the district does offer free and reduced cost lunches to low-income families, the action team wants to help continue to support the students ensuring no child goes hungry. A coin collection canister will be present at the Waupun Memorial Hospital information desk through November 30th to help raise money for this cause. Research shows that receiving free or reduced cost lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health. One in five children in America live with hunger.
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