12/27/24 – Hometown Broadcasting News – Friday
27 December 2024 News
FRIDAY NEWS
A Manitowoc man involved with area youth sports is accused of child pornography possession and police say they are looking to identify any other potential victims.
On Dec. 11, police served a search warrant in the 1300 block of Kellner Street. The search warrant was based on a tip from the Wisconsin Department of Justice that an individual at that location was in possession of child sexual abuse materials.
The tip received was that a suspect had uploaded an image to an internet search engine attempting to search for similar type images. The file was reviewed by investigators and confirmed to be an image containing child sexual abuse material.
During the search warrant, numerous electronic devices had been seized. Subsequent forensic analysis has located a large number of similar themed images and videos of child sexual abuse material in the approximate 12-14 age range.
Based on these recovered images, Steven J. Wester, 47, was taken into custody. No formal charges have been filed.
Because of Wester’s involvement with area youth sports, police say they are looking to identify any other potential victims.
Police also say Wester has also previously been investigated for similar concerning behavior.
VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE
A man died and a four-year-old boy was injured after their vehicle struck a tree in Oconto County on Christmas Day.
It happened around 10:48 a.m. Wednesday on County Highway S near the intersection of County Highway C in the town of Chase.
When deputies arrived on scene, they saw a SUV with extensive front end damage in a yard near a residence.
Deputies say for unknown reasons, the SUV, driven by a 29-year-old Pulaski man, left the roadway on County Highway S and drifted through the ditch and into a field. The SUV then went east into a field adjacent to the road before striking a tree.
The driver died at the scene and the child was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
SUSPECT OF A FATAL HIT-AND-RUN ON CHRISTMAS EVE IS NOW IN CUSTODY
Authorities in Wisconsin say the suspect of a fatal hit-and-run on Christmas Eve is now in custody after he turned himself in. According to a release from the Waukesha County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday, at 6:41 p.m., a tow truck operator was loading a disabled vehicle on the eastbound shoulder of I-94 to the east of Sawyer Road in the Village of Summit when he was hit by a blue minivan.
After hitting the tow truck operator, deputies report that the driver of the blue minivan fled from the scene and continued heading east on I-94 before exiting at County Highway C and continuing on in an unknown direction.
The tow truck operator, 40-year-old Hussain Farhat from Chicago, was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
On Christmas Day, deputies say they got an anonymous tip on the possible suspect vehicle at a home in the Village of Wales.
The description of the vehicle matched that of the vehicle involved in the fatal hit-and-run and a suspect was able to be determined based on the anonymous tip.
Later on Christmas Day, a 39-year-old man turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office and his vehicle was recovered from his home.
The suspect was then taken into custody and is being held at the Waukesha County Jail on potential charges of Hit & Run Causing Death.
No other information about this incident is available at this time and an investigation by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office remains ongoing.
37-YEAR-OLD DARRELL MCGILLIVRAY WAS BACK IN COURT
The Green Bay man accused of stabbing someone on St. Patrick’s Day was back in court.
According to court records on September 19 37-year-old Darrell McGillivray was in court for a motion hearing. A plea hearing was then scheduled for December 26.
Bond was reportedly continued and no additional information was provided.
UTV FALLS THROUGH ICE
Two people in northwestern Wisconsin were treated for non-life-threatening injuries after falling through ice along with a UTV.
According to the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, the 911 center received a call shortly before 7 p.m. on Christmas Day that two people and a UTV went through the ice near the Pokegama Boat Landing east of Chetek.
Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department and authorities with the Chetek Police Department, EMS and Fire Department arrived at the scene.
Both people were helped out of the water by a nearby family who were ice fishing nearby. One 25-year-old Chetek man was treated and released on the scene. The 53-year-old UTV driver, also from Chetek, was transported to a local medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries.
The post added a thank you to those who helped and the first responders who spent their days away from family helping others on Christmas. It also reminded people to check ice conditions regardless of their knowledge of an area.
LAWMAKERS MADE PUSH TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Last legislative session in Madison, Wisconsin lawmakers made a push to legalize medical marijuana.
Earlier this year, a Republican-led plan would have limited medical marijuana only to severely ill people with chronic diseases, such as cancer. That failed to become law, as Democrats believed it was too restrictive.
But now, legislators believe there could be a path forward.
“I am open to that discussion on medical marijuana and I know many in our caucus are as well,” said State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard.
Republicans hold slimmer majorities in both chambers for this new session, with a 54 to 45 advantage in the Assembly, and 18 to 15 in the Senate.
Some Republican lawmakers believe those smaller majorities would make it more difficult for any marijuana-related bill to pass.
Steffen isn’t so sure that anything could be passed in this next session, as lawmakers remain at odds on how to best regulate medical marijuana.
AVIAN INFLUENZA FOUND IN A COMMERCIAL POULTRY FLOCK
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) in a commercial poultry flock.
The flock was located in Burnett County, and DATCP, along with U.S. Department of Agriculture animal health officials, is working together in a joint incident response.
The affected premises will not move poultry or poultry products, and birds on the property were euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPAI does not present an immediate public health concern for the general public. HPAI also does not pose a food safety risk; properly handling and cooking eggs and poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F kills the virus.
The H5N1 HPAI virus has continued to circulate in both wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021. H5N1 HPAI viruses are highly contagious and often fatal to domestic poultry.
Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected. It can spread through contact with infected birds, commingling with wild birds or their droppings, and through equipment or clothing worn by those working with animals.
DATCP continues to urge all livestock owners to implement strong biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds from the disease. This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to animals, and separating new additions to the flock or herd for at least 30 days. Poultry owners are encouraged to keep their birds indoors when possible.
When HPAI H5N1 is diagnosed in a Wisconsin poultry flock, a control area is established within a 10-kilometer radius around the infected premises, restricting movement on or off any premises with poultry. To help producers determine if their poultry are located within an active control area or surveillance zone, poultry owners are encouraged to use DATCP’s mapping tool.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and county public health entities are monitoring exposed farm workers for HPAI symptoms. The risk to the general public in Wisconsin remains low. Information on prevention for farmworkers or others who have close contact with birds, dairy cows, or other relevant animals can be found under Protective Actions for People.
Farm workers, businesses, and processors can request a limited supply of surplus personal protective equipment (PPE) through the Wisconsin DHS Office of Preparedness and Emergency Health Care. For
more information, visit the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Health Care website.
DATCP reminds Wisconsin livestock owners to register their premises. State law requires that all livestock owners register where their animals are kept. Registration helps animal health officials communicate with flock and herd owners during disease outbreaks.
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