12/6/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
6 December 2024 News
BUSY DAY FOR HOMETOWN BROADCASTING
It was a busy day for a pair of Hometown Broadcasting announcers. Wayne Mausser of The Bug 102.3 FM participated in the Oshkosh Holiday Parade last night with his wife Linda. Earlier in the Day Brad Anthony of Brad Anthony’s Rippin’ Good Radio Show on The Wave 93.1 FM and 1600 AM was at Hy-Vee in Ripon to do a remote about their Steak Night.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY WEATHER RELATED CALLS
Winnebago County Communication Center dispatchers handled a total of 153 total weather related events from 2 pm Wednesday to 2 am Thursday. High winds and snowy conditions led to 97 crashes, 52 motorist assists or cars in the ditch, and three hazards that included vehicles stuck on ice and a wire that was down. The 911 center took a total of 469 emergency and nonemergency inbound and outbound phone calls, and a myriad of radio traffic. Of the 153 total weather related events the Center dispatched, 58 of those events including 29 crashes and 29 motorist assists were handled by boots on the ground staff of the Sheriff’s Office-deputies, detective sergeants, lieutenants in an all-hands-on-deck event. The remainder of the 95 weather events occurred within the jurisdiction of the municipalities.
FOUR VEHICLE CRASH IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Little information has been released about a 4-vehicle crash at State Highway 44 and James Road in the Town of Nekimi Tuesday morning. It happened about 9:15 am and the road was shut down for a little over six hours reopening at 3:23 pm. Winnebago County Sheriff’s Captain Lara Vendola-Messer says the crash may have looked worse than it actually was. A ThedaStar Helicopter flew one person to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah. That person has since been released. The accident report is still being completed.
BALDWIN INTERNET ACCESS BILL PASSES SENATE
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill Thursday that expands access to broadband in rural areas by easing the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on. The legislation was authored by Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. Senator Baldwin says, “Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury-it’s a necessity for Wisconsinites to work, attend school online, run their businesses, manage their farms, and connect with people across the world.” She adds the bill cuts red tape for small broadband providers and helps them expand reliable, affordable internet to more families and small businesses across Wisconsin.
DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS
Ripon hosts its 34th annual Dickens of a Christmas celebration this weekend with events across the city. On tap today is the Gingerbread House Contest and Display at Farrell’s Fine Furnishings, the Historical Society Open House, the Enchanted Forest at Horicon Bank, and the Holiday Parade of Lights at 6:30 pm, followed by the Cirque du Cham Fire Show on the Village Green. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says area groups and nonprofits also benefit from the weekend long celebration. For example socks and sleepwear will be collected for the Santa Club during the Enchanted Forest. New this year will be a selfie station upstairs at Knuth Brewing Company with four different holiday settings for those photos. Saturday brings the Tour of Homes, Living Windows and much more. A complete list of activities can be found at the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce website.
34th Annual Dickens of a Christmas | Ripon Chamber of Commerce
RASD REPORT CARD
The Ripon Area School District earned a Meets Expectations score of 65.1 down 1.1 from 2022-23 on state school district report cards. The data is used to generate scores in the four priority areas of Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-Track to Graduation. District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Chrissy Damm says each of the four priority areas are given different weights in schools and districts depending on the number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. She says the District is high achieving but socio-economic makeup of a school or district affects growth and achievement tipping the weighted categories for growth and achievement with more of an emphasis on growth. While Ripon’s Achievement priority score of 73 was higher than 86.3 percent of districts in the state, the Growth priority score of 54.6 was the same or higher than 15.5 percent of districts in the state.
2024 State Report Cards Press Release
WAUTOMA YMCA FUNDRAISING EFFORT
After raising $10 million for the construction of a YMCA in Wautoma members of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin now turn their attention to raising another $4.5 million for a pool to go with it. Lani DeMars says it will be a smaller version of a YMCA but will have all the essential features. That will include a big lobby area, an elevated walking track, a child care center, a gymnasium, group fitness classes, a wellness center, and more. The Foundation has created a fund for the Friends of the Waushara Community YMCA to take donations for the second phase of the project a pool. DeMars says it would be more cost effective to build both at the same time. She says if they can raise $4.5 million toward the pool by January 21st they can leverage an additional $1.2 million in federal funding. Ground will be broken for the new YMCA in Wautoma next July. With a 13 month build the YMCA will be completed in the summer of 2026.
OSHKOSH BRIDGE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING
A public involvement meeting will be held next Wednesday to show proposed improvements to the Oregon/Jackson Street Bridge that crosses the Fox River in Downtown Oshkosh. The meeting will be at 5 pm Wednesday at the Oshkosh Public Library. The state’s Department of Transportation has selected a high-level fixed bridge on a partially offset alignment as the preferred alternative. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028. The meeting will review the preferred alternative. The bridge is nearing 70 years since it was built and is nearing the end of its service life.
BLACK BEAR AND TURKEY HUNTING DEADLINE
The state’s Department of Natural Resources reminds bear and turkey hunters that application for the 2025 black bear and spring turkey hunting seasons are due by 11:59 pm Tuesday. Hunters can apply for harvest authorizations or purchase preference points toward future drawings through Go Wild or an authorized license agent. The drawing for 2025 black bear harvest authorizations will occur in February. Applicants selected in the drawing are notified by mail and may purchase their bear license beginning in March. The spring turkey harvest authorization drawing takes places in late January. Successful applicants are notified by mail after the drawing results are finalized.
MUSIC BINGO NIGHT
The Professional Women’s Connection invites women across the region to their Music Bingo Night on Thursday, December 19th. It will be from 5:30 to 7 pm upstairs at Roadhouse Pizza at 102 Watson Street in Ripon. It is a chance to unwind, network with friends and show off your music knowledge. Attendees will have the chance to win gift cards from popular shops and restaurants in Green Lake, Ripon, and Berlin. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for guests with dinner and a cash bar. Registration is required by noon on Tuesday, December 17th and can be accomplished by visiting the Professional Women’s Connection website.
Holiday Party- Music Bingo – Events – Professional Women’s Connection
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