1/15/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
15 January 2025 News
NAMES RELEASED IN FATAL WAUSHARA COUNTY CRASH
The State Patrol has released the names of those involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred near Wautoma Monday afternoon. It happened on Waushara County Highway Y, east of 11th Avenue, in the Town of Deerfield. Evidence suggests a 2008 Jeep Patriot and 2010 Chevrolet Malibu collided head on. Eighty-three-year-old Ronald Roebke of Hancock was driving the Jeep. He died at the scene. Eighteen-year-old Isybela Woyak of Hancock was driving the Chevy. She was taken to ThedaCare Wild Rose Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Assisting agencies included the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office, Wautoma Fire Department, Wautoma Emergency Medical Services, Hancock Emergency Medical Services, and the Waushara County Medical Examiner’s Office. The crash happened at 2:47 pm.
OSHKOSH SHOOTING INCIDENT UPDATE
The Oshkosh Police Department continues to investigate a shooting incident that occurred on November 1st in the 800 block of Oregon Street. They are asking the public to help identify people in photos they have released to the media and posted on their Facebook page. If you have any information about the subjects in the photos you are asked to contact Detective Flaig at 920-236-5700. If you wish to remain anonymous contact the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at 920-231-8477. On November 1st at 9:19 pm officers were dispatched to a report of gunshots in the 800 block of Oregon Street. Officers received information from numerous residents that they heard gunshots. Officers determined that an argument occurred between a group of people in a vehicle and a pedestrian. During the argument, the pedestrian began firing a gun at the vehicle. The vehicle was not struck, but instead an unrelated occupied vehicle was. Nobody was injured during the shooting incident.
TRIAL SET FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT
A trial date has been set for the 31-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of paying the mother of a 12-year-old girl to allow him to sexually assault the girl. Juan Carlos Rocha Mejia was in Fond du Lac County Court Tuesday for a hearing. Judge Laura Lavey denied a motion to reduce the $1 million cash bond for Rocha Mejia. A five-day trial has been scheduled to begin on July 21st. He was arrested during a SWAT operation last May after Sheriff’s deputies responded to a Town of Oakfield home. The girl showed up there after breaking away from Rocha Mejia who had her in a van and was trying to tie her down, blindfold, and sexually assault her. According to the criminal complaint the victim’s mother 34-year-old Elia Antonio of Fond du Lac claimed Rocha Mejia intimidated and threatened her into turning the girl over to him. Antonio is charged with trafficking of a child, failure to act in the sexual assault of a child, and two counts of felony bail jumping. Both Rocha Mejia and Elia Antonio are in the country illegally.
RIPON TAXI SERVICE PUBLIC HEARING
The Ripon Common Council last night approved holding a public hearing at its next meeting on Monday, January 27th to consider a reduction in hours for the taxi service. City Administrator Adam Sonntag updated the Council with information about who generally uses the taxi service and during which hours. He says in the past two years 58 percent of the ridership was senior citizens and those with disabilities, and 29 percent were students. He also said there was a reduction in ridership after 7 pm at night and on the weekends. A proposal was made to eliminate service after 7 pm on Friday and Saturdays and after 1 pm on Sundays. Sonntag says that would be a cut of about 18 percent in hours of service and a 7 to 8 percent reduction for drivers. It is estimated that would reduce the share of costs to the City by $29,000 to $30,000 a year for operating the service. The deficit for operating the service for the City grew to about $322,000 last year.
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSALS
State Representative Alex Dallman says the Governor’s proposal to allow citizens to propose amendments to the State Constitution that would go straight from the ballot to the Constitution would forego the current process. That process involves public hearings and the state legislature approving ballot questions in two different sessions of the state legislature. He says Colorado has a straight from the ballot initiative that fills ballots with dozens of amendment proposals that are often unclear and poorly worded. The state lawmaker from Markesan says Wisconsin has a good process for voting on Constitutional amendments. Governor Tony Evers yesterday criticized Republicans for putting Voter ID on the April ballot pointing out it was their sixth Constitutional Amendment on the ballot in just a year’s time while they oppose his proposal to give Wisconsinites that same opportunity.
CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to brush up on just what it is. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. However, with early detection and treatment, cervical cancer can be successfully treated. Screening tests can detect abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancerous. The most common screening test is the Pap smear, which can be done in a doctor’s office. Another important step in preventing cervical cancer is getting vaccinated against the human papilloma virus or HPV. She says Gardasil 9 provides protection against 9 of the 12 HPV infections. HPV vaccination is safe, effective and recommended for males and females starting at age 9 through 45. The Vaccines for Children program at the Fond du Lac County Health Department offers free HPV vaccination to children, between ages 9 through 18, who qualify. To learn more visit the Fond du Lac County Health Department webpage or call 920-929-3085.
Immunizations | Fond du Lac County
EMPLOYER SURVEY
The number of Wisconsin businesses having trouble finding workers dropped to its lowest level in a decade, according to the results of the latest Wisconsin Employer Survey conducted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. The organization released some of the survey data in an Economy & Workforce report Tuesday. Just 63 percent of the respondents of the semiannual CEO survey said they were having trouble finding workers, down from 72 percent a year ago and 68 percent in the summer. The last time the percentage was this low was in the winter of 2015 when 63.9 percent of survey respondents said they were having trouble hiring. The labor shortage is still tied with health care costs as the top public policy issue facing Wisconsin, according to the survey. Rising health care costs came up several times in the survey. For example, when asked “what is one thing state government could do to help your business,” a plurality of 41 percent said make health care more affordable. That is up from 30 percent in the summer. As for an overall economic forecast, 63 percent say the Wisconsin economy will see growth in the first half of the new year, while 34 percent say it will remain flat.
CEO-Survey-Report_Winter-2025_ECONOMY-WORKFORCE.pdf
DNR AWARDS CEREMONY
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently announced that state officials recently lauded 16 DNR conservation wardens and one division staffer for lifesaving and heroic actions. Among those honored were Warden Brad Latza of the Wautoma Warden Team and Investigative Warden John Schreiber. During the 2022 gun-deer season, they responded to a call of a gunshot victim in Green Lake County. The wardens applied seals in the wound and performed CPR which they continued until emergency medical team members arrived. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to their wounds. Family and friends joined Governor Tony Evers, DNR assistant secretary Mark Aquino and DNR chief conservation warden Casey Krueger for the Lifesaving, Valor & Meritorious Awards Ceremony at the State Capitol last Friday.
ENVISION OFFICIAL COMPLETES PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM
Envision Greater Fond du Lac recently announced that Emily Waisanen, Workforce Programming Specialist, has successfully completed the Certificate in Workforce Development Fundamentals program. The program is offered through a partnership between the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation and the International Economic Development Council. Emily is a member of the second cohort. The six-week program provides a deep dive into the intersection of economic and workforce development. She is one of 112 professionals to earn the certificate. Envision President and CEO Sadie Howell says, “We look forward to seeing how her newly acquired skills will create a lasting impact in the community.”
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes are gearing up for the 2025 cookie-selling season. The cookie lineup includes favorites like Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties and more. All packages of Girl Scout Cookies including the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip will be $6 each. The Girl Scout Cookie program runs January 22nd through March 31st. If you know a registered Girl Scout, reach out to learn how they’re selling cookies. If you don’t know a Girl Scout, check with your local council or use the online Girl Scout Cookie Finder to find a booth and purchase cookies. Beginning February 21st, customers who do not already know a Girl Scout can also purchase cookies which will be shipped directly to their homes. The link can also be used to find a local booth, purchase cookies, and/or donate cookies to local community causes.
How to Buy Cookies | Girl Scouts
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