1/7/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
7 January 2025 News
MISSING MAN LOCATED SAFE
Oshkosh Police say a 23-year-old man who has been missing for approximately five months was found safe Monday night. Police expressed their gratitude for the community’s assistance in locating Aidan Jara. Last Friday they released photos and a physical description of Aidan in an effort to push the search forward. He was known to have connections to the Milwaukee area. They also said it wasn’t unusual for him to be absent for extended periods, but five months was longer than usual, which raised concerns for his well-being.
FDL ARSON SUSPECT IN COURT
A 49-year-old Fond du Lac man is facing eight felony charges including 3 counts of arson and four counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety for allegedly setting a dumpster fire that spread to two residences. Bond was set at $10,000 cash for Paul Davis during a hearing in Fond du Lac County Court Friday. According to the criminal complaint the fire on August 7th, 2022 was set in a dumpster that was positioned 4 feet away from a home at 143 Ellis Street and 8 feet away from a second building at 145 ½ Ellis. Flames quickly spread to the siding of the home at 143 Ellis and into the attic space. A witness at the scene told police he ran upstairs at 143 Ellis Street and woke a woman and her two children who were sleeping. The fire from the dumpster extended to the south side of the house. It also breached a window at 145 ½ Ellis Street melting the north entry door. The resident at that address was in his room when the window blew out. Damages were estimated at nearly $18,000. According to the criminal complaint Davis can be seen in a video shot around the time of the fire throwing something on fire into the dumpster. His initial court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow.
FATAL STABBING SUSPECT IN COURT
The 23-year-old Oshkosh man suspected in a fatal stabbing outside an Oshkosh pizza restaurant was in Winnebago County Court for a hearing Monday. Sybastian Crossman’s attorney requested that a plea and sentencing hearing and 4-day jury trial be scheduled. The trial is set for May 5th through the 8th if needed depending on how he pleads to a first-degree reckless homicide charge on February 20th. Prosecutors say the stabbing occurred outside a pizza restaurant on High Avenue last August 10th. The victim suffered a single puncture wound to the abdomen. According to the criminal complaint Crossman and a friend got into an argument with others including the stabbing victim. The argument moved from inside the restaurant to the outside where the stabbing took place. Crossman told officers they encountered people that haven’t liked him for a long time. He claimed the group had robbed them a couple weeks prior, but police were told by another person Crossman had been forced to get on his knees and apologize for a racial slur.
TREE CLEARING OPERATIONS
The state’s Department of Transportation tells us motorists will encounter shoulder closures and lane closures controlled by flagging as roadway tree clearing is completed in advance of upcoming construction projects in nine counties. Clearing is expected to begin Monday in Forest, Green Lake, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, and Wood counties. In Green Lake County work is planned on State Highway 44 from the Grand River Bridge in Markesan and the Fond du Lac County line. In Waupaca County work is planned on State Highway 54 from the Portage County line east to Foxfire Drive in Waupaca. Tree clearing operations must be completed by March 15th, and removal of downed trees and site restoration work must be completed by April 15th.
JOHN DEERE ZTRAK ZERO TURN MOWER RECALL
Kawasaki USA Motors has recalled John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers with Kawasaki Engines due to fire and burn hazards. The voltage regulator in the mower’s engine can fail during use or while the product is being stored, causing the engine to overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. About 39,000 of the mowers were sold in the United States with an additional 2,600 sold in Canada. The recall involves John Deere ZTrak Turn Mowers with model numbers Z720E, Z730M, Z740R and Z760R with Kawasaki engines. More information about serial number ranges of the mowers included in the recall and how to contact a John Deere dealer for free repair can be found at the John Deere website. Kawasaki has received five reports of fires and 26 reports of melting and/or smoking engines. No injuries have been reported.
ANOTHER REVALUATION FOR OSHKOSH
The City of Oshkosh will go through another property revaluation process this year. City Councilman Jacob Floam says the last effort mandated by the state was incorrect. He says residential properties were assessed at the correct levels, but commercial properties were undervalued. He says that was a problem when property tax bills were sent out in December because residential properties were shouldering more of a burden. He says to try and alleviate the problem the city cut its operating levy. There was no increase in net spending. Floam notes the City needs to do revaluation of properties more consistently. He says the last two were in 2008 and 2017. As a result, when properties were reassessed last year average homes values jumped about 70 percent.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SCAMS
The Administrator for the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection says they have seen the number of scams where scammers pose as law enforcement ramp up recently. Michelle Reinen says the scammer will spoof real law enforcement agency phone numbers to fool your caller ID. The caller will make it sound like you did something wrong using a variety of approaches. That could include telling you that you missed jury duty, there’s a warrant out for your arrest, you owe for unpaid fines, or you’re the subject of an investigation into PPP fraud from a COVID loan. Reinen says the scammer may call a second time from another line shortly after the first. She says don’t be fooled remember real law enforcement agencies will never demand cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or any form of immediate payment. She says if you suspect a call isn’t real hang up and call the agency back using a phone number you can independently verify.
QUITTING SMOKING OR VAPING
The Commercial Tobacco Program Coordinator for Fond du Lac County says if you decided to quit smoking or vaping as a New Year’s resolution commit to it. Johanna Brotz recommends picking a quitting date and informing family and friends. Remove smoking or vaping triggers. She says you can receive counseling through an AODA or Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse counselor something many people aren’t aware of. She says it is a hard habit to break. Brotz points out the Wisconsin Quit Line can be helpful and can supply a few weeks of nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, lozenges, and gums at no cost. She says smokers and those trying to quit vaping can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, that’s 1-800-784-8669. Youth and young adults, aged 13 to 26 can use the program Live Vape Free. Brotz says Live Vape Free is a text-based nicotine cessation program which is also free to Wisconsin residents. To participate in Live Vape Free text VAPEFREE to 873376, or online go to Live Vape Free.com.
LAKELAND CARE EXPANSION
Lakeland Care Incorporated has expanded its family care services to nine additional counties-Adams, Marquette, Green Lake, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Jefferson, Rock, and Waushara. The expansion supports Lakeland Care’s continued growth in providing long-term care services and support to elders and adults with disabilities through Wisconsin’s Family Care program. Family Care is a Medicaid program designed to assist eligible elders and adults with disabilities to live independently at home and within their community. The expansion into the nine Wisconsin counties represents a significant milestone for Lakeland Care, which was founded in 2000.
DNR GRANT PROGRAM
The Wisconsin DNR is now accepting applications for Wild Turkey, Pheasant, and Waterfowl Stamp funding. Applications will be accepted through February 14th. Stamp funds are available to nonprofit conservation organizations, tribes, academic institutions and government units focused on habitat management for wild turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl. For turkey and pheasant stamp funds, funds are also available for outreach, education and research. The funding for successful applicants will be available during the DNR’s 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. For the 2026/2027 competitive grant cycle, $500,000 is anticipated to be available for turkey projects, $300,000 for pheasant projects, and $650,000 for waterfowl project. For eligibility information and criteria, application guidance, funding priorities and further information visit the Stamp Grant Opportunities and Application webpage.
Stamp Grant Opportunities and Application | | Wisconsin DNR
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