2/27/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
27 February 2025 News
FIRE DESTROYS BARN IN DODGE COUNTY’S TOWN OF TRENTON
Beaver Dam firefighters were dispatched just before 8:30 Tuesday night for a barn fire at N9475 Jersey Road in the Town of Trenton. When they arrived, they found heavy fire conditions and requested additional departments to assist. Eleven fire departments, an EMS service, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, excavating and construction crews responded to assist in extinguishing the fire. The barn was occupied by Country Barn Ceramics, which is owned and operated by Amy Bader who resides at the same address. Beaver Dam Fire and Rescue cleared the scene at 1 am Wednesday morning. The barn and business were a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (Photo credit: Beaver Dam Fire and Rescue).
FIREFIGHTER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT MAKES COURT APPEARANCE
The 34-year-old Campbellsport volunteer firefighter accused of sexually assaulting a child made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County Court Wednesday. Bond was set at $25,000 cash for Nicholas Benzing of Beaver Dam who is charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child for allegedly having sexual contact with a girl. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 3rd. Court conditions include no contact with the victim, victim’s family, residence, or the victim’s school. He also is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18-years-old. Campbellsport Police arrested Benzing last Saturday morning. In a press release Monday Campbellsport Village Administrator Charlie Kudy characterized the allegations against Benzing as shocking and a betrayal of trust.
WAUPUN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION
Charges have been referred against a 33-year-old Waupun man suspected of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl from Rubicon. Waupun Police Lieutenant Bobby Williams investigated the sexual relationship and discovered the suspect was allegedly grooming the victim. Warrants were approved for electronic data and communications involving the suspect and victim. Subsequently interviews were conducted with the suspect and victim. It was learned there had been sexual contact more than once, and that the two were alleged to be engaged to be married. The parents of the victim had not given their consent to the engagement. The suspect was arrested and booked into the Dodge County Jail. Charges including two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of child enticement were referred to the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office. The suspect is being held in the jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
OSHKOSH POLICE OFFICER CLEARED IN SHOOTING
Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney Tracy Paider has decided no criminal charges will brought against the Oshkosh Police Officer who shot and killed Delveon Fairman on December 10th in Oshkosh. Paider concludes in her decision that the officer’s use of deadly force was justified. Police were called to the 400 block of West 10th Avenue for a stabbing. When they arrived they learned a woman who had escaped a residence had been stabbed and another woman who had been stabbed in the head and arm had barricaded herself in a bathroom inside the residence. According to information in the decision Fairman had gotten high on psilocybin mushrooms and wanted to kill people in the residence because he loved them, but they didn’t love him. He thought they were evil. When police entered the residence Fairman was armed with a knife similar to a clever and rushed up basement stairs toward the first officer in. He kept advancing despite orders to “stay down with the knife” and “drop the knife.” The officer fired two shots hitting Fairman in the chest. Fairman died later at a hospital. The state’s Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation. The officer involved was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
FIRST TEST FOR GREEN LAKE COUNTY’S NEW 911 PROVIDER
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Communications Center made the switch over January 23rd to a different provider for its 911 services. The Department transitioned to AT&T ESInet™ from their former provider Brightspeed. Green Lake County Chief Deputy Sheriff Matt Vande Kolk says it wasn’t too long after that when they had their first real test of the system. There was a fiber optic line cut in the Deforest area during the first week of this month. As a result their administrative line remained on track and they were able to field 911 calls off of that. Some cellular providers weren’t able to get through. He says they are in the first phase of transition and there will be a few “rough patches” while they finalize the transition. The second phase will involve more routing and trunking to the infrastructure. The switch in network providers was something the Sheriff’s Office has worked on the better part of two years.
OSHKOSH RESOLUTION
Officials in Oshkosh are hoping to save others from the frustration they suffered after a failed revaluation of property in the city last year. The reassessment was required by the state, but wasn’t done correctly putting more of a burden on residential property owners during tax time. Oshkosh City Councilman Jacob Floam says they are sending an advisory resolution to state legislators hoping in the future they can clarify state statute to allow more leeway while such a situation is being remedied. He says ultimately it would have been fairer to taxpayers to use 2023 property values at tax time rather than use the unbalanced values from the 2024 property revaluation. Oshkosh will have another revaluation this year, correcting the flaws in last year’s assessment process.
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
During this Flood Safety Awareness Week, Fond du Lac County Director of Emergency Management John Ross urges home and property owners to assess the potential for flooding on their property if they live in a flood plain, near a body of water, or have a basement. He suggests checking with your insurance agent to see if your insurance covers flood damage. Another tip is to create an emergency plan. During and after a flood he recommends never driving or walking through a flooded area. As the saying goes, “Turn around, don’t drown!” It takes 12 inches of water to carry away a small car and just six inches of fast-moving water to sweep an adult off their feet. More information about flood safety is available at the Ready Wisconsin website.
RIPON COLLEGE SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSURE PROGRAM
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has approved Ripon College for a teaching license in kindergarten through grade 12 cross-categorical special education, available for students now. According to the Wisconsin State Legislature, a cross-categorical special education license “authorizes an individual to teach in a program that provides services to pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 with intellectual, emotional-behavioral, specific learning or other disabilities.” Ripon College Director of Teacher Education Jean Rigden says,”Special education is a high-need area as many schools struggle to find highly qualified licensed special education teachers.” Ripon College introduced a minor in special education last year, and licensure was added on February 5th. While students can start their licensing now, they will not be licensed until the end of the spring semester. The license allows a student who completes both a major in elementary education and a minor in special education to be a licensed elementary education teacher for K-9 and licensed cross-categorical special education teacher for K-12. You can read more about the program at the Ripon College website. (Photo credit: Ripon College).
Special education teaching license introduced at Ripon College | Ripon College
ICE SHANTY REMOVAL DATES
The state’s Department of Natural Resources is reminding ice anglers of the deadlines to remove their permanent ice shanties, or those that aren’t removed daily. The deadline for the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters is on or before Saturday. For Inland waters south of Highway 64 it is Sunday. For Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters it is March 15th. Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior and inland waters north of Highway 64 the deadline is March 16th. If you need help removing your shanty, contact local fishing clubs, vendors and other anglers.
OSHKOSH GIVE EDUCATION DAY
Next Wednesday the Oshkosh community will come together for 24 hours of giving to support the amazing work of teachers and students in the Oshkosh Area School District. The District’s Education Foundation is pleased to announce a matching gift of $1,000 from Aquire Restoration which means that supporters have the opportunity to double their donations by participating in the fundraising campaign. The Education Foundation is seeking a total of $5,000. Give Education Day next Wednesday is a 24-hour online fundraising event being held to benefit District students, teachers, and staff. All funds raised will be used for expanded student learning experiences, to fund innovative classroom grants, and support student needs. Donations can be made at the Give Education website. Donations can be made at any time now through midnight on Wednesday.
Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation | Give-Education
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