2/3/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
3 February 2025 News
FATAL UTV ACCIDENT ON LAKE WINNEBAGO
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say a 67-year-old Town of Taycheedah man died and a 56-year-old Fond du Lac man suffered hypothermia after the UTV they were on went into open water on Lake Winnebago Saturday afternoon. A 911 call from one of the people who were able to get the two men out of the water and onto the ice reported one of the victims had no pulse and was not breathing. Sheriff’s deputies, Fond du Lac Police and Fire, and the Sheriff’s Amphibious Rescue Craft responded and eventually the two victims were taken to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. The older man died at the hospital while the 56-year-old man who had been driving the UTV was treated for hypothermia. The two men had been in the icy waters for about 20 minutes before bystanders noticed them and helped them out. Both the driver and passenger were wearing seatbelts but did not have helmets or floatation devices. The crack in the ice was marked with Christmas trees, but unfamiliarity with the safety measure was a factor in the accident. The incident is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin DNR.
HIGH SPEED CHASE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY ENDS IN FATAL CRASH
Speed and alcohol were factors in a Columbia County traffic crash that killed one person and seriously injured three others. Sheriff’s officials say a deputy tried to pull over a speeding vehicle on I-90/94 westbound near the interchange with I-39 in the Town of Caledonia Saturday afternoon. The fleeing vehicle increased its speed to over 100 miles an hour weaving through traffic. It tried to take the exit ramp to State Highway 33 but failed to negotiate the exit ramp and rolled over. Two of the four occupants of the vehicle were ejected from the vehicle. One of the passengers that got thrown from the vehicle died at the scene. Two other passengers and the 22-year-old Sparta man who was driving were flown from the scene with serious injuries. The driver is facing numerous felony charges.
FDL SWAT CALL
Fond du Lac Police Thursday night arrested a 31-year-old Chicago man after he pointed a firearm at a woman. Police learned he was also wanted by the US Marshals on a felony parole warrant for possessing a machine gun and dangerous drugs. The woman called 911 at 11:47 pm saying the man had pointed a gun at her face. They also learned the armed man was inside the residence on North Butler Avenue with her five children ranging in age from newborn to 13-years-old. Fond du Lac Police, their SWAT and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s SWAT and negotiating teams responded. Police also deployed their Bear Cat, a K-9 team, drone and robot resources. The man tried to leave the area in an Uber, but was taken into custody without incident. A firearm was recovered. The woman and her children were not physically harmed. The man was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail where he is being held on the federal parole warrant. Charges from the incident are being referred to the District Attorney’s Office. The State Patrol, North Fond du Lac Police, and Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue also assisted at the scene.
DRIVER WHO CAUSED FATAL DODGE COUNTY ACCIDENT IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY
Dodge County Sheriff’s officials say a 32-year-old Tennessee man suspected of driving under the influence and causing an accident that killed one person and injured six others including himself was in the country illegally. On January 26th Hector Jared Toscano Perez allegedly drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Dodge County Road A and County Road B. His pickup truck collided with a Cadillac Escalade. Thirty-year-old Matias Roblero Emanuel a passenger in the pickup who had been living with Perez died in the crash. Five people in the Escalade were injured including the driver 35-year-old Adam Mead and his wife 39-year-old Shelia Mead both of Fox Lake, and their three children who are 7, 11, and 13-years-old. The children suffered only minor injuries, but Adam and Shelia suffered significant injuries. Charges being referred against Perez include; homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, operating without a valid driver’s license resulting in death, three counts of injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, and failure to yield right of way resulting in death. Both Perez and Emanuel were working in the country illegally. Perez had previously been deported from the country in 2019.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT INVOLVED IN DODGE COUNTY STABBING INCIDENT
Dodge County Sheriff’s officials have a 32-year-old Town of Herman man in custody who nearly severed the thumb of another town resident during an argument Tuesday night at a residence on County Road S near County Road U. Deputies provided the victim a 23-year-old man with medical treatment before he was taken by ambulance to Aurora Summit Hospital. The stabbing suspect, Gilmer Echevarria, is in the country illegally. Deputies from the Dodge and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices and Hartford Police stabilized the incident. Echevarria was taken into custody and booked into the Dodge County Jail on first-degree reckless injury causing great bodily harm and substantial battery charges as well as an outstanding warrant. Following medical treatment the victim was also booked into the jail on warrants. Echevarria is a Nicaraguan who already has immigration proceedings occurring.
FDL MAN PLEADS TO GANG RELATED SHOOTING DEATH
A 19-year-old Fond du Lac man Friday pled guilty to first degree intentional homicide and seven other felony charges stemming from a shooting death at the Maplewood Commons Apartments in Fond du Lac on May 7th of 2023. A sentencing date hasn’t been scheduled yet for Antonio Johnston. Co-defendant Parise, Larry Jr. is scheduled for a jury trial in October. According to the criminal complaint the two were confronting someone at the Maplewood Commons Apartments and Tatyanna Zech who was taking out garbage was hit by gunfire. She died and several others were wounded in the gang-related shooting. The shooting took place near Pier Elementary School and Theisen Middle School. District Attorney Eric Toney says Johnston took responsibility for his role in the shooting that took the life of a young woman, who was loved by her family and friends, injured others, and caused a significant impact on the community.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN DODGE COUNTY
Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 19-year-old Grafton man following a single-vehicle accident near Hidden Valley Drive in the Town of Beaver Dam Friday afternoon for driving while impaired before he was flown from a local hospital to a trauma center. 911 calls reported the crash. Investigators say Caiden Luther was passing vehicles at a high rate of speed when he lost control in a no-passing zone on a curve. His vehicle went into a ditch striking a row of trees and overturned. Luther had to be extricated from the vehicle by a fire department. He suffered serious injuries. Excessive speed and alcohol were primary factors in the crash.
PORCH FIRE IN FDL
Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue was dispatched Friday afternoon to a porch fire at 524 South Main Street. Smoke was coming from the front porch of the residence when firefighters arrived. A neighbor extinguished the fire prior to the fire department’s arrival. Firefighters finished extinguishing the fire and conducted overhaul to the porch area as well as a little bit of the siding area around the porch. Fire investigators determined the fire originated from improper discarding of smoking materials on the porch. No injuries were reported. (Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue photo).
STATE AG ON FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE
State Attorney General Josh Kaul says there are still questions about the Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze funding on federal loans and grants for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars in federal funding. Trump’s budget office rescinded the memo a day later, but Kaul says some of those funds remain frozen which they are trying to get answers about. Kaul and attorney generals from 22 other states filed a lawsuit to stop the freeze. Friday a federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit. Kaul says the original Trump Administration memo caused a lot of chaos and for business and nonprofits whose funding remains frozen they wouldn’t be able to meet payroll, pay rent and other costs. He feels the Trump Administration could have avoided the controversy by not acting so urgently.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE WITH THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Chief Deputy of the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office says hiring in the law enforcement field has gotten to the point where it isn’t too different from NFL free agency. Matt Vande Kolk says it is all about assembling the right team. He says law enforcement agencies across the state are using different tactics and incentives in their hiring. He notes they are all trying to hire from the same pool of applicants. Currently the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Department is looking for people for communications, corrections, and master control. Vande Kolk says those positions are just as important as any others in the Sheriff’s Office. He says anyone interested in finding out more about those positions should visit the Green Lake County website and click on the employment tab near the top of the screen.
WINTERFEST COMING UP IN GREEN LAKE
Green Lake is preparing for WinterFest on Big Green on Saturday, February 22nd. It will feature a Trout Derby Fisheree on Big Green Lake with plenty of great prizes. Additional fun will be happening at Deacon Mills Park, which will include a cornhole tournament, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice skating, 50/50 raffle, and more. There will be a food and beer tent, scavenger hunt, and live music. The event runs from 12 to 7 pm. A heated tent will keep attendees warm as Bradley Spurger plays from noon to 3 pm, with 2 AM ending the fun day from 3:30 to 7 pm. A complete lineup of events for WinterFest can be found online at the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce website.
LITTLE WOMEN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
The Ripon High School Drama Club’s spring musical Little Women: The Broadway Musical is coming up. Performances featuring two main casts performing on alternating shows will be at the High School Auditorium. Those performances will be on Thursday and Friday, February 13th and 14th at 7 pm, and Saturday, February 15th at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are available for $10 for General Admission, $5 for students and teachers. Cast and ticket sale information can be found online. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or in person at the box office at each performance. The musical is based on Louisa May Alcott’s Life and follows the adventures of four sisters.
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