3/12/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
12 March 2025 News
RIPON BUSINESS BROKEN INTO
Ripon Police are investigating a break-in at a local business that occurred between Friday and Saturday. Police Chief Bill Wallner tells us a subject entered the Plaza Bowl Bowling alley located on State Highway 23 or West Fond du Lac Street causing damage to the building. A small amount of coins and other items were taken from the business. Police continue to investigate the incident.
TWO SUSPECTED OF CHILD NEGLECT
An amended criminal complaint was signed Tuesday against a former Ripon man and his girlfriend suspected of chronically neglecting the woman’s then 3-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Thirty-seven-year-old Michael Smith of Wautoma made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County Court Monday. Bond was set at $5,000 cash and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 28th. He and the 28-year-old Ripon woman each face two counts of chronic neglect of a child, possession of THC, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges. According to the criminal complaint they were suspected of leaving the children alone to go to a methadone clinic, to go out for food, and at other times. The children were mostly kept in a room with two crib mattresses that smelled of urine and feces. According to the criminal complaint reports prepared at the Child Advocacy Center in Green Bay suspected neglect, both supervisory and environmental due to exposure to drug endangerment and the dirty home. An arrest warrant was issued for the Ripon woman at the end of January.
TERMINATION OF TEACHER PREPARATION GRANTS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul Tuesday secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocking the Trump Administration’s termination of K-12 teacher preparation pipeline grants while the states seek a preliminary injunction. Kaul joined a coalition of eight attorneys generals in filing a lawsuit challenging the termination of the funding last week. Kaul says, “Kids in Wisconsin shouldn’t be denied a quality education because of a lack of teachers.” He says it is an encouraging early ruling in the case that’s seeking to prevent the Trump administration from gutting grants that are aimed at boosting the teacher workforce and helping kids get a quality education.
SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS REMINDER
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that roadways are most vulnerable to damage during the spring thaw. Freezing at night and thawing during the day, combined with springtime moisture and precipitation can wreak havoc on pavement and leads to more cracking and potholes. Some town roads are posted with signs restricting weight limits year-round because of the existing condition of the road, and others are posted with temporary seasonal weight restrictions in an attempt to minimize damage from heavy trucks during the spring thaw. Town road maintenance and replacement consumes the majority of many township budgets, so the Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to do their part in minimizing road damage by obeying posted weight limit signs. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL NOTES
The Ripon Common Council last night approved proposals for sewer jetting and televising and sidewalk improvements. The Council approved a $47,320 proposal from Speedy Clean for the cleaning and televising of 52,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer. The 2025 Sidewalk Improvement contract was awarded to Safe Step, LLC. City staff set a budget of $40,000 for the improvement program. Council also approved miscellaneous equipment purchases for the Department of Public Works. The purchases included equipment and signage.
SELFRIDGE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Ripon Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says permitting for improvements at Selfridge Park is being completed and hopefully bids will be let soon for the project. She says the park will be very different once the improvements are completed. Improvements will include an ADA accessible path along the shoreline, improvements to the open shelter, shoreline restoration, benches, ADA accessible fishing pier, and a kayak launch. The gravel parking lot will also be paved. Last November the Common Council approved spending nearly $217,000 with Gerber Leisure Products for all-inclusive playground equipment at the park. Zeien says it will replace what they have there now except for a swing set. She says the city has to provide a match but the state last year awarded a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to the city for $468,240 to improve the park. The city had applied for another grant to pay for the new playground equipment.
VACCINATION FOR MEASLES URGED
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller urges those who haven’t received the MMR vaccine or haven’t had their children vaccinated to get it done. Recently Texas reported a death due to measles. Two doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine will provide protection. Mueller says while the measles death was in Texas, we are a very mobile society and it can take one to two weeks after contact for a person to start displaying symptoms of measles. She points out declining vaccination rates for measles has opened the door for the disease to become more prevalent. Symptoms include a fever of up to 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash.
WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADVICE
A Wisconsin Emergency Management official says with the spring and summer storm season coming up a little maintenance around the home might prevent headaches during heavy rains. Katie Rousonelos recommends removing debris from your gutters, drains, and downspouts. In addition trim tree limbs and branches so they do not snap off during high winds and damage your home or contact you utility provider if they are hanging near power lines. She also suggests checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work if you didn’t do that during the time change on Sunday. She says if it isn’t working and doesn’t need a battery replacement it may be time to replace the whole unit. There is a sticker on the back that will tell you when it is time to replace the unit.
ORGAN DONATION OPTION ON WISCONSIN INCOME TAX FORMS
Wisconsin taxpayers interested in becoming organ donors can add their names to the Wisconsin Donor Registry when filing their taxes-a new option in 2025. Wisconsin taxpayers who wish to add their name as a potential donor can check the appropriate box on their return to be added to the Wisconsin Donor Registry. If filing a joint return, their spouse may sign up, as well. The move is an effort to boost the number of registered organ donors in Wisconsin and narrows the gap between supply and demand. There are more than 1,400 adults and children in the state awaiting life-saving organ transplants. Through the end of February, 24,608 Wisconsin taxpayers and spouses have checked the box to become organ donors. To qualify, individuals must be Wisconsin residents who are at least 15 years of age or emancipated minors.
HISTORIC FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES AT EAA
History enthusiasts can enjoy a trip through time as EAA will offer rides in two historic aircraft from different eras on Friday through Sunday, March 28th through the 30th at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor and B-25 Berlin Express will be offering rides on all three days. Tri-Motor flights will run from 9 am to 5 pm, while B-25 flights will run from 10 am to 1 pm with ground tours to follow from 2 to 5 pm. The Ford Tri-Motor is known as the first luxury airliner, while the B-25 played a vital role during World War II as a medium bomber. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit EAA Chapter 252 in Oshkosh. Tickets are available in advance online for both aircraft. For the Tri-Motor flight it is $105 for adults and $85 for children 17 and under. Each flight is about 30 minutes. Tickets for the B-25 flight are $475 and include a free hat with 20 minutes of flight time.
Ford Tri-Motor Flight Registration
B-25 Flight Registration
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