3/18/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
18 March 2025 News
THREE DEER RESCUED FROM BIG GREEN LAKE
Green Lake Police and a Green Lake County Sheriff’s drone team partnered for a unique rescue on Big Green Lake Saturday. Three deer fell through thin ice and were trying to get out of the lake. With the assistance of the drone team, local DNR, and Green Lake Police Officer Tim Schroeder, two of the deer were successfully herded back through broken ice to shallow water. However, the third doe did not follow suit, and the wind complicated the rescue efforts pushing ice toward the city. A detective ultimately managed to herd the third doe to shore, a DNR conservation warden, Sheriff’s deputy, and Officer Schroeder provided assistance with a rope to help the exhausted deer up the bank. A short video of the rescue effort is available on the Green Lake Police Department Facebook page. (Green Lake County Sheriff’s photo).
MOPED DRIVER HIT BY PICKUP TRUCK IN NFDL DIES
North Fond du Lac Police learned Monday that the moped driver struck by a pickup truck in the Village last Thursday evening had died at a regional hospital he was flown to following the accident. Police are not releasing the name of the 25-year-old North Fond du Lac man at the request of family. Police got a call from Fond du Lac County Dispatch at 5:35 pm Thursday about the accident at the intersection of Chapman Avenue and Marcoe Street. They learned the pickup was heading west on Marcoe Street disregarding a stop sign at Chapman Avenue. The truck struck a moped in the intersection causing substantial injuries to the moped’s driver. The two males in the truck cooperated in the investigation. Impairment was not believed to be a factor in the accident.
OSHKOSH POLICE ARREST SHOOTING SUSPECT
Oshkosh Police have taken a 16-year-old Menasha girl into custody for a shooting in the 1000 block of Jefferson Street last Friday night. She is facing a first-degree attempted homicide charge, three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and one count of cruelty to animals. She was placed in a secure detention facility. Oshkosh Police were assisted by Menasha Police and the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. No one was hurt during the shooting in Oshkosh but a residence was struck by numerous bullets. The suspect, who was known to the victims, fled in a vehicle.
FORMER FDL MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
Following a week-long trial last week a Fond du Lac County jury convicted a 48-year-old former Fond du Lac man of attempted first-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon, mayhem with a dangerous weapon, and battery with a dangerous weapon. All charges against Lataye Smith included domestic violence enhancers. Charges stemmed from an incident on January 7th, 2023. The victim, a 39-year-old Fond du Lac woman, wanted to end things with Smith. He attacked her in her car with a box cutter attempting to slash her throat and wrist while telling her she was going to die. She made her way to the police department that morning despite her injuries. She was taken to St. Agnes Hospital with significant yet non-life-threatening lacerations to her neck and arms. The jury deliberated less than an hour Friday night before finding Smith guilty of charges. District Attorney Eric Toney says Smith faces a maximum possible sentence of over 80 years in initial prison confinement. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
RIPON MAN CHARGED FOR PLAZA BOWL BREAK IN
A 34-year-old Ripon man has been charged for the March 8th break-in at the Plaza Bowl bowling alley in Ripon. Kole Williams is charged with a felony count of burglary, a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property and two counts of misdemeanor theft. According to the criminal complaint Williams turned himself in four days later because he didn’t want to be blamed for a break in at Route 23. He admitted gaining entry to Plaza Bowl by pulling on a set of double doors until they popped open. Once inside he allegedly used an antique knife to break into an amusement game and took what he estimated to be about $80 in coins, he also took loose change from register tills, and about $150 from the “shake of the day” jar. A couple bottles of liquor and some snack food were also stolen. According to the criminal complaint he broke into the Plaza Bowl because he needed money to pay for medications. Bond was set at $1,000 cash during Williams’ initial hearing in Fond du Lac County Court Monday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1st. (Fond du Lac Count Jail photo).
STATE HIGHWAY 21 PROJECT IN WAUSHARA COUNTY
Governor Evers recently signed a $4.4 million contract to improve State Highway 21 between Redgranite and Oshkosh in the Towns of Aurora and Warren in Waushara County. Work begins next Monday. Vinton Construction Company is the prime contractor for the project. Crews will resurface the highway, replace the existing pavement structure between 32nd Drive and Cottonville Court, widen paved shoulders and add shoulder rumble strips, replace guardrail, raise the existing bridge rail at the Manske Ditch Bridge, and extend or replace existing culverts. Crews will also replace a box culvert structure at an unnamed drainageway, approximately 3.5 miles west of State Highway 49. There will be detours and lane closures controlled by flaggers during the project. Construction should be completed by September.
WORK PROGRESSING ON THEDACARE OSHKOSH CAMPUS
Construction work is progressing at the new ThedaCare health campus in Oshkosh. Recruitment efforts for dedicated team members are also underway as the health system prepares to care for the Oshkosh community. The campus known as ThedaCare Medical Center-Oshkosh, aims to expand convenient access to care for those living in northeast and central Wisconsin. ThedaCare broke ground on the hospital last March. The new center will be located at 250 West 6th Avenue in Oshkosh. The Oshkosh health campus is expected to be complete late this year. Approximately 60 new jobs are expected to be created for caregivers and staff at the campus.
FOX CITIES EMPLOYMENT FAIR
The annual Fox Cities Employment Fair will be held today from 10 am to 2 pm at the Fox Cities Exposition Center in Appleton. The annual region-wide hiring event is sponsored by the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board. Companies will be recruiting for a variety of roles at the fair: entry level or more skilled, seasonal, temporary, full and part-time. All job seekers regardless of age, education and work experience are welcome. Some employers may offer on-site interviews while others will be accepting resumes and will schedule interviews at a later date. There is no dress code for the event, but job seekers are encouraged to dress for the role they are seeking and are urged to bring updated resumes. In addition to this fair, other hiring events scheduled for spring include the April 2nd Fond du Lac Regional Job Fair and the May 7th Oshkosh Area Employment Fair.
THE ORGAN TRAIL DOCUMENTARY
Marian University in Fond du Lac will share an early premiere of the 28-minute documentary movie “Gift of Life: An Organ Trail Story” during an academic symposium. The documentary is about The Organ Trail, a not-for-profit initiative raising awareness about kidney health and the need for living kidney donors. It chronicles the journey of Mark and Lynn Scotch, a husband-and-wife duo from Plover, Wisconsin who both made kidney donations that saved lives. Mark is an avid mountain bike rider and does 1,300 to 1,900 mile rides to raise awareness about the need for live kidney donations and show that anything is possible after your donation. It was during a stop at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas during one of his rides that he got someone there interested in doing a film about his and Lynn’s efforts. Lynn drives the support vehicle for Mark as he rides his bike 65 to 70 miles each day during those trips. The film will be shown at Marian University in the Stayer Center Dining Room on Wednesday, March 26th from 2 to 3 pm.
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The Administrator for the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection urges homeowners to do their research before hiring a contractor for home improvement projects. Michelle Reinen says it’s important to draw a sketch or find reference pictures online to show prospective contractors what you want done. Ask friends, family and other people you trust for contractor recommendations. If you’re considering contractors you’ve met at a home show, check them out through the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection. Other important tips include getting estimates and asking for names of recent customers of the contractor so you can call them and see if they were satisfied with the work that was done for them. Wisconsin’s Consumer Protection Hotline is 1-800-422-7128.
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