3/21/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
21 March 2025 News
SEUSS ON THE LOOSE
The Ripon Police Department posted this photo on their Facebook page of Ripon Police Captain Troy Damsteegt reading to Barlow Park Elementary School students during Read Across America Week. This is the serve part of protecting and serving a community. Apparently he made a good impression on them.
FDL MAN BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL ON ARSON CHARGE
Probable cause was found during a preliminary hearing yesterday in Fond du Lac County Court and a 61-year-old Menasha man suspected of setting a fire in Fond du Lac has been bound over for trial. The fire that Michael Perez allegedly set last September 23rd led to serious injuries for a 16-year-old girl who had to jump from a second story window to escape the fire. Perez is charged with arson of a building, first-degree reckless injury, four counts of criminal damage to property, and mistreatment of animals causing death. All seven felony charges stem from a fire in the 200 block of Packer Street last September. The teen suffered spinal injuries and burns when she fell from a second story window trying to escape the fire. Two pets were also lost in the fire. According to the criminal complaint Perez and his girlfriend who lived at the Packer Street address were having problems. He allegedly waited until she and her friend left before setting a gasoline can on fire which spread to the whole house. He didn’t know the teen was upstairs sleeping.
FDL COUNTY BOARD APPROVES MOU WITH MPTC
The Fond du Lac County Board this week approved a memorandum of understanding with Moraine Park Technical College for academic use of space within the Fond du Lac County Campus Public Safety Training Facility. County Executive Sam Kaufman says when they started looking at uses for the former UW-Fond du Lac campus they wanted to convert the Arts Building into a public safety training facility for law enforcement, fire and EMS. He says one of the discussions he had with Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald was about using space in that facility for their Corrections program. He says they had talked about turning the second floor into a jail training center for corrections officers from different counties and the county’s own. MPTC will be offering a 5-week correctional training program. Kaufman says they are always looking for ways to foster partnerships with educational institutions like Moraine Park, Marian University, and Ripon College. He says Moraine Park’s correction’s program will be a fantastic use of the former Arts Building space.
BERLIN SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES PAY RAISES
The Berlin Area School District Board of Education Wednesday night approved pay increases for all employees for the 2025-2026 school year. The Board approved 3 percent increases for all employees and a 4 percent increase for custodial staff. District Superintendent Emmett Durtschi says this is the time of year when they are taking action on things they need to get done prior to the next school year. He says with two failed referendums the past couple of years they’ve had to find ways to cut costs without having to sacrifice the education they provide to students. As for the pay raises he says it’s only fair that they try and stay ahead of the rate of inflation which the state’s Department of Public Instruction calculates to be about 2.95 percent.
WISCONSIN AG ON DISMANTLING OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul issued a statement Thursday prior to President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Kaul said, “Shutting down the Department of Education would mean taking from our kids’ educations to give more money to folks like Elon Musk.” He added, “We filed suit last week to block the Trump administration’s shameful attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, and we won’t back down from protecting its vital role in supporting access to quality education.” Kaul says as Donald Trump continues trying to sabotage critical institutions, they are going to keep stepping up to stop his actions that would weaken America.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES INCREASE IN JANUARY
Unemployment rates jumped in January in all but one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, staying the same in Menominee. According to Federal Labor statistics Winnebago County had one of the lower rates in the area at 3 percent, Dodge County’s jobless rate was 3.1 percent, and Fond du Lac County’s rate was 3.3 percent. Waupaca County had a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, Green Lake County 4.4 percent, and Waushara County’s rate was 4.8 percent. The jobless rate in the City of Oshkosh rose to 2.9 percent, and it was at 3.8 percent for the City of Fond du Lac. The state’s Department of Workforce Development says Unemployment rates were also more in all 72 counties except Menominee County compared to January of 2024.
STATE ASSEMBLY PASSES GIRLS SPORTS BILLS
Republican state lawmakers in the State Assembly passed legislation that prevents men from competing in girls’ sports and from using girls’ locker-rooms. Additionally, legislation passed that bans sex-change surgery and puberty blockers from being provided to children. State Representative Alex Dallman of Markesan says, “Biological men should not compete in women or girls’ sports, period.” State Representative Scott Krug of Arkdale says, “It’s a little bit shocking that we need to pass legislation protecting girls’ sports and girls’ locker rooms. Those who demand that girls and women simply accept men into their athletic competitions and their private spaces are wrong.” A recent Marquette Law School public opinion survey showed that 76 percent of U.S. citizens favor requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth. The four bills now move on to the State Senate.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING ABOUT STATE HWY 76 PROJECT
The state’s Department of Transportation will hold a public involvement meeting next Wednesday at the Greenville Village Hall to show proposed improvements for State Highway 76 between US Highway 10 and State Highway 15 in Outagamie and Winnebago counties. The meeting will be at 5 pm. Improvements will include possible intersection modifications at County Highway BB/Winnegamie and Greenridge Drive. A project presentation will take place at the beginning of the meeting. A question, answer and comment period will follow. Attendees can speak individually with the project team following the Q/A period. The intent of the meeting is to gather comments on the proposed improvements. Construction is currently scheduled for 2030. Possible traffic impacts include the full closures and detours of State Highway 76.
AIR AMERICA ACT REINTRODUCED
Congressman Glenn Grothman has reintroduced the bipartisan Air America Act, which will correct an inequity suffered by former employees of Air American by ensuring they receive the federal retirement benefits and recognition they have earned. The legislation was inspired by Neil Hansen, a resident of Wisconsin’s Sixth District, who was a pilot for Air America during the Vietnam War. Between 1950 and 1976, a group of approximately 1,000 U.S. citizens worked for Air America, which was portrayed as a private company carrying out flight operations during the Cold War. However, now-declassified documents have revealed that Air America was wholly owned and controlled by the U.S. government-meaning these Americans were federal employees under the law. The bill will ensure those Air Americans who qualify for retirement benefits under the law will receive what they earned. Those who don’t have the years of experience required for retirement benefits will nonetheless be honored.
BE WARY OF GHOST TAX PREPARERS
The Better Business Bureau is warning residents about “ghost tax preparers.” They say a “ghost tax preparer” is someone who isn’t certified but still prepares tax returns. They may set up shop quickly and promise fast or big refunds. Ghost preparers prepare the tax return, but when it’s submitted to the IRS, they ask the taxpayer to sign their own return, making it look like it was self-filed. Some tips the BBB offers include be wary of those offering fast refunds or large returns. Don’t sign your own tax return if asked by a tax preparer. Never sign your own tax return if someone else prepared it. Review your tax return before you send it to make sure it is signed by your tax preparer, that it’s complete and accurate. Only allow funds to be deposited into your personal accounts. Do your research for complaints and reviews about the preparer. Be cautious of “pop-ups” and seasonal tax services. Also make sure you report any unusual activity by the preparer. For more information visit the BBB website.
BBB Tip: Avoid being ghosted by your tax preparer in the US
DRIVERS KNOWLEDGE TEST CAN NOW BE TAKEN ONLINE
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles now offers students ages 15 to 17 the opportunity to take DMV’s knowledge test from the convenience of their home with parent or guardian supervision. The test is a two-part exam that covers rules for the road and important road signs. The new online process is available to students who have completed the classroom portion of their training and the driver training school notifies DMV. Wisconsin DMV administers over 4,000 Class D knowledge tests each month. The $10 fee for the online service will go to the vendor while DMV will continue to offer the test for free in DMV Customer Service Centers. Upon passing and completing the test, a certificate of completion is emailed. This, along with other required documents, should be taken to a DMV Customer Service Center for testing validation and to receive their instruction permit.
Wisconsin DMV Official Government Site – Wisconsin knowledge tests
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