3/24/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
24 March 2025 News
KEWASKUM MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE
Bond has been set at $1 million cash for a 39-year-old Kewaskum man suspected of trying to kill his landlord. Hunter Kamrath made his initial appearance in the Fond du Lac County Court Friday. He is charged with one count of attempted first-degree homicide, four counts of first-degree reckless injury, and four counts of aggravated battery intending great bodily harm. All nine charges are felonies. According to the criminal complaint during the March 11th incident Kamrath allegedly stomped on his landlord’s head and attempted to throw him over a railing that led to a basement. Kamrath called 911 reporting he had gotten into a fight with his landlord and the man wasn’t breathing. He claimed his landlord had locked him out. Surveillance video contradicted his story. The 39-year-old victim was taken to a hospital and later flown to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Friday. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
OSHKOSH MAN CLOCKED AT 129 MPH ON I-41 IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 25-year-old Oshkosh man early Saturday morning on suspicion of drunken driving and for traveling at 129 miles an hour on Interstate 41. The incident happened around midnight when a deputy saw the suspect’s vehicle speeding near the I-41/US Highway 45 split. A second deputy near I-41 and Hillcrest Road in the Town of Addison clocked the suspect’s vehicle at 121 miles and hour accelerating to 129 miles an hour. The suspect was stopped near County Highway D where he was arrested for his first OWI. He was taken into custody without incident and also received several traffic citations.
GUNS DRUGS AND MONEY RECOVERED DURING HIGH-SPEED CHASE
Officials with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office say the 25-year-old Waukesha man who led deputies on a high-speed chase on March 4th that ended when he struck the back of a milk truck, had drugs, guns, and money in his vehicle. After Justin Fena’s apprehension, Sheriff’s K9 Iro conducted an open air search around the vehicle and alerted to the possibility of illegal drugs inside. A search resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, THC, ketamine, and ecstasy. A substantial amount of ammunition and five firearms including two AK-47s were also located. An investigation into the drugs and firearms could result in additional charges. Fena is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond. During a recent preliminary hearing he was bound over for trial on 13 felony charges and during a subsequent arraignment he pled not guilty to the charges. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
MENOMONEE FALLS MAN CHARGED FOR FDL COUNTY CHASE
Bond has been set at $100,000 cash for a 31-year-old Menomonee Falls man who led Sheriff’s deputies from Washington, Fond du Lac, and Dodge County on a high-speed chase last Tuesday afternoon. Joseph Domino made his initial court appearance in Fond du Lac County Court Friday. He is charged with felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, vehicle operator fleeing or eluding an officer, and misdemeanor charges of bail jumping, his third OWI, and operating while revoked. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1st. The pursuit covered 9 miles ending in Dodge County when he pulled over. No one was injured and no vehicles were damaged. He was on probation for felony fleeing and eluding. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
DNR AND FIREFIGHTERS PRAISED FOR WORK ON BIG ISLAND FIRE
With the DNR taking the lead in putting out the 750 acre Big Island fire in White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake County last Monday, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office had a smaller role but still important one. Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says they primarily maintained security on the scene which allowed firefighters to do the work that they needed to do to put the fire out. He notes that during a marsh fire last fall the Sheriff’s Office used its drone unit to relay information to firefighters below on where the hot spots were. With last week’s fire the DNR had a plane up doing the same type of work. He says about an hour before the Big Island fire there was another fire in a marsh but thankfully that was put out quickly so firefighters could concentrate on the bigger blaze. Vande Kolk says with the high winds it could have been worse but the DNR and firefighters did a fantastic job putting out the fire and protecting nearby structures. He points out Green Lake County has thousands of similar acres that with drought-like conditions and high winds are susceptible, so people need to be careful.
NEW RIPON DPW BUILDING PROGRESSING
Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag says the construction of the new Department of Public Works building is coming along nicely. He says they should have the roof put on by the end of the month and then the work on the inside will begin with completion in 6 to 8 months. He says Cardinal Construction of Fond du Lac has done a good job and with a milder winter they’ve been able to move some things up on the schedule. He says everything in the new building will be more efficient compared to the current building. They will be bringing the water utility into the building too so it will be a more complete DPW and utilities campus. Sonntag says it will also be able to accommodate the bigger equipment they have for road maintenance and snow removal. The old building, which has served them since 1957, will be demolished after they move into the new facility.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACHIEVEMENTS NOTED
The Superintendent of the Berlin Area School District says he’s proud of the way their students and staff have done with extracurricular activities representing the district of late. Emmett Durschi says the Boys High School basketball team won regional this year before falling in sectional play. The High School VEX robotics team has improved each year. They won some meets and went to state where they took third place. He says Middle School students were able to plan and stage a successful talent show. Teachers and staff hosted the Spaghetti for Scholars Dinner at the High School on March 11th. Durtschi says it served just fewer than 300 people with the proceeds going to fund a scholarship for a High School graduate that is going into the field of education. He says schools should be fun and not only build knowledge, but confidence and skills for a student’s future endeavors.
LAKELAND CARE A TOP WORKPLACE
Lakeland Care headquartered in Fond du Lac is a recipient of the USA Today Top Workplace Award for 2025. It marks the fourth Top Workplaces recognition for the organization, with previous honors in 2024 for achievements in work-life flexibility, healthcare industry, and employee well-being. The award celebrates companies that excel in creating a positive, engaging, and inclusive environment where employees thrive. The award is determined by employee feedback. Lakeland Care provides long-term care services and support to eligible frail elders and individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities through Wisconsin’s Family Care program.
NATIVE PLANTS SUPPORT WISCONSIN POLLINATORS
The DNR says native plant sales are popping up around the state now through June. By planting native plants in your outdoor space, you can support the entire ecosystem by providing the most beneficial food for pollinators. Native plants come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes that give you endless options to create beautiful landscaping that suits your style. Native plant sales are offered across Wisconsin this spring as local nonprofit organizations and governments host online preorders and in-person sales. Wisconsinites have a chance to buy plants in advance while benefitting local organizations. While most sales occur in May and June, some require orders in advance that are due in March or April. The DNR has compiled a list of this year’s native plant sales on the Native Plants webpage so you can order your native plants in time for late spring and early summer planting.
Plant native plants to help nature | | Wisconsin DNR
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