3/4/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
4 March 2025 News
ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY FOR MISSING BEAVER DAM TEEN
Beaver Dam Police Monday noted it has been one month since Gary Day allegedly took 16-year-old Sophia Franklin from her family in Beaver Dam and an Amber Alert was issued. Police say they are continuing to follow-up on all leads and their priority is still to bring Sophia home to her family. It is believed the two are still using a black 2014 Buick, but Day may be changing the plates depending on their location. He is a license plate collector. They are asking anyone with possible sightings to take a photo if it is safe and submit the photo along with your tip. Franklin was three months pregnant when she went missing. Dodge County authorities last month issued a warrant for Day’s arrest on two counts of child enticement and two counts of child abduction. The Amber Alert was also extended to Arkansas where Day is from and Missouri where they may have been traveling to get to Arkansas. Anyone with information about the vehicle, Day, or Franklin is asked to call Beaver Dam Police at 920-887-4612 or the Amber Alert tip line 888-304-3936. (Photo credit: Beaver Dam Police Department).
FENTANYL RECOVERED DURING FDL COUNTY TRAFFIC PURSUIT
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials have released more information about the arrest of a 43-year-old Wild Rose man who led law enforcement officers on an 18-mile chase in Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties on February 21st. The pursuit was initiated when the man drove his vehicle through a stop sign. Tire deflation devices and a maneuver that disabled the fleeing vehicle were used to end the chase. During a search of the vehicle 38 grams of Fentanyl were recovered. The man is facing felony eluding, fentanyl trafficking, and second-degree recklessly endangering safety charges. He has a criminal history involving the possession and distribution of illegal narcotics dating back to 2000. He is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond. (Photo credit: Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office).
WAUPUN CORRECTIONAL AND PRISON INSPECTIONS
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says the housing units at Waupun Correctional Institution are so old you don’t know if the water is on or off. The Sheriff’s Department investigated the death of four inmates and one died of dehydration and malnutrition, which the medical examiner deemed as homicide. Nine staff members were charged as a result of the investigation including the warden. Schmidt says the camera system at Waupun Correctional is old and outdated and inadequate for monitoring the safety of inmates and staff. He says some inmates were lying in their cells for hours on end without anyone knowing there was a problem. Newer facilities can be designed to require less staff to monitor inmates. Schmidt would also like to see the state legislature push through a law that requires regular inspections of the state’s prisons with copies of those reports going to the Department of Corrections Secretary and the Legislature. He says right now the only person responsible for the condition of a prison is the warden. Schmidt says county jails are regularly inspected, which helps them function properly and makes them safer.
OSHKOSH CITY BUDGET DISCUSSION
The Oshkosh City Council last month held a discussion about the possibility of going to a two-year or biennial form of City Budget rather than preparing a budget annually. The State has a biennial budget process and cities can do the same. Oshkosh City Councilman Jacob Floam feels there are some advantages to doing a budget every two years instead of annually. He says there is more predictability in the tax levy for residents and businesses because they know where their tax dollars going for two years instead of one. He also feels it provides more stability for department heads and Council members as well. He says the discussion was about gauging how the Council felt about the proposal and how they would go about making the change if there was enough interest. The City of Madison does their city budget biennially.
MISS OSHKOSH WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The Miss Oshkosh Scholarship Organization crowned the 2025 Miss Oshkosh and Miss Oshkosh’s Teen on Saturday at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium in Oshkosh. Thea Bender a student at the UW Oshkosh is the new Miss Oshkosh. Izzy Mugerauer a Lourdes Academy High School student won the Miss Oshkosh’s Teen competition. Thea received a $2,000 scholarship. She competed against five other women. Her community service initiative is Future Financing: Encouraging Youth to Save. Izzy competed against six other young ladies for the Miss Oshkosh’s Teen title. Her community service initiative is Fostering Hope: Advocating for Foster Families. The competition awarded $8,350 in scholarships, thanks in large part to its many sponsors and supporters, including the Oshkosh Area Women’s Association. Both young women will compete at the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition for the titles of Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen, June 17th through the 21st in New Berlin. (Photo credit: Miss Oshkosh Scholarship Organization Thea on the left and Izzy on the right).
RIPON EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
The Ripon Area School District’s Tiger Update mailer shone a little light on the Ripon Education Foundation which encourages academic achievement through financial support that provides enhanced learning and teaching opportunities for all students and teachers within the District. To date 16 grants and 6 special grants have been awarded this year. Since 1997, the Foundation’s Teaching and Learning grants have funded a wide array of learning tools and experiences. In the 2023-24 school year the Foundation awarded $34,500 in teacher grants. A volunteer Board of Directors manages the Foundation and engages the Ripon community in fundraising campaigns to support programs such as the Teaching and Learning Grants. Examples of grants awarded included funding for a stage projector for the High School Drama Club, a first-grade classroom library, and allowing participation in the Noetic Math Competition. One student in that competition scored in the top 10 percent of the nation.
DMV ADDS EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY
Wisconsin’s Department of Motor Vehicles recently implemented a new automated identity verification process to help protect customers from potential fraud. The new safety feature is available on several DMV applications. It compares a person’s selfie photo, taken in the moment, with their photo on file with the DMV, as a method to verify the customer’s identity. When a customer wants to order a replacement or duplicate driver license or ID card, for example, the customer opens the DMV application on a device that has a camera and then takes a selfie photo. If the image matches the customer’s photo on file with the DMV, the customer can continue with the application. A non-match will prevent the individual from using the online application. This new verification process provides an extra layer of protection for Wisconsin residents from an unknown attempt at identity theft.
PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH
The Wisconsin Lottery is partnering with the National Council on Problem Gambling and the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling participating in the Problem Gambling Awareness Month campaign. Entering its 22nd year, the annual observance provides an essential platform for the Wisconsin Lottery to highlight the availability of resources that support problem gambling prevention, education, treatment, and recovery. Working with more than 3,600 Wisconsin Lottery retailers across the state, the Wisconsin Lottery’s participation in Problem Gambling Awareness Month will include digital displays at retailer locations, radio spots, print ads, and social media and Players Club newsletter content. The lottery has also added new information to its website about responsible gaming and listing support services for problem gambling. Help is available at 800-GAMBLE-5. Online chatting and texting are also available at 850-888-HOPE.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month | Wisconsin Lottery
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WEEK CELEBRATED
Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Bureau of Weights and Measures is celebrating Weights and Measures Week. In 2024 the Weights and Measures staff conducted 36,000 inspections of checkout price accuracy and the legal requirement that stores correct any pricing errors, resulting in a 98.6 percent Consumer Confidence rating. If consumers last year fired up a gas grill for a cookout with family or friends, they should know there was a 91.7 percent Consumer Confidence rating for the 531-fuel dispensing liquid petroleum gas meters inspected by the Bureau. By regularly inspecting and measuring instruments consumers rely on Wisconsin’s Weights and Measures programs protect the integrity of everyday transactions. Last year labeling of packaged products sold by weight, like sugar and vegetables was 97.5 percent accurate. Scales used to sell products by weights, like deli food or precious metals, were 99.6 percent accurate. Motor vehicle fuel pumps were 99.6 percent accurate. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection also tested for fuel quality, and 98 percent of the 4,817 fuel samples tested in 2024 met minimum national standards. The first U.S weights and measures law was signed by President John Adams on March 2nd, 1799.
THRASHER’S EATS FOR THE ARTS
Get ready to eat well and support the Thrasher Opera House too during the 2nd Annual Eats for the Arts Restaurant Days. The initiative will kick off on Thursday, April 3rd and continue through Sunday, April 13th. It currently features 15 participating restaurants around the Green Lake area with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Thrasher Opera House. Jason Mansmith of the Thrasher says the fundraiser was a great success last year. He says Eats for the Arts Restaurant Days also celebrates the culinary excellence in Green Lake and surrounding areas. Information and more details, including hours and menus of participating restaurants, are available at the Thrasher website.
Participating Restaurants – Thrasher Opera House
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