3/5/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
5 March 2025 News
FDL COUNTY CHASE ENDS IN CRASH
Charges are being brought against a 25-year-old Waukesha man who led a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Sergeant on a brief chase early Tuesday afternoon. It started with a report about a southbound vehicle on Interstate 41 near State Highway 26 in Winnebago County going over 100 miles an hour and passing vehicles on the shoulder. A State Trooper was unable to catch up with the suspect’s vehicle, but a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Sergeant spotted it on Highway 175 near County Highway B in the Town of Byron. As it entered the intersection of Highway 175 and County Highway F the suspect’s vehicle sideswiped a milk-hauling semi-tractor trailer, It went into a ditch and struck a telephone pole. The driver tried to flee on foot but was taken into custody. He and a female passenger suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital. The chase covered 2.6 miles. Charges being sought against the Waukesha man include felony eluding and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
SUSPICIOUS DEVICE IN SHEBOYGAN LEADS TO ARREST
Police in Sheboygan say a 42-year-old Sheboygan man was arrested in connection with a “suspicious device” that was reported in the 1300 block of New York Avenue Tuesday morning. Officers arrived and residents living in the area were evacuated. Adjacent roads were closed. The Milwaukee County Explosives and Ordinance Disposal Unit responded. They were able to safely assess the device, and determined that no explosives were involved and there was no danger to the public. Charges against the suspect are being referred to the Sheboygan County District Attorney’s Office. The Sheboygan County Dispatch Center received a call about the “suspicious device” at 8:43 am.
NEW RIPON POLICE OFFICER
The Ripon Police Department recently added a new officer to its ranks. Brandon Shew was sworn in on February 18th. He brings more than 7 years of experience in law enforcement with him, most of it as a police officer in Sturgeon Bay. He spent the last six months with Outagamie County in their Juvenile Court Services. Ripon Police Chief Bill Wallner says Sturgeon Bay is somewhat similar to Ripon in size and the organization of its police department. Shew also was an investigator. With Sturgeon Bay he was their Internet Crimes Against Children Investigator and field training officer. Chief Wallner says Shew will spend the next few weeks doing some field training before they put him out on his own. He says because their new officer already has experience his field training will be different than what they would put a brand-new officer through. (City of Ripon Police Department photo).
COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S K9 ARTUS RETIRES
Columbia County Sheriff’s K9 Artus completed his last officials shift Tuesday and is now retired. Over the past few months Artus has been experiencing a decline in his health. After several thorough conversations with Portage and UW veterinaries, and his handler Sergeant Tyler Henriksen, it was decided retiring Artus would be the best course of action. During his law enforcement career K9 Artus had over 400 deployments resulting in many arrests. Those deployments accounted for the seizure of large amounts of narcotics, paraphernalia, and dangerous weapons. He also took part in numerous demonstrations and presentations at surrounding schools, churches, and community events. (Photo credits Columbia County Sheriff’s Office).
ACCIDENTAL 911 CALLS DRAMATICALLY DROP
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says the number of accidental 911 calls they have fielded over the past two years has decreased significantly. It has to do with an Emergency SOS feature on smart phones that were being triggered by sudden motions the phone interpreted as a traumatic injury from a fall or car accident. Often it happened by someone using a riding lawnmower or sitting in bag chair with cup holders. Vande Kolk says it was a real issue, but from 2023 to 2024 those accidental calls went down by about 70 percent. He believes the problem solved itself as technology for those phones continued to evolve. At one point in February of 2023 the number of accidental 911 calls the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office was receiving had increased from about 30 per month to nearly 150.
WAUPACA COUNTY HIGHWAY WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS START MONDAY
Waupaca County Highway Commissioner Casey Beyersdorf has announced that Spring weight limit restrictions will begin next Monday. When the highways become firm, the Spring weight limit restrictions will be lifted. Permit forms, maps and additional information can be found on the Waupaca County website on the Highway Department webpage. The seasonal weight restriction will be six ton load for a single axle vehicle and ten ton load for a tandem axle vehicle. The Spring weight limits will be enforced. If you have questions about the spring weight limit restrictions, see the Waupaca County website or contact the Highway Department at 715-258-7152.
Waupaca County Highway Department
AGRICULTURAL HOME SHOW
Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agricultural Showcase will be a bit different this year. Envision Director of Agricultural Programs Amy Ries says they will be part of the Eastern Ridge Home Builders Association Home Show at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday March 21st through the 23rd. The Ag Showcase will be held separately in the Expo Building on Saturday, March 22nd from 9 am to 2 pm. Ries says it will have the things that people have come to expect from the showcase including an interactive petting zoo, educational farm games for children, cheese and sausage sampling, and beer and wine sampling for those 21 and older. Farm equipment and other big boy toys will also be on display. Ries says the petting zoo has proven to be very popular over the years and in addition Diva, a Hyperion horse will return. Admission is free. Home Show hours are 4 to 7 pm that Friday, 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday.
Fond du Lac’s Area Home Showcase
SKIN CANCER SCREENINGS
The Waushara County Health Department will be offering free skin cancer screenings on Saturday, April 12th from 8 to 11 am at the Health Department offices in Wautoma. Limited space is available so appointments are required, which you can do by calling 920-787-6590. Officials with the Waushara County Health Department say there are steps you can take to prevent skin cancer during the summer. They recommend putting on a hat, sun screen, and using sun glasses. They also suggest avoiding the sun between 11 am and 3 pm.
ADVOCATING FOR WAUPUN UTILITIES
Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop, along with Steve Brooks, Waupun Utilities General Manager, traveled to the nation’s capital to speak with legislators about their community’s locally owned utility. They advocated on behalf of their customers during the American Public Power Association’s 2025 Legislative Rally. The annual event took place February 24th through the 26th in Washington D.C. Bishop and Brooks met personally with Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin, Ron Johnson, and Congressman Glenn Grothman. Bishop and Brooks spoke with senators and representatives about the critical role tax exempt bonds play in financing utility infrastructure in Waupun, ensuring city owned utilities have access to the same cost saving mechanisms that for-profit utilities use. They also pushed for streamlining the regulatory backlog on building critical grid infrastructure and ensuring that tariffs on raw materials don’t exacerbate supply chain constraints on distribution transformers.
FREE FILM SHOWING AT CHURCH IN WAUPUN
The film “One by One” a true story of faith, hope, and trusting God’s plan will be shown at Grace Lutheran Church in Waupun on Sunday, March 16th. A reception will be held at 2 pm with the film starting at 3 pm. It is a free event with a free will offering appreciated. The movie was produced by Salty Earth Pictures in Fort Atkinson which features actors and crew from Wisconsin.
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