4/15/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
15 April 2025 News
MISSING RIO WOMAN FOUND DEAD
An 80-year-old Rio woman reported missing last night has been found deceased. Sally Epps was the subject of a Silver Alert issued shortly before 9 pm. The alert was cancelled less than 30 minutes later. Prior to that the last time she had been seen was about 1:30 Sunday afternoon at Long Crossing Road and County Highway A in Rio in Columbia County. Sally was picking up sticks at her residence, then was seen walking away from the residence on a home surveillance camera. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was the contact agency for the alert.
BOMB SCARE SUSPECT BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
The 66-year-old Clintonville woman suspected of calling in a bomb threat to an Oshkosh Synagogue has been bound over for trial. Pauline Beyer waived her preliminary hearing in Winnebago County Court Monday and entered a not guilty plea to a felony bomb scares charge when she was subsequently arraigned. Last November she was found competent to stand trial. According to the criminal complaint Beyer called the synagogue on January 29th of 2024 and spoke to a religious leader telling him, “I’m going to bomb your church in 2 hours.” That religious leader called police. A Winnebago County investigator got a call from Beyer, who said police had reached out to her and she was calling about the bomb threat. Beyer said she made the bomb threat to get the FBI to come to her house. She claimed she was being held hostage in her home by the Clintonville Police Department. She said calls to Waupaca County 911, Aging and Disability, and other agencies weren’t helping. A plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29th and if she maintains her innocence a trial will be scheduled.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING
While the Dodgeland Schools are on Spring Break this week, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies will be training on school grounds through Thursday. There will be numerous police vehicles in and around the Dodgeland Schools. There will be signage around the perimeter of the school indicating that a training event is in progress. No one should be alarmed due to the heavy presence of law enforcement.
MEETING IN RIPON ABOUT 2030 STATE HIGHWAY 23 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The state’s Department of Transportation will hold a public involvement meeting about the 2030 State Highway 23 improvement project at the Ripon City Hall at 5 pm next Tuesday. Improvements will be made on West Fond du Lac Street between Union Street and Jackson Street, on Jackson Street between West Fond du Lac Street and Blackburn Street, and on East Fond du Lac Street between Metomen to east of Douglas Street in the city of Ripon. The purpose of the project is to restore the ride quality of the existing deteriorated pavement and upgrade other roadway deficiencies. During the meeting there will be a project presentation at the beginning. A short question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak individually with the project team. The intent of the meeting is to gather comments on the proposed improvements.
RIPON, FDL, BEAVER DAM RECEIVE STATE GRANTS
The City of Ripon is receiving a $240,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or WEDC. The money will be used to fund the WRNC or Waupun, Ripon, North Fond du Lac, and Campbellsport Business Opportunity Fund, which will promote the growth and sustainability of small businesses in those communities. The City of Fond du Lac is receiving $215,000 to supplement and expand small business programs and the City of Beaver Dam $50,000 to expand their existing Downtown New Business Recruitment Grant. Governor Tony Evers and the WEDC Monday announced the awarding of $3.2 million in Small Business Development Grants to 19 organizations across the state.
RIPON EDUCATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP DRIVE
The Ripon Education Foundation Scholarship Drive is underway this week. Each year the Foundation awards an average of $43,000, funding 30 scholarships each year. The scholarship drive is attempting to raise more than $40,000. This year there are three new scholarships. They are the Richard J. Ketter Memorial Scholarship, honoring a life of quiet service and community care. The Gib Stoeberl Education Scholarship, celebrating a teacher and coach who believed in every student and the Sandy Polcyn Scholarship, continuing the legacy of a music educator who inspired excellence and adventure. Foundation member Jeanne Williams says they are hoping to build those three scholarships up to be self-sustaining endowments. The scholarships are administered through the Oshkosh Community Foundation. Williams says more than half of this year’s senior class applied for scholarships through the Oshkosh Community Foundation. Those who would like to give towards the scholarships can do so online through Give Campus.com or by mailing the donation to the Ripon Education Foundation, P.O Box 395, Ripon, WI. 54971.
2025 REF Scholarship Drive · GiveCampus
OSHKOSH AREA EMPLOYMENT FAIR
The Fox Valley Workforce Development Board will host the annual Oshkosh Area Employment Fair on Wednesday, May 7th from 10 am to 1 pm at Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh. Job seekers are urged to prepare now with a refreshed resume and a plan for their next role. Companies attending the fair will be able to connect with many job seekers during the three-hour community fair. Each year, the event brings in hundreds of job seekers across all skill levels. More than 50 employers across various industries, including office, service, manufacturing, healthcare, and other professional positions, will be looking for their next new hires. During the fair, job seekers of all skill levels can connect directly with hiring managers and learn about available positions. Some companies will even conduct on-site interviews. Job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes to share and to dress for the career they want.
OSHKOSH DIGITAL PARKING PERMIT SYSTEM
The city of Oshkosh is adopting a new digital parking permit system developed by Passport Labs. The new initiative will streamline the parking permit process, enhance user convenience, and bolster city parking management efficiency, reducing the need for manual processing. The new digital platform allows users to apply for, purchase, and manage online, eliminating paper-based systems. Permits will be virtual, linked to vehicle license plates. Transactions require a credit or debit card and an email address. Starting today residents can purchase on-street parking permits and parking permits for city-owned lots via the Passport system. On July 1st the city will launch hourly paid parking areas on High Avenue and Osceola Street. Accounts can be set up online or by texting PARK to 30843 for a link.
City of Oshkosh, WI Customer Portal
DIRECT TV DVR SCAM
The administrator of the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection is warning residents about a DirecTV scam. Michelle Reinen says this particular case began with a cold call in which a person posing as being with DirecTV told the consumer that their DVR system had to be replaced or it will stop working within a few days. They promised to send a new DVR for $200, but give the consumer $50 off their bill each month for the next two years. The DVR System arrives and another caller posing as a technician told the consumer how to hook it up. It works and the technician asks for the consumer’s email address and sends them an invoice asking them to pay with a check. She says the invoice was riddled with typos and errors. Reinen says her office checked with DirecTV and they don’t cold call customers asking for account information or solicit upfront payments for services or upgrades. She says in this case the consumer realized it was a scam. It turned out the new DVR System was the same model they had already been given by DirecTV.
U-2 AIRCRAFT COMING TO EAA AIRVENTURE
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 will feature one of the most popular intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as the United State Air Force plans to bring a Lockheed U-2 from Beale Air Force Base in California. EAA vice president of communities and member programs Rick Larsen says, “The U-2 continues to play a vital role in ISR operations for the United States and remains an iconic aircraft among the Air Force fleet.” The aircraft will be on display all week to commemorate the U-2’s 70th anniversary, having first flown on August 1st, 1955. The aircraft can reach altitudes greater than 70,000 feet with a cruise speed of 470 miles per hour. The 72nd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention is July 21st through the 27th at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
PWC HERB GARDEN WORKSHOP
The Professional Women’s Connection of the Ripon and Green Lake area invites you to dig into something fun, fresh, and fragrant at their Create Your Own Herb Garden Workshop on Thursday, May 15th. It will be from 5:30 to 7 pm at Petals and Plows Greenhouse on Kaufman Road in Ripon. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just beginning to explore your green thumb, this hands-on event is a perfect way to welcome the growing season. All materials are included: planter, soil, and your choice of two fresh herbs. Enjoy delicious food and beverages as you connect with other women in the community. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. RSVP by Tuesday, May 13th at noon to secure your spot and supplies. You can RSVP online at www.pwcwi.org.
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