4/16/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
16 April 2025 News
WAUPUN DOG ATTACK DOGS EUTHANIZED
Waupun Police say three dogs that attacked a father and his young son were humanely euthanized at a facility where they were being quarantined. The severe attack on the boy occurred the evening of Friday, April 4th in the 200 block of Fond du Lac Street. The boy’s 34-year-old father was bitten trying to stop the attack. A 36-year-old man also tried to physically remove the dogs. Finally the 42-year-old woman who owns them was able to secure them in her residence. The dogs were taken to a secure facility to be quarantined for 10 days. Police were in regular contact with the victims and the dogs’ owner since the incident. They conveyed the safety concerns expressed throughout the community to the owner. Tuesday they learned the dogs had been euthanized. The dogs’ owner was issued seven different citations for the incident. Criminal charges were being reviewed and the owner may also be civilly liable for any charges.
WCI INMATE INJURED IN LEAP FROM TIER
Officials with the state Department of Corrections say an inmate at Waupun Correctional Institution had to be airlifted to a hospital Tuesday after jumping from a tier in the facility. A 44-year-old man incarcerated at the prison jumped from one of the tiers in the cell hall. It happened around 11 am. According to the DOC, prison staff rushed to the man and he was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital and was subsequently flown to another medical facility. Due to federal privacy rules information on the man’s condition could not be released.
SEARCH FOR MISSING CHICAGO MAN ON WISCONSIN RIVER CONTINUES
The search for a missing Chicago, Illinois man on the Wisconsin River in Columbia County continues but authorities say search conditions are improving. Twenty-year-old Francesco Di Filippo was one of three boaters thrown into the river when their boat capsized south of the Kilbourn Dam on Thursday, April 3rd. One person was able to swim back to shore and the body of 75-year-old Luis Di Filippo, also of Chicago, was recovered the following afternoon. Wisconsin Dells Police say the river is slowly dropping, but the conditions are improving. Tuesday a diver and Bruce’s Legacy were on the river conducting searches. They are also expecting more volunteers, and search groups to join the search efforts in the coming days. Wisconsin Dells Police Chief Nicholas Brinker says their goal remains to find Francesco, but they have to respect river conditions which are still high and fast moving.
DETAILS ON SEARCH FOR MISSING RIO WOMAN
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has released more details about the search for a missing Rio woman who was found deceased Monday night. Sally Epps was reported missing just before 6:30 pm. The 80-year-old woman had been missing for approximately five hours and was last seen gathering sticks on her property. Deputies responded to the area immediately and other resources including several fire departments, drones and the Wisconsin K9 SOS group. A Silver Alert was also issued. Unfortunately after two hours of searching, one of the search teams located Sally deceased in a wooded area. Foul play is not suspected.
DODGE COUNTY MAN ARRESTED ON DOMESTIC BATTERY AND DRUG CHARGES
While investigating a possible domestic disturbance in the Town of Portland last Sunday afternoon the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office discovered a clandestine laboratory used to make ecstasy. The County’s Drug Task Force secured a search warrant and asked for assistance from the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, which the Wisconsin Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation operates. Monday investigators executed the search warrant and recovered suspected illicit controlled substances, suspected drug paraphernalia, lab equipment, and hazardous materials from the residence. Forty-year-old Daniel Buretta of the Town of Portland was taken into custody. He’s facing domestic battery and drug trafficking-related charges. (Dodge County Sheriff’s Jail photo).
EFFORTS TO STOP DRUG TRAFFICKING CONTINUES
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office is applauding the continued work of deputies and their K9s to stop the flow of illegal narcotics in to and through the community. One such effort occurred when a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on U.S Highway 151 near Waupun in early March. During the stop Sheriff’s K9 Rip was deployed on the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert for illegal narcotics. The resulting search located 226 grams or nearly a half a pound of methamphetamine. During his initial court appearance, a $7,500 cash bond was set for the driver, a 30-year-old Fond du Lac man. He has since posted bond. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
WRNC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FUND
During Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Annual Meeting last week in Fond du Lac, a collaborative effort was announced between Waupun, Ripon, North Fond du Lac, and Campbellsport that will benefit small businesses in those communities. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is awarding the City of Ripon a $240,000 grant for the establishment of the WRNC Business Opportunity Fund. The state will make it official with a ceremony in Ripon next Wednesday morning. Envision CEO and President Sadie Howell says the money will establish a revolving loan fund that will loan entrepreneurs up to $10,000 for start-ups and businesses up to $25,000 for business expansions in those communities. Eighty percent of the money will be in the form of a loan and the remaining 20 percent a forgivable grant providing criteria is met along the way. Howell says much of the credit for the new program goes to Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag who did the work needed to get the grant from the WEDC. More information about the WRNC Business Opportunity Fund is available on the Envision website.
WRNC Opportunity Fund – Envision Greater Fond du Lac
MPTC AND FDL COUNTY ENTER MOU FOR JAIL ACADEMY
Moraine Park Technical College and Fond du Lac County have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding agreement, which allows MPTC to offer a correctional officer training academy. The program, called the Jail Academy, is a Department of Justice accredited 200-hour program offered to both current Fond du Lac County and surrounding County employees to gain certification as a correctional officer. Often, state-wide academies fill up fast, causing significant wait times for officers waiting to train. The newly developed Jail Academy partnership will fulfill the certification requirements while saving the County time and resources—allowing them to train their officers faster and more affordably. Additionally, the Jail Academy will be utilizing classroom and training space at the former UW-O Fond du Lac Campus Art Building, now renamed the Public Safety Training Center, located within the newly created Fond du Lac County Campus. As part of the partnership, Fond du Lac County is providing the learning spaces, and Moraine Park will provide the curriculum and instructors. MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald says the program and partnership opportunity are being met with much excitement and optimism at Moraine Park.
FAKE TOLL TEXTS
The state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has issued several consumer alerts about a fake toll text scam. Michelle Reinen is the state’s Administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. She says the texts look legitimate and threaten costly penalties or law enforcement action if the overdue toll isn’t paid up. It looks likes it is from E-Z Pass, Wisconsin DOT, or other states that have toll systems. She says you may be tempted to click on a link included in the text but don’t do it because they are trying to get you to pay for fake tolls so they can get your financial information. Reinen suggests checking directly with the tolling agency if you’re not sure, but if you’re sure it’s a scam report it and delete the text.
ALICE IN DAIRYLAND TALKS ABOUT AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Wisconsin’s 77th Alice in Dairyland has been traveling the state the past nine months promoting the importance of dairy and agriculture. With Earth Day approaching next Tuesday, Halei Heinzel’s latest educational effort is about the sustainability practices of the state’s farmers. She notes cows are natural recyclers and their diets consist of foods we consider waste yet cows turn into milk. She also points out today’s farms are moving toward no-till or reduced tillage practices to reduce or eliminate soil erosion and keep soil healthy. Crops are also rotated. The Oconomowoc native also says water conservation is an important practice and Dairy farmers reuse water at least 4 times, throughout the farm. Water is recycled by using it for chilling the actual milk produced to drinking water for cows, to cleaning of stalls and irrigation of crops. Wisconsin is also home to more than 28 dairy farmer-led watershed groups that protect hundreds of thousands of acres of land and water by building soil health and improving water quality.
RHS AD ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
The Ripon High School Athletic Department is hosting its 25th Annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 25th at the Golf Courses of Lawsonia-The Woods. The event is a four-player scramble with a 10 am shotgun start. Each player’s entry fee includes 18 holes of golf and a cart, a buffet meal after the event at Lawsonia, door prizes, and awards. Online registration is available. Registration forms are also available at the Ripon High School office. All proceeds from the event support the Ripon High School athletic department. Athletic Director Vincent Proposon shared, “Our golf outing fundraiser isn’t just about the game: it’s about rallying our community together to empower our student-athletes. Participation fuels their dreams and aspirations. We invite anyone interested to join us and swing for success!”
Ripon High School Athletic Golf Outing 2025
TOWN SQUARE HOSTING VOLUNTEER FAIR
Green Lake is home to a remarkable number of nonprofit organizations-each dedicated to improving lives, protecting natural resources, and strengthening the community. On Friday, May 23rd, Town Square Community Center in Green Lake will bring them all together under one roof for the Community Volunteer Fair. Hours for the Volunteer Fair will be from 3 to 5 pm that day at Town Square. The free event offers attendees a chance to explore a wide range of volunteer opportunities suited to all interests, skills and schedules. Whether you’re passionate about the arts, education, health, or environmental causes, there’s a place for you to get involved and make a meaningful impact. The fair will feature information booths from numerous local nonprofits, sharing information about their missions, current projects and ways to get involved. Light refreshments will be provided.
Share |