4/3/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
3 April 2025 News
FDL MAN CHARGED FOR DEATH OF MOTORCYCLIST
Second degree reckless homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety charges have been brought against a 67-year-old Fond du Lac man that police suspect intentionally swerved his vehicle into the path of a motorcyclist last Friday night. Bond was set at $100,000 cash for Mark Snider during his initial court appearance yesterday. Twenty-six-year-old Elijah “Eli” Sowin died of his injuries at a hospital after his motorcycle crashed into the driver’s side of Snider’s vehicle. Fond du Lac Police Chief Aaron Goldstein says, “This was not an accident, but a deliberate and dangerous act that led directly to the death of a young man from our greater Fond du Lac community.” Charges against Snider are based on evidence collected at the scene and witness statements. The investigation is ongoing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Snider next Thursday. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
RIPON VOTING
Fifty-four percent of registered voters in Ripon cast their ballots in the Spring Election Tuesday. The city’s voters differed a little on statewide offices favoring challenger Brittany Kinser over incumbent and eventual State Schools Superintendent winner Jill Underly 1190 votes to 1174 votes. They did however side with Dane County Judge Susan Crawford in the State Supreme Court race with 1325 voting for her and 1179 voting for Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel. They also reflected statewide voting on the Voter Photo ID referendum with 1906 voting in favor and 1216 against. In the Ripon School Board race Ripon city voters cast 1420 votes for Chris Gatzke, 1239 for Stephanie Meeker, 1221 for Jessica Stollfuss, and 1160 for Kelly Nielsen. Gatzke, Meeker and Stollfuss were elected to the school board.
OASD REFERENDUM APPROVED
Voters in the Oshkosh Area School District approved a $197.8 million facilities referendum Tuesday. Unofficial results were 13,958 yes votes to 13, 487 no votes. District Superintendent Bryan Davis says they are incredibly grateful to the community for the support. He added, “This investment will provide our students with safe and effective learning spaces while maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility.” The approved referendum represents Phase 2 of the district’s long-term facilities plan, developed through extensive community engagement since 2017.
COLUMBIA COUNTY CHASE AND ARREST
Columbia County Sheriff’s officials say a high-speed pursuit that began on US Highway 151 southbound in the City of Columbus early Monday morning concluded after the suspect’s vehicle ran into an occupied vehicle in Dane County. The suspect, 32-year-old Olyvia Couillard of Milwaukee, took off on foot but was quickly taken into custody. Sun Prairie EMS treated the occupants of the vehicle she crashed into for minor injuries. Her vehicle ran over a tire deflation device during the pursuit flattening three of her tires. She showed signs of drug impairment. Fentanyl and drug paraphernalia were recovered from her vehicle. She was taken to the Columbia County Jail. Couillard made her initial appearance in Columbia County Court yesterday on two felony and three misdemeanor charges. Bond was set at $10,000 cash and a pre-trial conference is scheduled next Wednesday. She was also wanted on 2 warrants from Dane County, and one each from Jefferson and Columbia County. The pursuit on US Highway 151 started out as an equipment violation. (Columbia County Jail photo).
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN ON TARIFFS
Congressman Glenn Grothman feels we will come out of the tariffs President Trump is imposing on foreign imports okay if he keeps it to reciprocal tariffs. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says prices will be going up on goods while we adjust. He says it is a new sort of tax and goods made abroad will be more expensive as a result. Congressman Grothman believes there are other countries imposing much higher tariffs on U.S. goods than we impose on theirs so the new tariffs could level the field and could lead to fairer trade. He says history has taught us though that trade wars did lead to things like the Great Depression and global wars as well.
RIPON SCIENCE TEACHER BRAD ROOST HONORED
The National Science Teaching Association has honored Brad Roost, a Science Teacher in the Ripon Area School District, with its 2025 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers. The award provides selected K-12 teachers in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the Association’s National Conference on Science Education. Award recipients will be mentored, tracked, and provided with continuing opportunities for meaningful involvement with the association and its activities. Roost credits his 20 plus years in chemistry and biology, along with the experience of raising two amazing children, for shaping his approach to teaching. Roost received $1,000 to attend the national conference. Last Friday awardees were honored during a special evening celebration in Philadelphia.
WAUPUN FLOODING SOLUTIONS
Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop says the city is monitoring the Rock River for possible flooding this spring. With rain, snow, and sleet Wednesday it was at the top of its banks. Bishop says they do experience some small flooding each spring, but nothing like what happened last June when the city got about 6 inches of rain over 24 hours. In an effort to avoid future flooding they’ve spent about $50,000 on various studies. He says some of those looked at adding bigger stormwater pipes and examining the wastewater infrastructure for possible leakage. He says water shouldn’t being seeping to the wastewater plant the way it did last June. The Mayor says they are trying to being proactive but there isn’t much they can do about “Act of God” or “100 year” flooding.
OSHKOSH FIRE CHIEF
Oshkosh Common Councilman Jacob Floam was among those who attended a meet and greet this week for the five finalists for the City’s Fire Chief position. Two of the candidates are internal; all have years of experience in the fire and emergency services field. Floam says while protecting residents’ property and lives from fire is important the department is getting more EMS calls every year. Oshkosh Fire Chief Mike Stanley left at the end of January. Floam says Assistant Fire Chief Gregory Stelter moved up to the Interim Chief position for the time being, but they have other vacancies to fill in the chain of command as well.
OSHKOSH PUBLIC MEETING CALENDAR
The city of Oshkosh has launched a new “Public Meeting Calendar” on its website. The enhancement to the website displays all public meetings on a single calendar, and is able to be viewed in a monthly or weekly viewing format. The calendar is also formatted for viewing on mobile devices. The meetings that will be listed in the calendar include a range of boards, committees and commissions, as well as workshop meetings, bid openings and public information meetings. Meeting minutes will be linked when published, and a Zoom link will be posted if virtual participation is available.
oshkoshwi.gov/PublicMeetingCalendar/
WAUPUN UTILITIES RECOGNIZED
Waupun Utilities has earned the ‘Diamond’ Reliable Public Power Provider designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric services. The designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Waupun Utilities joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold the designation. To earn the Diamond designation, a utility must score between 98 percent and 100 percent in these four areas.
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