4/9/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
9 April 2025 News
HOUSE FIRE IN IRON RIDGE
Iron Ridge, Hustisford, and Neosho fire departments and Iron Ridge First Responders responded to a house fire on Highland Avenue in the Village of Iron Ridge Tuesday afternoon at 4:29 pm. All the occupants and a pet made it safely out of the home. When fire crews arrived smoke was coming from the roofline on all sides of the home and fire was showing from the exterior and roofline. Some of the ceiling had to be removed to extinguish extension of the fire into the attic space and roofline. Mayville EMS transported one person to a local hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation. The American Red Cross is aiding the four adults and one juvenile displaced by the fire. They were provided free lodging at the Iron Ridge Inn Motel. A likely cause and origin were determined. Iron Ridge Fire Department officials remind residents to properly dispose of smoking materials. Nine fire departments responded to the fire, Mayville and Horicon EMS, Iron Ridge Police, and Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies.
OSHKOSH POLICE EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANT IN DRUG INVESTIGATION
Officials at Emmeline Cook Elementary School in Oshkosh were notified before Oshkosh Police executed a search warrant in the neighborhood Tuesday. The Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit-Criminal Investigation Division executed the warrant at a residence in the neighborhood that was the target of an ongoing drug investigation. Police say they continue to work diligently to investigate crimes of this nature. They also say they will not tolerate the distribution, sale, or possession of illegal narcotics in the city. No details were given on what may have been seized during the execution of the search warrant or if any arrests were made.
JOHNSONVILLE BRATWURST RECALL
Johnsonville is recalling approximately 22,672 pounds of cheddar bratwurst that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically hard plastic. According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service the cheddar bratwurst was produced on February 5th. Subject to recall are 19 ounce sealed firm tray packages containing five pieces of “Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR Bratwurst” and the package code B9FOD. The product bears establishment number “Est. 1647” on the front of the label. The items were shipped to retail locations in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. The problem was discovered after the firm notified Food and Safety Inspection Service that it had received two consumer complaints reporting hard plastic material found in the bratwurst product. There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of these products. If you purchased the recalled product you are advised to return it to the place of purchase or throw it away.
RIPON CITY COUNCIL NOTES
The Ripon Common Council last night authorized the Ripon Public Library Renovation project. First they were given an overview of the improvements that will be made for the $2.5 million or more project. Some of those improvements will include parking lot upgrades, drainage improvement, an outdoor reading area, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC upgrades, all new lighting, upgrades to the bathrooms and kitchenette, a reconfiguring of the first floor, and more. According to terms of the nearly $2 million state grant for the project construction has to begin by July 1st. Bids will be let and have to be approved. The Council also approved creation of Tax Incremental District 16 which will be an overlay of TID 7. It will aid in the development of a 64-unit apartment complex and other development of that area. The Plan Commission had already held a public hearing on the new TID. Currently the land value of the new TID is $1.3 million, but over time with development that value could increase to $16 million.
TORNADO AND SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK
It’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin, a time when drills are staged and emergency plans should be put into practice. Each year the state averages 23 tornadoes, but last year there were 45 the third highest number of documented tornadoes. Fond du Lac County saw five tornado warnings issued in a single day in May. County Emergency Management Director John Ross says that’s the most he can remember in a single day. He says the first thing you should know is the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning. A watch is usually issued for a 4 to 6 hour period for a large geographic area and means the probability of tornadoes exists and you should prepare for one. A Tornado Warning is used more site specific and for about a 30 to 45 minute period. If one is issued it is time to take shelter. There will be two statewide Tornado drills on Thursday at 1:45 and 6:45 pm. On the radio it will sound like the weekly emergency testing. Outdoor sirens will be sounded in Fond du Lac County as well.
Wisconsin Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 7-11, 2025 | Wisconsin Emergency Management
WAUPUN MAYOR STICKS UP FOR PRISON AND ITS EMPLOYEES
Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop says the fact that Waupun Correctional Institution will remain open following last year’s talk about closing it is a big win for the city. He notes it is the city’s biggest employer and as the oldest continually operating prison in the state part of the city’s history and heritage. When charges were brought against the warden and some prison employees last summer in the wake of four inmate deaths there was talk of closing it. That talk resurfaced before the Governor’s Budget proposal. Bishop who writes a regular column stuck up for the prison and its employees when few were and it didn’t go unnoticed. The Governor’s proposal was to close Green Bay Correctional but renovate and remodel Waupun Correctional. Bishop considers that a victory for WCI, prison employees, and the city. He says inadvertently he has also become a source for media questions about the prison, which is one of three in Waupun.
TOWN SQUARE ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP
Town Square Community Center in Green Lake has announced a new partnership with Art MidWisconsin, a celebrated regional collective of working artists and educators. Together, the two organizations will bring a diverse and exciting lineup of art workshops, lectures, and hands-on experiences to Green Lake this summer, all hosted at Town Square Community Center. There will be a robust lineup of 18 different programs designed to engage artists and art-lovers at every level. The offerings are organized into three different categories: Foundational Artist Workshops for beginners and intermediates. Premiere Artist Workshops for practicing artists, and the Summer Evenings Art Lecture Series for the curious and creatively inclined. Programming begins in early May and runs through September, with the potential for expanded offerings in the future.
Art Midwisconsin Programs | Town Square Community Center
MURRAY PARK TRAIL BUNNY HOP THIS SATURDAY
Children ages 2 to 10 years old can hop into spring with the Murray Park Trail Bunny Hop this Saturday from 10 am to 11:30 pm at Murray Park in Ripon. The Ripon Parks and Recreation Department and Ripon Early Bird Kiwanis are partnering on the fun event. It will start with an Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Ripon Early Bird Kiwanis at 10 am. Each age group will be assigned to one of the four different baseball diamonds for the hunt. Joan Karsten of the Kiwanis says they have plenty of eggs for the hunt with candy hidden inside. Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says after the hunt children can hop along the Murray Park Trail to visit booths and collect additional goodies for their baskets. The Easter Bunny will be there along with other mascots including Rally the Ripon Red Hawk, the Ripon High School Tiger, Webbie, Rooty the Bear, and Olaf from Frozen. Details on parking can be found on the Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
TRACY LAWRENCE TO PERFORM AT THE FDL COUNTY FAIR
The Fond du Lac County Fair Board Tuesday announced the third and final Grandstand Entertainment Act for this July’s Fond du Lac County Fair. Veteran Country Music star Tracy Lawrence will be performing on Saturday, July 19th at 8 pm. Lawrence debuted in 1991 with the hit song ‘Sticks and Stones.’ Tickets are available now at the Fair’s website. The Fair Board had previously announced that Country star Dylan Scott will perform on Thursday, July 17th and Rock star Bret Michaels will perform on Friday, July 18th. The Fair is Wednesday through Sunday, July 16th through the 20th at the Fairgrounds in Fond du Lac.
LAKELAND CARE OPENS MADISON OFFICE
Lakeland Care is excited to announce the opening of a new office in Madison, Wisconsin. The office will support the organization’s expanded service area, which includes nine additional counties: Adams, Waushara, Marquette, Green Lake, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Jefferson, and Rock. The new Madison location will help Lakeland Care serve residents in central and southeastern Wisconsin, providing vital support for elders and adults with disabilities through the Family Care program. Lakeland Care, headquartered in Fond du Lac, is a leading provider of long-term care services through Wisconsin’s Family Care program.
LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION RETURNING TO AIRVENTURE
The Lockheed Constellation, regarded as one of the most beautiful airliner designs ever created, will return to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer for display through the entire week. The aircraft a C-121A model that is part of the Rod Lewis collection, is owned and maintained by the Air Legends Foundation of San Antonio, Texas, and is in military markings that reflects its time as a military transport. The airplane, named Bataan, will be displayed on AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza showcase ramp during the week. The annual EAA AirVenture fly-in convention is July 21st through the 27th at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
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