5/15/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
15 May 2025 News
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES REMEDIATION WORK ON TAX DELINQUENT PROPERTY
The Ripon Common Council Tuesday night approved a bid from 920 Restoration to demolish and clean up the first floor of a tax delinquent property at 112 Watson Street. The building has long been in disrepair, is full of black mold and the roof needs to be repaired. Fond du Lac County has held off on taking over ownership of the property that owes $25,000 to $27,000 in back taxes because of the environmental issues and a private lien on it. Because of the black mold it is unsafe to demolish the building because it could affect adjacent properties. The city put out a request for proposals to demolish and clean up the first floor. Four firms responded to the RFP with 920 Restoration putting in a low bid of $16,300. City Attorney Lud Wurtz says the city is doing the repair order in the interest of public safety.
OSHKOSH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
The 2025 Oshkosh State of the City video presentation premiered on the Oshkosh Media YouTube channel, as well as on Oshkosh Media Gov TV yesterday. City Manager Rebecca Grill delivered the State of the City Address which is once again presented in a video format to increase its accessibility to members of the community. City Manager Grill provided an overview of recent work that has been accomplished in Oshkosh while highlighting the Strategic Plan that guides daily city operations. The presentation also includes an overview of 2025 capital improvements, city facility improvements, economic development projects, and the future outlook for the city. The video can be viewed on demand on the Oshkosh Media YouTube channel.
Oshkosh State of the City 2025
STATE HWY 22 MEETING IN WILD ROSE
The state’s Department of Transportation is holding a public involvement meeting to discuss proposed options for State Highway 22 near Wild Rose in Waupaca County. The meeting is next Tuesday at 5 pm at the village of Wild Rose Community Center in Wild Rose. A presentation will begin at 5:30 pm followed by an open house with exhibits available for viewing. The proposed project is to replace the asphalt pavement, widen the paved shoulders, replace culverts and replace guardrail.
FDL COUNTY JAIL UPDATE
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Jim Borgen is playing a vital role in the County’s decision on whether or not to build a new jail. He is the County’s Jail Administrator. Borgen has been working for three years with the firm helping the County through the process. One of the options is to renovate the current jail, but Borgen says parts of the jail are more than 70 years old and the soil underneath the jail isn’t supporting its weight very well. He says there aren’t locks on some of the doors, parts of the building are sinking, there are cracks in the walls and the floor is sinking. He says overall the layout and design isn’t good for a correctional setting. He trusts that ultimately County Board supervisors will make the right decision and has given many of them tours of the jail. Borgen also notes the state recently inspected the jail and it isn’t up to code in a lot of areas, but the inspector knows the County is trying to do something about it.
GROTHMAN BILL WOULD AID IN REOPENING ALCATRAZ
Congressman Glenn Grothman has reintroduced legislation which will alleviate staffing shortages at Bureau of Prisons facilities across the country by cutting bureaucratic red tape to enhance the safety and security of bureau personnel. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah points out President Donald Trump’s recent call to reopen Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to house America’s most violent criminals highlights the growing national concern that the prison system is overwhelmed and under-resourced. The legislation has the backing of five cosponsors, as well as the Council of Prison Locals C-33, the largest union for Bureau of Prisons employees nationwide. Congressman Grothman says, “One of the main hurdles in President Trump’s efforts to reopen Alcatraz will be the ability to quickly hire Correctional Officers.” He says that is why Congress needs to quickly pass this legislation.
SAMARITAN CASH RAFFLE WINNER
Nikki Murray, a former Fond du Lac and current California resident, is the grand prize winner of the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation’s Samaritan Cash Raffle winning the top prize of $50,000. The SSM Health Samaritan Clinic provides health care to around 500 underinsured patients annually. The clinic provides a full spectrum of care, helping individuals to navigate insurance options, finding a primary care provider and working with local community resources if other needs arise. This year celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the Samaritan Clinic. The clinic is funded in part by donations through the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation and Samaritan Cash Raffle proceeds. More than 4,500 tickets were sold in this year’s raffle, surpassing last year’s total, with the cash raffle raising approximately $118,000. A full list of the cash raffle winners can be found at the SSM Health.com website.
Cash raffle winners | SSM Health
In the Photo: Mason Gravelle (right), Agnesian HealthCare Foundation’s philanthropy development manager, Wisconsin Region, presents a check to the SSM Health Samaritan Clinic team thanks to proceeds from the 2025 Agnesian HealthCare Foundation’s Samaritan Cash Raffle.
FARMERS MARKET PROGRAM
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says those who qualify for the Women, Infants, and Children or WIC program can also benefit from the Farmer’s Market Program. Through the program eligible participants receiving WIC funding receive vouchers to purchase fresh fruit and produce at farmers markets. She says it provides local food to local families. She says in turn it also benefits farmers and downtown businesses because most farmers markets are held near downtown businesses. Mueller says to find out if you qualify for WIC and the Farmers Market Program give the Health Department a call at 920-929-3085 and they will route you to the right department.
PARK SIGN PROJECT
A Ripon High School sophomore is helping Ripon’s Parks and Recreation Department by creating 10 new signs for the City’s seven parks. Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says the signs being created by Quinn Parafiniuk will replace the old brown and yellow signs. Zeien says the city is supplying the materials, but it will still be much cheaper than if they went through a business to do it. She notes they will be made of a durable type of plastic and Quinn is using a CNC router to cut the signs. Zeien originally got the ball rolling on the project by asking Ripon High School Principal Bill Kinziger in March of last year for assistance with the new signage. He referred her to Jon Potratz the technology education teacher. Quinn is a student in the technology education program. Zeien says in addition to the experience he gains from the project, Quinn can be proud that he is playing a role in revitalizing the City’s parks.
AGRI-BUSINESS COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIPS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agri-Business Council has selected the winners of the 2025 Fond du Lac Agri-Business Council Scholarship and the Fond du Lac Area Foundation Harold Reinecke Scholarship. The Council’s Scholarship is available to individuals from the Fond du Lac County area pursuing post-secondary training at a university, trade school, technical college, UW-Short Course, etc. in the fields of agriculture or agri-business. The Harold Reinecke Scholarship honors the long-time county extension agent by establishing this scholarship to aid young people preparing for careers in agriculture. The Agri-Business Council Scholarship winners are Maya Wiltzius of Fond du Lac, Neil Venhuizen of Waupun, McKinley Krueger of Campbellsport, and Morgan Yahr of Campbellsport. Neil Venhuizen also won the Harold Reinecke Scholarship.
GALA A GALLOPING SUCCESS
The third annual Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation Gala galloped past all expectations on May 2nd. The event raised an impressive $131,500 for district adapted sports, athletics, and competitive co-curriculars. Held at The Waters, the Kentucky Derby-inspired event brought together more than 110 community members for a night of celebration, friendly competition, and generous giving. Education Foundation Director Theresa Duren says, “When we invest in student activities and experiences, we are not just funding programs we are creating pathways for confidence, teamwork, and lifelong success that transform students’ lives.”
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