5/16/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
16 May 2025 News
WEATHER SPOTTERS
Three firefighters from the Ripon Area Fire District used the parking lot on Radio Road in Ripon for The WAVE (93.1FM and AM 1600) and The Bug (102.3 FM) to act as Weather Spotters during last night’s storms. You can see the skies for miles from the parking lot.
LOW SPEED PURSUIT IN DODGE COUNTY
Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies took a 37-year-old Milwaukee man into custody following a low-speed chase Thursday afternoon near Lomira. Deputies were alerted through a flock camera hit to a vehicle being operated by the man who was reported missing from Milwaukee. They later learned he was also wanted on a misdemeanor warrant, out of Milwaukee, and there was evidence of previous mental health issues tied to criminal behavior. About 15 minutes later a sheriff’s lieutenant located the vehicle and attempted to stop it. A low speed pursuit ensued covering about 2 miles on Interstate 41. The driver called 911 during the pursuit and said he would be pulling into a gas station. He did drive into the Kountry Korners gas station in Lomira and surrendered to deputies. Misdemeanor charges for failing to immediately stop for law enforcement are being referred to the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office. Speeds during the pursuit were well below posted speed limits.
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL NOTES
The Ripon Common Council this week approved short term borrowing of $8 million from Horicon Bank at an interest rate of 4.75 percent. The loan will have a maturity date of November 8th of 2026. The money will help with costs for three different projects including $5 million for the new Public Works facility, $2 million for the Hamburg-Hennie Street reconstruction, and $1 million for TID District 16. The city is getting a $1 million Community Development Block Grant from the state for the Hamburg-Hennie Project. For the SCS Apartment Development in TID #16 an Alliant Energy power line will have to be relocated. The Common Council approved Alliant’s estimate of more than $188,000 to proceed with the easement and relocation work. The Council also approved permanent implementation of summer hours for City Hall from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Those hours will be 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and 7:30 am to 2 pm on Fridays.
RIPON GUARDIAN AMBULANCE CONSOLIDATION
Ripon Guardian Ambulance EMS Chief Mitch Matuszeski says there is still a lot of information that has to be gathered before the city can consider consolidating the fire and EMS services. Public Administration Associates presented the findings of a 76-page study to the Common Council last month recommending the city move forward with consolidation. Matuszeski says 15 years ago the ambulance service was handling 700 calls a year, now that number has increased to 1,800 calls a year and it keeps going up. He notes they are looking at a 15 to 20 percent increase in call volume every year. In addition to the City of Ripon, Ripon Guardian Ambulance’s coverage area includes all or parts of a number of townships amounting to about 197 square miles. Matuszeski says whether or not they go forward with consolidation he will be requesting funding for two additional full-time EMTS in 2026.
GARAGE SALE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Getting a good bargain at a Garage or Yard Sale maybe a priority but an official with the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says safety should also be near the top of your list. Michelle Reinen is the Administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. She recommends examining things before you buy them, especially if they have an electrical cord. It could be a hazard if the cord is loose or frayed. She says children don’t see things we see as adults such as sharp edges or loose batteries. She says for toys bring a toilet paper tube with you and if parts fall through it a child could choke on those loose parts. Reinen suggests checking battery compartments for signs of corrosion and testing appliances and electronics on-site before buying, if possible. She says make sure you check before you buy on whether an item has been subject to recall. Items like children’s toys, cribs, gates, play pens, baby bouncers and swings, and baby walkers all have seen possible recalls. You can check for possible recalls on your smart device at Safer Products.gov.
LOTS OF TRAVELERS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
AAA predicts nearly 839,000 Wisconsinites will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period. That’s an increase of almost 23,000 compared to last year. The record high was in 2005 when more than 867,000 Wisconsinites traveled over the weekend. Nationwide, AAA expects more than 45.1 million to travel for Memorial Day weekends. That’s 1.4 million more domestic travelers than last year. It’s also a new Memorial Day weekend record, surpassing the previous record set back in 2005 with 44 million people. The Memorial Day travel period is considered to be from next Thursday morning to the evening of Monday, May 26th.
KIDS TO PARK DAYS
Ripon’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Ripon Public Library, and the Fond du Lac County United Way are partnering for the annual Kids to Parks Day tomorrow at Murray Park in Ripon. It will runs from 10 to 11:30 am. There is no cost to attend. Ripon Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says there will be activities for the kiddos to enjoy. There will be a story walk, planting of sunflower seeds, yard games, and other activities allowing kids to get outside and enjoy the day. Other Fond du Lac County communities holding Kids to Park Day Saturday include Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac, Columbus Park in Campbellsport, and Village Park in North Fond du Lac. Hours for those three events are from 10 am to Noon.
ATV/UTV SAFETY COURSES
As summer approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourages all ATV/UTV riders to complete an ATV safety certification course before they hit the trails. Wisconsin law requires ATV and UTV operators, born on or after January 1st, 1988, who are at least 12 years old to take a DNR-approved safety certification course to operate in the state. The safety courses can be taken online or in person and are the first step in preventing crashes. A list of approved safety education classes is available on the DNR Safety Education webpage. In 2024 alone, 40 people died in ATV/UTV crashes in Wisconsin, and most of them were not wearing helmets. Simple steps can prevent fatalities, highlighting the importance of a safety course.
Safety Education | Sign up for a safety education course | Wisconsin DNR
GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS
Governor Tony Evers Thursday recognized local volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers who have gone beyond the call of duty to help out fellow Wisconsinites. The 2025 Governor’s Service Awards were presented at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. This year 12 individuals and one organization from throughout the state were honored for their outstanding volunteerism and service. Additionally, 33 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers were honored for achieving the remarkable milestone of 20 years of service to their fellow Wisconsinites. Harriet Edwards of the ADVOCAP Foster Grandparent Program in Fond du Lac was honored with an AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer Award. She was also recognized for 20 years of service to that program.
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