5/21/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
21 May 2025 News
GREEN LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICIALS URGE DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN
Green Lake County Sheriff’s deputies issued a number of speeding citations this past weekend. It may have been in conjunction with an event held in the Wisconsin Dells area. Multiple citations were issued for 25 miles an hour or more over the speed limit. Sheriff’s officials say their goal is to keep the community safe and they consistently issue more warnings than citations every year. Drivers should be aware that the Click it or Ticket seatbelt enforcement effort is also underway and runs through Sunday, June 1st. (Green Lake County Sheriff’s photo).
DODGE COUNTY TORNADO COUNT UP TO SIX
That National Weather Service has now confirmed that six tornadoes touched down in Dodge County during last Thursday night’s storms. A sixth, an EF-1, was on the ground for about 2.1 miles just north of Theresa. There were two EF-2s in Mayville and Juneau and three EF-1s in Lomira. There was also an EF-O tornado in the Sauk County village of Rock Springs and a tornado with an unknown rating in Portage. Although it was seen that tornado caused no visible damage. Officials at the National Weather Service say last week’s storms produced 13 tornadoes, but that number could increase.
UWO FOX CITIES AGREEMENT TERMINATED
The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors last night unanimously passed a resolution that terminates an agreement made back in 1970. It will allow for the sale of the UWO-Fox Cities campus. In exchange for that the board is allowing the Weis Earth Science Museum to be relocated to the history at the castle museum in Appleton. The step was needed to allow Winnebago County to take over sole ownership of the property. The 1970 memorandum of agreement was originally made between Winnebago County, Outagamie County, and the University of Wisconsin. Ownership of the campus will be transferred at the end of the school year, which is June 30th.
STATE BUDGET DELAY
State legislative leaders are hoping the Governor will come to a meeting this week to discuss how much of a tax cut should be included in the two-year state budget. State Senator John Jagler says the holdup has been the latest revenue projections for the state and how much of a surplus legislators will be able to work with. Those numbers became available last Thursday. He says the state will actually have less to work with than what was expected. The state lawmaker from Watertown says if the Governor doesn’t meet with legislative leaders this week that means the legislature will have to work with its own estimate on tax cuts and the budget won’t be complete by the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. If that is the case the state government will continued to be funded at the same level as it was during the previous state budget.
WRNC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FUND
Applications are being accepted for the WRNC Business Opportunity Fund. The Fund was started with a $240,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and contributions from Waupun, Ripon, North Fond du Lac, and Campbellsport, hence the initials for the fund. Envision Greater Fond du Lac 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. She says the loans don’t have to be used for expansion per se; it could be for equipment needed for a new product line for example. Eighty percent of the money will be in the form of a loan and the remaining 20 percent a forgivable grant. More information about the fund is available on the Envision website or by calling Raina Lyman at Envision at 920-921-9500.
WRNC Opportunity Fund – Envision Greater Fond du Lac
NO MOW MAY
For the fourth straight year Ripon participated in the pollinator-friendly No Mow May. Police Chief Bill Wallner says it’s a program in which by city ordinance residents participating in the program can skip mowing their lawns for the month of May. During the first year of the program in 2022 188 Ripon residents applied for the program. Chief Wallner says you can’t skip mowing your yard if you did not apply for the program on the city’s website. He says clippings cannot be deposited into dumpsters or trash cans but need to be disposed of at the recycling center on Tuesdays and Saturdays on Old Berlin Road. He also urges residents not to blow those grass clippings out into the street where they would eventually end up in the gutters and wastewater disposal system. Ripon does have a tall grass and noxious weed ordinance.
No Mow May Registration – City of Ripon, Wisconsin
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DALLMAN INTRODUCES NEW BILL
State Representative Alex Dallman introduced a new bill this week in the State Assembly. The state lawmaker from Markesan says, “In today’s economy, many people are working second or even third jobs in order to make ends meet.” He says the bill allows Transportation Network Couriers and Delivery Network Couriers to offer certain incentives and benefits to drivers such as retirement accounts, health insurance, and occupational accident insurance. Drivers for companies like DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart enjoy the flexibility of working when, where, and for as long as they want in order to earn income. Unfortunately, they are not able to participate in certain benefits that a traditional full-time employee has, the bill fixes this. The bill was introduced Monday and referred to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and awaits a public hearing.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT AVAILABLE
The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin is accepting grant applications through June 15th. The winning grantee will be notified in September. Each year, the Community Foundation gives up to $50,000 to support one substantial project in the region. These major projects offer a chance to make a difference in the lives of people who call Portage and Waushara Counties home. This grant cycle is open to programs and projects in Portage and Waushara counties that align with the Foundation’s values and five mission areas. The Community Foundation will consider applications from public, charter, parochial schools, or government entities. Also eligible are established community groups wishing to complete a community project for the benefit of the general public of Portage or Waushara County. To learn more about grant opportunities and apply for this year’s awards, visit the Community Foundation website.
Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin
TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT RESCHEDULED
The Touch a Truck event hosted by SSM Health Treffert Studios in Fond du Lac has been rescheduled. Due to Tuesday’s inclement weather the event at the Fond du Lac County Skyport has been rescheduled for next Tuesday. Kids can explore a wide array of vehicles including fire trucks, police cars, airplanes, a power boat, tow truck and much more. There is no cost to attend. It’s sensory-friendly event. Hours for the event are from 4:30 to 6 pm.
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