Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday 7/2/20
2 July 2020 News
COVID Threat
We’re heading into another holiday weekend with the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. soaring. Another 50,000 cases were reported Wednesday and experts are saying we could reach 100,000 a day if the trend does not reverse. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says Fond du Lac County’s Safe Restart dashboard trends toward the next phase of reopening safely, but it wouldn’t take many cases to jeopardize that. “It is a false sense of security that “Oh look we’re immune to this look at us look at our dashboard,” but we’re only a few cases away from it blowing up one person what did they say one person with COVID typically infects three more people.” He urges people to wear a protective face mask out in public and maintain the recommended six feet away from the next person.
Congressman Grothman On Pence Wisconsin Stop
Congressman Glenn Grothman says it was good to be able to spend some time with Vice President Mike Pence when he came through Wisconsin last week. “He spoke, I think it was Pewaukee, it was enjoyable just chit-chatting with the Vice President for a little bit before he gave his talk. Kellyanne Conway also gave a talk. It was very good.” The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says a lot of ministers and people of faith were invited to hear the Vice President speak. Grothman says the President has stepped up to look out for religious freedom at a time when Christianity and other religions are having problems. The stop in Pewaukee was Pence’s first stop on his “Faith in America” tour.
General School Aid Estimated
According to the state’s Department of Public Instruction the Ripon Area School District will be receiving over $800,000 more in General Aid during the 2020-21 academic year. The District will get over $12 million an increase of 7.3 percent. The Berlin Area School District will receive $11.2 million, which is an increase of about $100,000. The Wautoma Area School District should get $6.4 million a $11,000 increase. The Waupun School District will see a $1.1 million increase in aid to $14.8 million. The Oshkosh Area School District will get $4.1 million more for a total of $63.7 million in General Aid. Rosendale-Brandon will see a cut of just over $47,000 receiving just under $6.3 million in aid. Estimated School Aids for the new school year will total $4.9 billion across the state an increase of $163.5 million.
To see more click here.
Illegal Fireworks Reminder
Oshkosh Police are reminding residents to be careful handling fireworks and that some are illegal to possess. Fireworks that leave the ground or explode are illegal. This includes: firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, wheels, aerial salutes, among other types of fireworks that leave the ground and/or explode. Legal fireworks include sparklers not exceeding 3 feet in length and not containing magnesium, chlorate or perchlorate; snakes not containing mercury; and cylinder and/or cone fountains. Using or possessing illegal fireworks could result in a $232 fine.
Census Participation Rate Could Be Better
If you haven’t taken the 2020 Census yet an official with the Complete Count Committee of the Fond du Lac County encourages you to take it. Ellen Sorensen says the County is lagging behind 2010 in its rate of participation. This year it is at 74.6 percent and 10 years ago it finished at 77.4 percent. Ripon’s participation so far is 73.9 percent compared to 79 percent in 2010. Also falling behind the 2010 participation rate are Brandon at 70.8 percent, Eldorado at 80.2 percent, Fond du Lac at 71 percent, and Rosendale at 82.1 percent. Oakfield at 80.3 percent is well ahead of its 2010 participation rate of 60.9 percent. The Census can be completed online.
Brandon – 70.8% vs 76.8% (2010)
Campbellsport – 72.5% vs 71.4% (2010)
Eden – 63.0% vs 74.1% (2010)
Eldorado – 80.2% vs 81.5% (2010)
Fairwater – 63.7% vs 64.0% (2010)
Fond du Lac – 71.0% vs 78.8% (2010)
Friendship – 62.3% vs 39.9% (2010)
Kewaskum – 81.0% vs 76.8% (2010)
Marshfield – 77.7% vs 79.6% (2010)
Mount Calvary – 78.6% vs 81.3% (2010)
North Fond du Lac – 76.3% vs 78.6% (2010)
Oakfield – 80.3% vs 60.9% (2010)
Osceola – 72.7% vs 65.1% (2010)
Ripon – 73.9% vs 79.0% (2010)
Rosendale – 82.1% vs 85.3% (2010)
St. Cloud – 81.4% vs 85.4% (2010)
Taycheedah – 84.1% vs 82.1% (2010)
Waupun – 78.0% vs 77.8% (2010)
Smoke Free Anniversary
Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of Wisconsin’s Smoke-Free Law, a major milestone in Wisconsin’s Tobacco Control Movement. It has been 11 years that the City of Fond du Lac has been enjoying smoke-free air, because it passed a comprehensive smoke-free workplace policy a year prior to the state going smoke-free. According to the state’s Department of Health Service in 2008, before the smoke-free law passed nearly 21 percent of high school youth smoked cigarettes. By 2018, eight years after the law went into effect, that rate has dropped to 4.7 percent. Sandy Bernier is the Tobacco Prevention and Control Coordinator for the Fond du Lac County Health Department. She invites residents to celebrate by supporting their favorite restaurant.
Fireworks Displays
Ripon will be among the Wisconsin communities carrying on the tradition of 4th of July Fireworks displays Saturday. They will be launched from Murray Park at dusk. Ripon Police are asking residents to leave their dogs at home if they are going to the park. Dogs are not allowed in the park.
The City of Wautoma will also be holding a fireworks display at dusk Saturday evening. It will be at the Waushara County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are closed to the public, but parking will be available in the area including at Sandcrest Park, the Wautoma Dog Park, a city parking lot across from the fairgrounds.
RASD Summer Meal Program
There will be a change to the Ripon Area School District’s Free Summer Meals Program starting next Monday. Meal kits containing 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals will be packaged for once a week distribution or delivery. The first weekly distribution will take place on Monday. Distribution will be through curbside pick-up at Ripon Middle School. Staff members will be ready to hand out the food kits each Monday for the months of July and August from 7:30 to 11:30 am while supplies last. Kits are free to anyone 18 years old and younger. Children do not have to be district students. There is free delivery service for anyone that cannot pick-up curbside. To be added to list complete a delivery request form available on the district’s website.
Share |