Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 7/10/20
10 July 2020 News
Sheboygan Falls Man Facing Fleeing Charge After Chase In Ripon
A 41-year-old Sheboygan Falls man is facing felony eluding and operating while intoxicated charges after a run in with Ripon Police on the 4th of July. Police got a call to a gas station on the west side about Ryan Carter who needed some assistance in getting gas for his vehicle. Carter believed the gas stations he had stopped at had water in their gas. According to the criminal complaint he told an officer he had taken methamphetamine and also said he was from a different planet in a different galaxy, but needed to get home to Sheboygan Falls. Carter eventually got into his vehicle and took off leading officers on a pursuit that was cut off shortly after they passed Silver Creek Road on Highway 23. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies took him into custody after he ran out of gas a short time later. During his initial hearing in Fond du Lac County Court Wednesday bond was set at $100 cash, which he posted. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 4th.
Berlin’s Loss Is Ripon’s Gain
(Ripon Police Department photo)
The Ripon Police Department this week gained an experienced new officer, while the Berlin Police Department lost one at the same time. Monday Ripon City Administrator Lori Rich swore in Officer Brad Kurczek who has 14 years of experience all of that with Berlin. Kurczek was a sergeant with the Berlin Police Department. They honored him before he left the department praising him for being “a pillar” in the department and thanking him and his family for his service.
PPP Loan Program Reopened
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says the federal government has reopened the application period for Payroll Protection Plan loans. The loans were meant to help out businesses hurt by the pandemic and its restrictions. He says it looks like they will be forgivable and any business that wants help on applying for the loan program should contact the chamber at 920-748-6764. “You know be aware of that if you have any questions or any concerns on how you need to do that as a business feel free to reach out to us at the chamber we will be happy to help you out and put you in touch with the people that will walk you through it.” The deadline for the Personal Protection Program loan applications is August 8th.
Mask Debate
The argument about how much protection face masks provide against COVID-19 has become political, but a member of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says he takes his cues from a doctor friend who is on the frontlines. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says she works in Oshkosh and has seen the devastating effects of the disease so she won’t enter a business or restaurant where employees aren’t required to wear masks. “Because she’s convinced and she is one of these people who that pick up people who are sick and dying of COVID and she is convinced that those businesses are sending a message that you are not important to us and were not wearing masks.” Puhlmann-Becker says it doesn’t hurt for businesses to ask employees to pick out a comfortable mask and wear it.
Free COVID 19 Testing Saturday In Watertown
The City of Watertown and Dodge County will be offering free Drive-Thru COVID-19 testing at the Watertown High School Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Appointments aren’t necessary, but are encouraged by calling 920-386-4304 or 920-262-8090. Testing is for any Wisconsin resident 5 years of age or older. A photo ID is not required, but you will be asked for your name, address, phone number, and date of birth. Information shared at the testing site will be protected.
Free Food Box Distributions Scheduled
Officials with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation say six more family drive-through food distributions are scheduled in Green Lake, Ripon and Berlin this month and next month. The Foundation administers the COVID-19 Green Lake Area Relief Fund which has been supporting local nonprofits focused on hunger relief and emergency assistance funding for residents experiencing economic hardship due to the coronavirus. Free food boxes will be distributed July 20th and August 3rd from 1 to 3 pm at the Green Lake County Fairgrounds in Green Lake, July 20th and August 3rd from 9 to 11 am at the Ripon High School in Ripon, and July 28th and August 11th from 11 am to 1 pm at the Clay Lamberton Elementary School in Berlin.
Christopher Columbus Statue
A statue of Christopher Columbus on Highway 16/60 and 151 has been temporarily placed in storage while Columbus city officials decide what to do with it. The Columbus Common Council decided that was the best thing to do with it while they address a petition to have it removed from that location. About a dozen people spoke on the issue during the public comment section of the meeting. The Council also discussed whether to put the issue before voters in the form of a referendum in November, but they would have to decide on its wording and whether the referendum would be advisory or binding. A decision will have to be reached before August 25th to get it on the ballot.
Ask The Astronauts
Recipients of the Experimental Aircraft Associations Ray Aviation Scholarships, which supply complete funding for flight training, will have a unique opportunity Tuesday as they will ask questions of the crew aboard the International Space Station. Up to 20 of the scholarship recipients will be able to submit questions via video to astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who will answer them in a live session on NASA TV and the NASA website. In will be broadcast at 12:10 pm Central Time. The Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund expanded to $1.2 million for candidates selected in 2020, giving more young people the opportunity to achieve their dreams of flight.
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