Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 7/17/20
17 July 2020 News
Student Groups Wanted More Notice Of Pence Ripon College Visit
Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Ripon College today caught a few people off guard including student groups. As Student Body President and President of College Republicans, Luke Dretske was aware of the visit. He says Ripon College President Zach Messitte got the request Monday, and it was approved Tuesday, Wednesday Messitte announced Pence’s appearance. Dretske says student groups supporting or opposing the Trump campaign both would have liked a little more notice about Pence’s visit. “It’s been overwhelming both some student bodies on both the left and right are all freaking out. People on the right want to see if they can get there, the people on the left are arguing that they didn’t get enough notice to go protest it.” Pence’s appearance isn’t open to the general public and was scheduled for around 11:30 in the morning.
Ripon City Administrator Search
Ripon’s Common Council this week approved a Request for Proposals or RFP to put out feelers for an executive search firm that could assist the city in the search for the City’s next administrator. Council President Al Schraeder put together the draft for the RFP. He informed the Council that once it is published search firms and possible candidates will be aware of the opening. Current City Administrator Lori Rich will be retiring next April. The new administrator would start on March 15th. No money was spent putting out the RFP, but search firms responding to the RFP would be seeking payment for their services.
Foot Chase Leads To Drug Arrest
A 23-year-old Mazomanie man is facing drug charges in Columbia County after leading Sheriff’s detectives and police on a foot chase in Portage Wednesday. Trenton Lilly was caught in the 500 block of East Cook Street and had 28 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia on him. He was seen leaving a known drug area and when a detective tried to stop him for questioning took off on foot. He was taken to the County Jail and faces possible drug possession and trafficking, resisting, felon in possession of a concealed knife, and felony bail jumping charges. He also violated parole.
Waupun Ordinance Expands Outdoor Serving Opportunities For Bars And Restaurants
The Waupun Common Council this week approved an ordinance, which will allow restaurants and bars to expand their outdoor seating area. Specifically it allows the consumption of alcohol in outdoors areas that would be considered part of the licensed premises. In the short term it would help establishments struggling to make a living during the pandemic operate at a greater capacity. In the long-term sidewalks cafes and beer gardens would be an asset to the community providing more enjoyment of the city’s public spaces.
Virtual Learning Concerns
A member of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says while virtual schooling will be used to help reduce class sizes when school is back in session it doesn’t work for every student. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says his wife is a teacher who used virtual learning as a tool during the Safer at Home order. He says it works for a few students, but if you have a number of students learning that way it isn’t as effective. He says especially for younger students that in-person social-emotional component is more effective. “So much of what happens in early childhood in elementary school is the social interaction of how we treat each other and how you read peoples’ emotions and how you work together and how you work together to a common goal, many of the projects in school are common goals and common understanding and virtual doesn’t do that.”
Arts Grant Helps Green Lake Chamber
Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Beck says they recently learned the UW-Oshkosh Foundation had awarded the chamber an arts grant. “We’re excited for that they wanted to continue to support the community and the Arts and we were awarded a grant. So that is really wonderful news for us.” She says with the pandemic the Chamber like a lot of business-related entities has been struggling a bit. Typically the Chamber holds fundraisers that help bolster their revenues, but they have been unable to do so because of the COVID-19 threat.
Social Security Scam
Markesan Police are warning residents about a variation of the Social Security Scam that is making the rounds. In the latest version the caller advises you that your Social Security number and assets are going to be frozen if you don’t take immediate steps. The call is usually automated and instructs you to push a specific number for assistance. Police say the Social Security Administration would never call you about your account and this is a scam in which the caller is trying to get personal information out of you for their own benefit.
Smart911 Available In Dodge County
Dodge County authorities are encouraging residents to sign up for a free service that provides emergency responders with more information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety officials in Dodge County this week announced that Smart911 is now available. The service allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to those who take 911 calls during an emergency. Smart911 creates a safety profile for households online. In addition there is a Smart911 App available through the Apple Store and Google Play. With Smart911, individuals can link both home and work addresses to mobile phones, which can be passed on to responders in the field for a more detailed, rapid response.
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