Hometown Broadcasting News Monday 8/24/20
24 August 2020 News
Monticello Man Bound Over For Trial In Oshkosh Shootings
The 39-year-old Monticello man suspected of shooting his ex-girlfriend and killing her father in Oshkosh has been bound over for trial. Joshua Aide was in Winnebago County court last Thursday for a preliminary hearing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges which included first degree intentional homicide and two counts of attempted 1st degree intentional homicide for the shootings August 4th at a home in the 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue. Fifty-nine-year-old James Gruettner died at the scene. Gruettner’s daughter 33-year-old Rebecca Borkowski was shot in the ear and 57-year-old James Miller was shot in the face.
Former FDL Man Facing Reckless Homicide Charge
A former Fond du Lac man serving time in prison for causing a traumatic brain injury to a young girl in March of 2011 will now face a homicide charge for her subsequent death. Twenty-nine-year-old Thomas Abitz Jr will make his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County court today on first degree reckless homicide and felony bail jumping charges. The young girl lived with the consequences of that injury until June of 2017 when she died from what the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner said was pneumonia from chronic health problems created by the head injury. Abitz is currently doing time at Redgranite Correctional Institution.
FDL County Reimbursed For Contact Tracing
The Fond du Lac County Board this past week approved the acceptance of CARES Act funds from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for expenses related to COVID-19. Public Health Officer Kim Mueller told supervisors the $882,312 would be used for staffing for contact tracing for the pandemic. She says she did not believe they would be using it all. She noted last year they used 3 communicable disease nurses to do contact tracing. But have 14 in the health department who can do the contact tracing for the coronavirus and anticipate hiring at least six more.
Utility Disconnection Moratorium Extended
Thanks to the State’s Public Service Commission residential utility customers will see the moratorium on disconnecting service for nonpayment of bills extended until October 1st. The PSC recently voted 2 to1 last Thursday to stay part of its June 26th order, which allowed the moratorium to be lifted, but had exceptions for those households testing positive or quarantined because of COVID-19. The PSC also cited the continuing increase in numbers of cases of the pandemic in Wisconsin. The Commission plans to meet again on September 17th. At that time they will discuss if further modifications or extensions should be warranted.
COVID Vaccine Questions
A member of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says there are still a lot of unknowns about the coronavirus and its long-term impact on our health. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says for instance if you’ve had the virus how long will you be immune to it or if it is like the flu will you need booster shots when a vaccine becomes available. “Is it a year, is it six months which then impacts the way they build a vaccine so are we going to have to get boosters two or three times a year for a while? Because they simply don’t know this.” He says there is a lot of hope for what a vaccine can do and 62 percent of people in one survey said they would get the vaccine if it were available, but he believes we need more than that to get vaccinated.
Coronavirus Twist On The Grandparents Scam
The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office recently shared information from a Federal Trade Commission lawyer about a new twist to the Grandparents scam. Scammers pose as panicked grandchildren calling Grandparents saying they are sick in a hospital from the coronavirus or stuck in another country because of the pandemic and need money to get out. They call or send messages saying they need money wired to them right away. The FTC official recommends resisting the urge to send money and instead take time to verify the caller’s identity. Ask them a question a stranger couldn’t possibly know the answer to or check with family or a circle of friends to find out where that grandchild is. It’s recommended you don’t send cash, gift cards, or money transfers.
Absentee Ballots Reminder
Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson is reminding voters that photo ID is required in order to receive an absentee ballot through the mail. If voters are receiving postcards from political groups asking for a signature and mailing the postcard back to the municipal clerk, a photo ID must accompany the postcard. She says without photo ID Clerks cannot act on those postcards requesting an absentee ballot for the November 3rd election. Voters are encouraged to visit the myvote.wi.gov website to check their voter status, register to vote and or request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will be available on or about September 18th. In person absentee voting will begin no earlier than 14 days prior to the election.
Regional Approach To Economic Development
The Vice President of Economic Development for Envision Greater Fond du Lac says economic development benefits from a regional and collaborative approach. Jim Cleveland they are part of the New North which includes economic development organizations from across northeast Wisconsin. He says New North is a very important partner that brings them resources they otherwise would not have. He says they also learned from hosting site selectors how important a regional approach is. “We along with economic development organizations from Oshkosh, Appleton, and Green Bay hosted a group of site selectors to the market and what they told us is that regionalism is very important.” He says site selectors don’t just look at what is available in a market, but also the region. Cleveland also notes having regional partners allows you access to higher-level speakers for the conferences or events you are holding.
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