Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday 11/25/20
25 November 2020 News
Ripon Common Council Tables Vote On Dispatch Center
Faced with a tough choice and two absent members the Ripon Common Council Monday night put off a vote on whether to retain the City’s Dispatch Center or transfer those functions to Fond du Lac County. The item was tabeled so more information could be gathered to answer questions brought up by Council members and raised through those speaking during the public comment section of meeting. Many EMS members spoke on behalf of keeping the dispatch center. Several Council members said they weren’t ready to vote yet on the issue and felt the decision was being rushed. The discussion got heated at one point requiring Mayor Ted Grant to bang his gavel to restore order to the meeting.
Ordinance Changes Pave The Way For A Pet Hotel In Ripon
Ripon’s Common Council this week amended the City’s kenneling ordinance, which paves the way for a pet hotel in Ripon. At the Council’s last meeting Marcie Culver the owner of Marcie’s Pet Spa talked about purchasing a location on West Fond du Lac Street for use as a pet hotel. The City’s Plan Commission last week voted 5 to nothing to recommend changes to a City ordinance including creation of section on a pet boarding definition. Pet boarding would require a conditional use permit. The ordinance also only previously allowed such use in an agricultural district. The property for the pet hotel is located in a business district.
FDL County Judge Appointment
Governor Tony Evers has appointed Tricia Walker to the Fond du Lac County Circuit Court. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary Sharpe at the end of the year. Walker has her own law firm, is a board member for Campbellsport Theater Board and Mahala’s Hope, a substance use recovery facility. She is a past board member for the Campbellsport Library and donates her time as a volunteer attorney with the Fond du Lac Pro Se Legal Clinic. Judge Sharpe says he’s pleased to hear about Walker’s appointment. She will take his seat in Circuit Court Branch IV filling his term, which runs through July of 2022.
Ripon PD Makes Decision About SRO
The Ripon Police Department has made a decision about its School Resource Officer/Community Liaison Officer position. Sergeant Lindsey Michels who had been filling the role in the interim will take the role over permanently on January 1st. She had previously served as the School Resource Officer from 2015 to 2017 and will take on the added responsibility of Community Liaison Officer addressing community issues through the summer months. Brett Henning had served as the School Resource Officer the last 3 ½ years, but has taken another role in the department.
Being Accurate About Hospitalization Numbers
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says they changed their reporting for the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the county. The number is reflected on the county’s COVID-19 dashboard on the county website and reflects the number of people hospitalized at the two hospitals located in the county. “Fond du Lac County hospitals just as a reminder is Ripon Medical Center and St. Agnes Hospital so those two hospitals are within Fond du Lac County and the number on the dashboard shows you how many COVID-19 patients within both of those hospitals.” She says they used to report the number of Fond du Lac County residents hospitalized due to the coronavirus no matter what hospital that might be, but the number wasn’t reportable to the State’s Department of Health Services. She says the number they show now is more accurate.
ThedaCare Extends COVID 19 Testing
ThedaCare has extended its testing for COVID-19 at its testing sites in Neenah and rural communities in in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. Testing will be offered from 9 am to 5 pm at locations from December 1st through December 18th. That includes ThedaCare sites in Berlin, Markesan, Waupaca, Wild Rose and elsewhere. The drive through testing is free and is available to all community members experiencing symptoms, those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus. Appointments aren’t required, but pre-registration is recommended. More details including a schedule of testing at the locations is available at the ThedaCare website.
ThedaCare Extends COVID-19 Testing Locations | ThedaCare
Hunting License Sales Up Due In Part To Pandemic
DNR Conservation Warden Bill Hankee says restrictions brought on by COVID-19 have led to an increase in outdoors sports participation. He says this spring he saw more people out fishing than he ever has on the job. Meanwhile license sales have increased for the hunting seasons. “This year I know our archery licenses sales are up by 12 percent and our gun-deer license sales are up around either 9 or 10 percent. So there is an increase of license sales. We are seeing more people in the field.” Hankee says more people are out on public lands hiking and just being out and about. He feels it’s a reflection of our times.
Green Lake Christmas Season Kick Off Friday
Green Lake kicks off its Christmas season with a visit from Santa and a tree lighting Friday evening. Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Beck says Santa will be arriving via row boat on the Mill Pond with the tree lighting following on the hillside at Playground Park. He’s due about 5 pm, but people can come early to enjoy some cookies and hot chocolate. “We’re going to serve cookies at 4:30 and hot chocolate and we have those pre-packaged so families can grab a cookie and a hot chocolate and then walk over to the Playground Park and we’re going to watch Santa row in across the Mill Pond.” The tree lighting follows Santa’s arrival. Beck says people can also participate in their Shop Local Bingo game gathering stamps at area businesses in Green Lake and Ripon. Once the card is filled out it should be returned to the Chamber Office by December 24th. Six winners will be drawn on December 28th and they will win $75 in gift certificates.
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