Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 8/20/21
20 August 2021 News
RASD COVID Mitigation Plan Approved
The Ripon School Board this week adopted a COVID-19 Mitigation Plan for the new school year. Superintendent Mary Whitrock (pictured) says they will be offering face-to-face instruction for all of their students in all of their schools. Masks will be optional unless COVID is found to be in one of their schools. She says they have hired two additional nursing assistants for their nursing department so they will have a member of the nursing staff at each school. They will also be doing some testing for COVID-19 that will be available for students, staff and their families. Whitrock says they will work closely again with the Fond du Lac County Health Department, which will be on hand for their “Back to School” night at the middle and high schools on August 25th. From 4 to 5:30 that evening they will offer a walk-in COVID vaccination clinic for anyone that wants to be vaccinated.
Oshkosh Hire For Murder Suspect Bound Over For Trial
The 38-year-old Oshkosh woman that allegedly tried to hire an undercover informant for $500 to kill her ex-boyfriend has been bound over for trial. Melissa Smith appeared in a Winnebago County courtroom via a video link to the jail Thursday for her preliminary hearing. She is charged with conspiracy to commit first degree intentional homicide. According to the criminal complaint Smith told a confidential informant in early August she wanted the victim dead because he told police Smith was ‘selling drugs, had urinated on her bed, and had stolen her handgun.” The informant wore a wire capturing a conversation with Smith about her desire to have the victim killed.
Three Killed In Jefferson County Accident
Sheriff’s officials in Jefferson County say three people were struck and killed on Interstate 94 after they got out of their vehicle following a crash early Wednesday morning. Investigators say a vehicle pulling a cargo trailer was traveling westbound when it veered out of control and crashed into a guardrail. A second vehicle crashed into the first vehicle and then a third vehicle passed by, but then backtracked to give aid. The three drivers got out of their vehicles and were struck and killed by a fourth vehicle.
Watch Out For The Wheelbarrow
The drivers of a Toyota Highlander and Kenworth semi-truck were injured on State Highway 60 in Columbia County late Thursday morning because the driver of a pickup truck hadn’t secured the load the truck was carrying in its bed. Sheriff’s officials say a Chevy Silverado was carrying rock with an unsecured wheelbarrow on top. The wheelbarrow fell off the truck into eastbound lanes of traffic. In trying to avoid the wheelbarrow the Toyota driver swerved to the right onto gravel then overcorrected swerving into the westbound lane into the path of the semi. The Toyota had major front and rear damage and the semi ended up on its side leaking fuel from a fuel tank. The drivers of the Toyota and semi were both taken to local hospitals with injuries.
Too Late For The Vaccine
Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force member Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says its heartbreaking to read stories about people who were adamantly opposed to getting the vaccine who once hospitalized and on a ventilator, have changed their minds. He says unfortunately at that stage there is nothing doctors or nurses can do and giving them the vaccine wouldn’t help. He says no matter where you stand on the vaccine you have to treat people with compassion. Puhlmann-Becker says we are lucky to have several vaccines that will protect you from the virus and even if you are vaccinated and get the virus in most cases will prevent you from being hospitalized or dying from it.
Vetoes Hurt Rural Wisconsin
State Senator Joan Ballweg says several items Governor Tony Evers vetoed in the State Budget could have helped out more rural parts of the state. She says the Governor shorted an agricultural export program that would have helped out dairy farmers. She says other items he used his veto powers on that could have helped out state residents included more funding for transportation for rural school districts and an expansion of the Youth Summer Jobs program to areas outside of Milwaukee.
Oshkosh Selects New Community Development Director
Oshkosh has selected Kelly Nieforth as the community’s next Community Development Director. Nieforth will oversee the Community Development Department which includes the Economic Development Planning, Inspections, and Assessor Divisions. City Manager Mark Rohloff says, “Kelly has been a valuable member of the city’s community development team over the last nine years.” Nieforth has been the Economic Development Services Manager for the city for over 5 years and was recently named the interim Community Development Director. She starts her new position on Monday.
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