Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 11/12/21
12 November 2021 News
FDL County Board Approves Purchase For Land For Future Jail Expansion
The Fond du Lac County Board this week approved an offer to purchase agreement with George and Mary Ann Scott for just over 53 acres of land on Scott Road for the future construction of a jail and other public safety facilities. County Board Chairperson Marty Farrell says the board had approved borrowing for the purchase last month. The cost for the land will come to $1.46 million or $27,000 an acre and with other costs associated with it the county is borrowing $1.5 million. The county figured out in 2005 that the jail would need to expand by 2025. It would not be practical for the county to simply remodel on the current site.
Ripon Funding Update
Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag gave the Ripon Common Council an update this week on some funding the city has applied for and some funding the city will receive. With Fond du Lac County now sharing revenue from its sale tax with municipalities Ripon will receive $51,333. The city also received word it will be getting a grant of $22,965 to help reimburse it for the cost of cleaning up from storms in late July. Sonntag says they were hoping to get the entire $50,000 it cost the city but the state legislature may request more money and the city might get some of that. He also said the city is applying for a $1.2 million Neighborhood Investment Program grant for the Senior Center/ Murray Park Trailhead project which would go a long way in funding the money still needed for the $2.2 million project.
Ripon And Green Lake Chambers Receive Tourism Grants
The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a Destination Marketing Organization grant of $66,545.20 to promote tourism in the area. In total Governor Evers awarded $15 million in DMO grants this week. It was part of the more than $140 million American Rescue Plan Act fund investment in Wisconsin’s tourism and entertainment industries. Others in the area receiving DMO grants include the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce which is receiving $52,500, the Waupaca Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau will get just under $66,000, and the Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association in Waupaca a little under $12,000. Destination Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac is receiving nearly $251,000 and the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau just shy of $457,000. The grants will help out 120 local DMO organizations across the state.
Laridaen Promoted To Assistant FDL Police Chief
Fond du Police Chief Aaron Goldstein Thursday announced the promotion of Captain Jason Laridaen to Assistant Chief of Police. Laridaen joined the Department in 1995 as a police officer. In 2008 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Patrol Division until 2012 when he was assigned as an Administrative Lieutenant. In 2015 he was promoted to Captain. Laridaen is currently the President for the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Association. Chief Goldstein says Laridaen will have a meaningful impact in the department and also within the community.
Temporary Signals For Highway 21 Project Being Removed
The state Department of Transportation tells us temporary signals at State Highway 21 and Leonard Point Road in Winnebago County’s Town of Algoma will be removed today. The signals were installed to allow traffic to access State Highway 21 from Leonard Point Road during the recent reconstruction of Omro Road by the town of Algoma. Safety measures that will be put into place include portable changeable message signs following temporary signal and lane closure for 2 weeks. Permanent signs will be added on Leonard Point Road. An upcoming state highway project on State Highway 21 includes construction of a roundabout at the Highway 21/Leonard Point Road intersection.
Mental Health Stigma
The Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health for SSM Health’s Treffert Center and Autism Services says with the current mental health crisis people have to get past the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues. Dr. Matt Doll says the past two years have been very difficult for everyone especially for kids. He says kids look to their parents for strength and answers, but even adults have been affected by the pandemic. Dr. Doll says some employers have free programs that can help and SSM Health is providing assistance in 25 different schools. He points out that your mental wellbeing ties to your overall health so if you are stressed out you may experience other health issues. He recommends checking with your insurance professional or human resources person at work to see if your health insurance covers getting help for mental health issues. Dr. Doll says a good resource for seeing what help is available is csifdl.org.
CWD Testing
To make it more convenient to have the deer you harvest tested for Chronic Wasting Disease the DNR is providing some self-service kiosks to drop off the head. James Christopoulos is a Wildlife Biologist for the DNR’s Horicon Office. He says you can find the locations for those kiosks on the DNR’s website by searching for CWD sampling. He says there are kiosks at the Holliday Sports in Ripon and Waupun, Taylor’D Taxidermy of Green Lake will do it by appointment, and there is also another kiosk at the Eldorado Learning Center. In addition DNR wildlife biologists will do it by appointment if you just want a sample taken so you can save the head for a head mount. The 9-day gun-deer hunt starts a week from tomorrow.
Christmas In The Village In Ripon This Weekend
The Holiday season kicks off in Downtown Ripon this weekend with Christmas in the Village taking place today and tomorrow. Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says Santa Claus will be visiting; there will be great shopping opportunities, and even live reindeer. Santa arrives via a Ripon Area Fire District ladder truck tonight at 6 pm. Ripon Main Street Executive Director Craig Tebon tells us the best spot to catch a glimpse of Jolly Old St. Nick is the 200 block of Watson Street. Santa will be at the Village Green from 6 to 8 pm and back Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm. Horse Drawn Carriage rides will be available free tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The live reindeer will be in downtown Ripon from Noon to 4 pm Saturday with a stop at the Village Green before they go.
Share |