Hometown Broadcasting News Friday 12/31/21
31 December 2021 News
Blaze Destroys Waupaca County Business
Fire destroyed a garbage truck maintenance building and two garbage trucks in Waupaca County’s Town of Mukwa last evening. The New London Fire Department was dispatched to GFL Environmental formally Graichen Sanitation on Highway 54. When firefighters arrived the 40 by 60 foot shop and trucks inside were on fire. No one was inside and no one was injured during the blaze. Several other fire departments also responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is being determined.
Ripon Man Charged For Allegedly Harassing Neighbors
A 24-year-old Ripon man suspected of harassing his neighbors at an apartment complex in the city is free on bond after making an initial court appearance in Fond du Lac County court Thursday. In two separate cases Nicholas Kuester is charged with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior, 5 felony counts of bail jumping, and 3 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct for his alleged actions at Newbury Place this past Tuesday and on October 17th. According to the criminal complaints Kuester exposed himself to a female tenant who told police she and her husband were the victims of ongoing harassment by Kuester and his girlfriend. Other tenants complained about having their clothes thrown in the garbage, the theft of a wallet and its contents, a threat to kill a cat, and felt threatened because he allegedly keeps firearms and a blow dart gun that shoots nails in his apartment. According to court records Kuester is out on bond for similar cases in Washington and Dodge counties. He has a preliminary hearing in his two Fond du Lac County cases on February 11th.
Ripon Community Hospital Seeing More COVID Cases
The spike in COVID-19 cases with the Omicron variant is affecting Ripon Community Hospital. DeAnn Thurmer is the president of Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital, both SSM Health facilities. She says they have taken to boarding COVID patients in their emergency department until they can send them to a hospital room on the second floor of Ripon Community Hospital or can send them to another SSM Health facility. It’s a new strategy and one they have had to use more often with the new variant. Meanwhile she says of the COVID patients they see 85 percent or more that end up in a hospital room or intensive care unit have not been vaccinated against the virus. She says due to the high number of COVID patients and their longer stays in the hospital they are finding it difficult to do elective surgical care. Thurmer says typically their COVID patients are in Day 7 to 10 of having the virus when they see them.
Omicron Variant Still Being Learned About
It was just over four weeks ago that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus entered the U.S. Now, 67 percent of the COVID cases can be attributed to the Omicron variant. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says we are still learning about it, but one thing health experts already know is that it is highly more contagious than the Delta variant. In fact it is 17 times more transmittable than the Delta variant. Puhlmann-Becker says a couple things remain the same the best way to combat the virus is to get vaccinated and wear face coverings or masks in large gatherings. He says unfortunately the wearing of face masks remains a hot-button topic.
Government Offices Closed For The Holiday
If you have business to conduct with a county or municipal government office today you better check ahead to see if they are open and if they are for how long. For example Fond du Lac County offices close at noon today and the Sheriff’s lobby/records office at 11 am. The Department of Community Programs, Department of Social Services, the Veterans Services Office and Highway Department will be closed all day. The Moraine Lakes Consortium call center is also closed all day. The Green Lake County Government Center and Highway Department are closed, as is Fox River Industries. City Halls in Green Lake and Ripon are also closed today.
Charitable Giving
As the old year winds down if you’re still mulling over what charitable cause to give to the Administrator for the state’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection urges you to do your homework on that charity. Lara Sutherlin says you can check with the state’s Department of Financial Institutions to see if the charity is registered in the state by going to the DFI’s website or by calling 608-267-1711. If it’s a national charity you can check with the Give.org or Charity Navigator.org websites. She says both sites are good for checking on possible fraud and how much of your donation goes towards administration of the charity. Sutherlin also cautions about giving to GoFundMe causes. She says while many are legitimate, some are not so do your research first.
Bounceback Grant
Ripon’s Main Street Program reminds businesses that money is available if you are moving into a vacant commercial space. Through the Vacant Building or Bounceback Grant program qualifying businesses can use $10,000 for lease or mortgage payments, operating expenses, building repairs, tenant improvements and other qualifying expenses. New or existing businesses that lease or purchase a vacant commercial space as of January 1st, 2021 through June 30th of 2022 are eligible for the grant. The grant application process is currently open. Contact the Ripon Main Street office for an application. All applicants will need a local letter of endorsement from the Main Street program. Details on grant eligibility are available at the WEDC website.
Main Street Bounceback Grants | WEDC
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