Hometown Broadcasting News Monday 1/3/22
3 January 2022 News
Two Die In Shawano County Explosion
Two people died in an explosion at a vehicle repair garage in Shawano County Friday. Sheriff’s officials say the explosion happened about 12:30 pm at the repair shop at the intersection of Highway 47 and Highway 156 in the Town of Lessor. Four people were in the building at the time of the explosion, two of them died and the other two were flown to a hospital in Appleton. The Sheriff’s Office says the preliminary investigation shows a pressurized container had been punctured. The building exploded outward causing injuries to those inside it. No names were released.
Drunk Driving Injury Crash In Columbia County
A 58-year-old rural Poynette man is facing an OWI causing injury charge after impaling his pickup truck on a guardrail Saturday afternoon on Lindsay Road near State Highway 60 in the Town of Lodi. Columbia County Sheriff’s officials say the truck was heading north on Lindsay Road when it left the road and struck the end of the guardrail. The guardrail went through the engine compartment, into the passenger compartment and through the bed of the truck. The passenger was taken to a hospital with possible serious injuries. The driver, Peter Robinson, was determined to be intoxicated and was also taken to a hospital. He’s facing his third operating while intoxicated charge. The accident was reported about 3:20 pm New Year’s Day.
Fatigue Complicates Health Care Workers Battle Against COVID 19
The president of Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital says complicating the treatment of COVID-19 patients is the battle of their nurses and doctors to remain healthy to treat those people. DeAnn Thurmer says their health care workers are just as human and frail as those they are treating and also subject to contracting the coronavirus even though they have been vaccinated. Thurmer says because staff that acquire the virus have to be isolated that leaves them short-staffed meaning longer hours for those who are treating patients leading to fatigue and the possibility that they may also get sick. The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is 17 times more transmissible than the Delta variant was. Both Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital are part of the SSM Health family.
Broadband Expansion
Fond du Lac County took a lead role in helping to finance a broadband expansion project with Bug Tussel Wireless in the area. The county was the issuing county for a $70 million bond issue that will expand broadband services and wireless phone services in Calumet, Fond du Lac, Jackson, Marathon and Waushara counties. Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says the county board this past month approved a $13.8 million bond issue for improvements in the county. The overall project involves the deployment of several hundred miles of new fiber optic cable and construction of over 50 communications towers. Buechel says some of that work has already begun. The county also committed some federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act funds to the effort.
Busy Year Planned For Habitat
For Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County 2022 is going to be a busy year. In addition to finishing up a home build in Ripon this spring they will be building a new home on Ledgeview Avenue in Fond du Lac this fall. Habitat Executive Director Katie Karls says they will also be doing a “Rock the Block” program on Linden Street in Fond du Lac in May. She says “Rock the Block” involves volunteers sprucing up and repairing homes and surroundings in a designated neighborhood. Karls notes it’s a good way to have an immediate impact on a neighborhood and for those residents to take more ownership in their community.
FDL County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Pfeiffer Retires
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Pfeiffer worked his final second shift for the Sheriff’s Office New Year’s Eve. Deputy Pfeiffer has retired after 33 years of service to the department and county. He was a mainstay in the western portion of the county. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says from Waupun to Ripon, and Eldorado to Oak Center, if something needed digging into in “the west section,” Jim was their go-to-deputy to get the job done. He also played a little part in getting Waldschmidt’s law enforcement career off the ground. Waldschmidt says more than 23 years ago after an internship ride-along with him, Deputy Pfeiffer put a bug in the ear of then Sheriff Jim Gilmore and Brandon-Fairwater Police Chief Tom Dornbrook about “a young kid in college who rode along with me that you should consider hiring.” Both agencies ultimately hired Waldschmidt part-time while he worked to finish college. He says they had lots of good times working together through the years after that.
Snow Removal Reminder
The Dodge County Highway Commission is reminding property owners that it is unsafe and illegal to push snow into the public highway. Snow left on the roadway or shoulder area becomes a hazard to both motorists and snow removal personnel. The fine for violating the state statute is $200.50. It is also recommended that any equipment used to remove snow on or near a public roadway be equipped with adequate lighting to provide safe visibility for approaching traffic at all times and in all weather conditions.
Ripon Main Street Façade Grants
To encourage preservation of downtown Ripon’s architectural heritage, Ripon Main Street provides façade grants to eligible businesses and property owners within the downtown Business Improvement District. Ripon Main Street Board of Directors President Tom Moniz says over the past few years they have seen unprecedented private investment in Ripon’s historic downtown district. He says they are thrilled with the transformation and are excited to make the matching grants available to help keep the momentum moving forward. Up to $2,000 in façade grants, providing a dollar-for-dollar match will be awarded this year. To learn about the program or to obtain an application, call the Ripon Main Street office at (920) 748-7466.
Radon Action Month
January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause among non-smokers. Radon is a gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock and may collect in your home. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk. During the month of January, residents of Waushara, Green Lake, Marquette and Portage counties can buy a radon test kit for only $5 at their county health department. For more information about radon, visit www.lowradon.org.
Radon Information for Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Share |