5/13/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
13 May 2022 News
FDL Man Charged With Child Porn Possession
An 18-year-old Fond du Lac man arrested Monday on 6 counts of possession of child pornography made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County court Wednesday. An’Gel Newell posted a $1,000 cash bond and will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 7th. As part of his bond condition he is not allowed to use any social media. His arrest followed the execution of a search warrant at his residence in the 900 block of Windsor Avenue. Police began an investigation after getting a Cyber Tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that alleged possession and/or distribution of videos of sexually explicit conduct of prepubescent children was going on at the residence.
Gas Leak In Downtown Wautoma
A large section of downtown Wautoma was closed down and evacuated late Thursday morning when a private contractor hit a main gas line while digging. Police Chief Paul Mott says all roads were reopened by 3 p.m. while We Energies continued making repairs. Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to the 100 block of South St. Marie Street at 11:15 am. Most downtown businesses, the courthouse, and library were evacuated and Alliant Energy cut power to the area. Main Street was closed from Cambridge Street to Boat Landing Road and some side streets. After firefighters vented gas from buildings some businesses reopened, but the library closed for the day. The incident is being investigated by the police department and Waushara County Emergency Management.
COVID 19 Report
More than half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties now have medium levels of COVID-19 according to the CDC. Thirty-eight (38) counties including Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago counties have medium levels compared to 17 counties a week ago. Seven counties are in the high category and 27 including Dodge, Waupaca and Waushara counties are in the low category. Meanwhile the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Thursday reported 2,760 new cases of COVID-19 as the 7-day rolling average increased to 2,062 new cases a day. Nine deaths were reported and 34 hospitalizations. The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported 356 COVID-19 patients in hospitals around the state with 38 in intensive care units.
Winnebago County reported 75 new COVID-19 cases Thursday. Forty-one new cases were recorded in Fond du Lac County and Dodge County had 23 new cases. Green Lake County had 14 new cases, Waupaca County had 21 new cases, and Waushara County recorded 10 new cases of the coronavirus.
COVID Forecast Bleak
A former member of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force urges people to enjoy the summer because this fall and winter we could see record numbers of COVID infections. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says it’s not a very rosy outlook but the Biden Administration says as many as 100 million people could contract the coronavirus. To put that in perspective over 82 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Meanwhile the U.S. this week will surpass a million deaths due to COVID. Puhlmann-Becker says last year in the United States COVID was the third leading cause of death.
Drug Take Back Day A Success
Nearly 30 tons of unwanted medications were collected during Wisconsin’s Drug Take Back Day on April 30th. State Attorney General Josh Kaul says, “Once again, folks from across Wisconsin stepped up to participate in Drug Take Back, and now 59, 840 pounds of unused and unwanted medications will be safely disposed of. Statewide over 135 law enforcement agencies participated. Medications were also collected from permanent drug disposal boxes at law enforcement agencies. Wisconsin has more than 490 permanent drug disposal boxes accessible year-round at law enforcement agencies, hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics.
Ripon Blood Drive
SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital will be hosting a community blood drive from 12 to 3 pm on Tuesday. Dr. Shannon Rathke is the Medical Director at the hospital. She says blood components will be put to good use with most donations supporting patients in the Ripon area. SSM Health is teaming with ImpactLife for the drive which is open to the public. ImpactLife provides blood components to a total of 125 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Masks and appointments are required for the blood drive. Donors will get a voucher for a gift card or bonus points to shop the ImpactLife online store. To sign up you can call 800-747-5401, extension 4128 or visit the Blood Center.org website. Participants are asked to bring a picture ID. Make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
MPTC To Honor Distinguished Alumnus Today
Moraine Park Technical College President Bonnie Baerwald says they couldn’t have chosen a more deserving person as their 2022 Distinguished Alumnus. Jim Flood grew up on a farm in the countryside of Eden and graduated from Campbellsport High School in 1969. He went on to pursue a marketing degree at the College, then known as Moraine Park Technical Institute, and graduated with his associate degree in 1972. Flood has spent almost 50 years living, working and serving in the Fond du Lac area. He retired in 2015 but has remained active in serving his community. He served on the MPTC Foundation Board for 10 years in various positions, spending his final two years as board president. Most notably, he served on the Moraine Park Promise program campaign cabinet that raised $1.2 million for student scholarships. Flood will accept his award at the student awards banquet today.
Volunteers Needed For Food Drive
The Fond du Lac Area United Way is looking for volunteers to help pick up donations of food for the annual Letter Carrier Food Drive in Fond du Lac Saturday. Letter carriers will be picking up donations residents put out near their mailboxes. Fond du Lac Area United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says they need people who would be willing to accompany letter carriers on rural routes. Volunteers would be following those letter carriers in their own vehicles. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the Fond du Lac Area United Way at 920-921-7010. Food donated during the food drive will be distributed to local food pantries.
Waupun High School Student A Presidential Scholar
A Waupun High School senior is one of four high school students from Wisconsin named as a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Cameron David Pokorny of Waupun has been named a Scholar in Career and Technical Education. He is one of 161 high school students from across the nation recognized as a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Others from Wisconsin earning the honor are David Arthur who attends Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Daphne Joyce Wu of Middleton High School, and Ananya Krishna of James Madison Memorial High School in Madison. More than 5,000 students qualified for the awards.
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