6/7/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
7 June 2022 News
FDL County Special Election For County Executive
A special election is being held in Fond du Lac County today for county executive. The election was precipitated by the unexpected death of County Executive Allen Buechel on March 27th. The winner will serve until April of 2025 or the remainder of Buechel’s term. Fond du Lac County Board Chairperson Sam Kaufman is the only candidate listed on the ballot. But Fond du Lac County Social Services Deputy Director Richard Gedemer and Fond du Lac City Council member Tiffany Brault are running as write-ins. For Ripon residents the only polling location will be in the City Hall Council Chambers on the first floor.
Oshkosh Sex Offender Facing New Charges
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin has issued a criminal complaint alleging a 38-year-old Oshkosh sex offender distributed and possessed child pornography. According to court filings, Matheau Martinez utilized “peer-to-peer” software to distribute images and digital videos depicting child pornography. On Thursday, a search warrant was executed at Martinez’s residence, and he was arrested without incident. The Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. In 2015 Martinez was convicted in Winnebago County of causing mental harm to a child and a first degree sexual assault of a child charge was read into the record.
Kewaskum Man Critically Injured By Vehicle
A Kewaskum man in his sixties was critically injured when he was struck by a northbound vehicle while trying to cross Highway 45 in the area of Prospect Drive in Washington County’s Village of Kewaskum Monday afternoon. A Sheriff’s deputy saw it happen and helped render aid to the victim who had suffered head injuries. A second deputy wasn’t far away and also helped render aid until an ambulance arrived. The victim was taken to a hospital in West Bend and was flown from there to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. The man is listed in critical condition. The accident happened just after 2:30 Monday afternoon.
South Douglas Street Project
The Ripon Common Council last week approved a cost sharing agreement with the Town of Ripon for a joint project improving approximately 3,030 feet of South Douglas Street. Since 60 percent of that roadway is in the city the city’s cost will come to just over $65,000 or 60 percent of the low bid of over $108,000 received from Northeast Asphalt. City Administrator Adam Sonntag told the Council that the city had budgeted about $500,000 for road projects this year and most of the $65,000 would come out of a TIF District. He also noted that it is one of the first times the city has worked with the township on a road project of this nature.
Trees Damaged In Waupun Park
Waupun Police are asking residents for help in identifying a person who damaged trees at West End Park. Police got a report Monday morning from the Department of Public Works about the damage done over the weekend. One Maple tree was stripped of its bark from the base to approximately 8 feet high. The tree now has no way to transport nutrients, the bark will not grow back and the tree will die. Those who may have information are encouraged to call the Waupun Police Department at 920-324-7911 and should reference case 22-0881. Police are hoping to educate the person responsible and have the tree replaced.
Personnel Policies
A member of the Green Lake County Board of Supervisors Personnel Committee says they need to look at some of the county’s personnel policies. Luke Dretske says for instance their “work at home” policy is abused by some county employees and can’t be used by other county employees. Dretske says for instance it isn’t practical for a Sheriff’s deputy to work at home. He says they also need to look at their policy for Health Savings Accounts because it is costing taxpayers unnecessary money. Dretske points out the county pays an employee’s deductible for the account right at the beginning of the year and if they quit shortly into that year they can take that money in the account with them. He says there have been a number of instances where that has happened.
FDL County Health Department Now Accredited
On June 1st the Public Health Accreditation Board announced that the Fond du Lac County Health Department has achieved accreditation status. The Fond du Lac County Health Department went through a systematic and peer-reviewed process against national standards. The achievement of accreditation status is a demonstration of the department’s commitment to continuous quality and performance improvement. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says, “The work has motivated us and showed us how strong and resilient we are as a team. It is extremely rewarding to receive this designation and we are honored to finally be at this space.” Public Health Accreditation is a voluntary process.
New Trails Report
The Travel Wisconsin website has a newer feature reporting on hiking and biking trails. State Senator Joan Ballwag chairs the Senate’s Agricultural and Tourism Committee and sits on the state’s Tourism Council. She says the newer feature will complement the “Fall Colors” and Skiing and Snowmobile reports you see on the site during other seasons. The site features photos and information about trails and parks and some of their user friendly features. The information is available at Travel Wisconsin.com. Most trails are in fair or good condition at this time.
Alice In Transition
Wisconsin’s 74th Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes has about 4 weeks left in her reign before the 75th Alice, Taylor Schaefer, takes over. Nunes says she was pleased to help host the finals for the new Alice last month in Dane County partly because she was crowned the 73rd Alice during the pandemic and the finals were held virtually. She says having a grand event with over 30 former Alices was amazing. Nunes actually served as the 73rd and 74th Alice because the pandemic was peaking in 2021 and no finals were held. Schaefer comes from a family with a beef and crop farm in Racine County and after graduating from the UW-Madison accepted a job from the Mid-West Farm Report in Madison. Nunes believes Schaefer will be a great Alice. Nunes says after her role as Alice she will take a few months off then will join a PR firm based in Eau Claire.
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