7/15/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
15 July 2022 News
Update On Green Lake County Highway EF Closure
Green Lake County authorities will reopen County Highway EF in Berlin to automobile traffic only at the end of the work day today. County Highway Commissioner Derek Masuda says the paving contractor should have completed binder material over the fragile areas of the grade that were being protected from heavy traffic during the closure. No semi traffic will be allowed through until the final lift of asphalt is placed. Monday the contractor plans on starting the final pass on areas that were placed by the end of this week. Sometime the middle of next week the road should be open to all traffic pending weather and unforeseen delays. Monday there will be a small closure from the east side of Fountain Road to the intersection of County Highway F and North Hunter Street. After that is complete the rest of the paving will be done under full traffic and a flagging operation.
Green Lake Boat Launch Has Elevated E Coli Levels
The Green Lake County Health Department says elevated levels of E.Coli have been reported at the Sunset Park boat launch on Green Lake due to a concentration of geese in the area. It is not a designated swimming area. All designated beach swimming areas tested on Green Lake have come back with safe levels of E.Coli at this time. Officials says if you are using Sunset Park boat launch area and are entering the water take care to not get water in your mouth.
Waupun Correctional Inmate Found Guilty Of Beating Guard
A Waupun Correctional Inmate already serving 50 years for a string of violent crimes has been found guilty by a Dodge County jury of the beating of a prison guard. Thirty-three-year-old Timmy Johnson’s claim that he was not guilty of the June 2019 assault by reason of mental disease or defect was dismissed. Johnson will be sentenced on August 18th. The catalyst for Johnson’s attack was his efforts to hide his medication from guards. He struck the victim in the head over 20 times. Officers had to use pepper spray and wrestle Johnson to the ground to stop the attack. The officer was seriously injured but was back on the job several days later. Johnson has been an inmate at Waupun Correction since 2014 when he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for numerous crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, first degree reckless homicide, and bribery of a public official. In total his record includes 16 prior criminal convictions.
Ripon Common Council Approves Tourism Rooming House Ordinance
The Ripon Common Council this week approved an ordinance to regulate and license so-called tourism rooming houses. The ordinance would cover Airbnb’s and VRBO’s or Vacation Rental By Owners. The ordinance requires the tourism rooming houses to be licensed for operation by the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or Fond du Lac County. It prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises. The ordinance would cover things like rentals for EAA AirVenture. The Council also approved a $10 annual fee for a tourism rooming house zoning license which will be paid to the city. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says the ordinance will ensure the city gets its room tax money.
Oshkosh Sex Offender Will Be Homeless
A 42-year-old sex offender will be released in Oshkosh on July 26th. Samuel Bratsven will be homeless. He will be on electronic monitoring and under the supervision of probation and parole until July 28th, 2073. He was convicted in Winnebago County in February of 2001 of 4 counts of first degree sexual assault of a child. The victim was a 7-year-old girl he knew. He is currently incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution.
Oshkosh Bridge Repair Will Take Longer
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation says the original nine-week repair estimate for the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge in the city of Oshkosh has been extended to 13 weeks. Additional damage was discovered inside a failed gear box. Repairs are now expected to be finished by September 30th. The bridge is currently closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic after a bridge inspector discovered damaged gear teeth in the gearbox on the south leaf span during a routine inspection on May 25th. The company manufacturing the new gears and refurbishing the gearbox recently identified additional damage in the gearbox that extends the manufacturing process to build the additional parts.
Baby Formula Shortage
The Abbot baby formula manufacturing plant in Michigan has reopened and resumed production of EleCare specialty formula. The company says it has ample existing supply and most of its other specialty and metabolic formulas until new product is available. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says it still may be some time before supplies get back to where they were at before the shortage. Mueller reminds women that breast milk is another option available to them. She says those who have questions about breast milk can call the County’s Health Department at 920-929-3085. Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services says women can also try some formulas made in other countries such as Bubs, Kendamil and Similac Pure Bliss. The FDA has allowed these formula companies to market certain products in the U.S. Stores are expected to start carrying those options soon.
FDL County Sheriff’s K9s Proving Their Worth
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Departments K9s have more than proven their worth over the past few weeks with several large drug busts during traffic stops, one of which netted 1,032 counterfeit hydrocodone pills laced with fentanyl. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says their dogs are also able to track missing people, provide a deterrent to suspects that might otherwise attack a deputy, and appear at various schools and events throughout the community. During his campaign for Sheriff four years ago Waldschmidt advocated for additional K9s and now the department has added a third dog Iro. He says the K9 units are 100 percent donor-funded because people donate money towards them frequently. In fact Jimmy’s Lawn Care of Fond du Lac made a donation this week. A local kennel service donates all the food that their K9s consume.
Golf Course Ad Hoc Committee Will Walk A Fine Line
Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman says as they consider ways to raise revenue and lower the operating deficit of the county-owned Rolling Meadows Golf Course they will be walking a fine line. An ad-hoc committee will be formed to explore recommendations about how to accomplish that. Kaufman says back in the day the golf course was considered a quality of life attraction to the county, but if they are worried about the bottom line when it comes to operational expenses they are looking at it as more of a business. He says they will take a hard look at raising fees at the golf course which are low compared to what other county-owned golf courses charge. Brown County charges $35 for 9 holes and Washington County charges $70. Rolling Meadows charges $29. The committee will also consider whether a new clubhouse that could serve year-round should be built. Over the years the golf course has accrued nearly $2.6 million in debt.
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