9/29/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
29 September 2022 News
Oshkosh Man Charged For Car Jacking
Bond has been set at $5,000 cash for a 20-year-old Oshkosh man who hit a woman in the head with a handgun and took her vehicle last Thursday in Oshkosh. Albert Smith (pictured) made his initial appearance in Winnebago County court Wednesday. He is charged with operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent-possessing a dangerous weapon. The woman was parked at a Citgo gas station in the 800 block of North Main Street when Smith allegedly pulled a gun and pointed it at her head. There was a struggle and she was struck in the head. He took her car which has been recovered. Police say Smith and the victim knew each other. Smith will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on October 6th.
Catalytic Converter Theft Delays Oshkosh Students Arrival At School
Kobussen Buses officials say the theft of catalytic converters from some of its school buses impacted the busing of students in Oshkosh Wednesday morning. Some students were late because thieves took catalytic converters from 11 of the company’s buses at its Oshkosh location on Omro Road overnight Tuesday. Students waiting for their rides to school were late for classes. The school district alerted parents about the incident. Kobussen brought in buses from other areas of the Fox Valley to get all of the kids to school. Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system. They can fetch from $200 to $500 on the black market because of the precious metals inside of them. It cost about $1,200 to replace a catalytic converter with a new one.
Ripon Will Stop Adding Fluoride To Its Drinking Water
One of the things that came out of the DNR’s 2022 Sanitary Survey Report for the Ripon Water Utility is that the City is going to have to discontinue use of adding fluoride to its drinking water. City Administrator Adam Sonntag told the Common Council this week that the fluoridation process puts staff at risk because of the chemicals that have to be mixed. Alderperson Howard Hansen said fluoride in drinking water was something the American Dental Association pushed for in the 1960s. Water Department Director Jeremy Jess said regular toothpaste gives people more than enough fluoride to protect their teeth. Sonntag said discontinuing the use of fluoride in the City’s drinking water is a significant change and will require Council approval at a future meeting.
COVID Over
A member of the former Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says President Biden’s statement that “COVID is over” shouldn’t be misinterpreted. After making that statement the president followed up by saying it was still a threat. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says most people didn’t catch the last part of his statement. Puhlmann-Becker says it isn’t as devastating today as it was two years ago when it affected our health care system and economy. He says we are probably past the pandemic stage but it is still the number three killer in the United States behind heart disease and cancer. More than 30 states have stopped reporting daily COVID-19 test results, but those numbers may not be as accurate with many people taking at-home tests.
State Budget
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the state’s Department of Public Instruction has a very big wish list for the next two-year state budget. She says the DPI would like to see its funding increased by $2.5 billion. The state lawmaker from Markesan says that is approximately half of the anticipated surplus the state is hoping to have on hand. But she says that surplus is based on if people continue to spend money the way they have in the face of mounting inflation. Ballweg is a member of the Joint Finance Committee, which will shape the budget that they are given to by whoever is governor. The governor usually gives a budget address in February unveiling the proposed budget.
Center For Politics and The People Programs Back On Campus
The Co-Director for the Center for Politic and the People for Ripon College says it is good to be staging events on campus once again. Henrik Schatzinger says the pandemic forced them to do some of their programs virtually. He says people would prefer to be there in person to interact with panelists and speakers. He notes that people also like to talk before and after events. The Center hosted a presentation on Local Politics last night featuring Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag, Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri, and Fond du Lac County Board Chairperson Steve Abel. Upcoming Center programs next month feature topics on U.S. Indigenous Right to Vote and Planet in Peril. The programs are free and open to the public.
Comments Sought
The public has less than a week to comment on the variances to the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area master plan. A master plan variance is a change in the use or management of an area that is consistent with the area’s land management classification and objectives. The Horicon Marsh’s proposed master plan change would close 78-acres of the property to all hunting near residential areas in the City of Horicon. That land is currently open to archery-hunting only. DNR officials say the variance is being suggested in response to concerns by local residents and city leaders. Questions or comments have to be submitted by next Wednesday. Details on how to submit those are available on the DNR’s website.
Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area | Master Plan Variance | Wisconsin DNR
Walsworth Generation Donations To The Ripon Area School District
In celebration of the company’s 85th anniversary and their commitment to literacy, Walsworth is making $2,500 donations to schools and literacy programs near each of its six locations. The check for the Ripon Area School District will be presented by Walsworth-Ripon General Manager Julie Newhouse on Tuesday, October 12th to Chrissy Damm the Ripon Area School District’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Walsworth President Don Walsworth says, “As a company that prints numerous yearbooks, textbooks and other educational materials, the choice to support programs that will allow students to appreciate those materials was clear.” In addition to the Ripon Area School District Walsworth is giving $2,500 to schools and literacy programs near each of its five other locations, for a total of $15,000 to support literacy.
FDL Area Foundation Awards Grants
The Fond du Lac Area Foundation has awarded 24 grants totaling nearly $89,000 to nonprofit organizations through the fall grant cycle. Each of the 24 grants will distinctively support projects, programs, and organizational needs that focus on improving the quality of life in Fond du Lac County. Foundation Executive Director Aaron Sadoff says, “The Foundation is proud to have been able to provide grants because of our generous donors.” He added that the nonprofits, schools and municipalities in Fond du Lac County work so hard. Since January 1st the Foundation has awarded over $2.5 million to a multitude of nonprofit agencies.
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