11/17/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
17 November 2022 News
Waukesha Christmas Parade Attacker Sentenced To Six Life Terms In Prison
A Waukesha County judge yesterday sentenced Waukesha Christmas Parade attacker Darrell Brooks to six consecutive life terms without the chance for parole. Judge Jennifer Dorow sentenced Brooks to an additional 762 ½ years of confinement including 17 ½ years for every one of the dozens of people who were seriously injured when he drove his SUV through a crowd at the parade last November. A jury convicted Brooks of all 76 counts against him, including 6 counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He was also ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution and to a victims’ compensation fund.
FDL Burglary Suspect Back In Court
The 29-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of a burglary at the Fleet Farm store in Fond du Lac last month will be back in court today for a preliminary hearing. Elihu Espinoza is charged with burglary, five counts of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of burglary tools-all felonies, and one misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property. Detectives executed a search warrant at his uncle’s residence in the 400 block of Ann Street on November 2nd and recovered four shotguns and ammunition taken during the burglary at the store on October 28th. A rifle taken in the burglary was recovered from Espinoza’s car. According to the criminal complaint during an interview with detectives Espinoza allegedly admitted to cutting through a fence and using a hatchet to break a glass door to gain entry to the store. He also identified photos of himself stealing the guns taken by store surveillance cameras. Espinoza is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond.
Oshkosh Bridge Reopens
Installation of a new gearbox and components on the south leaf of the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge in the City of Oshkosh has been completed. The bridge opened to traffic Wednesday afternoon. The installation began Monday and crews tested the installation Wednesday. The installation went according to plan, and no issues were found with the new parts or components. The bridge closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic on May 25th after a bridge inspector discovered damage gear teeth in the gearbox on the south leaf during a routine inspection. A subsequent investigation revealed additional damage in the gearbox that required a new gearbox. Bridge engineers reviewed the excessive wear on the gears and believe a misaligned bearing caused instability in the gearbox resulting in the gear wear.
Appeal Made To Help Kingston Fire Victim
Officials in Green Lake County’s Village of Kingston are appealing to residents to help out a woman whose home was destroyed by fire Sunday night. The home of Maddie Webb at 115 Park Street was a total loss and she lost most of her belongings in the fire. The Kingston Millpond Library has agreed to be a drop site if anyone would like to donate cash, checks or gift cards. Officials say any amount would be appreciated to help Webb get back on her feet as we head into the holidays. The time of the fire call Sunday night was 7:18 pm.
Berlin Holiday Parade Tonight
Berlin kicks off its holiday season tonight with the 37th Annual Berlin Holiday Parade “A Storybook Christmas.” The celebration begins at Nathan Strong Park at 4 pm with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, there will be live reindeer, and an opportunity for carriage rides. At 5 pm trees in the park will be lit up. Sue Trampf, Chairman of the Achieving a Better Community Board of Directors, says the 37th Annual Holiday Parade will step off at 6:30 pm with more than 40 entries. Harry Kwidzinski is the President of the ABC Group which sponsors the tree program. He says over 150 trees sponsored by individuals will be lit up. He says they were able to keep the cost of trees down thanks to the community’s generosity during their July 3rd fundraiser.
Oshkosh Meeting On Wastewater Utility Twenty Year Plan
A public information meeting is scheduled in Oshkosh to discuss the city’s 20-year facility plan for the Wastewater Utility. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 29th at 6 pm at the Oshkosh Senior Center-North Building Meeting Room. The Facility Plan includes recommendations for phased improvements to the Wastewater Utility through 2042. Facility planning is required by several Federal, State, and regional authorities to determine the control and treatment requirements needed to meet various water quality goals. A copy of the draft Facility Plan will be available at the City of Oshkosh website starting next Monday.
MPTC Celebrates Passage Of Referendum
Moraine Park Technical College will celebrate the passing of their $55 million referendum today at their Fond du Lac campus. Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald will give remarks about the voters’ approval of the referendum on November 8th. The money will be used for renovations and improvements to MPTC campuses in Fond du Lac and West Bend and for construction of a firefighters’ training center in Dodge County. Those projects will be accomplished through 2025. Fifty-nine percent of voters said yes to Moraine Park’s funding request during the General Election.
Great America Smokeout
People are encouraged to quit smoking during the American Cancer Society’s “Great American Smokeout” today. Officials say there are options in Wisconsin for those who want to quit. They include the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-784-8669. The Medicaid program provides free quit smoking services and medications through its cessation benefit. Pregnant, postpartum, and caregiving people who smoke, as well as their family members, can get help to quit from the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundations First Breath program online. Teens addicted to e-cigarettes can receive free help through the Live Vape Free program by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373. Smokers who quit before age 40 reduce their chance of dying too early from smoking-related diseases by about 90 percent. Those who quit by their mid –forties to early-fifties reduce their chance of dying too early by about two-thirds.
Smoking, alcohol or drug use concerns during pregnancy? We can help. (wwhf.org)
Ripon Rotary Club Citrus Sale
Orders forms are available today in the Ripon Commonwealth Press for the Ripon Rotary Club’s annual citrus sale. Next week they will be available in the Ripon Express. You can buy oranges, grapefruits or get a mixed box with oranges and grapefruits, and this year a smaller Holiday gift box. Bob Amsden coordinates the sale for the club. The money raised from the sale goes toward the club’s charitable efforts which include local scholarship programs, and usually an international charitable project. Amsden says fruit is great to have around during the holidays to give to guests or enjoy yourself. You can also order online at the club’s website Ripon Rotary.com. The deadline for ordering is Wednesday, November 30th at 5 pm. Pick up for the fruit is Thursday, December 15th from 10 am to 4 pm at Homan Ford and Chrysler in Ripon. For information about the sale call 920-602-0580.
Ripon Roars Halfway To Goal
Thanks to donations the Ripon Education Foundation’s Ripon Roar Days fundraiser this week has reached the halfway point of its goal of 250 donors. That goal is based on the Foundation’s 25th anniversary year. Webster’s Marketplace in Ripon raised over $7,300 for the foundation through contributions of its guests. Candi Baker of Webster’s has family ties to education. She was a teacher herself. She says a community grows through the strength of the education that it provides to students and Webster’s recognizes that. Steve Brooks teaches in the Crossroads program which provides an educational alternative to students who don’t do well in a classroom setting. He has successfully applied for a couple of grants through the foundation. He finds that beneficial to his students. To donate during Ripon Roar Days go to the Foundation’s website or send your donation to P.O. Box 395, Ripon, Wisconsin 54971.
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