1/18/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
18 January 2023 News
Milwaukee Man Arrested Following FDL County Traffic Chase
A 26-year-old Milwaukee man is facing multiple charges for a high speed chase on Interstate 41, Highway 151, and County Highway B in Fond du Lac County early Tuesday morning. Sheriff’s officials say a maneuver was used to cause the suspect’s vehicle to lose control and it was then boxed in by other law enforcement cars on a bridge over Interstate 41. The suspect wouldn’t cooperate in getting out of his vehicle and deputies had to pull him out of the driver’s side window. He complained about his breathing and was taken to a local hospital but hadn’t suffered any injuries. Wisconsin Community Corrections wanted him on active warrants. There was significant damage to the suspect’s vehicle and minor damage to two Fond du Lac County cruisers. The pursuit covered 9.5 miles. The man is being charged with felony fleeing and criminal resisting. He also received several traffic citations and one for marijuana possession.
Omro Man Sentenced To Life In Prison for Double Homicide
The 54-year-old Omro man convicted of shooting and killing Lavar Wallace and Melissa Matz at Clark’s home on Elo Road on October 21st, 2020, has been sentenced to two life terms. Andrew Clark was sentenced Tuesday in Winnebago County court. Those sentences will run simultaneously with no chance of parole, but he was also sentenced to two years in prison for mutilating a corpse which he would serve if the murder convictions were overturned. During a press conference in October of 2020 Sheriff John Matz said Clark called 911 claiming someone had broken into the home, set a fire and his wife wasn’t breathing. Investigators believe an argument over missing money prompted the shootings. Clark is appealing the convictions. A motion hearing is scheduled in April.
Bond Conditions Modified For Man Allegedly Involved In Murder for Hire Plot
A Berlin man suspected of trying to hire a hitman to kill his adult son who inherited most of a relative’s estate has been ordered to stay away from that son. Green Lake County Judge Mark Slate Tuesday modified bond conditions for Joseph Hoppa ordering him not to have contact with the victim. Hoppa and his 39-year-old son Jason Hoppa are both charged with solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide. They allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill one of Joseph’s sons for $40,000. Joseph Hoppa has a preliminary hearing on February 28th. Jason Hoppa will be in court for a preliminary hearing next Tuesday.
Oshkosh Woman Charged For Disturbance At Middle School
The first of six people arrested at the Merrill Middle School in Oshkosh last Wednesday for creating a disturbance made her initial appearance in Winnebago County court Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint the six adults forced their way into the school responding to a 13-year-old that was being disciplined inside for a fight between two students earlier in the day. That led to “chaos” and a fight. Thirty-seven-year-old Charlotte Fletcher of Oshkosh is charged with two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer. She was released on a $1,000 signature bond, but she was ordered not to have any contact with the school or its staff or attend any school functions. A plea hearing is scheduled for February 6th. Charges against the other five people involved in the disturbance haven’t been filed yet.
Boys and Girls Club Town Hall Meeting Held in Ripon
Area residents learned more Monday night about the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area’s plan to expand to Ripon with a new building. The Club will continue to operate in Berlin and Green Lake but will open the new facility in Ripon. During a town hall meeting at the Ripon City Hall a panel talked about the club’s plans for Ripon. The new building will cap a 7-year long effort to bring a Boys & Girls Club to Ripon. It’s a $10 million capital campaign with $7.5 million of it raised and pledged. Mary Lyke a former school nurse and member of the Club’s Board of Directors says she has seen first-hand what a club can do for a community. Another panelist said for every dollar invested in a Boys & Girls Club there are $10 in benefits and a Boys & Girls Club in Ripon is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the community. Officials hope to break ground on the building project on May 1st and to open the facility sometime next March.
Crisis Social Worker Position Saving Lives
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says a new position within the Sheriff’s Department is saving lives. Earlier this month the crisis social worker with the help of Sheriff’s deputies was able to talk down a homeless veteran who was considering suicide. Mueller says that rescue effort made the news but that position will be saving countless other lives that we will probably not hear about. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs maintains a 24/7 crisis line for veterans which can be accessed by dialing 988. The County also maintains a 24/7 crisis line that anyone can call at 920-929-3535. 911 can also be dialed and resources deployed to help anyone struggling and in crisis.
Free COVID 19 Tests Still Available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging people to get their COVID-19 booster shots this month. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker of the former Ripon COVID-19 Community Task Force says it’s still a good idea even with a lessening threat from the disease. He also reminds people that you can still get free COVID-19 tests through the federal government. The place to visit is COVID Tests.gov. He says it is good to have them on hand if you don’t feel well and maybe suffering some of the symptoms of COVID. He also urges those who are sick from COVID to use the 5-day rule during isolation, that is 5 days of isolation or until you feel well followed by wearing a mask for another 5 days to prevent contagion.
Envision Promotion Well Deserved
Envision Greater Fond du Lac President and CEO Sadie Vander Velde says Joe Venhuizen’s recent promotion to Vice President of Membership and Resource Development was well deserved. She says Venhuizen was with the Fond du Lac Association of Commerce when it merged with Fond du Lac County Economic Development to become Envision. She says he has been working toward the promotion he was given. She notes he also was instrumental in bringing the Waupun Area Chamber of Commerce on board which has now morphed into the Waupun Business Alliance which is now an extension of Envision. In his new role, Venhuizen will continue to be a point person for members and investors, as well as take on new tasks including developing a strategic membership growth plan.
Sturgeon Spearing Regulations
The state’s Department of Natural Resources Tuesday published its regulations for the 2023 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing season. The season starts on Saturday, February 11th and runs for 16 days or until any of the pre-determined harvest caps are met. Among the changes spearers need to know is that registration stations have been moved back to their pre-pandemic locations. All registration will once again be in-person with some locations offering a drive-thru option. The maximum width of a spear head is restricted to 18 inches or less and tines can only be arranged in a single straight line. Registration station locations and the new regulations can be viewed online.
Fishing Regulations | Fishing Wisconsin | Wisconsin DNR
Oshkosh Senior Center’s Fox Fitness Center Open House
The City of Oshkosh is opening the doors to its Senior Center on Thursday, January 26th, from noon to 3 pm for people to see their facility’s fitness equipment. Center partners will share wellness information during the event, and visitors can sign up for door prizes. Network Health, the Oshkosh Police and Fire Department, and Hometown Pharmacy are just a few community participants. It’s also an opportunity to hear about the new fall risk equipment that the Oshkosh Fire Department purchased for the Center. The equipment can determine your fall risk compared to your peers in under five minutes.
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