5/23/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
23 May 2023 News
NAME RELEASED IN FATAL DODGE COUNTY ACCIDENT
Dodge County authorities have released the name of the 38-year-old Fall River woman killed in a two-vehicle crash last Saturday morning. Kammey May Schultz was a front seat passenger in a car that went onto the paved shoulder of Highway 151 northbound at Highway M and hit a disabled semi pulling double trailers. The accident in the Town of Chester happened just before 8:30 Saturday morning. Schultz died at the scene. The driver of the car, a 59-year-old man and a passenger a 14-year-old girl, both suffered serious injuries and were taken to the UW-Hospital in Madison. A nine-year-old girl was treated for minor injuries at Waupun Memorial Hospital. All three are from Fall River. The truck driver, a 32-year-old Oshkosh man, was not hurt.
OSHKOSH POLICE OFFICER JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING INCIDENT
The Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office has determined that an Oshkosh Police officer’s use of force was justified during an officer involved shooting on March 17th. Police were investigating a complaint that a man had hit a woman working at an assisted living facility and stole her purse, her money, and her car. The suspect had recently been released from prison and was on parole. Police found him sitting in the victim’s car parked in a parking lot in the 500 block of North Main Street. They parked a squad car behind that car to prevent it from taking off but when officers approached the man he put the car into reverse and hit the squad car narrowly missing one of them. He then drove at the other officer who had no way of taking cover and she fired two rounds at him striking him with one. The suspect struck a concrete light pole base and a parked vehicle. Officers helped remove him from the vehicle and began rendering medical aid. He is currently in the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility in Milwaukee, awaiting a parole violation hearing. After reviewing the state Justice Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation reports, the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office found the suspect presented a significant risk to the life and safety of the officer at the time of the shooting. Driving at her put the officer in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm and her use of force was justified. The DA is still considering criminal charges against the man.
OMRO MAN SUSPECTED OF ELDORADO WOMAN’S MURDER ARRAIGNED
The 22-year-old Omro man suspected of murdering Johanna Schultz was arraigned yesterday in Winnebago County court. Joseph Olvera pled not guilty to charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. According to the criminal complaint he is suspected of strangling and killing the 20-year-old Eldorado woman in his apartment in the 500 block of Spruce Street on March 11th. Investigators learned Olvera and Schultz had a “toxic” relationship arguing several times a month. An autopsy determined Schultz died of “smothering.” Olvera will be back in court on August 14th for a plea hearing. He is being held in the Winnebago County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.
LIQUOR LICENSE FOR FDL GAS STATION THAT SOLD TO TEENS KILLED IN ACCIDENT SUSPENDED
A Shell gas station in Fond du Lac has had its liquor license suspended after investigators connected it to the deaths of two teenagers in a traffic accident last January. Sanju Paudel who faces charges of providing alcohol to a minor resulting in death worked for the Express Mart. According to the criminal complaint store surveillance video showed her allegedly selling beer and rum to one of teens without asking for identification. Less than 12 hours later Tommy Koenigs and Nevins Zoch were in a car crash that took their lives. Fond du Lac’s Alcohol Licensing Committee yesterday afternoon voted unanimously to suspend the convenience store’s license for selling alcohol. The company that owns it agreed to settle with the city to suspend its liquor license for 90 days. Should the Shell station have any more violations during that period its liquor license would automatically be revoked.
COLUMBIA COUNTY DEPUTY NEARLY RUN OVER
A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy preparing to deploy a tire deflation device had to run from a driver who was fleeing from a traffic stop Monday morning. The deputy was in a ditch off of Interstate 90 when the suspect’s vehicle swerved off the highway nearly striking the deputy. Ultimately tire deflation devices in Dane County near DeForest flattened three of the four tires on the suspect’s vehicle and officers used a maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop. The suspect, 26-year-old Michael Payne of Minneapolis, Minnesota, got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. He was caught a short time later. Payne was wanted on a felony warrant from Minnesota. He was taken to the Columbia County jail for the warrant and charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing an officer. (Columbia County Sheriff’s photo).
CLICK IT OR TICKET UNDERWAY
Law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin including the State Patrol are stepping up patrols for the annual Click It or Ticket campaign which is underway. The increased enforcement of seat belt violations runs through June 4th nationwide. Wisconsin’s primary seat belt law allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a seat belt. Penalties are higher for transporting unrestrained children. Passengers can also be cited for not wearing a seat belt. A 2022 survey found 87.5 percent of Wisconsin motorists wear seat belts. The number has been dropping in recent years and falls below the nationwide seat belt use rate of 90.4 percent in 2021.
TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE THE STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM
State Senator Joan Ballweg says proposed increases in pay for assistant district attorneys and public defenders is one of the ways they can make the state’s justice system quicker and more efficient. The state lawmaker from Markesan has talked with a number of District Attorneys over the years that have had problems with staff shortages and attracting lawyers to be ADAs because of the compensation level. She says Wisconsin state public defender Kelli Thompson tells her staffing shortages in the corrections system has also created issues for public defenders trying to meet with clients who are in prison. Ballweg sits on the state’s Joint Finance Committee which hopes to do something as well to ease a testing backlog for the State Crime Lab.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
During this Mental Health Awareness Month, health officials are encouraging people to “Look Around, Look Within.” Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says people aren’t always aware that a friend or loved one may be suffering from depression, thoughts of harming themselves, or other mental health issues. She recommends talking to a friend or loved one if you are suffering and if the problem is too big for them to take on there is professional help available. More information is available through the National Alliance on Mental Illness website. There is also a toolkit available through the Mental Health America website that can be downloaded.
Mental Health Month | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
SECOND RIPON SRO LIVING OUT HIS MISSION
The Ripon Area School District Board of Education last week got a chance to meet Ripon Police Officer Brad Rasmussen who will serve as the school district’s second School Resource Officer. Officially he starts with the district on July 1st the beginning of the new academic year, but District Superintendent Mary Whitrock says Officer Rasmussen has been putting in some hours already to learn more about the district and the staff. Whitrock says his primary focus will be with elementary schools, but he will also be working with the other SRO Officer Lindsey Michels in the other schools. During the summer the two officers will be doing other duties for the Police Department. Whitrock says during his meeting with the school board Officer Rasmussen told them serving as the district’s second SRO gives him a chance to live out his mission to serve and give back to the community.
OMRO SAFE DRINKING WATER LOAN APPLICATION
The City of Omro is applying for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to improve its public drinking water system. The project includes reconstruction associated with watermain, sanitary sewer and stormwater improvement along parts of West Larrabee Street, Grant Avenue and Michigan Street. Activities related to the project are considered minor actions and do not require environmental analysis. The state DNR says the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects and likely will proceed to funding. The public can submit comments to the DNR until, Friday, June 2nd.
OASD ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION TABBED
Dr. Samuel Coleman is being recommended to serve as the Oshkosh Area School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Instruction. The appointment will be included as an agenda item for the Board of Education meeting on May 31st. Pending board approval his appointment would begin on July 1st. Coleman currently serves as the chief academic officer for Lynchburg City Schools in Lynchburg, Virginia. Over the last 16 years, he has served in public education in both state and municipal government. Coleman began his education career in 2007 as a Social Studies teacher in Milwaukee.
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