6/27/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
27 June 2023 News
OSHKOSH POLICE ARREST OWI AND HIT AND RUN SUSPECT
Oshkosh Police arrested a man for his fifth OWI offense after he fled from a traffic stop near South Park Avenue and Knapp Street late Sunday night. A traffic stop was initiated for an operator license violation near the intersection. An officer had contact with the man who was the only occupant in the vehicle. While the officer was speaking with the driver, the driver fled from the traffic stop. Officers did not pursue the vehicle. A short time later, a resident called to report that the driver had hit the side of their home, causing minor damage to the siding. After striking the house, the driver fled on foot from the scene. The driver was found in the backyard of a residence in the 1200 Block of Bismarck Street. In addition to the OWI offense he is being charged with knowingly fleeing an officer, felony bail jumping, 1st degree reckless endangering safety, hit and run accident, and operation while suspended.
SENATOR BALLWEG ON SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the proposed 2-year state budget the Joint Finance Committee has turned over to the state legislature includes $534 million in General Aids for K-12 Education including higher support for special needs students. Ballweg, a member of JFC, says she’s proud that school districts that have been fiscally responsible and were receiving $10,000 per student in aid will see that increase to $11,000. She says to pay for that they are providing nearly $1 billion in tax relief to help out property tax payers. That will be accomplished through two methods; levy credits and gaming credits that people receive on their property taxes. More importantly she emphasizes they will be maintaining the two-thirds funding of K-12 education.
SENATOR FEYEN COMMENTS ON PROPOSED DOC WAGE HIKES
State Senator Dan Feyen recently commented after the Joint Committee on Finance took action to raise wages for security personnel at the Department of Corrections. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says this session he has been working with his colleagues in the legislature to take meaningful action on pay for DOC employees to increase recruitment and retention at the agency. He says the JFC during their final executive session last week on the 2-year state budget approved a monumental $344 million to adequately compensate state correctional officers. He notes the starting wage for security personnel will increase to $33 an hour, with adjustments for current staff. Feyen says, “I am excited that the legislature’s final budget will include a key investment in these individuals who play such a vital role in our state’s public safety.”
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES SAND VOLLEYBALL COURT PROJECT
The Ripon Common Council last night approved spending up to $31,000 to reconstruct two sand volleyball courts. Parks and Recreation Department Director Ashton Zeien told the council she had invited six excavating firms to bid on the project and two had responded. The Council approved R & R Wash’s low-bid of $24,700. The rest of the money for the project will come from the Parks and Recreation Department budget, but grants, donations, and sponsorships will also be sought. She said she will be promoting sand volleyball play and leagues and believes the courts will be heavily used. City Administrator Adam Sonntag said the Parks and Recreation Committee found the sand volleyball court reconstruction to be a valuable project. Zeien will also be acquiring a new netting system for the project.
SHARED REVENUE BENEFITS FOR WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Winnebago County Supervisor Jacob Floam says a boost in state shared revenue will help out the county and its municipalities. The shared revenue package passed by the state legislature and signed into law by the Governor will benefit all municipalities across the state by at least 20 percent. Floam says the cities of Oshkosh and Omro will both get a 20 percent increase in revenue and the county will see an 81 percent increase in its share of funds. He says Winnebago County will be able to remain one of only four counties across the state that doesn’t have a sales tax. He says there are some things the county can use that increase of shared revenue on such as funding a merit pay adjustment for county employees and paying for increased costs for road maintenance. Floam says with costs going up the county will also be able to pay for some of its additional operating expenses as well.
ACCIDENTAL 911 CALLS
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says at their current rate they will double the number of inadvertent 911 calls they normally receive at their Communications Center by the end of the year. He says a lot of that is due to jostling of smart phones and the Emergency SOS features that automatically dial 911 when that happens. He says people should check to see if their phone service provider sent out an update to correct that feature. He urges people to stay on the line if they accidentally dial 911 so a dispatcher knows it is not a real emergency. He says a lot of those calls happen when people place their phones in cup holders, especially on riding lawn mowers. It can also happen on a boat too.
WINNECONNE APPOINTS NEW POLICE CHIEF
The Winneconne Village Board unanimously appointed Interim Police Chief Ben Sauriol as Winneconne’s new police chief. The appointment was approved at the board’s meeting last Tuesday. Chief Sauriol says, “Being selected as Winneconne’s next police chief is very humbling and surreal. It seemed like yesterday that I started here as a part-time officer in May of 2003.” Sauriol also thanked former Chief Olson for promoting him over the years. Sauriol worked for the Wild Rose Police Department before being hired by then Winneconne Chief Running in 2003. Chief Sauriol says his door will always be open to the public.
OSHKOSH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS
When the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education meets Wednesday they will be asked to consider approving the appointments of Michelle Last as the next principal at Oshkosh North High Schools and Lewis Malczewski as the next principal at Oshkosh West High School. Pending board approval the appointments would take effect on July 1st. Last has served as an assistant principal at Oshkosh North High School for the past five years. She began her educational career in 2004 as a math teacher at Oshkosh North. Malczewski has been a teacher and school administrator for over twenty-three years. He currently leads the Academies of Racine Gifford K8 School in Racine as academy principal.
OSHKOSH SANITATION COLLECTION FOR THE HOLIDAY
The Oshkosh Sanitation Division is reminding residents that due to the City’s observance of the 4th of July, there will be no garbage or recycling collection next Tuesday. Collections for the remainder of the week will be one day later. Garbage and recycling collection scheduled for Friday, July 7th moves to Saturday, July 8th. Regular services will resume on Monday, July 10th. Additionally, the City’s yard waste drop-off center will be closed for the holiday next Tuesday.
AIR REFUELING WING FLYOVERS TODAY
The 128th Air Refueling Wing invites the public to join them today to observe flyovers of their air refuelers above communities across the state honoring 100 years of aerial refueling excellence. While the U.S. Air Force has been in the business for 100 years, the Wisconsin Air National Guard has been providing air refueling to receiver aircraft across the globe for nearly 60 years. Based out of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport the 128 Air Refueling Wing, “Brew City Tankers”, operate 10 KC-135 Stratotankers on behalf of the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Today a 128 Air Refueling Wing KC-135 will tour the state performing low-pass flyovers to commemorate this historic occasion. The low-pass flyover will be performed at the following locations: Miller Park, Lambeau Field, Door County, Minnesota State Capitol, Volk Field, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin State Capitol, and Camp Randall.
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