8/7/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
7 August 2023 News
SECOND DROWNING VICTIM RECOVERED
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Dive Team Friday morning recovered the body of a second swimmer who had drowned in the Wisconsin River the previous day. Thursday night the body of a 25-year-old man was recovered and using a remotely operated vehicle Friday morning the body of a 24-year-old man was located and recovered. Sheriff’s officials say both bodies were recovered in about 17 feet of water. Investigators learned from witnesses that a group of adults were enjoying the water from a nearby sandbar when one of the adults was overcome in the water. Several others in the party attempted to assist the man but a second man was overcome as well. Both men went underwater and never resurfaced. Foul play is not suspected.
FDL COUNTY CHASE SUSPECT BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
One of two Green Bay men allegedly involved in a high speed chase with authorities in Fond du Lac and Washington counties last month has been bound over for trial in Fond du Lac County court. A preliminary hearing was held for 29-year-old Nathan Brown last Friday. He was also arraigned and pled not guilty to two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of marijuana possession. Brown was a passenger in the fleeing vehicle. The driver of the vehicle 21-year-old Keith Walker faces additional charges and was bound over for trial during his preliminary hearing on July 28th. The chase covered 37 miles and speeds were in excess of 115 miles an hour. Two handguns tossed from the fleeing vehicle were recovered.
SCIENCE OF READING
School districts across Wisconsin will be adapting to the new Science of Reading concept for young readers over the next year. A bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor is still being fined tuned as far as its rules. Berlin Area School District Superintendent Emmett Durtschi says it will put more of an emphasis on phonics hoping to get third graders to read at a third grade level or better. Durtschi says basically they are unpacking the new law this year. He foresees the use of literacy coaches, summer literacy intervention programs, and other tools to reach reading goals. In the meantime school districts will have to adapt their curriculum for the new law.
STIGMA AWARNESS REGARDING SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY
The Fond du Lac County Health Department and Community Medical Services, are collaborating with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to host a Stigma Awareness event. The event’s goal is to unite the community in raising awareness on stigma and the barriers it creates to individuals seeking substance use recovery. The event will be from 3 to 7 pm on Thursday, August 24th at the Lakeside Park Pavilion in Fond du Lac. At 3:45 there will be Narcan administration training. At 4:30 there will be a workshop on stigma and cycles of stigma. At 5:30 a featured panel of speakers will share their stories about substance use, loss and recovery, and address the stigma that exists with addiction. Visit the Fond du Lac County Health Department’s website for more information on various resources and area treatment options. Since 2020, Fond du Lac County has lost 82 people to overdose deaths.
RIPON AREA COMMUNITY THEATRE SUMMER MUSICAL
The 1950’s battle over keeping Rock ‘n Roll on the airwaves comes to the Ripon High School Auditorium this weekend with the Ripon Area Community Theatre’s production of the musical “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop.” A local radio station decides Rock ‘n Roll has to go while local teenagers and an up-and-coming band fight to keep it. Mason Kind plays Gary Jones the leader of a local rock band. He says the musical features many classic Rock ‘n’ Roll hits. Ellie Sinclair plays Judy a teen who wants to come up with the next popular dance move. Ellie says that gives her a chance to sing quite a bit. Performances will be Friday and Saturday night at 7 pm, with a 2 pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or online in advance. Those 12 and under will be admitted free. The summer show is being directed by Kim Sinclair and Linda De Jager. (Ripon Area Community Theatre photo).
HUNTER SAFETY COURSE REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration begins today for a hunter’s safety course being offered in Fond du Lac. Those interested in registering need to visit the Fond du Lac Recreation Department at 72 West 9th Street in Fond du Lac, which is across from Fruth Field. Don Burger has been teaching hunter safety courses for over 30 years. He says the DNR started offering the courses online during COVID, but the in-person courses are more beneficial. The course will be held on Tuesdays August 15th and 22nd, and Thursdays August 17th and 24th from 6 to 8:30 pm. There will also be a field day on Saturday, August 26th. That will include information about getting into and out of a tree stand safely. The course will be taught at the Izaak Walton League club house, which is located at N6491 County Road K in Fond du Lac.
BONUS ANTLERLESS HARVEST AUTHORIZATIONS
The Wisconsin DNR tells us bonus antlerless harvest authorizations, formerly known as tags, for the 2023 gun deer season will be available for purchase online through the Go Wild license portal and at license sales locations starting at 10 am next Monday. Bonus authorizations are sold at a rate of one per person per day until sold out or until the 2023 deer hunting season ends. Bonus authorizations are $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for non-residents, and $5 each for youth ages 11 and under. Bonus sales on Monday, August 14th are for the Forest Zones, on the 15th for Central Farmland Zone, on August 16th for the Southern Farmland Zone, and on the 17th for all zones. Sales begin at 10 am each of those days.
HINDER PERFORMING IN RIPON SATURDAY
In addition to the Horicon Bank Ripon Summer Concert Series concert this Friday night there will be an additional free performance Saturday by national recording artist Hinder. The concert, which is sponsored by Guaranty Closing &Title Services, takes place at the Village Green from 7 to 11 pm. The opening performer is Lines of Loyalty. Friday night Wisconsin band Chicken Wire Empire will perform from 7 to 10 pm. That performance is sponsored by Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home.
PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDED FOR RIPON CHARTER SCHOOLS
The Ripon Area School District is recommending Shawn Gartzke as the preferred candidate for the principal position at Barlow Park Charter and Journey Project Elementary Schools. Pending Ripon School Board approval at a special meeting on Thursday he will start that same day. Gartzke is currently a 2nd grade teacher in the Hortonville Area School District, a position he has held for 10 years. Previously he was a primary teacher at Carl Traeger Elementary School in Oshkosh for 14 years. Gartzke was one of three finalists for the position at Barlow Journey invited back for a second day of interviews this past Thursday. None of the candidates had administrative experience but Gartzke has had leadership roles. Ripon Schools Superintendent Mary Whitrock says Gartzke has a reputation as an outstanding educator. She says he is prepared to lead Barlow Park Charter Elementary and Journey Project Elementary Schools to greater success. You can read more about his appointment in our story at Hometown Broadcasting.com.
Share |