8/11/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
11 August 2023 News
SUSPECT IN RIPON DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
One of five people charged in the overdose death of an 18-year-old Ripon man has been bound over for trial. Twenty-two-year-old Michael Manske was in Fond du Lac County court for a preliminary hearing Thursday. He is charged with first degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime, marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, and maintaining a drug trafficking place. According to the criminal complaint on April 7th the victim took a pill believed to be Percocet at Manske’s home and overdosed. He was taken from the residence and left on a sidewalk. The pill contained fentanyl. Preliminary hearings for three other suspects in the case are set for October 5th.
NAMES OF WISCONSIN RIVER DROWNING VICTIMS RELEASED
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the two men who drown in the Wisconsin River on August 3rd. They were 24-year-old Akash Selvam and 25-year-old Jerome Schreiner, both of Madison. Investigators learned from witnesses the two were with a group of adults enjoying the water from a nearby sandbar when one of them was overcome in the water. Several others attempted to assist him but a second man was overcome as well. Searchers recovered Schreiner’s body that same evening and Selvam’s the following morning.
VINCENT’S STORY
A pediatric initiative at SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital ensures even the youngest children get the best care available in life-threatening scenarios. Such was the case last November when 2-year-old Vincent Goeldi of Ripon had serious respiratory issues. Desiree Stensrud is the Inpatient Nursing Supervisor at the hospital. Vincent’s parents Nick and Caitlin put their trust in the staff for his initial care. Eventually Vincent went to Children’s Wisconsin, but he survived the scare and Stensrud says now he’s a happy, healthy 3-year-old. Ripon Community Hospital and 11 other emergency departments spent the last year participating in the Wisconsin Pediatric Readiness Program. Stensrud says in a rural community parents are going to take their children to a local hospital for emergency care they don’t have 20 to 30 minutes to travel to a bigger hospital for treatment. She says the pediatric initiative has helped them with training and gaps they did not realize they had in pediatric care. You can read more about Vincent’s story in our story at Hometown Broadcasting.com.
NEW SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR FOR RIPON
Ripon’s new Senior Center Director began her duties this week. City Administrator Adam Sonntag told the Common Council Tuesday there were seven people who applied for the position and he and Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien interviewed three finalists. They hired Christine Leusch a Ripon native who has over 30 years of experience in fund raising and non-profit management. She has a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Syracuse University. Sonntag says she has had experience working with the senior population more recently working with the United Way and Easter Seals Goodwill organizations. Leusch lives not far from the Ripon Senior Activity Center. She succeeds Noreen Johnson who resigned as Senior Center Director last month to take a position with Diverse Options.
OSHKOSH AREA JOB FAIR
The annual Oshkosh Area Job Fair will be held from 3 to 6 pm on Tuesday, September 12th at Sunnyview Expo Center. This year’s event has a new and exciting twist thanks to a grant from The New North, the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board’s regional economic development partner. The grant will allow them to provide a meal to every job seeker between the hours of 4 and 7 pm. Area food truck vendors will provide the food. In addition job seekers who visit at least five participating company booths will be eligible to receive $15 worth of food tokens to be used at the food trucks participating at the fair. Employer representatives manning the recruitment booths will be well fed from the food trucks too. Over 100 employers will be participating in the job fair. The event is free.
SENATOR BALLWEG FEATURED SPEAKER AT LWV OF THE RIPON AREA EVENT
State Senator Joan Ballweg will be the featured speaker next Wednesday evening at 7 pm for a program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Ripon Area. The event will be held in the Ripon City Hall Council Chambers. It will be carried on the Ripon Channel YouTube page. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend as the League begins its annual programming to help citizens better understand the function and roles of government at both the state and local levels. State Representatives Alex Dallman and Jon Plumer were invited to participate in a panel discussion on the work of the State Legislature and both declined for different reasons. Senator Ballweg will discuss both committee work and legislative work as major changes have occurred in the areas of shared revenue as well as advisory resolutions from local municipalities.
THEDACARE MODERNIZATION PROJECT CONTINUES
ThedaCare has completed the next phase of the $100 million investment to modernize ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. The phase includes the improvement and expanded access for Behavioral Health services by redesigning the inpatient space. It also features the development of the new Women’s Center, which includes mammography, diagnostics and imaging, and bone density testing. The modernization project was announced in October of 2021. Lynn Detterman is the Senior Vice President of ThedaCare South Region. She says they are more than half-way through the project and they can see the finish line in sight.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN CELEBRATION
Registration is underway for the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin celebration of 15 years of philanthropy in Waushara County. It will be held on Thursday, September 14th at the WW II Memorial Building in Wautoma. Socializing is at 5:30 pm, with dinner at 6 pm, and a presentation at 6:45. Dinner will be buffet style catered by the Moose Inn. The evening will include an impact presentation and a wine pull. Peder Culver is on the Executive Committee for the Foundation. He says money raised from the event will go toward charitable and environmental efforts in Waushara County. Marlee Samuels of the Foundation says although the Foundation supports efforts in Portage and Waushara counties quite a bit of the over $1 million they’ve generated in grants and scholarships over the those 15 years have gone toward efforts in Waushara County. Tickets for the evening are $35. You can RSVP by calling 715-342-4454 or by visiting the Foundation’s website.
RIPON AREA COMMUNITY THEATRE SUMMER MUSICAL THIS WEEKEND
The Ripon Area Community Theatre performs the musical “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop” at the Ripon High School Auditorium this weekend. It is a musical about the early days of Rock ‘n Roll and the battle to keep it on the radio. 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 has had some previous experience acting with the Fond du Lac Community Theatre, but says this role is a little different. Ellie Sinclair plays Judy a teen who wants to come up with the next popular dance move. Ellie also has had some previous acting experience and likes her character’s positive outlook on life. Performances are tonight and tomorrow 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.
LAST FAMILY EVENT OF THE SUMMER AT CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF FDL
The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac is holding its last family event of the summer today from 4 to 7 pm with special daytime hours 9 am to 2 pm. The theme for the event is “Campout at the Museum.” In addition to the museum’s 50 plus specially designed play areas, visitors will enjoy extra fun camping themed activities and even s’mores snacks, hot dogs and hamburgers, while supplies last. Admission to the event is $8 per person with reduced pricing for seniors, children under 1 and families with demonstrated financial need. Members receive free admission.
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