11/3/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
3 November 2023 News
NAMES RELEASED IN A PAIR OF FATAL ACCIDENTS IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office has released names in a pair of fatal traffic accidents in the Town of Omro that occurred over the last week. Thirty-three-year-old Harold Kissinger of Berlin was killed in a three-vehicle accident on State Highway 21 near Sand Pit Road on October 26th. The other two drivers were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. In the latest accident on Wednesday 57-year-old Matthew Drake of Omro died in a two-vehicle accident on State Highway 21 and East Scott Street. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both Kissinger and Drake died at the scene.
FDL MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD
Sexual assault of a child charges have been refiled against a 63-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of having sexual and inappropriate contact with two foster children. Paul Sheeley made his initial appearance on the six felony charges in Fond du Lac County court Wednesday. Bond was set at $1 million cash and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 19th. According to the criminal complaint the alleged crimes occurred between January 1st 2016 and August 6th of this year. The victims are both girls about 10 to 12 years of age. The first victim told investigators she was first touched when she was five or six years old and sexual abuse stopped when she was in third grade. She said she realized that he was now doing things to the second victim. That girl told investigators Sheeley would ask her, “Are you keeping this secret?” (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
FDL BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL ON RECKLESS HOMICIDE CHARGE
A 43-year-old Fond du Lac man suspected of supplying the heroin that led to a fatal overdose of a Fond du Lac woman has been bound over for trial. A preliminary hearing was held for Omar Jabbar Simpson in Fond du Lac County court Thursday. An arraignment has been scheduled for February 6th. Simpson is currently serving time at Stanley Correctional Institution. According to the criminal complaint the victim was found dead in her bedroom on March 5th of last year. An autopsy by the County Medical Examiner found the cause of death to be cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine toxicity. Dr. Adam Covach told a Fond du Lac Police detective the levels of cocaine in her were twice the lethal dose, but fentanyl levels would have killed her seven times over. In May Simpson was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 3 years of extended supervision on a heroin trafficking charge in Fond du Lac County court. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
WAUPACA FOUNDRY IN MARINETTE FINED FOR WORKERS INJURIES
The U.S. Department of Labor is fining the Waupaca Foundry in Marinette $234,385 after two workers suffered fingertip amputation injuries 11 days apart in April and May. The Occupational Safety Health Administration investigation found in both cases Waupaca Foundry didn’t have adequate machine guarding or energy control procedures that would have prevented the injuries. According to an OSHA press release the company was cited in 2019 and 2021 for exposing workers to similar hazards. The victims were 20 and 29-years-old. OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack says, “Despite repeated employee injuries and OSHA citations, Waupaca Foundry continues to ignore federal and industry-recognized safety requirements to prevent employee exposure to amputation, electrical and other hazards.” He added that the foundry must implement procedures and training immediately to protect its employees from preventable injuries. The company has until November 11th to pay or contest the fines and until November 28th to make the first corrections.
SPECIAL ORDER FOR BURN PERMITS LIFTED
The state’s DNR tells us that the burning permit requirement in 12 southern Wisconsin counties is now lifted. The rescinding of the Special Fire Order applies to 12 extensive DNR protection area counties outside of incorporated cities and villages. That applies to all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara counties and portions of Dane, Grant and Iowa counties. The original permit reinstatement went into effect on September 18th due to prolonged drought. A Special Fire Order allows the DNR to suspend burning when the fire danger is elevated. Recent rain events have improved the overall fire danger and drought situation to allow the department to resume normal burning permit requirements for this time of year.
RIPON CITY BUDGET
Ripon City Administrator Adam Sonntag says the Ripon Common Council is doing what it can to hold downs costs that get passed along to taxpayers in the 2024 City Budget. They are looking at a $3.8 million tax levy and a tax rate of $8.93 which is up three cents from last year. He says due to an objection by an industrial party to their assessment from the state, the final tax rate won’t be known until November 13th. Sonntag says the cost of doing business is going up and there are things they can’t defer or kick down the road. A public hearing on the proposed 2024 Ripon City Budget will be held during the Common Council’s next meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, November 14th.
FDL COUNTY SHERIFF GETS #1 ON HIS LIST
Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt has learned over his law enforcement career that sometimes you have to be patient to get your suspect. That patience paid off for him recently in an off-duty endeavor. Waldschmidt has a passion for hunting and the outdoors and is an avid bow hunter. He’s had his eye on an 11-point buck. Video sometimes helps them get a suspect and in this case a trail camera had taken pictures of this particular deer about three or four weeks ago. He thought it had moved on but then he saw it and got the elusive whitetail or as he puts it “#1 on his list.” After he shot it with a little help he was able to track and find it. Waldschmidt says unlike most bucks these days his deer wasn’t out chasing after does. The Sheriff plans to have the head mounted and feels it will generate a lot of stories over the years. (Photo from Sara Waldschmidt).
YOUNG REPUBLICANS CHAPTER LAUNCH
The Chairman of the newly formed Greater Fox Valley Young Republicans says they are all about engaging young voters prior to the 2024 elections in both the spring and fall. Jacob Floam says they believe it is a critical time to attract as many young voters as possible to the conservative movement across Wisconsin’s Fox Valley. The chapter’s kick-off event will take place on Monday, November 13th at 6 pm at the Fountain Tavern in Oshkosh. Featured speakers will include State Representatives Nate Gustafson, Ty Bodden, and Alex Dallman. The 2024 Presidential Election is just over a year away on Tuesday, November 5th 2024. The Greater Fox Valley Young Republicans will accept members from Winnebago, Outagamie, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Waushara, and Calumet counties.
ENVISION OFFICIAL GETS PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
An official with Envision Greater Fond du Lac was recently among 14 people from across the nation to receive 2023 Entrepreneurship Development Professional credentials. Raina Lyman, Envision’s Director of Small Business & Entrepreneurship received the credentials from the International Economic Development Council. The designation requires candidates to have two years of full-time experience in economic development, complete the necessary education requirements and pass the certification examination. It is designed for professionals who work with entrepreneurs and small businesses. The International Economic Development Council is the world’s largest membership organization for economic development professionals.
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