1/10/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
10 January 2024 News
BOND SET IN NEW YEAR’S EVE HIT AND RUN TRAGEDY
A bond hearing was held Tuesday for the 19-year-old man arrested January 1st in connection with a deadly accident in which a 19-year-old Hartfrod woman was dragged three miles. Bond was set at $250,000 cash for Jatziel Manuel Pabon Encarnacion who was arrested for felony hit and run causing great bodily harm. Taya Grimes was one of four people thrown from a vehicle that went into a ditch on Highway 45. She had been driving the vehicle and was hit and dragged by another vehicle that went past the crash scene. She was pronounced dead where her body came to rest on Highway 45 south of Kewaskum. The vehicle that hit and dragged Grimes is also suspected of hitting a second person that had been thrown into the roadway after the initial crash, a 17-year-old from Iron Ridge. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says his office received investigative reports Tuesday morning and has begun reviewing the matter for potential charges. Toney says non-monetary bond conditions for Pabon Encarnacion included no contact with various witnesses and alcohol-related conditions. The charge currently brought against Pabon Encarnacion is for the second person hit at the scene of the accident on New Year’s Eve. (Fond du Lac County Jail photo).
SUSPECT EXTENDS APOLOGY OF FOUR SIBLINGS KILLED IN WRONG WAY CRASH
The 47-year-old Neenah man facing four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for a fatal wrong-way crash that killed four siblings in Waupaca County apologized to their family while in court Tuesday. Scott Farmer was in Waupaca County court for an adjourned initial appearance. During the December 16th crash on Highway 10 in Weyauwega Daniel, Fabian, Lillian and Daniela Gonzalez died when their SUV was hit by a wrong way driver. Farmer is charged with their deaths, operating with a revoked license causing death, and his fifth OWI.
WINTER STORM AFTERMATH
Heavy snowfall, gusting winds, and slippery conditions kept law enforcement and emergency personnel busy during Tuesday’s snowstorm. Waupun Police and Columbia County Sheriff’s officials urged people to avoid traveling if they could. From early afternoon to late evening yesterday the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies handled over a dozen reports of cars in the ditch. There were four accidents including two with injuries. There were also two fires involving trees that blew down on powerlines. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies handled a jack-knifed semi that was stuck in the roadway on Highway 33 between County Highway EF and Friesland Road near Friesland. As for some of the area’s snowfall totals yesterday Redgranite got 8 inches, Waupaca 7 inches, Oshkosh 6.8 inches, Wautoma 4.5 inches, and Beaver Dam 4.2 inches. (Columbia County Sheriff’s photo).
DEBATE OVER RIPON WATER TOWER DESIGN
The Ripon Common Council had a spirited debate last night on the design that should go onto a water tower when it is repainted and recoated this year. City Administrator Adam Sonntag said a survey found the two preferred designs were a standard script with Ripon Wisconsin on it, and a two-sided design featuring the Ripon Tigers and Ripon Red Hawks. Other designs getting votes included lone designs for the Ripon Tigers, Ripon Red Hawks, and the Little White Schoolhouse. At least three council members thought the Little White Schoolhouse should be featured because the City is known as the Birthplace of the Republican Party. Sonntag said he respects the conversation about the Little White Schoolhouse and its meaning, but he felt the design featuring the mascots of the school district and Ripon College is more appropriate given the schools’ roles in the community’s future. The Council will take up the discussion again at its next meeting.
RIPON 175TH ANNIVERSARY
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says 2024 is a special year for the City of Ripon. She says the City will be celebrating its 175th Anniversary. Kimes says they will be doing some special things throughout the course of the year to mark the special benchmark for the city. She says there are a lot of anniversaries for a variety of organizations this year. That includes the Kiwanis Club celebrating their 100th anniversary, the Historical Society is celebrating their 125th, and the Little White School House turns 170. Kimes says they may also incorporate some of the City’s history into a learning opportunity at the schools. She says not many people are aware that the City’s origins can be traced back to the Ceresco Community Living Commune before it became a City. Kimes says the City’s 175th Anniversary is a chance to promote what makes Ripon so special.
VAPING DANGEROUS TO YOUTH
Fond du Lac County Tobacco Control and Prevention Coordinator Johanna Brotz says vaping is a real threat to the health of youth and is more of a threat to teens than smoking or tobacco. She says vaping devices aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. She says because teens aren’t old enough to buy vaping devices in stores they rely on the “Black Market” and the problem with that is the devices may have been tampered with and in some cases may contain Fentanyl. She says help is available to youth that want to quit vaping. The state’s Department of Health Services launched its Live Vape Free program a year ago which youth can access by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373 or adults can access online. The Wisconsin Quit Line also offers resources their number is1-800-QUIT-NOW, that is 1-800-784-8669.
AG IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM
Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agriculture in the Classroom program is teaching thousands of kids each year about the importance of agriculture in their livers. Amy Ries is Envision’s Director of Agricultural Programs. She says there Agricultural Ambassador Jackie Robinson sets up the teaching opportunities with teachers and service clubs. Primarily they teach students from 4K through 5th grade, but have adapted their programs for middle school and high school as well. Ries says through last month the program had visited with over 3,300 kids during this school year so far. She says they are trying to see at least 1,000 kids a month. Students learn about where food comes from, what it takes to process things like milk into other products like cheese, careers connected to agriculture, and how technology has affected agriculture. Ries says this fall’s Holiday Gift Box program was a success providing them with more funds for the Ag in the Classroom program. To learn more about the program call Envision at 920-921-9500.
DNR CAREER FAIRS
The state’s Department of Natural Resources invites any member of the public interested in exploring a potential career with the DNR to attend any of four in-person career fairs taking place throughout the month of January. The fairs will be held in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Appleton, and Stoughton starting January 13th. The DNR employs passionate, knowledgeable, and natural resource-focused individuals. Representatives from several divisions including parks, forestry, wildlife, conservation wardens and environmental management will be present. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the natural resource field and explore full-time and part-time job opportunities with the DNR. The DNR’s Career Fair in Appleton will be on Saturday, January 20th from 9 am to 1 pm at Fox Valley Technical College. Use Entrance 16, Room A170.
TWENTIETH YEAR FOR JOAN BALLWEG LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS
State Senator Joan Ballweg of Markesan is offering scholarships to qualifying high school seniors in her district. Up to 12 $500 scholarships will be made available. Applications are being accepted now through Friday, March 29th. Scholarship eligibility is open to all graduating seniors continuing their education in a two-year technical college program or a four-year baccalaureate degree program. Students must graduate with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and reside in the 14th State Senate District. Scholarship packets are available in area high school guidance offices and online at Senator Ballweg’s website, or by calling 608-266-0751. This is the 20th consecutive year for the scholarships. Senator Ballweg says, “I always enjoy reading the students’ applications and learning about their outstanding leadership qualities.”
Joan Ballweg, Wisconsin State Senator, District 14
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