2/21/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
21 February 2024 News
MURDER-SUICIDE IN COLUMBUS
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into an apparent murder-suicide that occurred Monday morning. Columbus Police were dispatched to the Prairie Ridge Health Clinic for a report of a man outside the entrance with a gun. The man, 85-year-old David Zittel, shot himself in the emergency room waiting area. Medical aid was rendered but Zittel had already passed away. Columbus Police requested the Sheriff’s Office respond to his residence in the Town of Elba to check on his wife. Deputies arrived at the address on Oak Grove Drive and found Susan Zittel dead at the home. She had been shot. Investigators suspect David Zittel shot his wife first and then went to Prairie Ridge Health Clinic where he shot himself. Officials say it was an isolated incident and the community is safe.
WOMAN INJURED IN FDL COUNTY HOUSE FIRE
A 75-year-old woman was taken to St. Agnes Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation following a house fire on Eagle Road Tuesday evening. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies and the Eden Fire Department were dispatched to N3499 Eagle Road for a house fire just after 6:30 pm. The blaze was quickly extinguished. The fire is believed to have started when clothing was piled near an electrical wire. The fire is not considered suspicious. Campbellsport Ambulance took the woman to the hospital. No one else was injured.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
The state’s Department of Justice has released more details about an investigation the Division of Criminal Investigation is doing into an officer involved critical shooting incident in Winnebago County. At approximately 9:40 the night of February 2nd North Fond du Lac Police Sergeant Bryce LaLuzerne initiated a traffic stop in the Village of North Fond du Lac. The vehicle fled from the stop. A Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputy deployed a tire deflation device a half-mile into Winnebago County causing the vehicle to stop. The driver, and loan occupant, 36-year-old Lawrence Drennan, called 911 and reported he had a gun. Drennan exited the vehicle and approached law enforcement. Sergeant LaLuzerne discharged his firearm striking Drennan. Despite life saving measures, Drennan died at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured. LaLuzerne remains on administrative leave. Sergeant LaLuzerne was wearing a body camera and both North Fond du Lac Police and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s squad cars had cameras. Once the DCI has reviewed evidence and determined the facts of the incident, the investigative reports will be turned over to the Winnebago County District Attorney.
MISSING OSHKOSH WOMAN FOUND SAFE
Oshkosh Police found 80-year-old Tamasha Abwe Tuesday morning. She was reported missing Monday evening. A Silver Alert was issued for her because she is believed to have dementia or some other cognitive impairment. She had walked away from her residence. Police officers resumed a search at first light Tuesday morning searching an area on foot and an officer who recently graduated from the police academy and his Field Training Officer located her. She was found in the backyard of a residence in the 800 Block of Jackson Street. She was barefoot without a coat or any warm protective clothing. Tamasha had no visible injuries, but was taken to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.
ELECTION RESULTS
There were some primary races in the area during yesterday’s election that narrowed the field of candidates for those offices. In Winnebago County in the race for Circuit Court Judge for Branch 1, Lakeisha Haase with 5,776 votes and Michael Rust with 3,526 votes advanced. Eric Heywood with 3,194 votes was eliminated.
In County Board races in Dodge County for Supervisory District 31 Kevin Burnett (43 votes) and Steve Rydzewski (42 votes) were the top vote getters and Jared Landsee (15 votes) was eliminated. In the Green Lake County Board race for District 11 the candidates receiving the most votes were Mark Lindquist (83 votes) and Harley Reabe (75 votes). Scott Mundro (37 votes) was eliminated. There was also a race for the Waushara County Board for District 11. Advancing were the top vote getters Mark Kerschner (111 votes) and Anna Villarreal Garbis (37 votes). Luke Joseph (26 votes) was eliminated from the race.
There were a couple of Mayoral races. In Mayville Rob Boelk (292 votes) and John Guinn (153 votes) will face each other in April. J. James Liebenow (57 votes) was eliminated from the race. Omro also had a mayor’s race. Steve Jungwirth (173 votes) will face Suzette Davis-Rice (85 votes) this spring. James Braasch (57 votes) did not get enough votes to advance.
BALLWEG APPOINTED CO-CHAIR OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE
State Senator Joan Ballweg has been appointed to serve as Co-Chair for the Children, Families and Human Services Committee commissioned by the National Conference of State Legislatures. She will co-chair the committee with Oregon State Representative Lisa Reynolds. Ballweg’s appointment to the national committee is a two-year term. The state lawmaker from Markesan says she’s looking forward to serving as co-chair for the committee. Throughout her time in the Wisconsin State Legislature, Senator Ballweg has authored many proposals that seek to enhance the lives of children and families.
BGCTC RIPON FACILITY
Officials with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area expect the excitement to build in the Ripon community for a new facility the club will be building over the next year. Fundraising continues for the 30,000 plus square foot, two-story building. Cost rose during the fundraising campaign, but over $12.3 million has been donated. Board member Mary Lyke says people in the Ripon area are excited about what is going to be built. The Webster Foundation recently gave out its annual grants and recommitted to giving for the new Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area facility in Ripon. They added an additional $300,000 to the $1 million they had already pledged. Club CEO Jason Presto says there have been so many generous donors and building the facility they have planned wouldn’t be possible without them. Those who would like to donate toward the facility can do so at the Club’s website.
THEDACARE ACCREDITED AS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ROBOTIC SURGERY
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah recently achieved accreditation from Surgical Review Corporation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. The accreditation recognizes ThedaCare’s ongoing commitment and high standard of delivery of quality patient care and study. ThedaCare offers robotic surgery at Appleton, Berlin, Neenah and Shawano hospitals. Dr. Cynthia Geocaris, general and vascular surgeon with Surgical Associates of Neenah and Medical Director of ThedaCare’s Surgical Robotics Program says, “We’re proud that ThedaCare is on the leading edge of innovations with the best equipment, technologies and methods.” She and her father, the late Dr. Thomas Geocaris, were the first surgeons in Wisconsin to perform robotic surgery. Doctors from around the country come to Northeast Wisconsin to learn robotic surgery skills form ThedaCare’s expert surgeons. Additionally, both residents from UW-Madison and physician’s assistant students from Marquette study robotic surgery at ThedaCare.
WAB AWARDS GRANT TO THRASHER OPERA HOUSE
The Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake has been awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board through their Creation & Presentation program. Funds from the grant will support the continued development and presentation of outstanding music, comedy, and theatre productions. Thrasher Opera House was recognized for its long-term financial health, increasing attendance, range of programming, and creative efforts to stimulate community interest. The Wisconsin Arts Board receives funding from the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Wisconsin Arts Board’s grants help to ensure that cultural resources like the Thrasher Opera House will continue to be integral to the quality of life in Wisconsin and to contribute to the state’s economic vitality.
In the photo: L-R: Thrasher Executive Director Rachael Avery, Thrasher Development Director Katie Menting
TROOPER TREVOR CASPER POST OFFICE DESIGNATION
Congressman Glenn Grothman says he’s looking forward to the day the U.S. Post Office on Fremont Street in Kiel is renamed the “Trooper Trevor J. Casper Post Office Building.” Bipartisan legislation that would accomplish that is making its way through Congress. Grothman led the entire Wisconsin Congressional delegation on introducing the bill last September. Trooper Trevor Casper was shot and killed in a fatal exchange of gun fire with a murder and bank robbery suspect in Fond du Lac on March 24th of 2015. The suspect was also killed in the gun battle. Congressman Grothman says Casper made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the public not long after graduating from the State Patrol’s Academy. Casper is the youngest police officer to be killed in the line of duty in the state’s history. Trooper Casper was from Kiel.
LOVE LOCAL
The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce was all about the Love this month. The Chamber featured two different promotions, “Love Local,” and “Gratitude Grams.” Today we tell you about the “Love Local” campaign. Chamber Executive Director Mandy Kimes says each day they are spotlighting a business in Ripon. Tuesday it was for Sassy’s Pops A Lot which “Offers a world of delightful treats, handmade treasures, and charming décor.” Kimes says it is easy to take for granted the wonderful businesses you have in a community if you walk or drive by without stopping in. She created videos to go along with some of the spotlights they put on local businesses. Yesterday’s “Love Local” post informed us that over 9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business.
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