3/19/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
19 March 2024 News
BLANKET BELONGING TO MISSING BOY FOUND
Two Rivers Police confirm a red and white plaid blanket found in the search for a missing 3-year-old boy belonged to him. The blanket belonging to Elijah Vue was found earlier in the investigation on Goodwin Road east of County Road B in Manitowoc County. It was located 3.7 miles from the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in the City of Two Rivers, where Elijah was reported missing on February 20th. Police are asking the public’s assistance in checking all urban and rural areas, including water, to find Elijah and locate any evidence related to his disappearance. The reward for locating Elijah or those responsible for his disappearance is now up to $40,000.
MAN FACING NEGLECT CHARGE IN VUE DISAPPEARCE BACK IN COURT
The 39-year-old Two Rivers man facing a child neglect charge in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Elijah Vue now has legal representation. In fact two lawyers are listed for Jesse Vang in court records. Monday attorney Michael Turner made a motion in Manitowoc County court to make the complaint against Vang more definite and certain or to dismiss it for being insufficient. Vang is the boyfriend of Vue’s mother, Katrina Baur. He was caring for Vue when Vang reported the toddler missing on February 20th. There’s a preliminary hearing in Vang’s case on Thursday. Baur will be arraigned Friday on child neglect and obstructing an officer charges.
OSHKOSH MAN INVOLVED IN STANDOFF SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
A 35-year-old Oshkosh man involved in a standoff incident in Oshkosh last June has been sentenced to nine years in Federal prison. Douglas Murphy was sentenced Monday for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was convicted last December at a jury trial. Last June Murphy repeatedly pointed a handgun at several children inside a residence in downtown Oshkosh. Murphy also used the firearm to “pistol whip” his girlfriend, the mother of the children. Murphy was involved in a 6-hour standoff with police who responded to the call. Eventually the Oshkosh Police Department SWAT Team entered the residence and arrested Murphy. The loaded firearm was located in close proximity to Murphy.
SUICIDE REPORTED AT DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating a death at Devil’s Lake State Park. The investigation began around noon on Monday. The DNR issued a short press release saying first responders were on the scene and that there was no threat to the public. A conservation warden on the scene said the victim was a registered camper and the death was believed to be a suicide.
FDL COUNTY DISPATCH TRANSFER
Fond du Lac County supervisors tonight will be asked to approve a resolution that would transfer the 911 Dispatch Communications Center from the authority of the Director of the Communications and Emergency Management to the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says they’ve had three changes at the top of the Communications and Emergency Management Office over the past 18 months. He says the Dispatch Center is a critical component to public safety and they need some stability in its leadership. He says the Sheriff’s Office has staff in place familiar with how dispatch runs. Lieutenant Eric Halbach has been acting as Interim Director for Dispatch and Lieutenant Brennan Wagner as Interim Deputy Director. The Board tonight will also be asked to approve the appointment of John Ross as the County’s Emergency Management Director. The County Board meets at 6 pm in the legislative chambers of the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac.
WAUTOMA CRIME RATE DOWN
Wautoma Police say they’ve made some strides in reducing the city’s crime rate over the last four years. In 2020 Wautoma had a crime rate 391 percent above the national average. During a recent city council meeting they shared during their annual report that Wautoma crime is now 56 percent below the national average. They attribute that success to their officers, businesses, landlords, schools, city council, and community partners working with them to reach the goal. In 2020 Wautoma had about 110 crime victims per 1,000 residents. In 2023 the number of victims was reduced to less than 20. The source of information is the Wisconsin Incident Based Reporting Systems which records all murders, sex offenses, arson, theft, burglaries, assault, kidnappings and fraud. The state rate is not available yet for 2023, but Wautoma was below it in 2022. (Wautoma Police Department Graphic).
SELFRIDGE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Ripon Parks and Recreation Director Ashton Zeien says they will be able to do a lot with the $468,240 Stewardship Grant they received from the Wisconsin DNR to make improvements at Selfridge Park. Those improvements will include an ADA accessible path along the shoreline, shoreline restoration, benches, ADA accessible fishing pier, and a kayak launch. Zeien says a parking lot that is currently gravel will be paved as well. The City also applied for another grant to put in more inclusive playground equipment at the park. City Administrator Adam Sonntag told the Common Council last week that staff are working with MSA to have a project design contract put in place to finalize plans for bidding. The City is hoping to start the project this year.
REPRESENTATIVE DALLMAN RUNNING FOR REELECTION
While speaking at the annual Green Lake County Republican Party Lincoln Day Luncheon, State Representative Alex Dallman announced that he will seek a third term to the Wisconsin State Assembly. Representative Dallman currently represents the 41st Assembly District, but explained that with the new district lines, the district number will change from the 41st to the 39th Assembly District. The state lawmaker from Green Lake says, “I’m incredibly grateful for all of the continued support from constituents around our local Green Lake, Marquette, and Fond du Lac communities.” He says he’s looking forward to continuing to serve communities such as Westfield, Berlin, Princeton, and Green Lake, while having the chance to once again represent communities such as Markesan, Ripon, and Montello.
Areas that Rep. Dallman would continue to serve:
- Townships of Lincoln, New Chester, Jackson, Springfield, Westfield, Oxford, Douglas, Newton, Harris, Packwaukee, Crystal Lake, Shields, Neshkoro, Mecan, Seneca, St. Marie, Princeton, Berlin, Brooklyn
- Villages of Westfield, Oxford, Endeavor, Neshkoro
- Cities of Berlin, Green Lake, Princeton
Areas that Rep. Dallman previously represented and will return with the new maps:
- Townships of Mackford, Montello, Ripon, Marquette
- Village of Marquette
- Cities of Markesan, Montello, Ripon
Areas that are brand new to the local Assembly District:
- Townships of Moundville, Buffalo, Scott, Kingston, Manchester, Randolph, Courtland, Metomen, Alto, Rosendale, Springvale, Eldorado, Lamartine, Nepeuskun
- Villages of Friesland, Cambria, Fairwater, Brandon, Rosendale, Kingston
GOVERNOR EVERS GROUNDWATER AWARENESS WEEK VISITS
Governor Tony Evers visited wastewater and water utility centers across Wisconsin to celebrate National Groundwater Awareness Week last week. The Governor highlighted the $125 million included in the state budget to combat PFAS statewide. The Governor is calling for that money to be utilized in the battle against PFAS. Among the utilities the Governor visited last week was the Columbus Water Utility. Recently, Columbus received an award for having the best-tasting water in the United State at the Great American Water Taste Test put on through the National Rural Water Association. Following that visit last Tuesday he toured the Beaver Dam Waterworks Park and met with local members of the Beaver Dam Lake District. The Lake District was specifically founded to address the low water quality from algae and phosphorous content, shoreline erosion, and agricultural runoff.
OASD 4K INFORMATION SESSIONS
The Oshkosh Area School District invites families to learn about the District’s tuition-free, community-based, collaborative 4K program- Ready 4 Learning-for the upcoming school year. 4K enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year opens on April 1st, available to any child that will be four years old on or before September 1st. Information sessions are available in-person tonight at 6 pm at Vel Phillips Middle School and there’s a virtual session tomorrow at Noon via Zoom. More information including the Zoom link is available online at the Oshkosh Area School District website. The District’s 4K program is a half-day program, with morning and afternoon sessions, available at 9 sites around the community.
4K Enrollment and Registration – Oshkosh Early Learning
ENVISION ANNUAL MEETING
Envision Greater Fond du Lac will host their annual meeting on Thursday, April 25th at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Fond du Lac beginning at 5 pm. There will be a vendor fair and a presentation on Envision’s economic impact analysis since 2017. Awards will also be presented. BCI Burke will receive the Business of the Year Award. The Eden-Schneider Award will go to Moraine Park Technical College and SSM Health for the Treffert Studios. David Neumann of RB Royal will be presented the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Allen J. Buechel Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Rick Parks, formerly of Society Insurance. Entrepreneur of the Year Awards will go to Salchert Meats and Fond du Lac Cyclery. The Young Professional of the Year Award will be given to Kim Bresser of Mercury Racing. Registration is required to attend the annual meeting. Registration is available online at the Envision website.
Annual Meeting (envisiongreaterfdl.com)
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