3/20/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
20 March 2024 News
DODGE COUNTY JAIL WALK AWAY TURNS HERSELF IN
A walk away from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Jail turned herself in last night. Forty-year-old Michelle Hawkins of Ripon had court-ordered Huber privileges that allowed certain inmates to leave the facility for work and medical appointments. Hawkins left the jail before 12:30 Tuesday afternoon for an approved job interview. She left the jail parking lot on foot. Hawkins was reported missing shortly after 5 pm. She turned herself in to the jail just over four hours later. She has previous convictions in Dodge County for cocaine possession and trafficking, and open cases for methamphetamine possession. (Dodge County Jail photo).
REPRESENTATIVE DALLMAN ON LAKE PRIORITIES
State Representative Alex Dallman is criticizing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources management of lake levels and invasive aquatic plant management on Buffalo Lake and Lake Puckaway. The state lawmaker from Green Lake says Buffalo Lake has seen drastic, low-water levels in recent years due to the DNR choosing to revert back to an outdated 1976 water level order. The DNR promised residents and lake stakeholders it would gather data and determine additional study needs by the end of 2021. Local residents and businesses continue to struggle as lake levels remain extremely low. He is encouraging the DNR to more actively address the issue. He says the DNR has also failed to address the increasing problem of Eurasian Milfoil and low water levels on Lake Puckaway. Dallman says no water level is mandated on Lake Puckaway, but the DNR refuses to appropriately consider their current practices at the Princeton Dam to ensure suitable water levels. He is urging the DNR to start making the problems on Buffalo Lake and Lake Puckaway a priority.
FDL POLICE OFFICER REMEMBERED
The Fond du Lac Police Department today is remembering Officer Craig Birkholz who was shot and killed responding to a sexual assault complaint that turned into a standoff. It happened 13 years ago today. The shooter, 30-year-old James Cruckson, ended up taking his own life. Officer Ryan Williams and his K9 Grendel were critically wounded, but would survive. Grendel served three more years and was retired. He was put down in September of 2015 after suffering nerve damage in his back. Grendel was 12-years-old at the time. Williams is now a lieutenant with the Fond du Lac Police Department. Craig Birkholz had tours of duty with the United State Army in Iraq and Afghanistan prior to becoming a police officer. Officer Birkholz was 28-years-old.
THREE ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES APPROVED FOR FDL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Fond du Lac County Board last night approved the hiring of three additional deputies for the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says while the population has increased over the last 30 years and crimes have become more serious, they have stuck with four deputies a shift patrolling the 724 square miles of the county. Waldschmidt says Interstate 41 runs the length of the county providing a route for drug and human trafficking. He feels they’ve a done a great job seizing drugs and weapons during traffic stops, but their deputies are put at risk during that type of arrest so having more deputies on patrol adds another layer of security. Sheriff Waldschmidt says additional revenue provided by the state was in part intended to pay for increases in public safety efforts.
CALMES NAMED OSHKOSH FINANCE DIRECTOR
The City of Oshkosh has selected Julie Calmes as the city’s new Finance Director. In her new position she will oversee the Finance Department, which includes collections, utility accounting, parking administration, general accounting, payroll and finance. City Manager Mark Rohloff says, “Julie has been a valuable member of the city’s Finance team over the last year and I am confident she will continue to excel in her new role with the city.” She has been the Assistant Finance Director for the city for a year. Prior to that, she worked as the Finance Director for the Town of Grand Chute. She has 17 years of finance experience. She will begin her new role with the City of Oshkosh next Monday. She replaces Russ Van Gompel who is retiring Friday after five years of service with the city.
THE GRAND UNDERGOES A MAKEOVER FOR A TV SPECIAL
The Grand in Oshkosh turned over its stage and facilities for a “makeover” for the taping of The Four Phantoms in Concert, which will air on Public Television this summer. A 55 foot semi loaded with TV lights and sound equipment arrived Monday. Cairan Sheehan is one of four men who have played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd’s Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera. All four perform together as The Four Phantoms. They’ve performed at The Grand before, but Sheehan says with the makeover for the TV special it looked quite different at the beginning of the week. The Four Phantoms will perform Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at 7:30 pm. Taping for the TV special will be before the live audience. Sheehan says they will be performing songs from other Broadway hits and some popular songs as well. The Four Phantoms in Concert at The Grand is the only performance of the Phantoms in Wisconsin on their current tour.
WAUPUN BUSINESS ALLIANCE ANNUAL MEETING
The Waupun Business Alliance Annual Banquet will be held at the Rock Golf Club on Thursday, March 28th. It will get underway at 5 pm. Joe Venhuizen is the Vice President of Membership and Resource Development for Envision Greater Fond du Lac. He says the annual banquet is a good opportunity to get an update on business and economic development from Main Street to the Business Park. Both the City and the Business Alliance will be presenting awards. Four businesses will be recognized with Legacy Awards for 50 years in business. They are Central Cable, Homan Auto, Tony’s Pizza, and Ver Hage’s Furniture. Fox Valley Savings Bank will be honored for its 100 years in business. Those who would like to register for the event should visit Envision’s Events Calendar page.
Events (envisiongreaterfdl.com)
GOOD FRIDAY OFFICE HOURS
Fond du Lac County government offices have announced their closings for the Friday preceding Easter. On Friday, March 29th the county offices in the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac, the Portland Street Annex including the Veteran Services Office and the Department of Social Services will close at noon. The Moraine Lakes Consortium call center will be closed all day that Friday. The Sheriff’s Office lobby window will be open from 8 to 11 am. The Highway Department will be closed all day. City offices in the City-County Government Center will remain open.
EATS FOR THE ARTS RESTAURANT DAYS
Eats for the Arts Restaurant Days, an initiative from the Thrasher Opera House, will kick off on Sunday, April 7th and continue through Saturday, April 13th. The event will feature participating restaurants around the Green Lake area, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Thrasher Opera House. The week-long event aims to celebrate the culinary excellence in Green Lake and surrounding areas. Thrasher Director of Development Katie Menting says, “We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of the restaurants and their guests.” Participating restaurants include: Adams Rib, Goose Blind Grill & Bar, Murphy’s on Green, and Sassfras Coffee in Green Lake. In Ripon, Fox & Crow Bistro, J’s BBQ/The Pit Stop, and The Public House. Also participating is AJ’s Riverside in Berlin, Horseradish Kitchen + Market in Princeton, and Oyster Crackers in Montello.
RIPON COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER ANNOUNCED
Jason Felts, serial entrepreneur, Fortune 500 brand advisor, philanthropist, film producer, and founding CEO of VIRGIN PRODUCED, will be the keynote speaker at Ripon College’s Commencement May 12th. The Commencement theme is “Breaking Barriers: Creating a Legacy.” Felts also will be presented with an honorary degree. Ripon’s Commencement ceremony will begin at 1 pm on May 12th on the lawn of Harwood Memorial Union. Felts will receive an honorary degree along with Dena Willmore, a 1967 Ripon College graduate, philanthropist and retired partner and senior vice president of Wellington Management Group of Boston, Massachusetts. You can read more about Felts and his accomplishments in our story at Hometown Broadcasting. com.
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