5/29/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
29 May 2024 News
OMRO MAN PLEADS NO CONTEST IN MURDER OF ELDORADO WOMAN
The 23-year-old Omro man suspected of murdering an Eldorado woman has pled no contest to a first-degree intentional homicide charge. Joseph Olvera entered the plea during a hearing in Winnebago County court Tuesday. A first-degree recklessly endangering safety charge will be read into the record at his sentencing and dismissed. Judge John Jorgensen ordered a pre-sentence investigation and a sentencing hearing is set for August 29th. According to the criminal complaint Olvera strangled and killed 20-year-old Johanna Schultz in his apartment in the 500 block of Spruce Street on March 11thof 2023. Olvera was also involved in an eight hour standoff with police when he was arrested that day. Investigators learned Olvera and Schultz had a “toxic” relationship arguing several times a month. An autopsy determined Schultz died of “smothering.” Schultz was a 2020 graduate of Laconia High School. She was double majoring in Healthcare Administration and Marketing at Marian University in Fond du Lac and was on track to graduate a semester early. She also worked at 2 jobs, helping out at her Mom’s store Chic Tique Girls and as a server at Fox and Crow Bistro, both in Ripon.
COLUMBIA COUNTY FLEEING SUSPECT CRASHES IN MARSH
An 18-year-old DeForest man who led Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase before crashing into a marsh, has been charged with felony fleeing. Troy Thao made his initial court appearance Tuesday and was released on a $500 signature bond. Just before noon Saturday a deputy allegedly clocked him driving at 85 miles an hour on State Highway 16 as he entered the city of Portage. The deputy tried to stop him but Thao increased his speed and continued southbound on I-39. The pursuit was cut off when the deputy lost sight of him, but a short time later a Patrol Lieutenant found Thao’s vehicle crashed in a marsh just off Cascade Mountain Road. Thao and his passenger were not injured. Thao explained he fled because he didn’t have insurance and admitted to fleeing at speeds up to 120 miles an hour. In addition to the felony fleeing charge Thao was cited for speeding at more than 45 miles over the speed limit, 2 counts of unsafe passing on the right, and operating a vehicle without insurance. (Columbia County Sheriff’s photo)
DRUG TAKE BACK CORRECTION
The state’s Department of Justice issued an update Tuesday stating that Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2024 Drug Take Back not number two as previously reported. According to the DOJ 55,122 pounds of unwanted medications were collected this spring. State Attorney General Josh Kaul says Wisconsin’s remarkable success with the Drug Take Back program has continued. Wisconsin has collected a total of 1.25 million pounds of unwanted medications since Drug Take Back began in 2010 under the leadership of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for the most medications collected since inception, falling only behind Texas and California which each collected just over 1.4 million pounds. Nationwide, since inception, 18.6 million pounds of unwanted medications have been collected during Drug Take Back events.
BALLWEG ON PFAS OVERRIDE
State Senator Joan Ballweg says they were hoping by overriding nine of Governor Ever’s vetoes last week to spur some movement on funding that otherwise will just sit in the State Budget. A chunk of that, $125 million, was to do something in the battle against PFAs or forever chemicals in drinking water. The state lawmaker from Markesan says the point of contention has to do with holding farmers responsible for contamination who allowed the spread of a byproduct of wastewater treatment known as sludge on their fields for fertilizer. Ballweg says the farmers got the permitting from the DNR to do that and the bill would have held the farmers harmless. She says they were hoping the Governor would change his mind if they got enough Senators to vote in favor of the override, but that didn’t happen. She says it is now up to the State Assembly whether to try and override the veto.
SENATOR JOHNSON ON IRAN
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says the death of Iran’s President and Foreign Minister won’t change anything in the Middle East. He says the Ayatollah’s son will take over as Iran’s president and he is just as bad as the Ayatollah. He says it was inappropriate that the U.S. State Department sent out a letter of condolence to Iran. The federal lawmaker from Oshkosh says the Biden Administration, like the Obama Administration before it continues to take a soft approach to Iran. He says meanwhile Iran continues its state-sponsored terror by sponsoring other terrorism efforts. Senator Johnson feels nothing will change toward Iran until President Biden is out of office.
INTERSTATE 41 OFF RAMP CLOSURE
State Department of Transportation officials tell us a long-term ramp closure begins in Winnebago County this Thursday night for a section of Interstate 41. The northbound I-41 off-ramp to Winneconne Avenue/State Highway 114/County Highway JJ will be closed to mid-July, as part of the I-41 Rehabilitation Project between Breezewood Lane in Neenah and State Highway 96 in Appleton. As a detour drivers should take westbound U.S Highway 10 to County Highway CB to eastbound U.S. Highway 10 to I-41.
MPTC GRADUATES MORE THAN 200 FROM GED AND HSED PROGRAMS
Moraine Park Technical College recently held its annual General Education Development and High School Equivalency Diploma graduation ceremony. This year there were 222 graduates. The student speaker for the May 23rd ceremony was Jessica Wichowski. She is a West Bend student who came to Moraine Park to earn her GED after years of navigating being a single parent and many life traumas. During her speech she talked about being a single mom, with two gorgeous and happy daughters. She says she plans to enroll in college to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and be part of the fleet that helps put the medical world back together. She is enrolled at a 4-year college where she will pursue her bachelor’s degree.
BLUE RIBBONS
The pie is the thing in the Ripon Area Community Theatre’s production of “Blue Ribbons” this weekend. The comedy written and directed by Thomas Bakken will be performed at the Ripon High School Auditorium Friday and Saturday night at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. It is about two women who over the past 20 years have each earned 10 blue ribbons in a pie-baking contest. Everyone in the community is tired of their rivalry and the contest, except of course for the two women. Julia Manor (MAY-nor) plays Dorothy one of the two women. Manor describes Dorothy as a militant mom who is very religious and whose focus is honed in on baking pies. Bakken says the inspiration for “Blue Ribbons” came to him during a church bake sale. Tickets for “Blue Ribbons” are $10 for General Admission, $5 for those 6 to 12 years of age, and those 5 and under will be admitted free. Tickets are available online or at the high school prior to performances. Doors will open 30 minutes before each performance.
Tickets for Blue Ribbons | Hometown Tickets
ENVISION NEW OFFICE MANAGER
Envision Greater Fond du Lac has hired Genna Wojahn as the Executive Assistant and Office Manager. In her role, Wojahn is responsible for supporting Envision’s leadership team and the Board of Directors, as well as serving as the officer manager by providing front office reception and office support to the entire team. Genna most recently served as the Business Manager at a local coffee shop. She has also served in roles with Fond du Lac County and Fond du Lac Christian School. She is a graduate of Fond du Lac Christian School and will begin studies at Fox Valley Technical College in the fall.
BEE AWARD WINNER
A certified hemodialysis technician at SSM Health’s Beaver Dam Dialysis Center has been named the newest recipient of the BEE or Be Exceptional Everyday Award. Jamie Roen was nominated by a colleague who wrote that one of their patients was very complimentary of all the staff, but singled out Jamie for going the ‘extra mile’ to make it ‘fun’ to come to the dialysis center, while being all business when she needs to be. The BEE Award is specifically designed to recognize non-nursing staff members who demonstrate great teamwork and communications skills, collaboration, professionalism, exemplary service, and a commitment to excellence.
In the photo: Jamie Roen (right), an SSM Health certified hemodialysis technician in Beaver Dam, receives a BEE Award from Nicole Gill, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital & Ripon Community Hospital vice president, clinical administrator.
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