6/12/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
12 June 2024 News
FATAL TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY
One person was killed and another critically injured when a car and ATV collided on Bonnie View Road near County Highway 44 in Winnebago County’s Town of Utica early Tuesday afternoon. When law enforcement and first responders arrived they found the two occupants of the ATV had severe injuries and life-saving measures were attempted. One of the occupants died at the scene and the other was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car immediately called 911 and began to render first aid. A passenger from the car also rendered first aid. The driver of the car suffered minor injuries and fully cooperated with the investigation. The accident was reported at 12:41 pm.
INJURY ACCIDENT ON FDL COUNTY HIGHWAY B
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say a 42-year-old Eden man driving a silage truck was seriously injured when the truck went off of County Highway B near Mulletview Road in the town of Osceola and overturned Tuesday afternoon. Investigators say a tire on the tri axel truck on the front passenger side blew out causing it to go onto the south shoulder of the road and overturn. The driver was flown to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah. He was wearing his seatbelt. Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash and no citations were issued to the driver.
OSHKOSH SUBSTANTIAL BATTERY VICTIM DIES
A first degree intentional homicide charge is being referred against a 41-year-old suspect after a substantial battery victim died Monday night at a local hospital. The 56-year-old victim was taken to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah for the injuries he received on May 21st at the Wisconsin Resource Center. Neither the suspect nor victim was an employee of the facility. It happened in a courtyard and no one else was injured. The Wisconsin Resource Center provides treatment to people referred by the state’s Department of Corrections. The Oshkosh Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the incident.
OSHKOSH DRUG HOUSE SHUT DOWN
Authorities in Oshkosh have shut down a suspected drug house following an investigation that led to the arrest of seven individuals a week ago today. Oshkosh Police say three search warrants have been used at the residence at 1402 Walnut Street in the past seven months. The Winnebago County Circuit Court has issued an order to close the residence due to continued drug-related problems at the location and being deemed by the court as a public nuisance. No one will be allowed access to the residence. The seven individuals arrested during the execution of the search warrant on June 5th ranged in age from 35 to 74-years-old.
VEHICLE ENTRY SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Using a drone with thermal image capabilities the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday was able to locate four suspects in car entries that happened at a mobile home community in the Village of Eden. At 1:18 yesterday morning the County’s Communications Center got a report of several people entering vehicles in the Manor Hill Manufactured Home Community. There was another report while deputies were investigating. Deputies heard and observed several subjects running away. Using a drone they were able to locate the suspects hiding in tall grass. Evidence from the vehicle entries and thefts was found. Deputies also found a vehicle. Its ignition had been tampered with and they learned it had been stolen out of the city of Fond du Lac. The suspects, four men from Fond du Lac, were taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail. They are facing several counts of theft and one count each of being party to the crime of vehicle theft. One was out on bond, one was wanted on several warrants, and another is currently on probation and parole. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s photo).
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES AMBULANCE REPLACEMENT
The Ripon Common Council last night approved the purchase of a new ambulance for Ripon Guardian Ambulance for an estimated cost of just under $330,000. EMS Chief Mitch Matuszeski told the Council the 12 to 13 year old ambulance is due for replacement next year. He recommended purchasing a new ambulance rather than having the old one remounted which still would have cost nearly $292,000. He informed them the reason they were coming to the council now is they needed to get on the list with Life Line Emergency Vehicles because it will be two to three years before the new ambulance will be available. It will come with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty and some money will be recouped when the old ambulance is sold. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says it’s smart to get in line for the new ambulance now because the estimated cost of a new ambulance has gone up more than $100,000 in the last 3 to 4 years.
FDL COUNTY CAMPUS
Fond du Lac City and County officials have actually been working on plans for what to do with the UWO Fond du Lac campus for quite a while now. At the end of the month the Universities of Wisconsin will turn the campus, which is owned by the county, back to Fond du Lac County. Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman will unveil his plans to the Fond du Lac County Board on Tuesday, June 18th at 5 pm in the legislative chambers of the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac. Kaufman has high hopes for making the campus and its buildings into something self-sufficient and believes the Prairie Theater and Gym will be two real gems. He says the theater, commons area, and library area could become a performing arts/event center. The County Board has approved two part-time positions to run the events center and gymnasium. He says they also have plans to move some county offices and at least one state office to the campus. On Monday, July 1st at 6 pm there will be a public information meeting in the commons area near the Prairie Theater. Kaufman’s final proposal will be presented to the County Board for approval at their July meeting.
RIPON LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE LANDMARK STATUS
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says they are continuing their effort to get the Little White Schoolhouse back on the list of national landmarks. She says when the Schoolhouse was moved last year they remained on the state’s list, but actually had to go back through the state to change their address and begin the process for the national designation again. She says there is a long waiting list for designation on the national list. In the meantime they’ve hired a program director for the Little White Schoolhouse. Kimes says their director has a doctorate in Civil War History and she is a big fan of Abraham Lincoln. She says some of the advantages of the new location for the schoolhouse include parking space, a restroom for visitors, and they’ve been getting some bus tours coming through.
COVID WAS DIFFERENT
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says the health department is used to dealing with viruses and disease but the COVID pandemic was a different kind of animal. She says they hunt down the source of virus, and quarantine and isolate if necessary. But she says they are usually dealing with just one case. She says with COVID they were dealing with many cases and it became nearly impossible to trace back every contact. She says usually they are looking at isolating a disease or outbreak on a local level, but COVID was global and wasn’t contained. Mueller feels things would have to be handled differently the next time they run into a large scale event.
STATE TOURISM IMPACT 2023
Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers announced Tuesday another record-breaking year in 2023 for the state’s tourism industry. Tourism generated $25 billion in total economic impact surpassing the previous record year of $23.7 billion set in 2022. All 72 Wisconsin counties saw economic impact growth. The industry supported more than 178,000 part-time and full-time jobs, which is an increase of two percent and generated $1.6 billion in state and local tax revenue. The state welcomed 113 million visits from tourists up 2 million visits from the previous year. The total economic impact of tourism in Fond du Lac County in 2023 was $284 million. It was $69 million for Green Lake County, $181 million for Dodge County, and $167 million for Waupaca County. Tourism accounted for a $126 million economic impact in Waushara County, and $553 million in Winnebago County. Milwaukee County saw the most at $4.1 billion and Dane County generated $2.5 billion in economic impact from tourism.
Economic Impact (travelwisconsin.com)
HABITAT GROUNDBREAKING IN FDL
Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 180 Ledgeview Avenue in Fond du Lac on Wednesday, June 19th at 1 pm. It is the site for the future home of the Kohlmann family. The public is welcome to attend. The family will have to perform up to 300 hours of “sweat equity” which can include helping build their home. Habitat Board Chair Stephanie Albers says, “Being able to assist a family in our community with home ownership is an amazing opportunity.” Habitat for Humanity homes are constructed through volunteers. If you or your organization is interested in volunteering by building or providing a meal, contact the Fond du Lac affiliate by calling 920-921-6623.
ENVISION CREATES AND FILLS NEW POSITION
Envision Greater Fond du Lac has hired Morgan Vollbrecht as a Content Creator. In the new role, Vollbrecht is responsible for assisting the development and execution of the organization’s overall marketing efforts, specifically highlighting event, programs, and stories. She will be part of Envision’s marketing and communication team. Morgan graduated from Marian University last month, where she studied Business Administration and Marketing. She was named the 2024 Marian University Business Marketing Student. Her previous work experience includes social media manager and photographer. Morgan interned with Envision during her last semester at Marian.
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