7/2/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
2 July 2024 News
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS HELD IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE
Preliminary hearings were held in Fond du Lac County court last Friday for the mother of a 12-year-old girl who allegedly trafficked the girl and the man who allegedly paid to sexually assault the girl. Thirty-one-year-old Elia Antonio waived her hearing and was bound over for trial. Thirty-three-year-old Juan Carlos Rocha Mejia’s hearing was rescheduled for July 25th because he still doesn’t have an attorney. Rocha Mejia was arrested during a SWAT operation on May 19th after Sheriff’s deputies responded to a Town of Oakfield home. The girl showed up there after breaking away from Rocha Mejia who had her in a van was trying to tie her down, blindfold, and sexually assault her. According to the criminal complaint the victim’s mother claimed Rocha Mejia intimidated and threatened her into turning the girl over to him.
WAUPUN ATV ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES
Just before 1:30 Monday morning, Waupun Police, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Responders, and Lifestar EMS responded to an ATV crash on North Madison Street at East Franklin Street. A 39-year-old Waupun man was lying in the road with serious injuries. He was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital. During their investigation Waupun Police talked with a 39-year-old Waupun man who was operating a second ATV. He was taken into custody for operating an ATV while intoxicated. He was also cited for operating an ATV with a passenger and operating an ATV after hours. He was released to a responsible party.
OSHKOSH ATM BURGLARY
Police in Oshkosh are searching for suspects involved in an ATM burglary Saturday morning. It happened just after 5 am at the Winnebago Credit Union in the 200 block of Witzel Avenue. Police says the suspects stole a truck to burglarize the ATM. They later abandoned the truck and fled the scene. The amount of money taken wasn’t released. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Oshkosh Police. Their phone number is 920-236-5700.
PLEA HEARING SCHEDULED FOR KATRINA BAUR
Elijah Vue’s mother may be ready to plea bargain on charges of child neglect and resisting or obstructing an officer. During a hearing on June 20th Katrina Baur’s lawyer said a resolution had been reached in the case, but he needed to talk to his client first. Yesterday a plea hearing was scheduled in Manitowoc County Court for Thursday, July 18th. The 31-year-old Wisconsin Dells woman’s son has been missing since February 20th. She left him in the care of 39-year-old Jesse Vang of Two Rivers who called 911 to report the 3-year-old boy missing. No one has been charged in connection with his disappearance. Vang is also facing criminal charges. A status conference is scheduled in his case for September 27th.
CHARTER CLOSING REGIONAL SUPPORT CENTER IN FDL
Charter Communications in Fond du Lac will be laying off 122 employees as it closes its Regional Support Center at 165 Knights Way. A company Human Resources official notified the state’s Department of Workforce Development by letter about the mass layoff last Friday. The layoff is expected to be permanent. Layoffs will begin on August 27th. None of the affected employees are with a union.
PRISONS AND JAILS
Growing prison and jail populations could mean building newer facilities to house those inmates. State Senator Joan Ballweg says long before staffing and other issues at Waupun and Green Bay Correctional facilities came to light a report was started during Governor Walker’s Administration and continued into Governor Ever’s Administration recommending new prisons to replace those older facilities. Senator Ballweg says Governor Evers has said he won’t build a new prison during his administration. Ironically the state’s Department of Corrections is putting pressure on Fond du Lac County to build a new facility for its county inmates. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says there are parts of the jail that are nearly 70 years old and it’s about due for replacement. Fond du Lac County is working towards building a new jail.
OSHKOSH ARENA UPDATE
Oshkosh City Councilman Jacob Floam says there is some hope for optimism for the financially troubled Oshkosh Arena. The construction firm that built the Arena, Bayland Building, called in the loan debt on the facility and a Winnebago County judge put it in receivership. That means the Arena will be managed and the back taxes, about $300,000, will be paid. Floam says Bayland wants to stabilize the Arena’s future and keep the facility as the home to the Oshkosh Herd, the G-League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Herd has announced it will play six home games at the Arena. The Herd has a lease with the Arena through 2026. Floam says there are some interested buyers for the Arena and the City of Oshkosh may not have to take much action at all to keep the Arena open. The Oshkosh Arena is the key anchor of the Sawdust District Redevelopment.
LET FREEDOM RING CELEBRATION WEDNESDAY IN BERLIN
Berlin’s Let Freedom Ring celebration is tomorrow at Riverside Park from 1 pm to 11:30 pm. It’s a free event put on by the Achieving a Better Community or ABC group celebrating its eighth year. Sue Trampf is the Chairperson of the ABC Board of Directors. She says they wanted to make the event free so it’s affordable for all families. In addition to the dollar hot dogs, there will be sweet corn, beer and beverages, food vendors, a farmer’s market, raffles, family fun, and live music. The Del Rays will perform from 1 to 4 pm, followed by Fork in the Road from 4 to 7:30 pm, and Bad Habitz wraps up the night from 7:30 to 11:30 pm. There will also be fireworks at dusk. ABC President Harry Kwidzinski says proceeds from Let Freedom Ring help fund other group activities including their Christmas Trees program. A complete list of Let Freedom Ring activities is available at the ABC website Achieving a Better Community.com.
Home – Achieving A Better Community
SAFE FOURTH OF JULY DRIVING
The state’s Department of Transportation reminds travelers over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate safe driving and expect slower traffic in work zones and along major travel corridors. According to AAA, about 1.4 million people will travel on Wisconsin roads this holiday weekend. Peak travel times are expected between 2 and 7 pm Wednesday and 2 to 8 pm Sunday. The DOT encourages drivers to “know before you go” by visiting the 511wi.gov website or the 511 Wisconsin mobile app. Most road construction will pause over the holiday weekend to open as many lanes as possible. The DOT offers these travel tips buckle up and put the phone down. Slow down. Eliminate distractions and focus on what’s ahead. Move over or slow down for emergency responders stopped along a highway with their warning lights flashing. In case you do get in a crash move the vehicle out of traffic if no one is hurt and it can be moved safely. If someone is hurt or the vehicle is disabled, drivers should not risk injury by trying to push the vehicle out of traffic.
DE NEVEU CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PUBLIC MEETING
Fond du Lac County and the state’s Department of Transportation will be holding a public meeting about plans to replace De Neveu Creek Bridge carrying County Highway V or Rienzi Road traffic over the bridge. The existing bridge was built in 1967. Construction on the new bridge is scheduled for 2026. The public meeting will be from 5 to 6 pm on Thursday, July 18th at the Fond du Lac County Highway Department, at 1820 South Hickory Street in Fond du Lac. There will be brief presentation at 5:15 pm. The facility is wheelchair accessible. Hearing impaired persons needing assistance should contact the Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System by dialing 711 at least three working days prior to the meeting.
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