10/10/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
10 October 2024 News
COLUMBIA COUNTY PROSECUTORS CHARGE TEXAS MAN WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE
Bond has been set at $7,500 cash for a 25-year-old Garland, Texas man charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle for a fatal accident in Columbia County last Friday. According to Sheriff’s officials Jibreel Aguirre was driving a semi-truck and trailer that went through a stop sign at an intersection in the Town of Courtland. As a result, a passenger truck struck the semi’s trailer. The 21-year-old woman driving the passenger truck was flown to an area hospital where she died of her injuries. There’s a pre-trial conference in the case October 28th and Aguirre returns to court on November 11th. Aguirre made his initial court appearance in Columbia County Court yesterday.
COLUMBUS POLICE ARREST SCAMMER FROM INDIA
Prosecutors in Columbia County have charged a 24-year-old Atlanta, Georgia man with receiving stolen property worth more than $10,000 for trying to scam an 80-year-old Columbus woman out of $60,000 in cash. Jay Sureshbhai Prajapati signed a $20,000 cash bond yesterday and has a preliminary hearing on October 23rd. He had to surrender his passport. He is a resident of India and in the United States on a student Visa. On October 1st Columbus Police were alerted by a local bank when the victim showed up and asked to withdraw $60,000 in cash. The victim agreed to assist law enforcement. As a result, the suspect was arrested that evening when he showed up to collect the money from the woman. Police found $44,100 in cash in his vehicle, all in $100 bills. They also seized a laptop computer and cell phone. Columbus Police learned through their investigation there were other victims in Iowa, Illinois, and Tennessee ranging in age from 59 to 80 years old. There were also co-conspirators.
BAIL BOND SCAM
Officials with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office say they have taken several reports of people calling or texting residents claiming to be an officer or deputy with the Sheriff’s Department. The caller tells the victim they need to pay money to get a relative out of a citation, warrant or jail. They then ask for significant personal information and an odd means of payment such as gift cards. Legitimate bond posting typically is handled directly at a law enforcement agency, communication center, jail, clerk of courts or through a secure payment site. Law enforcement will not ask for payment through gift card or other odd means.
RIPON CITY BUDGET REVIEW
The Ripon Common Council this week got an update on the proposed City Budget for 2025. Among the changes suggested was contributing $5,000 to the Little White Schoolhouse. That will be taken out of the money for the Community Development Authority funding. City Administrator Adam Sonntag also recommended using $30,000 to help fund the taxi service. He says it will allow them to pay down the more than $300,000 in debt the service has incurred. Sonntag also had more information about a proposed wheel tax. He says the City has 7,750 registered vehicles and a tax of $20 would generate nearly $155,000 a year and a $25 tax would generate over $193,000 which would be put into a capital fund the city could use to improve its roads. Sonntag noted at the current pace it would take 102 years for the city to improve all 42 miles of streets in Ripon. As for the budget timeline Sonntag told the Council he will give them a final update on October 28th and the public hearing and approval will be on November 12th.
RIPON POLICE PRAISED FOR SECURITY EFFORTS DURING VP VISIT
Toward the end of the Ripon Common Council meeting Tuesday Mayor Ted Grant read a statement commending City Police Chief Bill Wallner and his staff for their hard work on security during last week’s visit of Vice President Kamala Harris. Wallner shared the credit with his staff, but singled out Sergeant Travis Borkenhagen who Wallner said was instrumental in the planning and operation. Chief Wallner said on Monday, September 30th the Secret Service approached him and asked him to have between 30 and 50 officers available by 6 am Thursday morning. The Ripon Police Department has 15 officers. Wallner says they reached out to other departments and got one officer each from Markesan, Berlin, and Princeton. They also got help from Reedsburg, Poynette and Sheriff’s Departments from Columbia and Waushara counties. He says in the end they had 63 uniformed officers plus State and Federal law enforcement officials. Wallner told the Council it is one of the few times when if nothing happens you’ve achieved your goal. He says his staff makes his job easy.
DATE SET FOR GREEN LAKE COUNTY SWITCHOVER TO NEXT GEN 911
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Sheriff Matt Vande Kolk says they are excited they have a date set for the switchover at the Communications Center to a Next Generation 911 service. He says it will cut down on the number of service outages they have with their current provider Brightspeed. Through AT&T and Wisconsin’s Department of Military Affairs, Green Lake County received a sizable grant to upgrade its 911 service. He says it is something they have been working on for nearly 20 months and they will be switching over on December 4th. He says they do take outages of 911 and non-emergency phone services seriously and are hoping that will become exceedingly rare with the new provider.
VICE PRESIDENTS RALLY IN RIPON BRINGS PEOPLE TO TOWN
Although it wasn’t a tourism event per se, Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally at Ripon College a week ago today was good for the community. She says restaurants were busy serving food to law enforcement, press, and visitors in town for the rally. Kimes says it was an opportunity for residents to get a glimpse behind what a major political campaign and its coverage brings. Kimes says among the calls she took prior to the Vice President’s visit was one from 60 Minutes. Ripon also got a little bit of the National Limelight in July when the replica of the Little White Schoolhouse was on display at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
FDL COUNTY UNITED WAY SUPPORTS SCOUTS OF AMERICA
One of the agencies donations to the Fond du Lac County United Way support is Scouts of America. Sharri Dailey tells us there are three troops in the Ripon area; Cub Scout Pack 3735, Girl’s Troop 6737, and Boy’s Troop 735. She says the scouting program teaches the scouts skills and is also a great socializing opportunity. They will have a Halloween Party on Tuesday, October 29th at Our Saviors United Church of Christ in Ripon from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Dailey says the party is open to all kids whether they are a scout or not. There is another effort coming up this Sunday in Ripon to support the local scouts. They will benefit from Webster’s Marketplace Brat Fry. From 9 am to Noon people can buy brats and support the Scout’s annual popcorn sale which offers a wide of variety of flavors to choose from.
FRIENDS OF THE RIPON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK SALE
The Friends of the Ripon Public Library will be holding their fall book sale over the next three days at the Library. Today there is the Early Bird Sale from 4 to 7 pm. There is a $3 entry fee. Friends’ members receive a $3 credit and can use it for the entry fee or toward purchases on Friday or Saturday. Friday the sale is open from 10 am to 5 pm. The annual bag sale is from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday for $3 a bag in the Last Chance Room. Payments may be made by cash, check or for purchases of $10 or more by credit or debit card. The Friends book sales are held twice a year and help the library pay for the programs that they offer. More details on the book sale and prices are available at the Ripon Library.org website.
Book Sales | Ripon Public Library (riponlibrary.org)
COOLEST THING IN WISCONSIN TOP 4
The Elite 8 in the 9th Annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest has been narrowed down to the Top 4. Finalists are Military Medals and Insignia produced by Medalcraft Mint in Green Bay, Jolly Good Soda made by Krier Foods in Random Lake, Revo manufactured by Vulture Systems of Menomonee Falls, and the X739 Signature Series Lawn Tractor from John Deere Horicon. The final round in the contest begins today and individuals can vote online once per day, per device through Noon next Thursday. The winner will be crowned during Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Business Day in Madison that same day.
Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest
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