11/11/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
11 November 2024 News
MISSING KAYAKER MAYBE ON THE RUN
The search for a missing kayaker on Green Lake takes a twist with the revelation that the 44-year-old Watertown man faked his own death. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll talked about the investigation into Ryan Borgwardt’s disappearance during a press conference Friday. He says the search of the western end of Green Lake for 54 days was thorough. The search pivoted to an investigation on October 7th. They learned Ryan’s name had been run by law enforcement in Canada, a day after he had been reported missing. They also learned he had obtained a new passport on May 22nd. State and federal law enforcement were brought in to assist and other clues started falling into place. A digital forensic analysis of his laptop led to discoveries that Ryan made inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks, changed email addresses for his financial accounts on the day of his disappearance. He had also communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan, and in January took out a new $375,000 life insurance policy. Sheriff Podoll says the investigation has a long way to go. “Our investigation has many steps to take. It is a puzzle that we are putting together. We got many pieces, but we have a lot more pieces to find”. He says they will hold anyone who committed crimes associated with Ryan’s disappearance accountable. Sheriff Podoll says they believe Ryan is alive and likely in Eastern Europe. He also appealed to Ryan to turn himself in. “There is one last thing I want to do and this is to Ryan. Ryan if you are viewing this, I plead that you contact us or contact your family. We understand that things can happen, but there is a family that wants their Daddy back.” The Sheriff also thanked all of those who assisted in the search of the lake, their law enforcement partners, and especially Ryan’s wife and family for their patience.
To read a transcript of Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll’s remarks click here.
TEEN INJURED IN OSHKOSH SHOOTING
Oshkosh Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Central Street at 4:30 Saturday morning for a report of gunshots. They found an 18-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition. Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Oshkosh Police at 920-236-5700. If you wish to remain anonymous call the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at 920-231-8477.
HOUSE FIRE IN IRON RIDGE
Dodge County firefighters responded to a fire at a two-story home in the Village of Iron Ridge Friday night. Fire departments from Iron Ridge, Neosho, and Hustisford were paged out for the fire at 9:45 pm. Callers reported smoke and flames in the lower residential unit. Four more fire departments responded to a request for mutual aid. Firefighters gained access to the lower unit through a garage and quickly extinguished the fire. An occupant of the lower unit was located outside the residence and was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to a hospital. There was severe fire, smoke, and heat damage to the lower residence. The upper residence sustained minor damage. Both units were deemed uninhabitable. The American Red Cross is aiding residents of the two units. High heat damaged a smoke detector in the lower unit. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
SPECIAL FIRE ORDER RESCINDED
The state’s Department of Natural Resources has lifted the special burning permit requirements for 13 Wisconsin counties. The rescinding of the Special Fire Order applied to 13 extensive DNR protection area counties outside incorporated cities and villages in all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara counties and portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant and Iowa counties, respectively. A Special Fire Order allows the DNR to suspend burning when fire danger is elevated. Due to prolonged drought conditions, the original permit reinstatement went into effect October 15th. Traditionally, DNR burn permits are required in extensive protection areas from January 1st through May 31st, anytime the ground is not snow-covered. Despite the improved conditions, the public is still encouraged to exercise caution when having any kind of fire.
OSHKOSH BUDGET ADOPTION
The Oshkosh Common Council will adopt the proposed 2025 City Budget and Tax Levy during a meeting tomorrow evening. City Councilman Jacob Floam says they trimmed both the original proposed levy of $48.9 million and the proposed tax rate of $8.45 per thousand dollars of value on a property. He says things were complicated by revaluation of property in the city, which they needed to do per the state. However, the state ordered the city to redo its reassessment so they had to work with estimates from the original revaluation during the budget process. He says they made cuts so the residential properties were not being burdened as much. The Common Council held four budget listening sessions over the past three months. The City’s tax rate will be $8.45.
GRAND OPENING SCHEDULED FOR WAUPUN COMMUNITY CENTER
The City of Waupun, REACH, and the Waupun Food Pantry will celebrate the new Waupun Community Center during an open house on Tuesday, December 3rd. It’s at 3 pm at the Center at 520 McKinley Street. There will be a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting at 4 pm. Residents can tour the new facility from 5 to 7 pm that evening. There will be coffee, juice and snacks, and raffle prizes. Construction of the Waupun Community Center was supported in part by the American Rescue Plan Act funds that provided a $4.9 million grant awarded to the City of Waupun via the Wisconsin Department of Administration by the U.S. Department of Treasury and by private donor contributions.
FONDY FOOD PANTRY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Fondy Food Pantry is looking for a new part-time executive director. They are looking for someone with leadership skills and the heart to guide a team dedicated to fighting hunger and providing hope. The position is 30 hours per week. The person hired will oversee financial, operational, and strategic planning. They will also collaborate closely with the Board of Directors and volunteers. More details about the position and how to apply are available online at the Fondy Food Pantry.org website.
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SAY HELLO TO MR REEVES
The Menominee Park Zoo in Oshkosh has a new resident. Mr. Reeves is a young black bear from Alaska. He is taking residence at the new Black Bear and Fox Exhibit. Zoo staff worked with several accredited organizations to find a bear needing relocation. Mr. Reeves is a playful, pudgy, and mischievous 107-pound black bear who will soon turn one year old. In Alaska, he was considered a nuisance bear, which means he lost his fear of humans and started to associate with people as suppliers of food. These bears can be dangerous to the public, and relocation was the best solution for this young Alaskan black bear. The recently constructed bear exhibit has all the features a bear needs to thrive in captivity and call home. The new exhibit includes many enrichment elements, such as a water feature, hollowed logs, and a den. Mr. Reeves will grow to be as much as 500 pounds and may live 30 years or more in captivity. His favorite foods are tender roots, vegetables, tubers, fish, berries, fruit, and nuts.
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Thanks to rebranding the Young Professionals of Fond du Lac’s Future Five and Young Professional of the Year awards structure has been separated. In fact the two awards will be awarded separately with the Future 5 honorees receiving their awards during an annual gathering at the South Hills Country Club in Fond du Lac on January 16th. Jackie Runge of the Young Professionals talked about the Young Professional of the Year Award. She says the Young Professional of the Year will be honored separately during Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Annual Awards Dinner. The award will be given to the individual who most promoted and assisted the Young Professionals of Fond du Lac program. Runge says nominations for the Young Professional of the Year won’t be taken until after the first of the year. Young Professionals of Fond du Lac is an Envision Greater Fond du Lac program for young professionals from 21 to 40 years old.
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