11/22/24 Hometown Broadcasting News Friday
22 November 2024 News
BERLIN HOLIDAY PARADE
The Berlin Fire Department posted this photo on Facebook from the Holiday Parade in Berlin last night. The theme for the parade was “Celebrate Kindness & Giving.” Prior to the parade the Light the Park celebration was held at Nathan Strong Park with an opportunity for kids of all ages to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
WATERTOWN MAN SAFE NOT READY TO COME HOME
During a press conference in Green Lake yesterday, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed they had contact with the 45-year-old Watertown man who staged his death and took a plane to Europe. The Sheriff says they managed to contact a Russian-speaking woman who got Ryan Borgwardt to connect with the Sheriff’s Office. He sent them a cellphone video taken on November 11th saying he was safe in the apartment he is living in now. The Office’s Chief Deputy has established a rapport with Ryan, who is not ready to come home yet. Sheriff Podoll says Ryan is worried about how the community will treat him after he staged his own death by leaving a capsized kayak on Green Lake in August. The Sheriff estimates the cost of the 56 day search of the lake from $35,000 to $40,000 plus $7,000 for equipment and expenses. That does not include the costs for Bruce’s Recovery and divers. The Sheriff ended the press conference with a hopeful note that with Christmas coming up Ryan might decide to return to his wife and kids.
Related Stories:
11/21/24 Missing Watertown Man Safe Not Ready to Come Home – Hometown Broadcasting
11/21/24 Text of Green Lake County Sheriff’s Remarks During Press Conference – Hometown Broadcasting
SNOW MEANS GO SLOW
The first real snow of the season kept law enforcement officials busy yesterday. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department tells us from 3 am to 3 pm they were dispatched to 252 calls for service. The heaviest volume came during the morning commute hours. By the numbers: there were 41 cars that ran off into a ditch, 45 crashes, 19 disabled vehicles, 15 calls for assisting an agency, and 6 traffic problems. Sheriff’s officials say the day highlights the critical role communication deputies play in allocating resources across law, fire, and EMS services. Our staff witnessed some of the weather-related chaos during the morning commute reporting 3 cars in the ditch, and a jackknifed semi-tractor trailer truck between Ripon and Pickett. (Columbia County Sheriff’s photo).
FIVE MEN ARRESTED IN OSHKOSH FOR PANDERING
The Oshkosh Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit, detectives, and patrol officers arrested five men during an undercover human trafficking investigation on the south side of the city Wednesday. The men ranged in age from 23 to 43 years old and were arrested for pandering. They were from Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Appleton. Oshkosh Police strive to reduce the number of victims of human trafficking by doing proactive investigations and being vigilant.
RASD SCHOOL AND DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The Ripon Area School District earned a meets expectations score of 65.1 down 1.1 from 2022-23 on the 2023-24 State Report Cards for schools and districts. The report card reflects the last three years of student performance data, course and program participation information for grades 9-12, and attendance and graduation rates. The data is used to generate scores in the four priority areas of achievement, growth, target group outcomes, and on-track to graduation. The Ripon High School, Middle School, Murray Park Elementary School, and Quest Elementary all met expectations. The Odyssey Virtual School exceeded expectations. Compared to nearby school districts, the Ripon Area School District had a better overall ranking than Berlin and Princeton. It was slightly lower than Green Lake, Rosendale-Brandon, and Markesan. More information about how the district fared on school and district report cards is available on the Ripon Area School District website.
2024 State Report Cards Press Release
CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEES SEEK ANSWERS ABOUT UAPS
The Congressional Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs that Congressman Glenn Grothman chairs recently held a joint hearing with another subcommittee about UAP’s. UAP’s or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena are what people used to refer to as UFO’s. Congressman Grothman says the American Public has been fascinated with UAP’s since the late 1960’s and the frequency with which they are being spotted has increased. He says it could be something America or another country is testing, or it could be from out of this world. He says often they are spotted over a U.S. military installation, which would seem to indicate they are from our world. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says the two committees didn’t get enough information from those who testified. He says they will have to press for another more secretive meeting or will have to promote legislation to get the answers they need.
SENATOR BALLWEG ON FOREIGN TRADE
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the U.S. needs to maintain its trading partnerships with foreign countries when President Trump takes office for a second time. Ballweg chairs the State Senate’s Agriculture and Tourism Committee. She says Wisconsin agriculture has built up its exports to foreign countries. She notes quite a few of the state’s manufacturing and large industrial companies are global. For instance she says the President recently talked about John Deere which has factories around the world. Meanwhile she says countries like China sweeten their trading interests in other countries by building roads and other infrastructure, something the U.S. does not do. She says where America excels is the better products it makes and builds for use in this country and others.
GETTING PERMISSION
A conservation warden with the Wisconsin DNR says if your gun-deer hunting adventures take you anywhere near private land during the nine-day hunt you may want to get permission from that land owner in case you have to go on their land. William Hankee says sometimes when you shoot a deer it doesn’t go down right away. If it strays onto private land it is better to have permission ahead of time. Hankee says there are tools to find out the name of a property or landowner. He says there is the OnX app or you can go to the Fond du Lac County GIS department website to get a property owner’s name. He says then it is just a matter of stopping by their home to ask permission or calling them. The 9-day gun-deer hunt starts tomorrow and it runs through Sunday, December 1st.
OASD SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR RETIRING
The Oshkosh Area School District announces the retirement of Linda Pierron, director of special education, at the end of the school year in June. After 12 years with the District and a distinguished 30-year career in public education, Pierron’s retirement will be presented to the school board for approval during the December 4th Regular Meeting. Under her leadership, the District has launched groundbreaking initiatives such as the Brewing Futures accessible food truck, student-run cafes, the Project SEARCH internship program, and adaptive sports and motor development programs-all with the goal of empowering and enriching the lives of students with special needs. Pierron joined the Oshkosh Area School District in 2013 after serving in the Menasha Joint School District and as a director at CESA 6.
JUEDES WINS BEE AWARD AT RIPON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Information Desk volunteer Sandy Juedes has been named the newest recipient of the BEE or Be Execeptional Everyday Award. Juedes was nominated by a colleague who wrote: “Every time Sandy is helping at the information desk, she is always busy. Sandy is quick to help patients, assist staff, and always does so with a positive attitude. I rarely see Sandy behind the information desk as she is often too busy offering others a hand.” The BEE Award is specifically designed to recognize non-nursing staff members.
Photo caption: Sandy Juedes (center), an SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Information Desk volunteer, receives a BEE Award from Jason Blonigen (left), SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Volunteer Services hospital coordinator, and Kristi Weis, Ripon Community Hospital lead patient access representative.
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