1/16/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
16 January 2025 News
VEHICLE STOLEN IN FDL RECOVERED IN BEAVER DAM
Fond du Lac Police were able to recover a stolen SSM Health work van in Beaver Dam Wednesday and take the 43-year-old Columbus man suspected of taking it into custody. Fond du Lac Police responded to SSM Health at 430 East Division Street in Fond du Lac at 11:14 am for a report of a work van that had been taken about 20 minutes before. The work van was left unlocked and running in the parking lot. The stolen vehicle was spotted on a Flock camera in the City of Beaver Dam. Information was relayed to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, and Beaver Dam Police. Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies and Beaver Dam Police located the stolen van in a Walmart parking lot and took the Columbus man into custody without incident. A Fond du Lac Police Officer responded to Beaver Dam and transported the suspect to the Fond du Lac County Jail where he is being held on a stolen vehicle charge.
FDL POLICE INVESTIGATE ACCIDENTAL HANDGUN DISCHARGES
Police in Fond du Lac are investigating accidental shooting incidents that occurred in the 1000 block of Mihill Avenue Sunday and the 500 block of Grove Street Tuesday. Sunday night officers and members of Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue were called to the 1000 block of Mihill Avenue for a 20-year-old Van Dyne man who accidentally shot himself in the hand while reassembling a handgun. He reinserted a magazine not knowing it was loaded. The bullet went through a kitchen wall and imbedded in an exterior wall. Family members were inside the house but the firearm was not pointed in their direction. Early Tuesday afternoon officers responded to the 500 block of Grove Street where a 27-year-old Fond du Lac man failed to remove the magazine while he was preparing to clear a handgun for storage. A round was fired through a second floor bedroom wall and it exited through an exterior wall. Officers found no damage to the house next door. Three other roommates were inside the residence at the time, but the firearm was not pointed in their direction.
DODGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CLARIFIES INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday released information about two ongoing investigations. One of the cases occurred on December 9th when the Sheriff’s Office assisted by the Waupun Police Department executed a search warrant in the 1100 block of Main Street in Lomira. After the search 38-year-old Joshua Rogge of Lomira was arrested and booked into the County Jail. Waupun Police are seeking charges against him of possession of child pornography and causing a child 13 to 18 years of age to view sexual activity. Wednesday the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Milwaukee Street in Lomira. Sheriff’s officials say contrary to social media posts no federal agencies were involved in that. That investigation is ongoing, and additional information isn’t being released at this time. There was no threat to the community. (Dodge County Jail photo of Joshua Rogge).
STEVEN AVERY APPEAL REJECTED
A state appeals court has rejected Steven Avery’s latest request for a hearing on new evidence as the convicted murderer seeks a new trial. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals in District 2 issued a 22-page ruling yesterday saying it disagreed with Avery’s appeal on all three issues raised, including the request to hear evidence of a possible new suspect. Instead, it sided with the lower courts. It was the third time Avery went before the court for an appeal. Avery was convicted of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach. The freelance photographer disappeared on Halloween of 2005 after being called to the Avery Salvage Yard in Mishicot to take photos of vehicles. Her car was found in the salvage yard five days later. Bone and clothing fragments found in a burn pit on the property were identified as Halbach’s. Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey was also convicted. His first opportunity for parole is in 2048.
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES INCREASE IN BUILDING PERMIT FEES
The Ripon Common Council this week approved a resolution establishing building permit fees and amended two ordinances regarding building permit and electrical permit fees. The City has gone to a new building inspection service and City Administrator Adam Sonntag says it has been about a decade since the City updated its fees for building permits. He told the Council that city administration reviewed the fee schedule with MSA and compared it with several permit fees charged in 2024 for projects that occurred within the city. He says there will be an increase in some building permit fees, which is due to the anticipated inspection workload and frequency for the projects. Alderman John Splitt was concerned about the new fee structure. He said the old numbers worked and it didn’t cost the city anything. He expressed concern that the city would fall behind on inspections and have to raise rates. Splitt also asked if there could be a monthly report to monitor billing for the new fees. Mayor Ted Grant made several comments noting wages for the building inspector will be paid out of fees that come to the city and that fees that are increasing by 5 to 10 percent are mostly for large projects. The ordinance setting building permit fees was revised to reflect the changes.
FROZEN ROAD LAW IN EFFECT STATEWIDE
Effective today the state’s Department of Transportation declares highways are officially frozen statewide and the frozen road law expands to include the entire state. The frozen road law allows heavier loads for trucks carrying logs cut crosswise, not including woodchips, and salt and sand for winter maintenance while cold weather allows. The season weight restriction program is one way to protect Wisconsin’s investments in roads. The department maintains an online interactive map for seasonal weight restrictions, which shows the frozen road boundaries, Class II roads and posted roads. The DOT and county highway personnel monitor temperature forecasts, along with frost tubes-liquid-filled devices under pavement-to help determine when roads are adequately frozen to accommodate heavier loads.
COMPANY EXPANDING IN WAUPUN
The Waupun Common Council this week approved a developer’s agreement to sell city owned land to Eagle Flexible Packaging for a proposed expansion that begins this year. The Batavia, Illinois-based firm announced plans to construct a new $5 million 52,000 square foot facility in the Waupun Industrial Park. Eagle Flexible Packaging began operations in the City of Waupun in 2021, after acquiring a formerly shuttered production facility at 4 Taylor Street. The company has added 65 jobs in Waupun since opening that facility. In 2024 they acquired 1208 Wilson Drive in the Waupun Industrial Park and have invested more than $3 million in that facility, including facility improvements and the addition of state-of-the-art graphics equipment to support continued growth in Waupun. The planned expansion is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year and paves the way for the addition of 30 to 40 new jobs, hired within 24 months of facility completion.
REDISTRICTING
State Representative Alex Dallman says the Governor with his redistricting maps was able to trim the Republican majorities in the State Assembly and Senate during last November’s elections. The state lawmaker from Markesan says Republicans still hold majorities in both the Assembly and Senate, but by much slimmer margins. Those majorities are 54 to 45 seats in the Assembly and 18 to 15 seats in the Senate. They lost 10 seats in the Assembly and four in the Senate.One of the casualties in last fall’s election was State Senator Joan Ballweg who lost her seat representing the 14th State Senate District. Dallman says he worked well with Senator Ballweg whether it was on the Joint Finance Committee or representing the interests of the 14th State Senate District. Dallman’s 39th Assembly District is now part of the 13th State Senate District which is represented by Republican Senator John Jagler.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DALLMAN LISTENING SESSIONS
State Representative Alex Dallman will hold nine budget listening sessions across the 39th State Assembly District next month. Listening sessions provide an opportunity for constituents to offer their input, comments, and opinions regarding topics such as legislation, budget priorities, and assistance with state agencies directly to Representative Dallman. On Monday, February 3rd he will hold listening sessions at the Berlin City Council Chambers from 10 to 11 am, the Markesan City Council Chambers from 1 to 2 pm, and the Friesland Village Hall from 3 to 4 pm. On Friday, February 7th he will be at the Princeton Public Library from 10 to 11 am, the Marquette Service Building County Board Room in Montello from 1 to 2 pm, and the Oxford Village Hall from 3 to 4 pm. The final session will on Monday, February 10th at the Metomen Town Hall in Ripon from 10 to 11 am, the Eldorado Town Hall from 2 to 3 pm, and the Ripon Town Hall in Ripon from 4 to 5 pm. There may be a time limit for each attendee to speak, depending on the number of attendees, in order for everyone to have a chance to speak.
UNITED WAY NEEDS DONATIONS
With less than a week to go before it closes out its 2024 fundraising campaign, the Fond du Lac County United Way has some ground to make up to reach its goal of $550,000. United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says Mercury Marine this week gave a donation of $10,000 in addition to what its employees had already given and the $85,000 Mercury’s parent company the Brunwick Corporation gave. She says it’s hoped that will incentivize others to give with $40,000 left to raise. She says it has been a tough year for giving, but they don’t want to disappoint the agencies they support because 1 in 3 county residents will at some time use the services of those agencies. To give to the United Way you can go to their website FDL United Way.org. You can text FDL United to 26989, or you can mail in a donation to Fond du Lac County United Way, 74 South Main Street, Suite 201, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 54935.
DNR CAREER FAIRS
The state’s Department of Natural Resources will host five career fairs across the state. The fairs will be held in Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Fitchburg, and Woodruff starting January 18th. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, explore the natural resources field and learn how to apply online as new job postings become available. People of all ages and educational backgrounds are encouraged to attend. The DNR employs a large, diverse workforce throughout the state with a variety of full-time and limited-term employment positions. The career fair in Oshkosh will be on Friday, January 24th from 4 to 7 pm at the DNR Oshkosh Service Center.
DNR Career Fair – Oshkosh | Wisconsin DNR
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