1/30/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
30 January 2025 News
FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE RESCINDED
President Trump’s budget office rescinded a controversial memo two days after it caused confusion and legal challenges. The memo issued Monday by the Office of Management and Budget would have put a freeze on federal loans and grants for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars in federal funding. Administration officials say the pause was necessary to review whether, spending aligned with Trump’s executive orders on issues like climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The two sentence memo issued Wednesday rescinds the original memo. Wisconsin was one of 23 states that brought a lawsuit seeking a halt to the freeze. A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked the new Trump Policy.
FDL TRAFFIC PURSUIT AND ARREST
Fond du Lac Police Tuesday night arrested a 30-year-old Fond du Lac woman following a 6-mile traffic pursuit. She was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of recklessly endangering safety, fleeing an officer, and operating while impaired. It started off just after 11:30 with a reckless driving complaint in the area of West Johnson Street and North Peters Avenue. An SUV had swerved between lanes with its headlights off and tried to ram another vehicle. The victim safely pulled over and met with a Fond du Police officer. The suspect fled when an officer tried to pull her over. Speeds reached 65 miles an hour during the pursuit. Tire deflation devices were successfully deployed near State Highway 23 and County Highway Y where the driver slowed down and pulled over. Police were assisted by Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies and the State Patrol.
ICE SAFETY REMAIN CALM
With warmer temperatures ice conditions on area lakes and rivers will once again become potentially dangerous. Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says if you plan to venture out on the ice check conditions first. Beyond that he recommends carrying equipment for a self-rescue. You should have someone with you, a life vest, floatation cushion, rope, and self-rescue spikes. He says he’s fallen through the ice twice over the years, once in shallow water and once with others who helped him out. Vande Kolk says you are not always going to be with someone when you go through the ice so you will have to self-rescue. He suggests getting flat by getting your feet parallel to the surface of the water, then kick yourself out on a flat plane dispersing your weight as much as possible. He says when you first go through the ice the shock of the cold water could panic you, but try to remain calm. Fishing clubs have taken bridges off Lake Winnebago with the rise in temperatures.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RISE SLIGHTLY IN DECEMBER
Unemployment rates rose slightly in December for most of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The Department of Workforce Development says it only held steady in two counties, Dane and Milwaukee. According to Federal labor statistics in Dodge County last month it was at 2.4 percent, 2.5 percent in Fond du Lac County, and 2.6 percent in Winnebago County. Jobless rates in Green Lake and Waupaca counties were at 3 percent, and Waushara County’s rate was at 3.5 percent. The unemployment rate was also up slightly for the cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac at 2.7 and 3 percent respectively.
December Local Employment and Unemployment Data Released
FOUNDER’S DAY RECIPIENT NAMED
The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation has been named the 2025 recipient of the Ripon College Founder’s Day Award. The formal presentation of the award will occur at the 158th Commencement ceremony May 18th. Bill Wyman, president and chief executive officer of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, will accept the award on behalf of the organization. Wyman says, “The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation has been involved in the Ripon and Green Lake area for about 25 years, and we’ve grown and built good relationships there, but we feel that there’s a lot more opportunity.” The Founder’s Day Award honors an individual or organization in the greater Ripon community who exemplifies the ideals of the founders of Ripon College and who has contributed above and beyond to the mission of the school. You can read more about the honor at the Ripon College website.
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation named 2025 Founders’ Day recipient | Ripon College
WAUPACA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR RETIRES
Waupaca County Emergency Management Director Andrew Carlin retired Wednesday after nearly 23 years of service to the community. He started with the county Hazmat team in 1996 and became Emergency Management Director in 2002. Officials say his dedication to emergency management will be greatly missed, not just by the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, but the entire community. He lived by the philosophy that “Blue Sky Days” were the best time to connect, build relationships, and prepare for the inevitable disasters. Andrew’s last day featured a get together in his honor, cake, gifts, presentation of a citation from the state legislature by State Representative Kevin Petersen, and an “End of Service” tribute over the Sheriff’s radio frequency.
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN ON DEI
Congressman Glenn Grothman applauds President Trump’s efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the federal level. Since taking office Trump signed an executive order directing all federal DEI staff be placed on paid leave, and eventually, laid off. The order also rescinded policies that required federal contractors to promote affirmative action and diversity programs. A separate executive order revokes a number of executive orders from over the past 50 years which attempted to increase diversity and address discrimination. Congressman Grothman says a number of DEI offices were set up through the Biden Administration that further divided America over race. The federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah feels that there are a number of people who came to this country who are thriving and didn’t need DEI to do it.
FDL COUNTY UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN
The Fond du Lac County United Way came up a little bit short in its 2024 fundraising campaign. United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says Mercury Marine generously donated another $10,000 during the closing weeks of the campaign as an incentive for others to give, but the campaign will end up shy of the $550,000 goal. She says they will handle the difference internally and none of the agencies they contribute to will receive any less than what was committed to them. The Ripon Area United Way merged with the Fond du Lac Area United Way two years ago. Kilawee says they’ve maintained a strong partnership with the Ripon area. Some but not all of those partners include Diverse Options, Traded Treasures and Food Pantry, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Ripon Learning Center, Vacation Summer Bible School and others that can be found on the Fond du Lac County United Way website.
TWO BLIMPS AT AIRVENTURE
Goodyear will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its famed airships by bringing two of them to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer. The 72nd Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 21st through the 27th at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The appearance of two airships marks a unique occurrence in the more than 50 years that Goodyear has brought its blimps and airships to Oshkosh. EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs says, “There is no aviation event more ‘blimp-worthy’ than EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and to have two of Goodyear’s airships over the grounds will make this year unforgettable.” Current plans are for the airships to participate in flying activities during the week, in both the afternoon and night air shows. When not flying, at least one of them is scheduled to be parked near the EAA Aviation Museum during the duration of its stay.
WAUSHARA COUNTY SNOWMOBILE SAFETY COURSE
The Waushara County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Snowmobile Safety Class at the Wild Rose Fire Department on Saturday and Sunday, February 8th and 9th from 8 am to Noon each day. Registration is available on the DNR’s Go Wild website, search for Snowmobile and Waushara County. Students must bring $10 on the first day, and must be present on both days to receive credit. Any person who was born on or after January 1st, 1985, and who has reached the age of 12, must have completed and received a snowmobile safety certificate in order to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin. Any questions can be addressed by Recreation Deputy Adam Weber at the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office (adam.weber@wausharacountywi.gov).
Go Wild – Find a Class to Enroll In
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER AT RHS
The Ripon High School Key Club and Social Justice Alliance are partnering with the Ripon Area Community Theatre and Ripon Noon Kiwanis to host a special murder mystery dinner on Saturday, February 22nd in the Ripon High School Commons. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Key Club and the Social Justice Alliance. Actors from the Ripon Area Community Theatre will be enacting the interactive murder mystery, “Murder at the Midnight Hour,” which takes place at a wedding during the 1960s. The dinner portion of the evening comes courtesy of the Key Club and Social Justice Alliance, who will be preparing a Spaghetti Dinner for guests. It’s a one-night event, with limited tickets. Tickets are $40, which includes the mystery meal and murder mystery entertainment. Tickets are available at the courtesy counter of Ripon’s Hy-Vee and online. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with the dinner and mystery at 6 pm. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in raffles during the evening.
Murder at the Midnight Hour – Murder Mystery
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