2/5/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
5 February 2025 News
ICE SAFETY
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say with three days to go until the annual sturgeon spearing opener, they are keeping a close eye on ice conditions and asking residents to do the same if they are planning to venture out on Lake Winnebago or any body of water. There is well over a foot of ice well offshore, but getting to that thicker ice has posed a challenge again this year, and unfortunately the Sheriff’s Office has responded to reports of multiple vehicles, ATVs and UTVs through the ice. Sadly, a 67-year-old Taycheedah man died following an an ice-related accident over the weekend. The Sheriff’s Office has posted multiple pictures on their Facebook page including FLIR images showing plenty of large cracks and open water to contend with. They encourage residents to check with local fishing clubs who do a great job monitoring ice conditions and updating social media.
SPARTA MAN CHARGED FOR FATAL ACCIDENT IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office tells us a 22-year-old Sparta man has been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for a high-speed chase last Saturday that ended in the death of a passenger. Twenty-four-year-old Jaden Fargen of Bangor, Wisconsin was one of two passengers ejected from the vehicle after it failed to negotiate an exit ramp and rolled over. He died at the scene. Two other passengers and Jeremiah Johnson who was driving were flown from the scene with serious injuries. Tuesday Johnson made his initial appearance in Columbia County Court on the homicide charge. He is being held in the Columbia County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond. He will be back in court next month.
FIERY VEHICLE RESCUE DETAILED
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday posted body camera footage of the heroic efforts of deputies to remove occupants from a fiery vehicle crash. The vehicle had fled from a traffic stop for expired registration plates around 2 am on January 18th. The vehicle wasn’t pursued but a short time later crashed into a tree line. Deputies rendered aid to occupants of the vehicle at the scene of the crash, about six miles from the original traffic stop. Deputies were able to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers from their squads and attend to injured occupants. Investigators learned the vehicle had left the roadway going airborne, launched over a culvert, and crashed into a tree before it caught fire. Deputies saved the lives of two occupants and three dogs involved in the crash. The two occupants were seriously injured. Snippets of body camera footage from the incident can be viewed on YouTube.
RIPON GUARDIAN AMBULANCE REMAINS BUSY
Ripon EMS Chief Mitch Matuszeski says Ripon Guardian Ambulance handled 1,787 calls for service over the last year. Of those 1,381 were 911 calls and 403 were mutual aid calls. The mutual aid calls involved transports to facilities with higher levels of medical care. The department handles a service area of 162 square miles providing service to the City of Ripon, Town of Ripon, Town of Rosendale, Village of Rosendale, Village of Fairwater, Town of Nepeuskun, and the northern half of both the Towns of Metomen and Springvale. Matuszeski notes they have a roster cap of 38 EMTs and Paramedics, but at this point only 32 personnel about half of which live in the immediate area. The City of Ripon and Ripon Area Fire District are currently looking at the possibility of consolidating the departments due to increase calls for service and staffing issues. Public Administration Associates will be giving a report about that to the Ripon Common Council in the next month or two.
KAUL OPPOSES PROPOSAL TO ARM TEACHERS
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says the solution to gun violence in schools isn’t arming teachers. One Republican proposal in the State Legislature would allow teachers with a gun license to carry firearms on campus if school boards adopt a policy saying it’s allowed. Kaul who is the father of 2nd and 5th graders says the issue is personal to him. He says the primary focus of teachers should be on keeping kids safe and shouldn’t be on ensuring a weapon is safe and secure. He says the state’s Office of School Safety has been addressing ways to reduce stress and how to keep kids safe in a crisis. He says most schools have a school resource officer or school safety coordinator. Kaul notes the Office of School Safety works with those officers and coordinators, teachers and principals on ensuring the safety of students. He doesn’t believe the legislation will get enough support to pass.
HOUSING FORUM
More than 70 people turned out for a Housing Forum at the Retlaw Hotel in Fond du Lac last week. Envision Greater Fond du Lac hosted the forum made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Realtors Association. Lisa McArthur is the Vice President of Economic Development for Envision. She says there is a need across the state for all types of housing. It’s estimated an additional minimum of 140,000 housing units will be needed by 2030. The forum featured a panel discussion put on by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority about what various communities are doing with WHEDA funding on their housing projects. McArthur says the municipalities of Ripon, Campbellsport, and Waupun are doing some good things with their housing projects. She says others are learning how to address their particular needs. She says they would like to make the forum a recurring event and build on what was presented.
OSHKOSH FIRE CHIEF SELECTION PROCESS
The city of Oshkosh has begun recruiting candidates for the Fire Chief position. Information about the position is available online. Application materials will be received online via the City of Oshkosh Human Resources employment website, located under the “How do I?” drop-down menu on the city’s website. The deadline for applications is Sunday, March 2nd. The Police and Fire Commission are tasked with selecting the new Fire Chief. They wish to hear from a variety of stakeholders in order to select an individual that best fits the community needs. A feedback survey is available through Polco, the city’s civic engagement tool, for the public and employees to convey the qualities they seek in a Fire Chief. The survey is available online.
Home Page of The City of Oshkosh Official Website
Community Input Survey for Oshkosh Fire Chief – City of Oshkosh – Polco
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT MEETING IN WAUTOMA
The state’s Department of Natural Resources invites the public to join DNR staff tonight at the Wautoma High School Library for the fourth meeting in a nine-part series focused on fisheries management in northeast Wisconsin. The meeting is part of a Spotlight Series that highlights various fisheries in northeast Wisconsin and will focus on local lake surveys from Waushara, Marquette and Green Lake counties including the 2022 creel survey on Big Green Lake. Recent trout stream trend surveys will also be discussed. The meeting will be held in person at the Wautoma High School and virtually via Microsoft Teams from 6 to 8 pm. More information about the event, including the Microsoft Teams registration can be found on the DNR’s Meetings and Hearings online calendar.
SUGAR RUSH SWEET STROLL
Ripon’s Sweet Stroll has a fresh new identity and a new date. Now known as Sugar Rush Sweet Stroll, this highly anticipated event presented by Collaborative Wellness promises an afternoon of indulgence on Saturday, February 15th from 1 to 4 pm. Indulge in the ultimate dessert experience with up to seven mouthwatering creations crafted by the region’s finest pastry chefs. Local businesses will transform into unique “tasting rooms” each offering delectable treats to savor as you stroll through Ripon’s charming downtown. Desserts will be offered from several of the best bakeries and restaurants located throughout the area. The dessert list is published on the Facebook Sugar Rush Sweet Stroll event page. Limited tickets, which are $25 in advance, are required for this event and available only through Eventbrite. Sugar Rush Sweet Stroll is a rain-or-snow-or-shine event, and all ticket sales are final.
Downtown Ripon Sweet Stroll Sugar Rush | Facebook
Downtown Ripon Sweet Stroll Sugar Rush Tickets, Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
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