2/6/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
6 February 2025 News
WIND ADVISORY
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 9 am until 9 pm. Among the counties included in the advisory are Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago. Winds will generally be from 15 to 30 miles an hour out of the west, but could gust as high as 45 to 50 miles an hour. Possible impacts include unsecured objects being blown around, tree limbs could come down, and a few power outages may result.
FIRE DESTROYS 135 YEAR OLD HOME IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Washington County Sheriff’s officials say fire destroyed a renovated 135-year-old home on Plat Road in the Village of Richfield Tuesday afternoon. A passerby called 911 just before 3 pm to report visible flames coming from the home. The first deputy on the scene used a fire extinguisher in the affected area of the residence to try and slow the spread of the fire. When the homeowner arrived he removed a dog from the house and confirmed no one else was inside. Firefighting efforts were hampered by low temperatures and limits on water supply. The Richfield Fire Department was assisted by 23 other departments using more than 100,000 gallons of water to put the blaze out. The home was a total loss. No injuries were reported. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
RIPON SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT HIRING TIMELINE
The Ripon Area School District has established a timeline in its search for the District’s next Superintendent. Current Superintendent Mary Whitrock is retiring and will be leaving at the end of the school year. This month will include stakeholder interviews, focus groups/forums, and surveys conducted. The search firm HYA Associates will also be doing screening interviews and vetting candidates. On March 13th they will do a presentation of a district leadership profile to the school board. There will also be a workshop with the school board. On March 29th the first round of interviews will be conducted and the board will identify finalists. Finalists will spend a day in the District on April 3rd. The school board will conduct a final interview with candidates on April 7th and HYA will follow that with third party background checks. In mid-April the school board will approve the next superintendent’s hiring and announce it. The next superintendent’s contract will formally begin on July 1st.
HOUSING NEEDS
The Vice President for Economic Development for Envision Greater Fond du Lac says a Housing Forum in Fond du Lac last week was a good way to gauge how communities across Fond du Lac County are doing addressing their housing needs. Lisa McArthur says a few of the communities in the County have been able to come up with answers and housing programs. She says that includes Ripon, Campbellsport, and Waupun, and the City of Fond du Lac recently released their housing study. She says while some of the larger communities have had varied success there are 33 municipalities across Fond du Lac County and other townships and villages want to do something but don’t know where to start. The Forum included a presentation by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority officials on what communities are doing about housing with their funds. Developers also participated in the forum.
AGRICULTURAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AWARDS
Governor Tony Evers and the state’s Department of Transportation announced Wednesday an investment of $100 million for 55 projects to assist with fixing and upgrading aging local roads that support Wisconsin’s farmers and producers. The funding also supports statewide agricultural and forestry industries in 36 counties across the state. Projects receiving funding are focused on improving rural roads and culverts that are critical to moving and transporting agricultural and forestry products. Among some of the area projects the Town of Bloomfield in Waushara County is receiving over $925,000 to improve Aspen Avenue. In Waupaca County the Town of Lind is getting nearly $395,000 for Stecks Road and the County is getting $3.6 million to improve County Road A. The Town of Marshfield in Fond du Lac County is receiving $1.5 million to fix Walnut Road and the Town of Winchester in Winnebago County is getting nearly $813,000 to repair Lakeview Road. The State’s share is each of those project costs is 87.7 percent of the total.
BALDWIN BILL STRENGTHENS DAIRY PROGRAM
Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. It will help more American dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses, including creating new products, expanding their markets, and modernizing their production facilities. To date, the Baldwin-backed program has supported over 350 dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest, including 109 in Wisconsin. Senator Baldwin says she’s fighting to expand the vital program so more farmers, cheesemakers, and dairy processors have the tools to innovate and drive the rural economy forward. The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 builds on the support for regional dairy research and innovation centers across the country by raising the program’s annual authorization from $20 million to $36 million. Each regional initiative is tasked with providing technical assistance and grants to farmers and processors.
VOTER ID REFERENDUM
Voters on April 1st will be asked to make the requirement for voter ID part of Wisconsin’s Constitution. State Senator John Jagler says you wouldn’t think something that’s been around since Governor Scott Walker’s Administration would need protection, but over the years the makeup of the State Supreme Court has changed and the court seems to be up to challenging all kinds of laws. The state lawmaker from Watertown feels the statewide referendum will pass rather easily. He says municipal clerks haven’t had any issues with having people present photo ID at the polls and in political polling voter ID is favored by 75 to 80 percent of respondents. Changing the State Constitution takes approval in two sessions of the state legislature and by voters on a statewide ballot question.
KRUG SUPPORTS LEGISLATION BATTLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS
State Representative Scott Krug joined his State Assembly Republican colleagues Wednesday announcing new legislation to crack down on illegal immigrant criminals in Wisconsin. The state lawmaker from Arkdale says, “Enforcing immigration law, protecting our border, and addressing illegal immigration are basic requirements that Americans want and deserve.” The bill requires Sheriff’s in Wisconsin to request proof of legal presence status from individuals who commit a felony and are held in a county jail. It also mandates that sheriffs comply with detainers and administrative warrants from the Department of Homeland Security. Failure to comply results in a loss of shared revenue funding for that county. Krug, who represents the 72nd State Assembly District, says, “Abuse, sexual assault, deadly drunk driving, and other violent crimes committed by people who should not be here is not a status quo we can allow.”
GROTHMAN STUDENT LOAN BAILOUT PREVENTION BILL
Congressman Glenn Grothman has reintroduced a bill that will prevent future Administrations from replicating President Biden’s student loan bailout scheme that could have cost taxpayers up to $1.4 trillion. The federal lawmaker says, “The amount of student loan debt in this country is an embarrassment to our entire educational system.” He says his bill will shield Americans’ pocketbooks against debt forgiveness schemes like those of former President Joe Biden that sparks inflation, adds to national debt, and tanks the economy, all without Congressional approval. Grothman’s bill requires that the Department of Education review the fiscal impact of any future plans to forgive student loan debt to ensure costs to the federal government do not increase and result in taxpayers footing the bill.
BEASOM JOINS ENVISION ECONOMIC DEVELEOPMENT TEAM
Envision Greater Fond du Lac has hired Zachary Beasom as Economic Development Coordinator. Lisa McArthur, Vice President of Economic Development for Envision, says it is a new role being added to their economic development team. She says he will bring a fresh perspective and will be a great addition. In the role Beasom will connect small businesses and start-ups with expert advice, mentoring, and hands-on account support. He will also introduce entrepreneurs to cutting-edge tools and trends, and organize workshops and networking events. Beasom most recently held the position of Member Advocate with Verve, a Credit Union. He attended the UW-Oshkosh and has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Economics.
DOCK SPIDERS NEED HOST FAMILIES
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders begin their 9th season on May 26th, but right now they are looking for families who would be willing to host the college players that make up their roster. Jim Misudek is the team’s general manager. The Dock Spiders play in the Northwoods League which is a development league for the majors. He says they need host families in the Greater Fond du Lac area that would be willing to put players up during the season. Misudek says the families develop a close relationship with the players they host. He says over the years they’ve developed a core of host families but they need enough for about 35 players. He says host families are well-compensated with complimentary tickets, giveaway items, discounts at the team store, and other perks. Those who might be interested in being a host family can get details on the Dock Spiders website under the “Community” tab. Hundreds of Northwood League players have advanced to Major League Baseball over the years.
Host Family Program – Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
BRIDGING PAST AND PRESENT IN OSHKOSH
The public is invited to the inaugural event of a compelling new series dedicated to understanding the region’s Indigenous communities both past and present. The free program is on Sunday, February 23rd at 2 pm at the Oshkosh Convention Center. It is the first in a series that will provide opportunities to explore the Native American Cultural Heritage through the findings of the early historic Native American Village in Menominee Park and through the art of contemporary Native American Artists. Sign language interpreters will be on site for the event. The Bridging Past and Present Series is funded by a Wisconsin Arts Board Grant from the National Endowment of Arts. It results from a partnership with the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center and Oshkosh Public Museum and support from Discover Oshkosh. Those planning to attend the opening program can register online.
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