2/12/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
12 February 2025 News
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 9 am this morning to 3 am Thursday morning for Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Marquette counties. The Advisory is effect from Noon today to 6 am Thursday for Calumet, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties. Snow accumulations will be from 3 to 6 inches. You should plan on slippery road conditions. Hazardous conditions could impact this evening’s commute.
CAMPBELLSPORT SCHOOL THREAT QUASHED
Tuesday a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s School Resource Deputy working in the Campbellsport School District received information about a threat to school safety. According to the investigation two 9th grade students were making direct plans, comments and threats to other students and staff that involved plans for a school shooting. The two high school freshmen have been placed in secure detention awaiting a future court hearing on criminal charges. There is no immediate threat to public safety. Sheriff’s officials say they take all claims of threats to school safety seriously. They wanted the public to be informed about the situation and emphasize school safety through the importance of telling an adult, teacher or law enforcement if there is a concern or threat of any kind. Concerns or tips on school threats can also be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Speak up Speak Out website. The Speak up Speak Out Resource Center will respond quickly and confidentially, in coordination with emergency services and school districts, to get help to you or someone who is hurting, struggling or in danger.
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WAUPACA COUNTY ACCIDENT INVOLVES SCHOOL BUS AND TRUCK
No serious injuries were reported when a school bus and truck pulling a trailer collided in Waupaca County Tuesday afternoon. The County Communications Center received a call just before 4 pm about the crash on Highway 54 and Pine Street in the Town of Royalton. Sheriff’s investigators learned the bus was stopped and the truck failed to stop, striking the back of the school bus. There were two students who just got off the bus, one actively getting off the bus, and one still on the bus, at the time of the crash. No one was seriously injured. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Manawa Fire Department, Manawa Ambulance, and Gold Cross Ambulance.
PICKETT MAN ARRESTED FOR FIFTH OWI OFFENSE
The Wisconsin State Patrol arrested a 33-year-old Pickett man for his fifth operating a motor vehicle under the influence offense in Oshkosh early Tuesday morning. Zachary Keefer allegedly went through a red traffic light at Main Street and Merritt Avenue just before 2:30 am. A state trooper observed that and made a traffic stop. When the state trooper approached him, Keefer admitted he had been drinking. The trooper also observed indicators of impairment. Field sobriety testing was administered and Keefer was subsequently arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail.
RIPON 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS
Ripon’s 4th of July fireworks may have to go a day earlier this summer. City Administrator Adam Sonntag explained to the Common Council last night that their fireworks vendor, Wolverine Fireworks Display, cancelled their contract with the city due to staffing shortages. He reached out to six other fireworks show providers and three companies responded. Two said they have a full schedule and a third J & M Displays said they will be available on July 3rd or 5th but not the 4th of July. He says there is still a slight possibility of the 4th but it is slim. The Council gave him permission to negotiate emphasizing having the fireworks on the 3rd of July. In other business the Council approved a bill of $1.2 million for the new Department of Public Works facility that is being built, a proposal for furnishings for the new DPW building, and park use agreements for the Ripon Youth Baseball & Softball Clubs and the Ripon Diamond Booster Club.
RASD SUPERINTENDENT FOCUS GROUPS
The Ripon Area School District has chosen Hazard Young Attea Associates to spearhead its search for a new superintendent. They will be holding focus groups open to the public, while others are invitation only. All are welcome to attend one for parents and community members at the Ripon High School Community Room at 6 pm next Tuesday night. Use door S1 on the south side of the building off Joy Avenue. Parking is available in the south lot. There’s a virtual focus group on Sunday, February 23rd at 7 pm. The zoom invitation is online the Meeting ID: is 924 9778 6553 and the passcode is: 525995. Another session for parents and community members will be held at the Ripon High School Community Room at 5 pm on Monday, February 24th. The full schedule is being emailed to all District parents and staff members.
STATE JOINS LAWSUIT AGAINST DEERE & COMPANY
State Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined four states and the Federal Trade Commission in a lawsuit against agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere & Company over its alleged use of unfair practices that have driven up equipment repair costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming equipment including tractors. Kaul says, “This case is seeking to make the market for farming equipment repairs more competitive.” He adds that when Wisconsin farmers need to get their farming equipment repaired, they should be able to get the repairs at a fair price, without unnecessary delay. The complaint alleges that, for decades, Deere’s unlawful practices have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere equipment, forcing farmers to instead rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers for necessary repairs. As alleged in the complaint, this unfair practice has boosted Deere’s multi-billion dollar profits on agricultural equipment and parts, growing its repair parts business while burdening farmers with higher repair costs.
CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Congressman Glenn Grothman will be holding four town hall meetings in Waushara and Winnebago counties next week. The first two are Monday at 10 am at the Anna Follett Memorial Center in Coloma and at 1 pm at the Redgranite Municipal Building. Two more are scheduled for Friday, February 21st at 9 am at Village of Fox Crossing offices in Neenah and at 11:30 am at the Town of Algoma Town Hall in Oshkosh. All four meetings will run about an hour. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP Timothy.Svoboda@mail.house.gov. Congressman Grothman serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U. S. House of Representatives.
BRUSHING SCAM
The Administrator for the State’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection says if you receive a package you didn’t order it may be no accident. Michelle Reinen says scammers may be using what is known as “brushing” by finding your mailing address or personal information online then sending you knock off merchandise to increase their sales. Then they use your information to post fake reviews in your name to try and increase their sales. She says a new twist scammers are using is including QR codes on the packages they send you. She says the QR code will send you to a phishing website where they try to steal your personal information like credit cards numbers, user names and passwords. Reinen notes the QR code could also install malware on your phone or computer device. She says if it happens to you change your passwords, consider multi-factor authentication, check your credit report, and avoid contacting the sender.
DNR BEGINS PRESCRIBED BURNS
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tells us fire management crews are starting to perform prescribed burns on DNR properties throughout the state where local conditions can provide a safe and effective burn. DNR crews will be burning cattail marshes, wetlands, prairies and oak/pine barrens to clear the buildup of dead vegetation and to open waterways for waterfowl to feed and nest. By burning in winter staff takes advantage of wet conditions, which reduces the heat and intensity of cattail marsh and barren burns. When conducting prescribed burns near roads and recreational trails, the DNR will post signs to notify the public. They ask that people avoid areas while a burn is being conducted. The DNR also notifies local law enforcement and fire officials in advance about when and where DNR prescribed burns will take place.
RIPON MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
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 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. Brian Reilly is the Director he says even the dinner itself holds an air of mystery as to whether you might get all the flatware you need or other essential items. The meal 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
STURGEON SPEARING SUCCESS
For successful sturgeon spearers every time they get their fish there is excitement and a story to tell. We caught up with two men at Wendt’s on the Lake who tasted that success Monday. Dan from Fond du Lac has been spearing since he was 15 or 16-years-old and he’s gotten four fish since his first success in 2014. On this particular day the sturgeon he harvested was 64.4 pounds and measured 62.6 inches in length. He says friends got him into the sport and it became one of the reasons he moved to Fond du Lac. Fuller also had success Monday hauling up a 68 pounder through the ice. It isn’t his biggest that was one weighing 103 pounds. He says it’s great to have that success but better when you can share it; he was alone when he got this one. Water clarity has been an issue for spearers this season, but both men say it was clear enough for them to see what they needed to spear their fish.
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