2/24/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Monday
24 February 2025 Uncategorized
WILD ROSE MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING 18 MILE CHASE
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 43-year-old Wild Rose man following an 18-mile vehicle chase in Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties Friday night. Just after 8:30 Friday evening a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputy got information that a vehicle that had traveled to Milwaukee to pick up illegal drugs was on its way back. The deputy spotted the vehicle on Interstate 41 near Church Road where the suspect failed to stop for a stop sign. That sparked a vehicle pursuit in and around Fond du Lac that eventually headed north into Winnebago County where a Sheriff’s deputy used a maneuver that caused the suspect vehicle to become disabled. The Wild Rose man is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on felony charges of fleeing or eluding and second degree recklessly endangering safety.
WEST BEND SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR INVOLVEMENT IN CHILD SEX RING
A 37-year-old West Bend man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison and 25 years of extended supervision for his role in the sex trafficking of a child in the Philippines and for possessing numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office led a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a human trafficking ring in the Philippines. Friday Michael Westhphal was sentenced on one count of trafficking of a child and three counts of possessing child pornography. Twenty-one other charges were read into the record and dismissed. The investigation revealed Westphal was sending money to a child sex trafficker in the Philippines in exchange for child porn. Westphal was planning a trip to the Philippines to meet the trafficker and the trafficker’s victim a small child. The international investigation culminated last March in the Philippines when a raid was conducted which resulted in the arrest of three human traffickers and the rescuing of six children ranging from ages two to fifteen. Among them was Westphal’s victim. The other suspects were charged in the Philippines.
FIRE SAFETY REMINDERS
Green Lake County Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk says with a pair of rural house fires in the last week it is a good time to brush up on fire safety to prevent tragedies from happening. Wednesday Green Lake County Sheriff’s deputies provided traffic control for a fire in the Town of Manchester that destroyed a home. Then Friday a fire destroyed a home on County Highway KK south of Ripon. The fire in Ripon led to injuries for three residents and the death of 11 pets. Vande Kolk says they see more fires during cold weather as people use different sources to heat their homes. He urges residents to make sure their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Vande Kolk says a number of people burn wood for heat, but whether that’s a wood burning stove or a fireplace make sure the chimney is inspected and cleaned annually. Another safety reminder is to change your furnace filter each year.
FDL COUNTY JAIL COSTS
Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman says in addition to deciding possible locations for a new jail, county officials will have to decide on how they are going to pay for it. He points out the current sales tax and tax levy can’t support the bond borrowing for a new facility. One option might be some kind of special levy. He emphasizes that a special levy would have a negative impact on both residential and business owners. Another option would be to extend the sales tax. Kaufman says they would have to get permission from the state legislature to do that. He says that would be a more equitable way of paying off the loans for the jail. It is estimated that about 20 percent of inmates serving time in the county jail are from outside of the county.
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL PREVIEW
The Ripon Common Council tonight will consider approving Planned Unit Development Overlay Zoning for the SCS Ripon Project. S. C. Swiderski proposes building a 64-unit multi-family housing development on 6.56 acres of undeveloped city-owned land. It is located between Pleasant Street and Rogers Road, with 3.25 acres preserved as green space. The zoning overlay would be on a R-3 district. The Plan Commission held a public hearing last Wednesday for the project planned for the Sandmar area. Following the hearing, the Commission voted 4 to 2 to in favor of approval of the overlay contingent on meeting specific stormwater recommendations. The Parks and Recreation Department will also present their annual report tonight. The Council meets tonight at 7 pm in the Council Chambers of the Ripon City Hall.
LWV RIPON AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM
The League of Women Voters of the Ripon Area is hosting a Candidate Forum for the Ripon School Board candidates on Wednesday, March 12th at 7 pm in the Ripon City Hall Council Chambers. All candidates have been invited to participate. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The event will be taped and broadcast on the Ripon Cable channel. Two candidates for Ripon Area School District have agreed to participate: Chris Gatzke and Jessica Stollfuss. The other two candidates have declined to participate. There are four candidates for three positions. The general election is Tuesday, April 1st. Each candidate will be given two minutes for opening remarks then questions will be taken from the audience. Questions will be the same for each candidate and provided by the audience through screeners. Questions will be issue and policy based. Each candidate will have up to two minutes to answer each question. Candidates will be given one minute each for closing remarks.
BGCTC NEW SITE COORDINATOR IN BERLIN
The Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area recently introduced their new site coordinator for their Berlin facility, Madyson Main. Officials say she has been instrumental in supporting local families as the Club’s Unmet Needs Coordinator since 2023. She’s become an invaluable asset to their team. The Berlin site has been without a coordinator for several months, but Madyson has stepped up in several ways. She says serving as the Unmet Needs Coordinator the past two years has allowed her to make connections far and wide in Berlin and the surrounding communities. Amy Pollesch, Director of Operations, adds “Madyson’s experience, passion and commitment to serve you and families in our community, perfectly aligns with our mission, and makes her a great fit for this role.”
WMH INTRODUCES PULMONARY REHAB OUTPATIENT PROGRAM
SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital is introducing an outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation program starting March 11th. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with pulmonary concerns for example chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory symptoms-recover faster and live healthier. The program includes exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families. Most insurances and Medicare offer coverage for pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary Rehabilitation services will be provided by Waupun Memorial Hospital’s Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab staff and respiratory therapists who will evaluate individuals to determine personal needs and limitations. Pulmonary rehabilitation employees use this information to tailor a program to meet patient’s specific needs and help set goals. A free public open house is scheduled from 1 to 3 pm on Tuesday, March 11th.
MISS OSHKOSH SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
The Miss Oshkosh Scholarship Organization will name its 2025 Miss Oshkosh and Miss Oshkosh’s Teen at the end of the week. The contest is also an official local preliminary to the Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen competitions to be held in June in New Berlin. Jess Lund is co-director of the competition she says it helps young women to become more confident about their abilities and pick up a scholarship along the way. She says this year they will be awarding over $8,000 in scholarships. The winners will have their titles for a year. The competition to name both titles will start at 7 pm Saturday at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium at Oshkosh West High School. Seven area women are competing for the title of Miss Oshkosh, and eight young ladies are vying for the title of Miss Oshkosh’s Teen. Tickets are $20, cash or check only, and are available at West Pointe Bank in Oshkosh. Tickets will also be available at the door, cash or check only.
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