3/6/25 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
6 March 2025 News
TWO KILLED IN CALUMET COUNTY CRASH
Calumet County Sheriff’s officials say two people died in a two-vehicle crash in the county last night. Just before 5:30 pm deputies responded to State Highway 32/57 near Shady Lane in the Town of Charleston for the two-car crash. The preliminary investigation determined a southbound pickup truck was hit head-on by a northbound SUV. A 73-year-old man was driving the pickup and a 70-year-old woman was his passenger. Both are from the New Holstein area. They died of their injuries at Ascension Chilton Medical Center. A 57-year-old woman from the Chilton area was driving the SUV. She was taken to the same hospital and is in critical condition. In addition to Sheriff’s deputies responding agencies included Chilton and New Holstein fire departments, Chilton first responders, Gold Cross, Kiel, and Valders ambulances, Chilton and New Holstein police, and the State Patrol.
SEVENTH INMATE DIES AT WCI
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is reporting the seventh death of an inmate at Waupun Correctional Institution. According to the DOC, 23-year-old Damien Evans died on Tuesday. They did not give specifics about the cause of death but Waupun’s Mayor Rohn Bishop told reporters the likely cause was a drug overdose. He says smuggling continues to be a huge problem at the prison. Evans was sentenced in 2019 to seven years in prison for armed robbery and bail jumping. Both convictions were out of Racine County. Evans is the seventh Waupun inmate to die in custody since June 2023. Two were by suicide, one of a fentanyl overdose, one by stroke, and one of dehydration and malnutrition. An investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office into four of those deaths led to felony inmate abuse charges against eight members of the prison’s staff and a misconduct charge for Warden Randall Hepp. Governor Tony Evers $500 million dollar prison reform plan includes repurposing Waupun Correctional as a medium security prison and vocational village for training inmates.
JAIL INSPECTIONS
When Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt suggests having state prisons like Waupun Correctional inspected like county jails are, he can say it with confidence in his own jail. Schmidt says in addition to their own inmates they house inmates for the U.S. Marshal’s Service and Immigration and Custom Enforcement too, so they are scrutinized by state and federal inspectors. He says with five or six inspections a year he has very high standards for how the jail is run and maintained. Schmidt says in some of the past inspections the Dodge County Jail was rated as Superior.
RIPON PLAN COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Ripon Plan Commission member Luke Dretske was one of two votes against recommending overlay zoning for a 64-unit apartment complex in the Sandmar area. The Commission passed along their recommendation for approval by a 4 to 2 vote to the Common Council which also approved it. Dretske says the commission can consider things like stormwater runoff, how a project affects the neighborhood, traffic, and zoning. He wasn’t satisfied with the plan to address stormwater issues. Dretske, who owns a home in Sandmar, says he was also concerned about traffic because they already have issues with people picking up and dropping off their kids at the Middle School/High School and then Barlow Park. He says Sandmar is developing some nice single family homes. He feels that’s an investment by the homeowner in the community whereas the $8.8 million S.C. Swiderski development would be 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment units.
GROVES NAMED FDLSD CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
The Fond du Lac School District Wednesday announced that Nate Groves will serve as the new Chief Academic Officer starting July 1st. He succeeds Matt Steinbarth in that role. Steinbarth was named the district’s Superintendent of Schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Groves brings extensive leadership experience from both the Fond du Lac School District and Arizona and currently serves as the district’s Director of Facility Services and Safety. As Chief Academic Officer, Groves will lead the district’s academic strategy and drive continuous improvement. (Fond du Lac School District photo).
Nate Groves Selected as New Chief Academic Officer | Fond du Lac School District
MARKESAN POLICE CHIEF WILL PFLUM RETIRES
After 26 years with the Markesan Police Department, Police Chief Will Pflum is retiring, and he posted his final entry on the department’s Facebook page Wednesday. Pflum began his career with the Markesan Police Department on January 1st, 1999. Prior to being promoted to Chief in 2015, he served as a patrol officer, school liaison officer, sergeant, and assistant chief. In his final post Pflum said he has been blessed to work with so many amazing people in the Grand River Area. He spent the majority of the post celebrating not his accomplishments, but the community’s in staging annual events, putting flags on the tombstones of veterans, giving to the food pantry, and more. Pflum says he will miss the community greatly. He and his family are moving to Door County. One of the efforts his department spearheaded in Markesan was a successful fundraising drive for new playground equipment in Hein Park. The Facebook post included a photo of Pflum in the park standing in front of the playground equipment. (Markesan Police Department photo).
RIPON POLICE K9 BLEK
The Ripon Police Department’s new K9 Blek is already making an impact. Police Chief Bill Wallner says the police dog has already been responsible for methamphetamine and cocaine arrests in the past few weeks. Blek and his handler, Officer Brandon Howell, returned from training in Pennsylvania in mid-January. Blek was sworn in at the end of January. Chief Wallner says the dog is unique because he comes from Slovakia, so he has his own passport and documentation. As for public appearances Officer Howell and Blek will slowly be worked into them. The Chief points out up until now Blek has only known life in a kennel and training, but he is adjusting well to living with Officer Howell and his family. (Ripon Police Department photo).
DODGE COUNTY PRESENTATION ON SUICIDE BY SEXTORTION
Dodge County authorities are inviting residents to attend a presentation about Suicide by Sextortion, A Father’s Story to discover how easily teens get groomed online and trapped. The free event will be held next Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Beaver Dam High School. It will feature a father’s heartbreaking, devastating story that impacted an entire family and community. John DeMay, father of Jordan DeMay, who was a typical and outgoing 17-year-old, highlights the growing dangers of online sextortion plots. John is a former law enforcement officer, husband, and community member. You can hear how his son spent the last few hours of his life going down a dark road in fear, feeling humiliated and alone and afraid to ask for help. The first 100 attendees will receive a real $10 bill and all in attendance will be eligible to win raffle prizes. No one under 10 years old will be allowed due to the sensitive nature of the topic. The recommended age is 12 years old and up with parental discretion. The Dodge County Crime Prevention Funding Board is sponsoring the event.
BLACK BEAR DEN SURVEY
The black bear den survey season is winding down, and the state’s Department of Natural Resources encourages the public to submit any den locations they find across Wisconsin in order to help with ongoing black bear research. The Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey aims to generate new estimates of black bear reproductive rates within each bear management zone and improve the accuracy of the population models used to manage them. After spotting a den, the public is encouraged to maintain a safe distance of approximately 30 yards and report the following information to the DNR: GPS coordinates, a photo of the den, ideally show it in relation to its surroundings, description of the site and surrounding area, and any information of bear activity near the site, including whether cubs were heard. DNR staff will work with den reporters and landowners to visit the den before deciding to survey it, determining if the den is safe, accessible and in use.
DNR Asks Public To Report Black Bear Den Locations | Wisconsin DNR
Share |