Thursday News 2/14/19
14 February 2019 News
Snow Day Accidents
Tuesday was a busy day for Fond du Lac and Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies responding to run offs and accidents caused by the snow storm. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Captain Bill Tadych says they responded to 33 accidents. “They said there were a total of 19 runoffs, 14 accidents and then there was a handful of disabled vehicles due to the cold and what not that caused some blockage as well.” He says there was one minor injury. Blowing and drifting contributed to another half dozen accidents Wednesday morning. Meanwhile Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 33 motorist assist calls during the day shift Tuesday, eight accidents and eight property damage accidents.
Sheboygan Man Suspected Of Child Abuse
Charges have been brought against a 25-year-old Sheboygan man suspected of causing life-threatening injuries to his girlfriend’s nearly three-year-old daughter. The girl was taken to Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center and later rushed to Children’s Hospital last Friday night. Jonathan Colon told investigators the toddler had slumped over in a bath tub with her nose in the water. He claimed he performed CPR on her and took her to the hospital. Doctors at Children’s Hospital found bruises on the girl’s stomach and genitals consistent with abuse. Colon is charged with child abuse and neglect, and marijuana possession.
Barlow Park Loop Barricade Use Clarified
Ripon Area School District Superintendent Mary Whitrock says they are concerned about the safety of those who use the Barlow Park loop for dropping off students at Barlow Park Elementary during snow events. District and city staff discussed the safety of students and she said if it is not going to be plowed right away a temporary barricade was suggested for those types of weather events. “That they would somehow let families know not to use the park until it had been plowed and perhaps put a temporary barricade up perhaps for a day or half a day until they were able to get over to the park to plow it.” She says they are not advocating barricading the loop during the entire winter season.
Beaver Dam Man Sentenced To Prison For Dealing Meth
Dodge County Judge Steven Bauer told 35-year-old Chad Jeche, “I believe you are a high risk to society,” then sentenced the Beaver Dam man to 7 1/2 years in prison and 5 years of extended supervision for methamphetamine trafficking. Jeche was sentenced Wednesday for that bail jumping and a narcotics charge. The meth charge stemmed from the sale of 1.6 grams of the drug to an undercover buyer in March of 2017. Last November a jury took less than 30 minutes to find Jeche guilty. District Attorney Kurt Klomberg points out that Jeche has a criminal record that dates back nearly 20 years and has resulted in 14 criminal convictions.
Senior Center Director Makes Pitch For Mitchell Funds
Ripon Senior Center Director Noreen Johnson made a pitch to the Common Council this week for the nearly $485,000 Grace and Lloyd Mitchell have left to the city. The money has to be used to construct a non-sectarian building or buy park property with the stipulation that it be named after Grace and Lloyd Mitchell. Johnson says that would suit their need for more space that they have outgrown the 1, 823 square feet on the lower level of City Hall they have. She notes in January of 2018 they had 120 visitors to the center and this past month even with several days canceled because of weather 583. She says they could use a place that could also act as a type of community center with a multi-purpose room, commercial kitchens, offices, exercise rooms and ADA compliant parking. “We are looking at starting to fund raise or search or seek out a different place to build upon or move into and we are also looking for people who are interested in helping us in any way.” Johnson notes in 2017 more than 34 percent of Ripon’s population was 55-years of age or older and a little over 25 percent was 60-year-old or older.
Parents Surveyed About School Make Up Days
Parents of students in the Ripon Area School District have until the end of the day to respond to a survey for options to make up a couple of days lost due to winter weather. One option is to make up days at the end of the school year on Monday and Tuesday, June 10th and 11th. The second option is to use Friday, February 22nd and Monday, April 22nd two days that were scheduled student vacation days. The district has five total snow days, including Tuesday’s closure for the snow storm. A decision could be announced Friday.
Community Information Session On Proposed Charter School
An information meeting will be held in Ripon tonight on the proposed Barlow Park Elementary charter school proposal. It will be held at the school’s media center at 5:30 pm. The district is considering a K through 2nd Grade charter school that could be play based. A quorum of the school board members may attend the meeting, but no action will be taken during the community information session.
New Owner For Johnson Bus
The busing company that has supplied busing for the Fond du Lac School District for nearly 40 years is getting a new owner. Johnson Bus will be taken over by another family-owned business Landmark Student Transportation which is based in Canada. The Johnson family has been serving the district for three generations. Current busing staff, which includes 500 part-time and 50 full-time employees will be maintained and the Johnson name will remain on the sides of the buses. Johnson Bus serves 14 school districts including the Fond du Lac School District. The ownership change takes effect at the end of the month.
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