Thursday News 2/28/19
28 February 2019 News
Pedestrian Struck And Killed By Front End Loader In Oconto
The State Patrol is investigating the death of a 70-year-old Oconto man who was struck and killed by a city front end loader with a snow blower attachment Tuesday afternoon. Ernest Boucher was walking east on Pecor Street approaching the County Highway S intersection when he was struck from behind by the front end loader. A blood test on the Oconto city employee who struck Boucher came back negative for alcohol.
No Let Up On Drug Investigations
The district attorney for Fond du Lac County says there will be no let up on the prosecution of drug dealers following the recent sentencing of a ringleader in a $1 million heroin conspiracy. Thirty-nine-year-old Allen Ferguson of Fond du Lac led a conspiracy that involved 11 people who sold over 7,000 grams of heroin over a two year period. All 11 have been convicted . District Attorney Eric Toney says those who continue to deal will be caught and will go to prison. “There’s no plans to let up and we already have about a 20 person cocaine conspiracy case that is moving through the Fond du Lac County court system as well right now.” Toney says they have a number of great investigators in the county that won’t be letting up on drug dealers.
Governor Gives State Budget Address Today
We will find out more about Governor Tony Evers plans for the state during his Budget Address today. State Representative Joan Ballweg of Markesan says whatever the Governor proposes the budget will be reviewed before it goes out for public hearings. “We will see the plan and following that the Legislative Fiscal Bureau will do the analysis for the legislature and probably in about two months there will be public hearings.” The Joint Finance Committee will take those public hearings on the road when they are done they will turn the budget over along with their recommendations to the legislature. Ballweg says normally the State Budget Address is given by mid-February, but with a new governor more time is usually allowed.
Chamber Business Directory Discussed At Ripon Common Council Meeting
Should the Ripon Common Council be allowed to tell the Chamber of Commerce which businesses should be listed on the Chamber website’s business directory? That’s a question the Council is exploring. A Bed and Breakfast owner approached the Council asking for that feeling that the 7 percent they pay for the city’s room tax should include that provision. Chamber Executive Director Jason Mansmith explained to the Council this week that they list businesses who pay membership fees to the Chamber. He said the Chamber, Ripon Main Street, the Ripon White Schoolhouse and others split 70 percent of the room tax with the other 30 percent going to the city. Several Council members felt businesses should be listed on the Chamber’s directory if they are paying the room tax. Alderman Allen Schraeder felt that would be setting a bad precedent. The Council will take up the issue again at its next meeting.
Cooperation Varies In Effort To Get Hydrants Shoveled Out
Ripon Area Fire District Chief Tim Saul says residents have been pretty good about shoveling out around fire hydrants following snow storms this winter. In fact Tyler Guell of Ripon did 15 hydrants one day and more after that. Saul says they rewarded him with a gift certificate J’s BBQ had donated for the campaign to get the hydrants shoveled out. “J’s BBQ stepped up to the plate for us and teamed up with us this time. So they are going to be presenting him with a gift certificate for his efforts because that was way above and beyond.” Not everyone was as cooperative. Saul says recently he stopped to talk with a man after he saw that person actually shoveling snow on top of a hydrant.
Green Bay Man Arrested For Eleventh Drunken Driving Offense
The State Patrol arrested a 66-year-old Green Bay man for his 11th drunken driving offense early Wednesday morning. Douglas Lee Kluth pulled over on Oconto County Highway J at Brown Road got out of his vehicle and approached a state trooper that was assisting with traffic. The Trooper saw signs of impairment while speaking with Kluth and administered a field sobriety test. Kluth was arrested and taken to the Oconto County Jail.
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