Hometown Broadcasting News Monday 10/14/19
14 October 2019 News
More Health Insurance Options For Open Enrollment
State officials recently announced that there will be more options for health insurance on the individual market next year. During open enrollment 61 Wisconsin counties will have three or more insurance carrier options on the individual market, including those carriers that are available on the federal marketplace. Among those 61 counties are Green Lake, Waupaca, and Waushara counties which went from three to four insurers. Residents in Fond du Lac and Winnebago Counties will have five insurers to choose from on Healthcare.gov. Dodge County went from four to six insurers. Open enrollment starts on November 1st.
For more information click here.
Most Domestic Abuse Goes Unreported
The program director for the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services in Oshkosh says more domestic abuse incidents go unreported than are reported to law enforcement officials. Kari Bellile says it’s difficult for the victim to report those incidents because the abuse is all about power for the abuser. She points out they abuser usually has control of the household’s finances, may keep the vehicle keys and uses other methods to keep the victim under their thumb. “Don’t allow them to go to work or harass them while they are at work so they end up getting fired, any number of ways to control people.” In a typical year there are 50 domestic violence incidents in Green Lake County. So far this year about 41 were reported. Victims of abuse can call the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services for help. Their 24-hour help line is 920-235-5998 or 1-800-261-5998. This is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Use 9-1-1
Ripon Area Fire District Chief Tim Saul urges residents to call 9-1-1 if they have a fire or an emergency requiring the department to respond. He points out that when people call the fire station’s phone line after hours it does ring through to his phone, but that’s not always the quickest way to get a response. He says for instance he was at a football game one time when he got the call and it took time to get the information and then relay it back to dispatch for the fire call. “If you need the fire department you need to call 9-1-1, whether you think it is an emergency or you don’t think it is an emergency you need to call 9-1-1. That’s the best way and the quickest and fastest way to get us out to you.” Most of the information about your residence will come up on a monitor for the 9-1-1 dispatcher when you call, which saves time and will get a quicker response.
Fall Drug Take Back Program Underway
The Ripon Police Department, Ripon Medical Center and Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County are teaming up for the Fall Drug Take Back campaign begins today and runs through October 26th. Ripon area residents are encouraged to go through their medicine cabinets and zip down to their local drug drop box and empty pill bottles into a zip-lock bag and deposit the drugs for disposal on or before October 26th. Drug Free Coordinator Ellen Sorensen says there are plenty of drug drop boxes in Fond du Lac County. “We have 13 throughout Fond du Lac County, two in Ripon, one in Rosendale, one in Brandon, two in Waupun so there are plenty in this area for people to accommodate and drop them off.” The boxes are at the Ripon Police Department and Ripon Medical Center and police departments in Waupun, Ripon and Rosendale. Waupun Memorial Hospital also has one. According to the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs survey, 53% of Fond du Lac County youth, in 8th, 10th, and 11th grade report obtaining prescription medications for misuse from their home or medicine cabinet or parents.
ADVOCAP Weatherization Day At The End Of The Month
ADVOCAP’s Weatherization program will celebrate National Weatherization Day on Wednesday, October 30th at the Opera House Square in Oshkosh. From 4 to 6 pm they will be handing out treats and information on how weatherization works. In 2018 the ADVOCAP Weatherization program in Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago counties weatherized over 200 homes. As a result those low-income households will save an average of $580 annually on their energy bills.
First Responders Of The Year Awards Bestowed
The State Assembly took time this past week to honor First Responders of the Year for each Assembly district. For the 54th represented by Gordon Hintz, Oshkosh Fire Battalion Chief Mark Boettcher was recognized. In the 41st represented by Joan Ballweg the award went to Lake Delton Police Detective Shawn Posewitz. He was instrumental in solving a recent attempted child abduction case. Boettcher is a 34 year veteran of the Oshkosh Fire Department. It was the inaugural year for the First Responders of the Year awards.
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