Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday 11/14/19
14 November 2019 News
Grants Pay Over Half Of Northwestern Trail Project Costs
Fond du Lac County Planning and Parks Director Sam Tobias says over half of the cost of a new bridge over Silver Creek and refurbishing of 2.4 miles of the Northwestern Trail from Ripon to the Green Lake County line is being paid for through grants. “We put together some pretty good grant applications. We received a $45,000 Wisconsin Stewardship Grant for this project. We received another $111,500 from the Wisconsin Snowmobile Grant Fund.” The county’s share came to $117,322. The overall project cost is $273,822. The bridge is in place and Tobias says once the trail is complete snowmobilers will have a better route through and around Ripon on the north side. Refurbishing of the trail won’t be completed until next year, but Tobias says it will be useable this winter.
Watertown Man Sentenced For OWI And Drug Charges
A Dodge County judge this week sentenced a 32-year-old Watertown man to two years in prison and three years of extended supervision for driving impaired with a loaded handgun and cocaine in the vehicle with him. Ian Scott Ortega will also has to complete four years of probation. He was pulled over for speeding in Ashippun in March of last year. Officers found a loaded 38 revolver, cocaine, marijuana, and a digital scale in the vehicle.
Dodge County Budget Approved
Dodge County supervisors this week approved the County’s 2020 budget. Property taxpayers will see a decrease in the county’s tax rate for 2020. The mill rate of $5.14 per thousand dollars of assessed value is 26 cents lower that what homeowners saw last December. That’s thanks in part to a more than 6 percent increase in property values to $6.7 billion. The County’s 2020 budget is $117 million with a tax levy of $34.5 million an increase of $562,000.
Dodge County Board Resignation
The Dodge County Board has its second resignation in five months for a seat representing the Mayville area. Longtime supervisor Eugene Wurtz has resigned due to medical issues, which will cause him to move to an assisted living center outside of the 14th supervisory district. The seat will remain vacant until the spring election. This past June Supervisor Justine Stephanie Justmann stepped down from her seat on the board, which also represents a portion of the Mayville area.
United Way Trivia Night A Success
The Ripon Area United Way campaign got a boost last week with their 2nd Annual Trivia Night at Ripon College. United Way Board of Directors President Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says they had a good time and they had great sponsors for the event. This year they are trying to raise $85,000 to benefit 17 agencies that provide services in the community. “We’re off to a great start our thermometer in front of the President’s Office at the College is at 43 percent and we’re grateful to so many businesses and individuals in this community that help meet our goal and more important than just raising money, the money goes to places like the Food Pantry where we have a meaningful impact in this community.” To make a contribution to the United Way campaign send it to P.O. Box 71 in Ripon, 54971 or go to their Facebook page or website.
New Book Details Lombardi’s Challenges
When it comes to Green Bay Packers history and trivia author Larry Names knows a little about that. He’s written four books on Packers history and five on trivia. His latest book “Lombardi’s Destiny” explores the Lombardi years. Names, who lives in the Wautoma area, says he knew it was going to be a challenge. He notes because Lombardi’s family was from southern Italy Lombardi faced some discrimination when he was interviewing for head coaching opportunities in the NFL. Names says Packers President and Board of Directors Chairman Dominic Olejnicczak was warned off by other league officials, but he wanted Lombardi as Packers Head Coach. “People told them you don’t want that guy and the more they were told that the more Dominic Olejniczak the president of the Packers decided the more he wanted Vince Lombardi to be their coach. He interviewed him twice and he was greatly impressed with what he heard.” Names book “Lombardi’s Destiny” is available in paperback through Amazon and in hardcover through Barnes & Noble and other outlets including the Packers Hall of Fame.
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