5/19/22 Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday
19 May 2022 News
Ripon Chamber Has New Executive Director
The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce has a new Executive Director after a several month search. Former Director Jason Mansmith left the Chamber at the beginning of March to become marketing director for the Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake. Mandy Kimes, who moved to the Ripon area 11 years ago will become the Chamber’s Executive Director during the first week in June. For the past nine years Kimes has been a campus minister for His House Christian Fellowship, a non-profit Christian campus ministry at Ripon College. The College had its commencement ceremony Sunday. In a Facebook post Monday Kimes mentioned she was transitioning out of the campus ministry and entering into a new season. Kimes was one of three finalists for the Chamber’s executive director position.
FDL County Board Supports Town Of Metomen In Keeping RR Crossings Open
The Fond du Lac County Board this week unanimously passed a resolution opposing the potential closing of at-grade railroad crossings on Brandon Road, Sunny Knoll Road, and Sheldon Road in the Town of Metomen. Highway Commissioner Tom says with only three accidents at those crossings in about 40 years there is no need to close them and cutting brush, removing embankments and improved signage are cheaper alternatives that would improve site distance to the crossings. He says the Town opposes it because of the effect it would have on farm traffic and the Rosendale-Brandon School District because of how it would affect busing. He points out it would essentially create a 10-mile detour. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt told the board his deputies constantly used those crossings during the windstorm last July 28th and so did other emergency responders. Jahnke says there would be a public hearing before the state makes a decision about closing, but they are hoping the resolution will have an impact.
Tips Needed About Dog Found Floating In Twin Lake
The Waushara County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in trying to locate the owner or the person or persons responsible for intentionally killing a dog. The state’s DNR got an email complaint Monday morning at 10:30 about a small dog floating in Twin Lake in the Town of Springwater. Conservation Wardens contacted the Sheriff’s Office and deputies and the wardens located the dog. Anyone with information can contact the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office at (920) 787-3321 or if you wish to remain anonymous the Waushara County Crime Stoppers at 800-800-5219. Tips could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Waupaca County Sheriff Vindicated
Waupaca County Sheriff Timothy Wilz feels a recent Court of Appeals decision and statements by County Judge Raymond Huber vindicate his department in a controversy over a practice used on Sheriff’s reports. District Attorney Veronica Isherwood questioned the practice of correcting reports during a motion hearing in a criminal matter. She maintained correcting or altering reports may have omitted details that would be helpful to a defendant’s case. She further issued letters to 79 district attorneys about what she believed to be a Brady Violation. The County asked for clarification from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Judge Huber subsequently made statements saying he did not make a finding that the Sheriff’s Office or any particular officer was being untruthful. Because of the Judge’s clarification the Court of Appeals found that further relief was unnecessary. Sheriff Wilz says he has always stood by the hard work, dedication and truthfulness of all members of the Sheriff’s Office.
Road Rage Arrest
Columbia County Sheriff’s officials suspect a 38-year-old rural Pardeeville man was drunk when he repeatedly rammed the back of another vehicle on Highway 113 near the ferry in the Town of Lodi Monday night. A loaded handgun was also found inside the vehicle of Andrew Sullivan when Sheriff’s deputies arrested him for the road rage incident. He was charged with his 4th OWI offense, failure to stop for a law enforcement officer, operating after revocation, failure to install an ignition interlock device, felony bail jumping, and being armed while intoxicated. The victim called 911 about the incident shortly after 7 o’clock Monday evening.
Self Testing For COVID
A former member of the Ripon COVID-19 Task Force says there may come a time when you will want to test yourself for the virus so it might not be a bad idea to keep some self-testing kits around your home. Jeff Puhlmann Becker says the government will still send the free kits to your home if you inquire at COVID Tests.gov. You will have to give your name and address and the kits will show up in a couple of days. He says even if you don’t report the results if you test positive you will know enough to self-isolate for 5 days, which in addition to vaccination is a way to cut down on the spread of the coronavirus.
Skin Cancer Awareness
Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller reminds residents to use sunscreen when they will be spending some time out in the sun. She says for whatever reason the county has a higher rate of skin cancer or Melanoma rates than most of Wisconsin’s counties. She says Melanoma can develop over time and it may not show up very quickly. Mueller notes they received several grants to promote skin cancer awareness working with community partners to get the word out. One thing they did is provide sunscreen dispensers for baseball teams. The County’s Health Department recommends using sun screen with a broad spectrum SPF that blocks UVA and UVB rays, putting on a thick layer on exposed skin, checking the expiration date, using SPF of 15 or higher for appropriate protection, and reapplying every two hours or after swimming, sweating, or drying off. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Waupun Hosted Emergency Management Training
For four days at the end of last month the City of Waupun hosted specialized training in the field of emergency management. Waupun Emergency Management Director B. J. DeMaa says he and Dodge County Emergency Management worked with the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland to bring the Integrated Emergency Management Course to Waupun. In 2019 Dodge County’s application got one of just 12 awards nationwide and they were supposed to host it in 2020, but then came COVID. He says they had to wait until this year to provide the training but it was well attended with nearly 100 officials in law enforcement, fire, emergency management, county health, the department of corrections and others from 34 agencies. The training culminated with a 6-hour exercise in which a large hazmat incident resulted in a need to evacuate the entire city.
FDL County Holiday Office Closings
Fond du Lac County has announced its government office hours for the Memorial Day holiday. The county offices in the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac, the Sheriff’s Office lobby window, the Portland Street Annex including the Veteran Service Office, the Department of Social Services and the Highway Department will be closed all day on Monday, May 30th. The Moraine Lakes Consortium call center will also be closed all day that Monday.
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