Local News Briefs Wednesday 6/11/14

A 5-year-old Waupun boy was seriously injured when he darted out into traffic Saturday morning and was struck by a pickup truck. Waupun Deputy Police Chief Scott Louden says the boy was with his father delivering newspapers. He says a legally parked vehicle obstructed the vision of the 70-year-old rural Waupun man who was driving the pickup when the boy ran out into the road. The boy was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital and later was flown to a hospital in Madison. He says it appears at this point to be nothing more than an unfortunate accident, but the investigation is continuing. He says the man didn’t appear to have any drugs or alcohol in his system and hadn’t committed any traffic violations. What made the child run out into the road? Louden says he was trying to get to a family member across the street. The accident happened at 10:47 Saturday morning.

Waupun Man Saved Twice From Heroin Overdoses

Waupun Police say a 25-year-old man is lucky to be alive after overdosing on heroin twice in a three-day span. Deputy Police Chief Scott Louden says the first time was last Wednesday. A woman jogging in the Forest Mound Cemetery found the man, Kyle Ewert, and called 911.  He was unresponsive and not breathing when an ambulance crew gave him Narcan. Then last Friday he was at a friend’s home in the 500 block of East Brown Street when he overdosed again. Once again an ambulance crew saved him with a dose of Narcan. Monday Ewert was charged in Dodge County Court with possession of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and two felony bail jumping counts. He’s being held in the County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. Louden says Ewert is very lucky to be alive. He says heroin is a problem across the state. A heroin summit will be held at the Waupun High School Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

2-Year-Old Ingested Cocaine

Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann says they got a report over the weekend about a 2-year-old child that ingested cocaine. She says the toddler, who is from Lomira, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. Staff at the hospital contacted law enforcement officials saying the child tested positive for the drug. The child was then taken to a hospital in Milwaukee. The incident is under investigation.  The family recently moved into the apartment. The child’s parents aren’t suspected of doing any wrong.

Waupun Woman Charged For Accident Involving Children

A 28-year-old Waupun woman has been charged for allegedly driving drunk and getting into an accident with her children in the car. Amanda Vant Hoff made her initial appearance in Dodge County Court Monday for Sunday night’s accident. She’s charged with OWI causing injury to a passenger under 16. The accident happened on State Highway 68 in the Town of Trenton. She failed to negotiate a curve, lost control and went into a ditch. Her 4-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter suffered non-life threatening injuries in the mishap. She was released on a $1,000 signature bond and has a preliminary hearing next month.

School Lunch Price Increase Approved

The Fond du Lac School Board this week approved a small increase in lunch prices for the next school year. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says the 10 cent increase allows them to stay within federal guidelines that require an increase in cost until the district’s prices meets the free meal reimbursement rate. He says that’s $2.99 minus the reimbursement rate for paid meals of 34 cents or $2.65. He says the current average meal rate is $2.44. He says they want to make the increases manageable for families. Meanwhile the number of kids who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals continues to grow. According to the state’s Department of Public Instruction 42.6 percent of students in the district are eligible compared to the state average of 43.3 percent. Sebert says that’s a reflection of the continued struggles of the economy.

Stars Align For RMC Project

Commonwealth Development President Louie Lange says they were fortunate to get tax credits through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to redevelop the current Ripon Medical Center once the new hospital is up and running in Ripon. He says the tax credit program is very competitive. Commonwealth will team up with ADVOCAP on the project. WHEDA awarded $522,667 in tax credits for the project. Lange says when they were working with Ripon City officials on the Jefferson Streets Apartments project they learned the current hospital was going to be available for reuse. He says they have experience in turning around old hospitals having successfully redeveloped one in Milwaukee and will be doing the same in Ripon. He says plans are to turn the Ripon Medical Center into 40 units of family housing. He says they should be able to start the project early next year.

E. coli Levels Will Be Monitored At Wolf Lake Again This Summer

Once again this summer Fond du Lac County officials will be monitoring E. coli levels in Wolf Lake. County Planning and Parks Director Sam Tobias says over the years they’ve tried to figure out the source of the bacteria, but it may just be a seasonal thing. He says it could be agricultural run-off, failing septic systems around the lake, the County’s pit-toilet bathroom was even blamed but it’s been gone for a couple of years. He says E. coli is always in lake and river water, but when it gets to certain levels it’s unhealthy for humans to swim in or ingest. Tobias says in the past they’ve had to shut down the beach at Wolf Lake because of E. coli levels and that usually occurs in July or August when we see our warmest temperatures of the summer.

National Tire Safety Week

It’s time to talk tires. This is National Tire Safety Week. Sergeant David Harvey, with the Wisconsin State Patrol, says tire maintenance is a must. He says you’re safety and the safety of others is riding on your tires.  He says at least once a month and before long trips, be sure to check your tire pressure — including the spare — and check the tire sidewalls for any damage. And when you notice significant tire tread wear, it’s time for a new set of tires. He says properly maintained tires are important at all times especially when you’re traveling in rain and snow. He says taking a moment to check tire pressure reduces the chances of a dangerous blow out and improves your gas mileage.

Buttermilk Creek Park Music Festival Season Begins

The Buttermilk Festival kicks off its 25th anniversary season with a performance by the Madison Mellophonium Jazz Orchestra tonight. The concert will take place in the performance center at Buttermilk Creek Park and would be moved to the County Fairgrounds Recreation Building in the event of bad weather. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an appearance by Jazz I, Fond du Lac High School’s award-winning “big band.” The Madison group will take the stage at 7:15 p.m.