(Juneau) A number of Dodge County agencies will be participating in ‘Prescription Drug Take Back Day’ today (Saturday). Residents are encouraged to bring any unwanted, unneeded, and expired medications to their local law enforcement agency for proper disposal. The goal is to keep the medications from getting into the wrong hands, as authorities say abusing prescription drugs can lead to more serious addictions. There is no cost to dispose of the drugs which can be dropped off at the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office in Juneau between 10am and 2pm today (Saturday, April 22nd). Other agencies participating include police departments in Beaver Dam, Columbus, Horicon, Juneau, Lomira, Mayville, Watertown, and Waupun.
(Beaver Dam) A Horicon man charged with making threats towards police was arraigned this week. Nathaniel Hoffman entered a not guilty plea to a felony count of Threat to a Law Enforcement Officer and a misdemeanor charge of Resisting. If convicted, the 36-year-old faces over six years behind bars.
(Fond du Lac) The Fond du Lac County Board this week voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a second temporary housing unit for violent sex offenders to be located at the county highway department grounds in Fond du Lac. There is already one violent sex offender housed on the grounds. The $200-thousand-dollar purchase is for a two-bedroom housing unit. A second offender is being released from the Sandridge Treatment Center in Mauston and two others are in the petition phase.
(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Common Council this week voted to commit matching funds if they are approved for a grant for street repairs. The city is applying for a Community Development Block grant that could be worth as much as $1-million dollars. The city would have to commit one dollar for every two dollars spent. The reconstruction of Beaver Street, Front Street and West Street is estimated at $3.9-million dollars. The projects would need to be completed by the fall of 2025.
(Waupun) Officials in Waupun hosted a visit by Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfield last week. One of the places she toured was the current Senior Center. The city received a nearly $5-million-dollar Neighborhood Investment Grant that will be used to build a new Senior/Community Center. Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop says it will have all the things you would expect to see at a Senior Center, but it will double as a community center. An ad-hoc committee was formed to suggest the design for the building. Bishop says the groundbreaking will be sometime this fall with the center opening in late 2024.
(Beaver Dam) The Fair Food Festival returns to the Dodge County Fairgrounds today (Saturday). Organizers say those who attend will be able to enjoy a diverse music lineup with an assortment of fair food offerings from local food trucks and vendors. Music begins when the gates open at 11am with Mac Daddy DJ, at 12:30 Nick Castillo hits the stage. Mac Daddy DJ is back at 2pm, followed by Blue Suede Cadillacs at 3:30, then Jaice Selk at 5pm. Admission to the event and parking is free, guests only pay for the food that is purchased. A second Fair Food Festival is scheduled for May 6th.
(Beaver Dam) The Dodge County Human Services and Health Department is highlighting an upcoming program aimed at helping people with diabetes and pre-diabetes. The Healthy Living with Diabetes workshop gives participants strategies for managing diabetes including techniques to deal with symptoms and information about healthy eating, appropriate use of medication, exercise and working effectively with health care providers. The workshops are sponsored by the Dodge and Fond du Lac County’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Healthy Living with Diabetes will be held on Wednesdays, May 3rd through June 7th, from 1pm to 3pm at the SSM Health Dean Clinic.
