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Omro students learn what it takes to be a firefighter By
Doug Zellmer OMRO — Amanda Pollei has a jump start on a possible career as a firefighter. Pollei is a member of the Omro-Rushford Fire Department Junior Firefighters program. "I joined because I wanted to help out the community more and I've always wanted to be a firefighter," said Pollei, a junior at Omro High School. "It gives me something to do in my spare time and it's educational." Among the things she's experienced since she joined in November is learning about firefighting equipment and the trucks used by firefighters. Pollei said her experience in the junior firefighting program could someday lead to a job as a firefighter or a first responder. Brian Wilson, assistant chief of the Omro-Rushford Fire Department, who is in charge of the junior firefighters program, said three students are currently in the program. It's open to those ages 16 to 18. The department has offered the junior firefighters program since 2003. Wilson said said other fire departments in the state have similar programs. "Goals of the program are to get the kids familiar with the firefighting and emergency medical services field," he said. "Hopefully, this will keep them interested in firefighting." He said those in the junior firefighters program prepare equipment for fires, assist in testing equipment and help with cleanup after fires. "I think the junior firefighter program is really beneficial," Wilson said. "It's giving the participants a new experience in life." Pollei said she's also had the opportunity to bond with some of the Omro-Rushford Fire Department firefighters. The department currently has 52 firefighters. "I'm getting to know them and they've been teaching me about the different equipment and trucks," she said. Jay Treleven, chief of the Omro-Rushford Fire Department, said the junior firefighters program gives high school aged students a taste of what it's like to volunteer and to serve the community in a hands on basis. "They can see the opportunities that are out there when they graduate from high school," Treleven said. He said Wilson is doing a "super job" with students enrolled in the junior firefighters program. "Brian goes above and beyond to give them opportunities," Treleven said. One of those opportunities, Treleven said, was a trip to the dispatch center at the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. "They observed how calls come in and how they are dispatched out," he said. "They also had the chance to see how people we work with interact with us." Doug Zellmer: (920) 426-6667 or dzellmer@thenorthwestern.com. |
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February 6, 2008 Dryer lint blamed for fire call, evacuation OMRO – Burning dryer lint was blamed for a fire call that resulted in the evacuation of residents of an apartment building on Wintergreen Drive in Omro Saturday morning. Police received a call of smoke in the hallways at 9:30 a.m. and assisted in evacuating the residents. No fire damage was reported and no one was injured, according to a police report. Police assisted the Omro-Rushford Fire Department with another call on Sunday morning when someone reported a strong odor of natural gas on McKinley Avenue around 7 a.m. They called Alliant Energy personnel to investigate but no problem was found, said Police Chief James Reed.
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January 11, 2008 Men rescued from Lake Winnebago after falling through ice By
Jeff Bollier Oshkosh emergency response crews rescued two men who fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago on Thursday morning. The Oshkosh Fire Department and Omro-Rushford Fire Department sent boats out onto the lake after another person on the ice called 911 to report seeing the two men on all-terrain vehicles go through the thin ice near the mouth of the Fox River at about 11:40 a.m., Oshkosh Fire Department spokesman John Holland said. Holland said it appears one man fell through the ice on his ATV more than 200 yards east of the Fugelberg Park boat launch on Oshkosh's south side. The other man fell in as he tried to rescue his friend, Holland said. He said the ice was about two inches thick near the mouth of the river and very dangerous to drive or walk on. "Two inches of ice is not a good place to fish," Holland said. "They were out on some shaky ice." Batallion Chief Mark Boettcher said one of the two men, who were ice fishing on the lake, was in the water for at least 17 minutes. A witness, Don Roeder, said he saw the men riding four-wheel ATVs north, toward thin ice that extends out from the mouth of the Fox River, when they broke through the ice. "I couldn't figure out why they were going that way," Roeder said. "I just hope they're all right. That's the main thing now." Jeff Bollier writes for the Oshkosh Northwestern.
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| Posted January
3, 2008
Reunion raises fund for ORFD By Julie Quinn of The Omro Herald There was a whole lot of "Remember when...?" going on last November as folks got together for a Benji's Bar reunion at the Kiwanis Pavilion. They looked over old photos and shared stories as they marked thirty years since Bill "Benji" Benjamin opened the establishment on Main Street. Benji, his father Lavern "Bud" Benjamin, and the building are now gone, but they are fondly remembered by many. Benji's mom Ethel, was the honored guest at the celebration, serving up her legendary hot beef sandwiches and Bloody Marys. While reminiscing was reason enough to get together, the event was also a fundraiser for the Omro Rushford Volunteer Fire Department, the former neighbor of the tavern. Thursday night, Ethel Benjamin presented a check for $850 to the firefighters, appropriately standing in front of the display case full of decanters she donated to the department when they moved into their new station. She thanked those who came out to enjoy the reunion, as well as event sponsors Duggan's Piggly Wiggly, Rogge's Foods, Hyler Septic, Russ Dietzen, Tanner's Tap & Grill and JRH Promotions. |
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| Posted January 3, 2008
Workers break gas line By Julie Quinn of The Omro Herald The Smell of gas was unmistakable downtown Omro Friday morning after construction workers hit a gas line, according to a city hall employee. Omro City Hall , the post office , Citizens Bank and other buildings were evacuated while members of the Omro Rushford Fire Department and Alliant Energy employees handled the situation. Several homes in the area were without power for several hours as well. The Construction workers had been putting in water service for apartments above 100 E. Main St. when they hit the line, the city hall employee said. The building is undergoing extensive renovation. Firefighters cleared the scene about 12:30 p.m.
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Omro
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December 22, 2007 Omro community helps the needy By
Patricia Wolff OMRO – Volunteers packed and delivered packages of food and Christmas goodies for 75 families in Omro this week. Each package contained a turkey and other groceries. Assistant Police Chief Jim Daubert and other staff at the Omro Police Department coordinate the annual event, which is really a communitywide event with help from schools, churches, clubs and individuals, said Chief James Reed. The volunteers gathered Tuesday at the Omro-Rushford Fire station to pack and deliver the boxes. Police department and fire department personnel helped. Marv Matulle and Bill Joch, of the Omro Kiwanis Club, helped out by delivering boxes to 11 families. Matulle said it is interesting to note the reactions of the recipients. He enjoys helping the poor, he said. Schools and churches let the volunteers know who might appreciate the help. A few refuse it, but most people are appreciative, Matulle said. The event has been part of the Christmas season in Omro for more years than Reed can remember. Firefighters have helped the past four years. Chief Russ Kleinschmidt said it's good for his crew to be involved in the community other than in firefighting and rescue work. "A lot of times people are very emotional and they'll give you a hug," Kleinschmidt said. "Some are so taken aback they don't know what to say. It does make you feel very good." Patricia Wolff: (920) 426-6689 or pwolff@thenorthwestern.com.
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December 3, 2007 Wood burning stove fills Omro trailer home with smoke The Northwestern A wood-burning stove filled a trailer home with smoke Monday night on Brentwood Lane in Omro. Firefighters from the Omro-Rushford Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call from neighbors at 8:21 p.m., Fire Chief Russ Kleinschmidt said. Kleinschmidt said the home's occupant had shut the dampers completely down on the stove. Then the smoke backed up and filled the structure with smoke, causing the smoke detectors to sound. "When we arrived, it had the looks of a structure fire, " Kleinschmidt said. Firefighters removed combustible material from the stove and ventilated the house, Kleinschmidt said. They cleared the scene at 9:37 p.m. Kleinschmidt advises that anyone burning wood should be aware of their damper positions and make sure that their stoves can properly ventilate themselves. |
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November 27, 2007 De Pere man rescued from Lake Butte des Morts The Post-Crescent OSHKOSH — A 21-year-old De Pere man was rescued Tuesday from icy Lake Butte des Morts after his boat could not make it to shore. Sgt. Gordon LeDioyt of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department said Jereme Jensen had been on the lake duck hunting since 4 a.m., and had been stranded for about four hours before people on shore noticed him and called for help about 2:10 p.m. The Oshkosh Fire Department and firefighters from the Town of Algoma and Omro-Rushford fire departments assisted in getting Jensen to shore. LeDioyt said Jensen was unable to maneuver the boat because ice was forming on the lake. Jensen declined medical treatment. The 16-foot johnboat was left on the lake and Jensen will make arrangements to remove it, LeDioyt said. |
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November 21, 2007 Man killed in one-vehicle crash Monday is identified Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers A 35-year-old Oshkosh man was killed Monday night when his vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree, said Lt. John Zimmerman of the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. The man has been identified as Chad P. Young, 35, of Oshkosh, said Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby. A call came in to the Sheriff's Department shortly after 8 p.m. Monday notifying emergency responders of a car that struck a tree on Sandpit Road in the town of Omro, just north of County Trunk K, Zimmerman said. Young was pronounced dead at the scene. Busby said he died of multiple and severe head and chest injuries. Zimmerman said speed is a probable factor. The accident still is under investigation. The car was traveling southbound on Sandpit Road when it left the roadway and struck the tree, Zimmerman said. A nearby resident heard the crash and notified police. No one else was involved in the accident. |
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November 10, 2007 Omro and Winneconne firefighters play important role in communities By
Doug Zellmer
Bill Wright was brought up to give back to his community.That's just what the veteran of the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District has done since he joined the fire department 38 years ago. Although he retired as chief since the end of March, Wright has stayed on the department as a consultant and will help fight fires when needed. "I was raised that we should help our neighbors and do what we could do for our community," Wright said. "I've grown up in this community and I've watched it grow. "Wright's dedication to the fire department is shared by fellow firefighters of the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District and the neighboring Omro-Rushford Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteer fire departments play a vital role in the communities they serve, said Linda Kutchenriter, administrator for the city of Omro. "Knowing we have such a dedicated group of volunteers, who respond in an instant to a cry for help is a wonderful feeling," she said. "They are very active in our community and we appreciate the hours that they put in without asking for anything in return." Kutchenriter said volunteer firefighters, besides fighting fires also help with emergencies like boarding up broken windows during windstorms and pumping floodwater out of basements. Russ Kleinschmidt, chief of the Omro-Rushford Volunteer Fire Department, grew up on a farm near Omro and has been a firefighter for 23 years. "I had an interest to serve. The fire department struck me as something interesting. It was the trucks and the ability to fight fires," Kleinschmidt said. He said there is a lot of pride in working with the communities as a volunteer firefighter. "It really is a 24-7 volunteer job," Kleinschmidt said. "The support from the communities we serve is really appreciated. That support goes a long ways." He recalled a heartwarming story of helping save a dog from a possible icy death in the Fox River "We received a call of a man and a dog who both fell through the ice," Kleinschmidt said. "The man was able to get out, but the dog was losing ground quickly. We were able to set up our rescue team to get the dog out." He said the owners of the dog, a husband and wife, were happy to get their dog back. "It was a like a child to them and it struck me on how important our work is," Kleinschmidt said. "It was very rewarding and pushes you to do more." Ryan Krings, chief of the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District, said most of the firefighters in his department maintain an attitude of being willing to "drop everything to help out when needed." He said the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District plays an important role in the communities it serves and that turnover of firefighters in his department is very low. "Our firefighters are usually local people who were born and raised here and some who have moved into the community. They fall into a friendship and camaraderie with the department," Krings said. "We have a lot of young guys who join and bring their friends and they stay." Wayne Krueger, owner of Wayne's Piggly Wiggly in the village of Winneconne, said it's "absolutely wonderful to have the fire department that we have." "I always told Bill Wright that if I won the lottery I would give the department a million dollars for all of the hard work that they do," he said. Krueger said the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District comes to his grocery store four times a year to do a fire prevention check at no cost. "It's a good thing to have for our business because we use it as a tool if they find any problems," Krueger said. Doug Zellmer: (920) 426-6667 or dzellmer@thenorthwestern.com
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October 10, 2007 Omro driver hits tree in three-vehicle accident The
Northwestern
An 18-year-old Omro man was taken to the hospital
after a three-vehicle accident about 2 p.m. Monday at State Highway 21
eastbound and County Trunk FF. |
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September 19, 2007 Omro police respond to gas leak OMRO – Homes were evacuated on Cherry Street Wednesday, Sept. 12, after a crew from Alliant Energy discovered a large quantity of natural gas coming from the roof of a house.The crew had been checking gas meters in the area when the leak was discovered at 10:17 a.m., according to a police report.The homeowner was not at home at the time. Firefighters from the Omro-Rushford Fire Department responded to the scene and made a forced entry to the home. They turned off the gas and ventilated the house. Later, they found a broken natural gas line in a wall of the home in the attic area, according to the report.Reed said some type of remodeling had been done at the residence prior to the gas leak. |
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July 19, 2007 Omro man thrown 40 feet when motorcycle collides with car Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers A rural Omro man was thrown nearly 40 feet when
the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car on State Highway 116
Wednesday afternoon.Jeffrey J. Leonard, 54, was treated at a local
hospital for bruises, a broken ankle and other non-life-threatening
injuries from the accident shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 116
near Yost Road, between Omro and Winneconne. |
June
15th, 2007 - Omro- Fireman's Street Dance
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Posted
May 15, 2007 Fire destroys barn in Rushford By
Doug Zellmer No injuries were reported and no animals were lost in a fire that destroyed a barn this morning west of Omro in the town of Rushford. The barn at 7443 Wayside Drive was a total loss, said Todd Reinert, deputy chief for the Omro-Rushford Fire Department. Firefighters were called to the fire at 6:55 a.m. Firefighters from the town of Algoma and Winneconne-Poygan Fire District assisted with water and personnel.Reinert said the sides of the barn had already been burned when firefighters arrived."There was a lot of fire. After a while, the barn collapsed," he said.Reinert said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.Heat from the fire also damaged the siding on a house near the barn. Craig Bartelt, who owns the property, said he has insurance on the barn and the house.Bartelt said two baby pigs were rescued from the barn and beef cattle were outside the barn when the fire started. Doug Zellmer: (920) 426-6667 or dzellmer@thenorthwestern.com. |
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Burned
teens on way to recovery
Seven injured when accelerant ignites in Omro The
Post-Crescent
TOWN OF RUSHFORD — Seven youths were injured Friday night at 2788 Lost Lane when the plastic bottle of accelerant ignited. One of the 10 teens gathered was experimenting with lighting accelerant on pavement near the fire pit, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's Lt. John Zimmerman said Saturday that Corey J. Gardner, 18, Town of Omro, still was being treated at the UW-Madison Burn Center, while a 16-year-old Omro girl, whose name was not released, was at St. Mary's Burn Center, Milwaukee. The other five teens, ages 16 to 18, were treated at area hospitals for burns and released. Zimmerman described the accelerant as a blend of nitro methane, methanol and non-petroleum based lubricants, used in radio-controlled cars, boats and airplanes. Zimmerman said an 18-year-old man who was handling the accelerant might face a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of burning materials. |
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Posted April 26, 2007 2 seriously injured in town of Rushford home explosion Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers TOWN OF RUSHFORD – A possible natural gas explosion destroyed a home in the town of Rushford Wednesday evening, severely injuring a couple who was just arriving home, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.The explosion took place at 2951 Delhi Road about 7:30 p.m. None of the structure of the 3-bedroom, split level home remains. Pieces of burnt wood and roofing material is scattered around the area.Capt. Steve Verweil of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department said a couple in their 30s were seriously injured in the explosion. He said a witness driving by the house on a bike saw the explosion and called 911.“They are very seriously injured,” Verweil said. “The house is completely destroyed. This is a very surreal event.The woman had to be extricated from the wreckage and suffered blunt force trauma wounds. The man suffered severe burns. Both were initially transported to Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh and later transported to a burn center in Madison.Fred Kasten, 70, who lives about a half-a-mile away, said he came on the scene about 1 minute after the explosion in his pickup truck and saw clouds of dust.“The man was walking around what was the garage area calling his wife,” Kasten said. “His hair was singed. We found her by the he kitchen area and I helped the man lift her out and we laid her on the lawn until paramedics arrived.”He said the woman was semi-conscious and badly bruised.“I’m thankful everyone is alive,” he said.A natural gas leak is suspected as the cause, but it has not been officially confirmed as the source of the explosion. Verweil said a fire investigation team will be on the scene around the clock to determine the cause.“The explosion sounded like an atomic bomb,” said Kassie Schoonover, 19, a neighbor of the home in the rural area.Deanna Bloede, 30, said she could feel the explosion from her home up the road on Morrow Road.“We were eating supper when we felt a big shake and a loud boom,” Bloede said. “Debris fell on our deck.”Courtney Bloede, 10, said it was scary as they rushed to the scene to see what happened.“We saw lots of smoke and we could smell the smoke from our car,” she said. |
Burned body discovered in rural OmroBy Jesse Horne/of The NorthwesternThe Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a badly burned body found Monday afternoon in front of a residence near Omro as a suspicious death. Posted April 17, 2007Charred body found near Omro Palmer Postl identified as victim, cause of fire still unknown By
Jeff Bollier OMRO — Authorities hope an autopsy will yield clues
about how an Omro man died Monday afternoon. A badly burned body was identified Monday night as
Palmer Postl, 84, of Omro, who lived on the property, said Winnebago County
Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Gordon Ledioyt. Postl’s badly burned body was
found Monday afternoon in front of his residence. |
Rescuers Get Crash Course in
Crash Safety
By Kathryn Bracho It seems cars have more safety features every year. That's good news for passengers, but they can sometimes be bad for the people who would have to rescue you after a crash.First responders got a crash course on how to deal with newer, safer cars. A lot of these cars have hidden safety features such as multiple air bags (e.g., front, side, and curtain) which may not deploy in a crash depending on the direction of impact. That's where the trouble can start for rescuers.Imagine unbuckling a crash victim and being in the middle of an explosion -- of an air bag deploying after the fact. A dummy is used to demonstrate the potential damage.But it could have been Brian Wilson's head. Two his ago, his Omro-Rushford Fire Department responded to a crash where a pickup truck's airbags didn't deploy. They didn't know if the airbags would suddenly go off in the damaged truck."Kind of makes it a little bit more scary," Wilson said.Wilson and about 200 other emergency responders from eastern Wisconsin are taking a course at I-CAR Training Center in Greenville."Classes are very expensive and this has been free, and what we're learning today is very valuable," said Wilson.Some first responders say air bags are much more complicated now than when they began their careers. "Some vehicles have up to 12 in them, all in different locations," Manitowoc Fire Department Captain Dan Hrudka said.And rescuers need to keep up with the technology."They're getting really smart, but they're making it a lot harder on the rescuer," Wilson said.Rescuers learned their first step should be to disconnect the battery. Also, "I know to keep the proper distance between myself and the air bag. I know to watch for what kind of emblems are on the car to know what I'm dealing with before I get inside," Newton first responder Mary Ann Knier said.Many departments also have manuals that let them know where airbags located in different models of cars. It's hard to stop and look through a book when there's someone who needs medical attention, but rescuers say they have to put their safety first or they may have another patient in need of help. |
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| Thin ice proving deadly in area Three deaths, serious injuries highlight dangers John Lee Post-Crescent staff writer Jan. 06, 2003 Winnegago Co, WI - A 44-year-old Tustin man died early today at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, about 12 hours after he was pulled from the west end of Lake Poygan. His identity was withheld pending the notification of relatives. At least three other people escaped serious injury when their snowmobiles went through the ice Sunday on two area lakes, authorities said. Winnebago County sheriff’s Lt. Mike Jones said the Tustin man did not have a pulse, was not breathing and was suffering from “severe hypothermia,” when he was pulled from the lake by rescuers on the Omro-Rushford Fire Department airboat. Jones said the man apparently had been in the water for about 15 minutes, and underwater for about four minutes.“He either hit open water or thin ice. We don’t know for sure,” Jones said. Jones said the man was found in five to seven feet of water. After being alerted by neighbors, Norman Lee and his sons, Perry and Colin, used their airboat to reach the man, who was about two miles offshore from Captain’s Cove, 9598 Welsch Road, Winneconne, a bar on Lake Poygan. The call for help came in at 1:11 p.m.“Perry got behind him and I put my arms around him and pulled him up the front of the boat. He had a pulse, but he wasn’t breathing,” said Colin Lee, who is a first responder for the Winneconne-Poygan Fire District. The two Lee brothers then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Jones said indications are the man was alone.“We were able to get his pulse back, but we couldn’t get him back to breathing on his own,” said Colin Lee. “We couldn’t get all of the water out of his lungs.” Gary Nelson, owner of Captain’s Cove, said ice on that lake varies widely, from about a half inch to nearly a foot.The man’s snowmobile went through the ice on the north side of Poygan. “It’s spotty,” Nelson said. “We have very good ice in the cove. We have 8 inches to 10 inches.”Otherwise, he said, there is bad ice in general on the lake. “This is not the year to be dancing around if you don’t know where you’re going.” At 1:52 p.m. Sunday, Christopher Korth, 22, of Oshkosh, and Eric Korth, 14, of Omro, got out of Lake Butte des Morts on their own and were given a ride from the lake by a nearby resident after their snowmobiles went through thin ice between Oshkosh and Omro, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department said. They were treated at the scene, but their sleds were on the bottom of the lake, Jones said. Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department officials said a man escaped injury Saturday when his snowmobile went though ice on Black Otter Lake in Hortonville. |