Local News Briefs For Monday 8/18/14

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department informs us of the closure of North Park Avenue at the East Arndt Street intersection. It begins today and will remain closed approximately three weeks. During the closing there will be installation of underground utilities, excavation and removal of existing pavement, placement of curb and gutter, placement of concrete pavement as well as corresponding concrete cure times. Drivers are encouraged to follow the posted detour route using East Johnson Street, North Main Street and East Scott Street.

Final Tweaks Being Made To Student Publication Policy

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says they are close to working out differences on overseeing student publications. He says he recently met with Journalism Teacher Matt Smith and he feels changes incorporating the suggestions they’ve received have them close to a resolution. He says the major change would have the adviser working even more closely with the students on publications. Sebert says gone from the policy would be the piece where the High School Principal or Superintendent oversees the publication. He says the board will see the finished version during a workshop. Changes to the student publication policy grew out of controversy over a student piece in the Cardinal Columns magazine last February.

Riverside Elementary School After School Grant Renewed

Riverside Elementary School is one of 55 school sites across the state getting for after school programs. The state’s Department of Public Instruction recently announced Community Learning Center grant recipients. The Fond du Lac School District’s Riverside Elementary had completed a five-year grant cycle and was renewed for another 5 years getting $50,000.

Keeping Talented Youth Engaged

Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Steve Jenkins says a way has to be found to keep some of the young talent employers need from leaving the community after high school and college. Jenkins says some youth can’t wait to leave a community, so ways have to be found to create reason to stay. He says the best way to do that is to involve them in the community in every level possible. Jenkins says youth want to be active and engaged. He says they could be involved in governmental committees and the community. He says we also have to listen to their needs. He says they are bright and smart. He says those youth are the future leaders of the community and just might have the solutions to problems that crop up.

Habitat “Moove” Saturday

Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County will be moving into their new ReStore location at 65 West Scott Street this Saturday. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says they decided to have some fun and play on the word move by also incorporating an agricultural theme. He says Lake Breeze Dairy really stepped up to help out with volunteers for the move. He says they will also be conducting a food drive during the celebration. There will also be a petting zoo, education and games. The move is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the celebration as part of the move will be over a three-hour span from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Habitat is the third new occupant to use some of the space of the former Pick ‘n Save. The first was the Children’s Museum, followed by the Mercury Marine Museum.

Pathfinders Group Helped Out At FDL Salvation Army

An outreach group from the Pathfinders International Conference in Oshkosh last week helped out at the Salvation Army in Fond du Lac. Captain Telinda Wilson says they extra help was appreciated. She says they helped out with the food pantry, the brown bag lunch program, and some clean up work on the outside of the Salvation Army building. The youth from the faith-based group range in age from middle school on up. Wilson says the Pathfinders youth also learn a little bit about appreciating the needs of others. James Harris is the director for a Pathfinders group from Gentry, Arkansas. He says they had a group here about five years ago so the youth were looking forward to returning to the area. The conference wrapped up in Oshkosh on Saturday.

Winnebago County Republican Party Corn Roast

There’s an opportunity to meet the state Republican candidates for office this evening in Oshkosh. The Winnebago County Republican Party will hold their annual corn roast at the Leach Amphitheater from 5 to 9 p.m. Also during the event U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, Congressmen Reid Ribble, Dean Kaufert and Tom Petri, and State Senator Mike Ellis will be honored for their service. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a nominal fee for food.

Brandon Blood Drive A Success

Organizers of the recent Brandon Community Blood Drive tell us it was a great success. They collected 33 completed units of blood from volunteers. They say they appreciate those who took time to donate and those who assisted in registration. Upcoming blood drivers will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Rosendale on September 23rd and Bethel Reformed Church in Brandon on November 11th.