Local News Briefs Monday 10/19/15

Congressman Grothman On Democratic Candidates For President

Congressman Glenn Grothman says if the Democratic race for president boiled down to a choice between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, neither is a good choice. The Republican lawmaker from Glenbeulah says he read more about than watched the recent Democratic Debate. He says Hillary doesn’t feel government is doing enough and if either won the presidency government would become even bigger. He says Sanders seems to have more support from younger voters, but they should brush up on what Socialism is because that’s what they would have if Sanders won. He says Democrats are pushing for more government in general.

Civics Test Will Be Required For Class Of 2017

One of the things the Fond du Lac School Board is implementing in district policy for high school graduation is the passing of a civics test. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says a new state law requires that high school students pass the Wisconsin Civics Graduation Requirement. He says it’s a test that will be required for graduating students beginning with the class of 2017. He says the test is used by the U.S. Government by the Naturalization Service and students will have to get 60 of the 100 questions right to pass the test. He says they’ve been working on the test to get prepared for when kids have to take it. He says their social studies department has been working on what it will look like and when kids have to take it.

State Rep Thiesfeldt Holding Office Hours In Area Today

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac will be holding open office hours today at three locations around the district to discuss various state related constituent concerns and ideas. He will be at the Calumet Town Hall from 3 to 4 p.m., the Oakfield Village Hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and the Salvation Army Office in Fond du Lac from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight.

Rolling Meadows Drive Utility Work Tuesday

On Tuesday water utility work will affect motorists traveling on County Road “VVV” or Rolling Meadows Drive, near the Fond du Lac County Airport.  The road will be open to traffic, but motorists should expect delays from construction and flagging operations.  The work is anticipated to last 1 day.

Dixie Street Closing

Dixie Street in Fond du Lac will be closed between Hickory Street and Morris Street starting today.  Department of Public Works officials say the street will be closed for approximately 1 week.  It’s being closed to allow the railroad to make temporary repairs to the crossing on Dixie Street.  Drivers are encouraged to find an alternate route. There will not be a signed detour.

United Way Supports Parents Life Program

One of the programs the Fond du Lac Area United Way helps fund provides support for teens who are about to become parents. Misty Winklemann is the Director of the Badgerland Youth for Life Parents Life program. She says those teens are about to become parents and need all the support they can get, which is what they try to provide through the program. She says currently they have 56 pregnant and parenting mothers and fathers under the age of 21. She says they also have a Facebook group. Misty says Evan and Sariah were referred to them through a high school nurse. They were thinking of putting up their baby for adoption, but Evan says they are glad they decided to keep their daughter Izzy. Sariah says when they entered the program they had drug and alcohol issues, but now are clean and sober. She says having Izzy and being in the program helped them overcome those problems. Evan and Izzy are featured on the cover of the United Way’s current brochure.  

School Bus Safety Week

The terminal manager for Johnson School Bus says there are a few simple things to remember to keep children using school buses safe. Kyle Stanchfield says if a bus is stopped and its red lights are flashing that means children are boarding or leaving the bus and you have to stop. He also asks drivers to slow down in school zones. He says you’re supposed to be going 15 miles per hour in a school zone, but people are in a hurry and rarely do that. Johnson School Bus and its more than 50 buses transport about 2,100 children to and from school in Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac. This is National School Bus Safety Week.