Local News Briefs Monday 3/25/14

The Fond du Lac City Council Wednesday night will revisit a request to end the park and ride on Camelot Drive. Several businesses had asked that parking be prohibited at all times from Highway 151 to South Main Street. However the City’s Advisory Parking and Traffic Board is recommending some change’s to that proposal. Public Works Director Jordan Skiff says they are recommending two exceptions. One would allow parking north of the curve past Society Insurance on the west side at any time. The other exception would allow parking near Ledgeview Pond for 2-hours on the east side of Camelot Drive and Saturday and Sundays parking would be allowed their all day. Skiff says he’s hoping the Council will make a decision Wednesday night so signage changes can be made before Grande Cheese’s construction of a new corporate headquarters starts. He says the issue can be revisited once a new park and ride is complete as part of the County Highway V and Highway 151 project that begins in 2015.

FDL City Clerk Says She Needed A Change

It’s the last day for Fond du Lac City Clerk Sue Strands who is resigning. She says she will miss the people she worked with especially the citizens of Fond du Lac and the elections workers she teamed up with. Strands was working as a temporary assistant in the City Attorney’s office when an opening in the Clerk’s office became available 17 years ago and she became deputy clerk. She became the City Clerk in 2006. She says she needed a change and she’s young enough yet to find other work. She says deputy clerk Maggie Hefter has the training to do the job until City Manager Joe Moore appoints a new City Clerk.

With Income Tax Deadline Approaching IRS Scams Heat Up

Authorities are cautioning residents about a phone scam in which the caller claims to be from the IRS and that you owe them money. Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson says if you don’t pay up you will be arrested by the FBI. The caller then tells you to buy a re-loadable debit card put money into it and give them the numbers for the card or mail it to them. Olson urges people who get such calls to report them to police. According to the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau more than 20,000 taxpayers have been targets of the phone scam. The BBB also advises not to give out financial information over the phone, hang up the phone if you get such calls, if you receive an email purportedly from the IRS delete it, and make sure you report such incidents.

Arts Playing Role In Economic Development And Tourism Opportunities

Recently officials with Fond du Lac’s Arts and Tourism efforts teamed up to promote the role the arts have had in the resurgence of Fond du Lac’s downtown. Fond du Lac Convention and Visitors Bureau President Craig Molitor and Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts Executive Director Kevin Miller addressed state legislators about an Arts initiative funding proposal and also were speakers at the Governor’s Annual Tourism Conference. Molitor says while the Fond du Lac area has great natural resources attractions the Arts also plays a role in tourism. He says Thelma has become a key player as a regional Arts and Entertainment destination. Molitor also credits Miller who serves on the Wisconsin Arts Board for actively promoting how well the Arts can be a driver for economic development and tourism opportunities.

Winter Takes A Toll On Highway Signs

With spring officially here, Wisconsin county highway crews are beginning the annual process of repairing or replacing a winter’s worth of highway signs. Matt Rauch is with the state Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Traffic Operations. He says during a typical winter about 5,000 signs along the state highway system are damaged by snowplows and other vehicles. Rauch says the cost for damaged signs that have to be replaced varies from $250 for smaller signs up to $10,000 for larger signs. He says they work with county highway crews to replace older signs with new signs that are more visible and reflective at night. In total, the state oversees some 300,000 speed limit, directional, warning, and guidance signs along state highways.

Social Media Safety Topic At Winneconne Middle School Tonight

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and Winneconne School District today will be giving a presentation on social media training for parents. “Safety with Social Media” will be presented from 6:30 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Winneconne Middle School. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and there will be free child care provided. Everyone gets a free raffle ticket and a chance to win door prizes. It’s estimated there were 1.6 billion users on social media channels last year. 

State Lawmaker’s Son Seeks Assembly Seat

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Sheboygan County Supervisor Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg announced over the weekend that he will run for the State Assembly in November.  LeMahieu made an unsuccessful bid for the 26th District seat in 2012 when he lost in the Republican primary to Mike Endsley.  Endsley announced last week that he will not seek re-election.  In announcing his candidacy, LeMahieu cited his work on the county board for the past 8 years and his experience as a small business owner.  He also said he looks forward to working with the Governor and the legislature in turning Wisconsin into a destination for small business expansion.  LeMahieu’s father, Dan, of Cascade, announced in January that he won’t seek re-election this year after 12 years in the 59th district assembly seat.

FDL Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers Boater Safety Course

Fond du Lac’s Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering a 10 hour safe boating course in April and May at the Fond du Lac Yacht Club. The course will be on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 21st, 24th and 28th, and May 1st and 5th. The course satisfies the state Department of Natural Resources Boating Safety Course requirement for adults born in 1989 or later. Also youth age 12 to 16 can operate a motorboat or personal watercraft without an adult by completing the course. There is a $10 book fee. Class size is limited. You can register by calling 921-0045 or online. The course is for adults and youth age 12 or older. 

Lecture On Renewable Energy At UW-FDL

The UW-Fond du Lac hosts a lecture on Renewable Energy in Wisconsin today in the Large Group Instruction Room 114 in the University Commons. The talk will be given at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. as part of the Tuesday Talk Lecture Series. Tyler Huebner, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin and Megan Levy, director of local energy programs for the Wisconsin State Energy Office will be the presenters. The public is welcome to the free event.

Fundraiser For Child Advocate Program

Proceeds from an event at the Fond du Lac City-County Government Center Wednesday will benefit the Fond du Lac County Child Advocate Program. It will be held in Rooms D and E on the first floor and the public is welcome to attend. A bake sale begins at 8 a.m. and runs until items are sold out. Homemade white chicken chili will be sold from 11 a.m. until sold out. Fresh brewed Starbucks Coffee will also be available. A silent auction, featuring gift baskets suitable for holiday giving as well as many more unique items, runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Child advocates are trained volunteers who serve to safeguard and promote the well-being of children alleged to be in need of protective services in Fond du Lac County. The program operates under the auspices of the Fond du Lac Conflict Resolution Center.