Local News Briefs Monday 4/6/15

Fond du Lac’s Department of Public Works tells us a segment of County Highway T or 4th Street will close for approximately one week beginning Tuesday for utility construction. The work is being done in advance of a state project that will build an overpass at County Highway T and Highway 151. The roadway will be closed to through traffic west of the Highway 151 bypass to Country Lane during the week. Access to local properties will be maintained for residents in the construction zone. A separate one day closure is expected in mid-April on a short segment of County Highway T east of Highway 151 to Fourth Street Way.  There will be no posted detours for either closure.

Summer Bulky Waste Drop Off Hours Start In FDL

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department has begun its summer hours for the bulky waste drop-off site at 530 Doty Street. The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. It will be closed on Tuesdays and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more click here

Information Meeting On Highways 23 And 26 Projects

The state’s Department of Transportation will be giving a construction update Thursday to discuss the schedule, road closures, detours, and construction activities for State Highways 23 and 26 in Fond du Lac County. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rosendale Village Hall in Rosendale. A short presentation will be made at 5:45 p.m. DOT staff will be available to discuss the project on an individual basis. During the projects 16 miles of Highway 26 will be improved and about 8 miles of Highway 23.

Congressman Grothman On The Federal Budget

Congressman Glenn Grothman says the 2016 Fiscal Year Federal Budget is the biggest thing the House will work on this year. He says it has a way to go before goes into effect in October, but he’s glad he had an early role on it in the House’s Budget Committee. He says there will be less spending and they hope to balance the federal budget over the next nine years, which he says will take some doing. The federal lawmaker from Campbellsport says balancing the federal budget will mean the president will have to sign off on things like changes to Medicare and welfare programs. He says mandatory programs set the federal budget apart from the one that state lawmakers are working on in Madison right now. Grothman says the federal government could save some money if it switched to a two-year budget like the state instead of a one-year budget.

Motorcycle Safety

An official with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department urges drivers to be on the lookout for motorcyclists as the weather gets nicer. Lieutenant Cameron McGee is an avid biker. He says motorcyclists know the risks, but other drivers need to pay attention as well. He says people don’t always see motorcyclists, aren’t paying attention, cut in front of or turn in front of bikers. He says there are more accidents involving motorcyclists on Saturdays and Sundays. McGee says motorcyclists need to stay sharp when they are on the road. He says his policy is don’t drink any alcohol if you’re going to be on a motorcycle.

Active School Board

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says the school district is fortunate to have active school members. He says beyond their duties as board members they attend school plays and functions, and athletic events. He says not all of them have children still in school. He says it’s also good for students and staff who see them out at those events. Often the board members will report at the end of board meetings about plays, concerts and athletic events they’ve recently attended commenting on how well students performed.

National Public Health Week

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says officials in the health community are celebrating National Public Health Week this week. She says it’s the American Public Health Associations 20th anniversary for organizing National Public Health Week. She says it creates awareness about public health, what works and what needs to be improved. She says each different day has a theme for instance today is called “Raising the Grade.” She says while people are living longer lives the U.S. lags behind other countries on the growth rate for life expectancy over the past 25 years.

Habitat Tool Drive Underway

Officials with the Habitat for Humanity Fond du Lac County chapter say they are conducting a tool drive. Joel Boelhower is the construction manager for their 26th home, which broke ground on South Main Street in Fond du Lac over the weekend. He says to bring in your new or used tools to their ReStore on West Scott Street in Fond du Lac. Habitat Board of Directors President Julie Woznick says you’re liable to come across some old tools if you’re doing any spring cleaning and if you don’t have a use for them they do. She says you can drop off those tools are the ReStore, which is open Mondays through Saturdays. She says they are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The tools will help with Habitat house builds.

FDL PPA Scholarships Available

The Fond du Lac Professional Police Association will once again be awarding scholarships to local high school seniors in the Fond du Lac area. Nominees will be judged on the basis of multiple achievement, character, leadership, community service and scholarship. These scholarships are made possible through annual Fond du Lac Police Benevolent Association fund raisings. The deadline for the scholarship applications is April 24th. Applications can be obtained at the front desk of the Fond du Lac Police Department located at 126 North Main Street. Questions can be directed to Lead Detective Steve Kaufman at 322-3725.