Local News Briefs Monday 7/20/15

Fond du Lac County Highway Commissioner Tom Janke felt he should speak up in the wake of the death of three highway workers in less than three months on Wisconsin roadways. He says Fond du Lac County highway employee Dennis Roesler was killed in Highway 41 in December of 2003, a painful reminder that motorists should slow down in work zones. Derrick Burkhalter was killed in Calumet County in April, Derek Stempa in Shawano County in May and most recently on July 14th Marcus Wydeven in Lincoln County. Janke says highway workers can be out on highways any time of the year even during the winter doing maintenance and reconstruction. He says you can’t miss the signage and barricades in their highway work zones. Among the tips he offers to drivers are; eliminate distractions like eating, drinking or talking on the phone, slow down, give yourself room, allow three seconds of braking distance, plan an alternate route and remember to move over if you see flashing lights.  

Addressing Concerns About Standards Based Grading

Recently some Fond du Lac High School students spoke to the school board with their concerns about standards based grading. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says it’s something they’ve used in the elementary schools for a few years, but just moved into the middle schools and high school. He says it’s still about measuring progress. He says teachers have worked on the proficiency scales together in their collaborative time. He says it helps score students against standards, but students in high school still get a letter grade. He says they will keep working with kids, parents and staff on the standards based grading. He says ultimately it’s a research-based best practice. He says it’s a trend across Wisconsin and the country. He says any time you have some type of change and you’re using a different type of philosophy you have to keep on communicating until people fee more comfortable.

Getting The Message About Social Hosting

The Chief Deputy Sheriff of Fond du Lac County says social hosting ordinances are making an impact on adults who host underage drinking parties. Mark Strand says the County has had a social hosting ordinance since 2012 and the City of Fond du Lac and Village of North Fond du Lac before that. He says the problem is the underage drinkers who are driving home from those parties. He says they cited a man for hosting a graduation party this spring where alcohol was being served to kids. He says the 54-year-old man was providing alcohol for about 50 kids. He says they’ve kept track of how many times they’ve cited people for social hosting violations and the most citations were issued in the first year after the ordinance went into effect. He says there were 16 adults cited in 2013 and the fine for that is a little over $1,000, but a judge has the discretion to make that as high as $5,000. Strand says last year 11 people were cited for violating the social hosting ordinance and this year so far only four.

Car Vandalism Spree Reported In Sheboygan

Police in Sheboygan are investigating a rash of car vandalism that occurred just before the weekend. Police say car windows were broken and tires were slashed on 28 different vehicles overnight Thursday. The majority of the reports were taken by late Friday afternoon and happened on the city’s northeast side.

Square And Round Dance Convention Coming To NFDL

The 56th Wisconsin Square and Round Dance Convention invites you to join the fun “Under the Big Top” in North Fond du Lac next month.  Ron and Janelle Mueller of Sheboygan will be the Ring Masters for the convention at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac.  The convention being billed as “The Greatest Dance on Earth” will be held August 7th through the 9th.  This is the 1st time the Wisconsin Square Dance Convention will be held in the area.  The convention will bring 600+ dancers in to Fond du Lac.  Many dancers have expressed excitement about visiting the surrounding shops and attractions. People are invited to join in the dancing.  Introductory Sessions will be held for Square Dancing, Round Dancing, Line Dancing and Contra Dancing.  For more information about the convention visit their website by clicking here.