Local News Briefs Saturday 11/16/13

State Senator Rick Gudex will be holding office hours in a couple of locations in the 18th State Senate District Monday and Tuesday. He will be at the Taycheedah Town Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday night and the Black Wolf Town Hall in Oshkosh from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. He will be available to meet individually with constituents during those times.

Thiesfeldt Bill Gets Committee Hearing

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says a bill he authored that would prohibit companies from mandating flu shots for its employees got a hearing this week. The State Assembly’s Health Committee held the hearing for the bill. He says some companies, particularly health care providers, go too far in mandating the flu immunizations even requiring it of vendors who come into their hospitals. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says the bill is about freedom of choice.

The State Assembly ended its current session early Friday morning. Thiesfeldt hopes the bill will move forward when legislators get back in session in January.

Small Fire At Plymouth Nursing Home

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-No one was hurt after a small fire occurred at a nursing home in Plymouth Thursday morning. Plymouth Police say they received word around 3:30 of smoke in the hallway of Plymouth Care Center on East Clifford Street.  Officers found a burner on a stove in one of the facilities’ apartments was left on with items on top of it burning.  The items were removed and the stove turned off with no report of damage. Police say a woman was on the floor of the apartment when they arrived, but appeared unharmed and refused medical attention.

Schimel Gets Some Local Endorsements For AG’s Bid

Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel is picking up some support for his run for the state Attorney General’s office. He recently received the endorsement of 15 county sheriff’s and 12 district attorneys. Among those endorsements are ones from Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, Calumet County District Attorney Nicholas Bolz, Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, and Sheboygan County Sheriff Todd Priebe.

Burning The Midnight Oil For The United Way

Fond du Lac Area United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says she gives a lot of talks to businesses and groups during a campaign. She says recent talks were given to employees at Brenner Tank and Mercury Marine. Some of those talks are late in the day. She addressed some Mercury employees at 10 and 11 o’clock at night. Potter says typically she will speak to groups of 50 or 60 people at a time. She says it’s important to put a face on the campaign and underscore the value of the United Way to the community. This fall the United Way is trying to raise $740,000.

Music Man Impresses FDL Schools Superintendent

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says he was impressed with the high school’s recent performance of “The Music Man.” Sebert says the sets, costumes, choreography and talent was impressive. He says it was also nice to see that among the 110 students who took part in the musical were students from other Fond du Lac Schools. He says in addition to the many high schools who performed there were students from the elementary and middle schools. He says the school district is also fortunate to have a venue like the performing arts center.

Habitat ReStore Benefitting MPTC Students Trip

Habitat For Humanity of Fond du Lac County today will be helping out Moraine Park Technical College students who are taking a trip to Jamaica in January for a study abroad. Ten percent of sales from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Habitat’s ReStore on South Brooke Street in Fond du Lac, plus proceeds from a bake sale and 50/50 raffle will help students with costs for the trip. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says Habitat’s mission is about more than just building houses.

During the trip MPTC students will be doing a variety of service learning projects in health education and sustainable construction.