Local News Briefs Saturday 5/9/15

With a smaller budget than other Midwestern states to promote tourism Wisconsin has used celebrities to its advantage to promote its attractions. Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett says Illinois has a $51 million budget, Michigan $31 million to promote its tourism and by comparison Wisconsin has a $12.5 million budget. But she says we’ve been lucky with celebrities connected with the state. She says their ads have featured Kareem Abdul Jabar, Bo Ryan, Tony Shalhoub, Henry Winkler and the Packer’s Jordy Nelson, It must be working the state had a record $18.5 billion in tourism revenue last year up $1 billion from 2013.

Time With Children Important

A Fond du Lac psychologist says it’s important to pay attention to your children especially when they are young. Dr. Matthew Doll says children need back and forth with their parents. He says it’s important to be a good role model and have a good relationship with your children. He says about 85 percent of our wiring is laid down before we are five years old. He also says it’s important to limit their time with technology. He says there should be no technology devices before they are two-years-old and after that it should be limited to one hour a day. National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day was held this past Thursday.

Legislative Listening Session Monday In Taycheedah

State Representatives Jeremy Thiesfeldt will be with State Senator Rick Gudex when the two host a listening session at the Taycheedah Town Hall Monday night. Thiesfeldt says he recently sponsored his own listening sessions at a couple of locations in the 52nd State Assembly District. He says those session were in Oakfield and Fond du Lac and they were well attended. The listening session Monday will be from 5 to 6 p.m.

Volunteer Of The Year

Nine volunteers were honored Thursday night for their efforts in Fond du Lac County during the annual Cheers for Volunteers Dinner. The annual event is a fundraiser for the Volunteer Center of Fond du Lac County. The top award is the Carl W. Tonjes (tahn-jess) Volunteer Award. This year’s winner was Julie Woznick the president of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. She’s also involved in other volunteer efforts including Student Missionary Services. She says it’s quite the honor to receive the award. She says those who volunteer don’t do it for the recognition, but when you do get recognized it means a lot. You can read more about the other winners at the Volunteer Center’s website.

FDL Community Walk To Cure Diabetes

The 9th Annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held in Fond du Lac this morning. About 500 walkers are expected to walk 3 miles to raise money for critical type 1 diabetes research. The event will include an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, music and much more. Last year $57,000 was raised and this year’s goal is $60,000. The event is at the High School with check in from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and the walk stepping off at 10.

State Trust Fund Loans Approved For Sheboygan County Villages

The state’s Board of Commissioners of Public Lands this week approved State Trust Fund Loans for two Sheboygan County villages. The Village of Elkhart Lake will be getting $345,000 to finance tax incremental finance district projects and the Village of Random Lake will receive a $485,000 loan also for TID improvements. Altogether this week the Board approved slightly over $6.4 million in loans to 13 community projects throughout the state.

Library Program For Kids Benefits Salvation Army And Moms

Kids who come to the Fond du Lac Public Library 10 a.m. to noon today will get two chances to do something nice for others. Kids will decorate food items for the Salvation Army’s Pantry Pals program. The food – recently donated through the library’s Food for Fines program – will be on display at the Salvation Army’s open house Monday. Eventually, the decorated foods will surprise and delight clients as they choose it from the pantry shelves. Kids at the library also will make Mom a cute cut-flower Mother’s Day card.  All supplies will be provided, all ages are invited and the program is free, no registration required.