Local News Briefs Saturday 9/14/13

A couple of recent fires have Fond du Lac Fire Department officials cautioning residents to make sure the cigarette butts or smoking materials they use are out before they toss them into a container. Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase says a recent fire on Military Road started because a cigarette wasn’t out when it was discarded. It was thrown into a plastic bucket on a wooden deck and started a blaze. He says they also had a fire when someone tossed a cigarette into a metal container, which heated up the materials around it and started a blaze. He says to make sure the container doesn’t have anything combustible in them before you get rid of a cigarette butt.

 

FDL School District Recognized As Exemplar School District

 

Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert says the school district was excited to learn they were recently chosen by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills as an Exemplar School District. He says only 25 schools or school districts across the nation were recognized with the honor. He says officials with the Partnership were impressed with the district’s 1-to-1 computing initiative and their STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy and Institute. As part of the honor district officials will be invited to the Partnership’s National Summit November 18th and 19th in Crystal City, Virginia.

 

Safety Forum Will Be Held At NFDL School Board Meeting Next Month

 

North Fond du Lac Schools Superintendent Aaron Sadoff says in addition to providing a top flight education to students they want to make sure those kids are safe. He says they recently held a safety drill for students and are planning on having a safety forum at a school board meeting in October. He says the safety forum will be held prior to their October 28^th meeting. He says it’s a good way to share information and gather information from the community on how to make the schools safer for students.

 

Marian Among Top Schools

 

U.S. News and World Report has named Marian University as one of the top 100 Midwest universities. Marian University ranks no. 86 in the category of “Best Midwest Universities” and is rated among both public and private universities throughout the Midwest.  U.S. News & World Report rankings categorize Regional Universities as offering a full range of undergraduate programs and provide graduate education at the master’s and doctoral levels.

The complete listing is available by clicking here. 

 

United Way Wraps Up Week Of Sharing

 

The Fond du Lac Area United Way is wrapping up its kickoff week for the fall fundraising campaign or what’s referred to as the Week of Sharing. Executive Director says it’s a week in which volunteers help out United Way agencies with things like painting and landscaping. She says the ARC of Fond du Lac was one of those agencies that benefitted from the week. Last year $737,000 was raised by the Fond du Lac Area United Way to benefit those agencies. Potter says this fall they hope to raise over $740,000, but the Week of Sharing provides assistance that money alone can not.

 

State Representative Schraa Holding Office Hours

 

State Representative Michael Schraa will be holding office hours at five different locations in the 53rd State Assembly District over the next few weeks. The first is at the Nepeuskun (nep-PEE-SS-kun) Hall Monday. He will also hold office hours at the Town of Oshkosh Hall on Monday, September 23rd; the Town of Eldorado Hall on Tuesday, September 24th; the Town of Rushford Hall on Wednesday, October 2nd and the Town of Springvale Hall on Monday, October 7th. Each of those office hours will be from 6 to 7 p.m.