Local News Briefs Thursday 7/30/15

Hundreds of job seekers met 75 regional employers with 1,000 job openings during the Fox Valley Career Expo Wednesday. The expo was held at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo Center. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) coordinated the event in partnership with the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, Fox Valley Technical College and Moraine Park Technical College. DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Dave Anderson says, “This premiere workforce recruitment event will move the economy forward by helping businesses fill 1,000 good-paying, entry-level to advanced career opportunities across many industries.” Registered businesses that participated included Agnesian Healthcare, Alliance Laundry Systems, Ameriquip Corporation, Aurora Health Care, Bemis, Charter Communications, Kohler, Kwik Trip, Mercury Marine, Michels Corporation, Quad/Graphics, Sargento Foods, Schneider National, Walmart Logistics and 4Imprint.

Two Killed In Milwaukee Plane Crash

Two people were killed when a small plane crashed and started on fire early last night at Milwaukee’s Timmerman Airport. The two were the only people on board. Officials say no one on the ground was hurt. The plane crashed around 6 p.m. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

Talks About NFDL Fire Truck Purchase Renewed

North Fond du Lac officials are renewing conversations about purchasing a new ladder truck for the fire department. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says they began those conversations in May of last year, but have renewed them as the village board begins thinking about capital improvement purchase for next year. He says by September he needs to know if they need to include borrowing for the truck in next year’s budget. He says a committee chaired by Village Trustee Tammy Keller will be holding meeting to discuss the purchase. He says last year they were looking at an $850,000 cost for the truck, but they hope to find a newer model, which could less than that.

MPTC Suspends Building Trades Construction Worker Program

Deciding to suspend a building trades program wasn’t a decision Moraine Park Technical College officials took lightly. Fred Rice is the Dean of Applied Technologies and Trades at MPTC. He says they always take a complete look at a program they are considering suspending. He says recently they decided to suspend the building trades construction worker program. He says low enrollment is something the program has always suffered. He says they repackaged it slightly a couple of times, but this time decided to suspend it. He says they haven’t totally given up on it because there is a demand in the construction industry so recently they met with stakeholders to talk about the decision.

FDL County GOP Commends Senator Gudex

State Senator Rick Gudex says he appreciates the support of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party, which commended him in a press release Wednesday for his “fearless leadership.” In the release County GOP Chairman Dan Feyen mentioned the votes Gudex has taken over the last three years to cut property taxes, cut income taxes, and votes on the UW tuition freeze, parental school choice, right to work, and the prevailing wage law. Gudex says he has been working hard for the 18th State Senate District. On the other hand he doesn’t consider himself fearless, saying he has a calm demeanor but thinks thing through. He says he does like to make a case, but he does it with reasoning. Still he says he’s honored the County party says it that way.

DNR Taking Comments On Plans

The state’s Department of Natural Resources has drafted updates to the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management Plan and Wildlife Action Plan and is taking public comments on both. The two separate plans make up the DNR’s vision for the management of the state’s fish, wildlife and habitat over the next ten years. Each plan is currently in draft form and available for public review and comment through August 21st.  You can view and comment on the two plans at the DNR website.

All Hallows Art Work Being Accepted For FDL Public Library Program

Artists are invited to submit samples for a special exhibit in the Fond du Lac Public Library’s Langdon Divers Gallery. The “All Hallows Eve” exhibit from October 7 to November 4 will complement the library’s annual Fond du Lac Reads program – one book for the whole community, with programs to match. The Reads selection this year is the classic horror novel “Dracula,” by Bram Stoker.  Art in all mediums will accepted in “All Hallows Eve.” If space permits, more than one piece per artist may be shown. Interested artists aged 18 and older are invited to apply by submitting their name, title of the artwork, the medium, the price if it is for sale and two to three photographs or jpegs of emailed. Applications are due Tuesday, September 1, either emailed to gallery volunteer curator Mel Kolstad at mel@kolstad.net or dropped off to her attention at the downtown library’s Main Desk. Photographs will not be returned. Gallery space is limited. The exhibit will not be juried, but Kolstad reserves the right to choose work deemed appropriate for the theme and for the public, all-ages venue. Accepted work must be framed and ready to hang by wire (no saw tooth hangers). Artists who submit framed pieces without wiring will be charged a $10 wiring fee.

Back To School FDL Deadline Coming Up

There’s just over a week away to sign up for the Back to School Fond du Lac program if you haven’t registered your child or children for it yet. Ron Jacobson is the Social Services Director for the Fond du Lac Salvation Army. He says you can call to reserve an appointment with them, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Solutions Center or Family Resource Center. He says over 1,100 children got back to school supplies through the program last year. He says they also need a lot of volunteers to help the children pick out their school supplies and do other work associated with the program. Each child gets supplies from a list supplied by their school. During sign up you will need to bring proof of residence such as a current utility bill, rent or lease receipt, W-2, or driver’s license/id and proof of household income such as a current pay stub, free or reduced lunch paperwork etc. to your appointment. The deadline for registering for the program is Friday, August 7th. The distribution is Saturday, August 22nd at the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA in Fond du Lac.

On Stage At Thelma Opportunity

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts is collaborating with the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac to take two kids on a music-filled, theatrical adventure. A THELMA donor will provide $100 scholarships to two members of the Boys & Girls Club to participate in On Stage @ THELMA, a week-long arts day camp. The day camp encourages fourth- through eighth-grade students to learn and perform an entire play in just one week. This year’s production, the musical “Walt Disney’s Robin Hood” by Bobby Hammack, offers kids the chance to learn songs and choreography in addition to their lines. The day camp will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, August 3rd through Friday, August 7th. The performance, which is free to the public, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., that Friday evening. There are a few spots left. To register, visit thelmaarts.org and click Tickets, or stop in to THELMA at 51 Sheboygan, downtown Fond du Lac, or call 920.921.5410.