Local News Briefs Tuesday 3/3/15

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. tonight. Snow is expected to arrive this morning and taper off in the afternoon. Look for possible slippery road conditions because of a wintry mix and snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches.

Number Of Voucher School Applicants Up

Three schools from the area are among the 98 private and religious schools across the state that applied to be voucher schools this fall.  St. Mary’s Springs Academy and Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac and Central Wisconsin Christian School in Waupun have applied to be in the voucher program according to the state’s Department of Public Instruction. The 98 schools are up from 68 this past year that applied. Parents who want their children to be part of the program have until April 20th to apply. Currently the top 25 schools in number of applicants are part of the program, but Governor Scott Walker’s proposed state budget would remove that cap.

State Representative Schraa On Right To Work

State Representative Michael Schraa says the Assembly is preparing for a long session this Thursday with both the annual State of the Tribes address and Right to Work being taken up. He says it will be a 12 to 16 hour floor session. He says Right to Work wasn’t on the Assembly’s radar or the Governor’s until Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald made it a priority in the State Senate this session. He says the majority of the Assembly’s Republican caucus favor passage of Right to Work. The state lawmaker from Oshkosh says it’s about having the freedom to choose whether you want to be in a union not being forced to. He says there are certainly some good unions in the area.

Sexting Considered Pornography

The head of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Detective Division reminds teens that sending suggestive photos of themselves to others could be a crime. Lieutenant Cameron McGee says if there’s any nudity in the “selfie” it’s considered pornography. He says suggestive photo is considered one count of child pornography and could get you up to three years in prison. McGee says deputies use their discretion when they come across such things, but in trying to catch a bigger criminal others may be caught up in an investigation. He says if you need to think about whether its wrong, it probably is. 

Highway Work

There will be quite a lot of work by the state on highway projects in Fond du Lac County this year. According to the State’s Department of Transportation that will include work on State Highway 26, State Highway 23, and U.S. Highway 151. The work on State Highway 23 includes stretches from Ripon to Rosendale and County Highway UU to Log Tavern Road. Together that will cover about 14 miles of road. The work on Highway 26 is a 16-mile stretch from Cattaraugus Drive to County Highway FF. Work on Highway 151 will include construction of a County Highway V interchange, County Highway T Overpass and Ducharme Intersection. For more click here.

Help For The Homeless Drive Underway

Hygiene items are being sought during the Help for the Homeless Drive, which runs through March 15th. Among the items needed are feminine hygiene products, bathroom tissue, diapers and baby care items, hair care products including shampoo and combs, deodorant, dental care items, body lotion, laundry soap, garbage bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies and facial and bath soap. The drive will benefit the Salvation Army, the Beacon House, ADVOCAP, the Solutions Center’s Homeless Shelter, and New Beginnings Pregnancy Center.  The goal is to supply each agency with a year’s worth of product, which would allow each crisis program to dedicate their limited financial resources to providing qualified personnel, safe housing, nutritious food, education, and counseling to those each serves. Over sixty organizations and businesses host local collections for this year’s drive. 

UW FDL Campus Preview Wednesday

The UW-Fond du Lac will host a campus preview on Wednesday night. Dean John Short says it’s a good way for potential students and their parents to find out what the school has to offer. He says the 6 p.m. program is a good way to get a lot of questions answered. He says that will include information on requirements for an associate’s degree, admission, financial aid, programs they offer, faculty and students will also talk about their experiences. Dr. Short the UW-Fond du Lac continues to have the lowest tuition rate in the UW-System. He says no registration is required and there is no cost for campus preview.