KFIZ News Monday 10/10/16

45 Ramps Closing And New County V Interchange Opening

State Department of Transportation officials remind us that Highway 45 ramps to Highway 151 will close and the Fond du Lac County Highway V/Highway 151 Interchange will open Monday night. Also the at-grade intersection at Highway 151 and County Highway V will close. A frontage road is being built from Highway 45 to the new interchange, but until it is complete there will be signed detours. 

FDL School Board Preview

The Fond du Lac School District has received a $1.2 million grant to use over the next three years to enhance nutrition and wellness opportunities and efforts in the district. District Superintendent Jim Sebert will give the school board more details tonight about the 2016 Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant. Following the meeting the board will hold a workshop to discuss the 2016-17 budget, and the school calendar proposal for the 2017-18 school year. The board meets at 5 p.m. at the District Administration Center Board Room on West 9th Street.

Veto Was The Fair Thing To Do

When the Fond du Lac County Board meets next week they will be considering whether to override County Executive Al Buechel’s veto of a pay increase for the County Executive. Buechel says it wouldn’t be fair for the County Executive to get a one percent bump in pay each of the next two years when he doesn’t know whether they can give the rest of county employees a similar raise. Buechel does plan to run for reelection next April. The County Executive’s seat has a four-year term and the salary has to be set by December 1st. He is recommending no increase in pay for the County Executive in 2017 and a half percent increase in 2018.

Gudex Proud Of Legislation He Authored

State Senator Rick Gudex says he’s proud of a couple bills he authored that were passed into law. He says The Wisconsin Fast Forward legislation changes how people search for jobs and how employers interact with people who are looking for work. He says the Governor keeps putting more money into the program because of its success. The other bill increased the Historic Tax Credit. He says that has created jobs and led to renovations across the state. He says without it Fond du Lac might not have gotten the current renovation of the Hotel Retlaw. Gudex decided not to run for a second term as State Senator for the 18th Senate District.

FDL School District New Website

The Fond du Lac School District’s new website is up and running. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says it is more user-friendly. He says they are excited about the new features it offers. He says the initial feedback on it has been positive. He says the last time they launched a new website was during the 2010-11 School Year and there have been a lot of changes in technology since then. There are also links to the District’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Users also can select from over 100 languages they want to navigate the site in.

United Way Update

The Fond du Lac Area United Way campaign has raised $170,000 of their $760,000 goal. United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says the Drive 4UR Community sponsored by Society Insurance and Fox Valley Savings Bank in August has helped add to that total. She says people were asked to test drive new Fords and $20 was donated for each test drive. She says recently they received a check for maximum amount for that event. She says people took 300 test drives and they got a check for $6,000. She says they are also pleased with the donation from the Blue Goose Coffee House, which donated all their sales on National Coffee Day. She says that amounted to $400. Today Fond du Lac County employees will be holding a Collective Goods sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City-County Government Center. Brats, Hamburgers, and Root Beer Floats will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Unity Fundraiser In FDL Wednesday

A fundraising effort to feed up to 50 homeless people comes to Fond du Lac Wednesday. Organizers from Milwaukee and Fond du Lac’s Life Enforcement effort are teaming up for the Love More, Hate Less unity campaign. Students from Milwaukee Collegiate Academy will be selling the Love More t-shirts at Berger Park at 74 South Main Street in Fond du Lac from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. The shirts are $15 each. Proceeds from the sale will help feed the homeless.