KFIZ News Tuesday 10/4/16

Highway 175 Reopening

The state’s Department of Transportation says State Highway 175 between Highway 151 and Fond du Lac County Road B will open to through traffic by this evening. The highway has been detoured for culvert replacement since September 12th.  The $130,000 project also included grading and beam guard removal.

Injury Accident In Dodge County

Authorities in Dodge County responded to a two-vehicle accident that blocked both lanes of Highway 60 in the Town of Lowell Sunday afternoon. The Wisconsin State Patrol says the crashed occurred near Dodge County Highway KW. Sixty-nine-year-old Daniel Hackett and 55-year-old Mark Lewis were involved in the crash. EMS transported the injured from the scene. 

Senator Stroebel Proposes Grant Program For Drug Testing Students

State Senator Duey Stroebel says high schools that want to drug test students should be able to apply for a grant from the state to fund those tests. He plans to introduce a funding bill in the next session. He says part of the process when they do detect someone who is using is the first thing isn’t authorities, but getting help for kids and notifying parents so they are aware of what is going on. Stroebel says it would be up to parents or the schools how they want to get that help. He says people would have to decide if they want to participate in the drug testing program. Under current law, schools can only test students involved in sports or other extra-curricular activities. That can include students who park on school property in some circumstances.

FEMA Teams Visiting Western Wisconsin This Week To Evaluated Flood Damage Assessments

FEMA teams are due in Western Wisconsin on Wednesday to assess damage from recent floods. Tod Pritchard of Wisconsin Emergency Management says three teams will be visiting the 10 or 11 counties hit hardest by flooding and several others. He says their mission is to take a look at assessments done by the townships and counties and verify those numbers. He says the FEMA teams visits will help determine what if any federal disaster relief money those townships and counties may be eligible for. Pritchard says they might be eligible for damage to infrastructure like roads and bridges. A decision about federal disaster relief money is a couple of weeks away.

New State Law Regarding Cell Phone Use In Construction Zones Now In Effect

A Fond du Lac police officer reminds motorist that they can no longer use hand held cell phones when they are in a highway construction zone. Officer Erik Foster says the new state law went into effect on Saturday. He says State Troopers and County Sheriff’s deputies will be doing more enforcement of the law because most of the major construction is on state, federal and county highways. He says the exception is using hands-free phones or Blue Tooth devices or if you are calling 911. The law is meant to provide more protection for those working in the construction zones and drivers negotiating their way through it. The cost for violating the law is $40 plus court costs for the first offense and $100 plus court costs for subsequent offenses.

AIDS Run Walk

Runners, walkers and volunteers from across Wisconsin raised more than $377,000 during the 27th AIDS Walk Wisconsin and 5K Run. The event was held at the Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee Saturday. Participants were joined by Broadway, film and television star, Taye Diggs, who served as the event’s Honorary Chair. Today, it is estimated that more than 7,900 people are living with HIV in Wisconsin, with almost 1,000 unaware of their status.