Local News Briefs For Thursday 4/10/14

Also at last night’s Fond du Lac City Council meeting the Council approved a liquor license for the Green Dragon Brew Pub. The English style pub at the former Oscar’s Sportsmans Inn site on Western Avenue will serve micro beers, domestic beer and have a kitchen that caters to lunch and dinner crowds. The Council also passed a resolution that publishes the new code of general ordinances. It’s available for review at the City Clerk’s office and the public library. The City Council will give final approval to the new code of ordinances at its Wednesday, April 23rd meeting. The Council also approved a resolution dissolving Tax Incremental Finance District 9. It was formed in 2000 to help the former Charter Steel Company.

New Holstein Gas Leak

Wisconsin Public Service crews worked overnight to re-light furnaces and appliances for about 300 homes after a major natural gas main break in New Holstein Wednesday afternoon. A shelter was set up at the City Hall and in the high school cafeteria for people forced to evacuate about 30 homes. Police say a gas main was struck by a road construction crew that was working at an intersection. WPS turned off gas to about 300 customers as a precaution.

Quad Purchases Printing Rival

Quad Graphics is buying out one of its largest competitors. The printing giant says it is acquiring the Brown Printing Company of Waseca, Minnesota for $100 million in cash and debt. Quad officials are hoping Brown will generate about $350 million in revenue in its current fiscal year.  Quad Graphics is the largest printer of catalogs and magazines in North America and is one of the Dodge County-areas largest employers with its plant in Lomira.  Its products include Time, Rolling Stone, In-Style magazine, the L-L Bean catalog, and much more.  Brown prints titles like Esquire and Family Circle along with the glossy Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s catalogs. 

Grass And Marsh Fire Season Is Here

An official with the Fond du Lac Fire Department is cautioning residents to be careful about discarding cigarettes or smoking materials during what is the beginning of the grass fire season. Assistant Fire Chief Steve Beer says a discarded cigarette butt started a fire behind the Pick ‘N Save on Pioneer Road last Sunday. He says Spring and Fall are when they deal with the most grass fires because of dry conditions. Beer says people should also be careful around cattails in local areas like Lakeside Park West and Supple Marsh. Last year over 4.3 million acres burned during wildfires in the U.S.

Demolition To Begin On Fire-Gutted Watson Street Buildings

Demolition could begin of the fire-gutted building at 310 and 312 Watson Street in Ripon this week. City Administrator Lori Rich says first they needed to get a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Committee, which is needed for a historic property. With that in hand the Common Council this week gave their approval and demolition work will begin. Rich says when the buildings are removed the space will be converted to green space, which could change in the future.

Senator Ellis Downplays Secret Recording

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-A state lawmaker is downplaying a secret recording that shows him discussing possible illegal campaign activity. The recording posted online by a conservative activist shows Republican Senator Mike Ellis of Neenah talking about forming his own Super PAC with some of his donors. That money would be used to attack his challenger, Democratic Representative Penny Bernard Schaber of Appleton. Ellis says the conversation was about counteracting third party attack groups. Wisconsin law bans coordination between a candidate and third-party group. Ellis says he never acted on the idea. Ellis says he realizes the video looks terrible, but maintains that he didn’t break any laws.

Falls Classes Being Offered In The Area

The Aging and Disabilities Resource Center is offering classes designed to keep people in their homes longer who are in danger of suffering falls and being injured. Sandy Tryon of the center says the Step On classes are for seven weeks and cover a variety of topics. A class starts in Fond du Lac this afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. and there’s another for Ripon from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6th. She says it’s a quick two hours. She says if you would like to sign up you need to do that through the center. For more information call 929-3466.

Thiesfeldt On Failure To Eliminate State Treasurer’s Office

State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says he voted in favor of a bill that would have eliminated the state treasurer’s position this past session. However the bill didn’t make it all the way through the legislature and to eliminate a Constitutional position needs to pass two sessions of the legislature and through a statewide referendum. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says it’s not easy to eliminate a Constitutional office. He says legislation has removed many of the treasurer’s responsibilities. Thiesfeldt says with over $500,000 budgeted each year for the office it might be wise to add some responsibilities to the office if it’s going to be kept around.

Ground Broken For 25^th Habitat Home In FDL County

Ground was broken last weekend for Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County’s 25th home build. Habitat Executive Director Paul Osterholm says it was a nice day to break ground for the home that the Taylor and Sarah Schanilec family will be moving into at 141 Hamilton Place in Fond du Lac. He says 17 weeks from now there will be a home there on Hamilton Place. Osterholm says they will need volunteers during the build to build the home or even to supply food for the volunteers. For more information call 921-6623.

FDL County GOP Open Local Headquarters Saturday

The Fond du Lac County Republican Party will hold a grand opening and brat fry for their new party headquarters this Saturday. It’s located at 810 S. Main Street in Fond du Lac. The grand opening is at noon with guest speakers at 1 p.m. The grand opening is free to attend and open to anyone with an interest in the Republican Party. Proceeds from the Brat Fry will used to support operations at the local party headquarters.

Oshkosh Bridge Closing

Oshkosh Police tells us the Oshkosh Avenue Bridge or State Highway 21 will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for maintenance today. Adjustments to travel routes should be made during the closur