Local News
Local News Briefs Friday 9/6/13
Highway 23 Back On Track
A group of area legislators applauded a DOT decision to not delay construction of Highway 23 to four lanes between Fond du Lac and Plymouth until 2018 and restore the 2015 start time. State Senator Rick Gudex tells KFIZ News that getting this project going is good for business in our area and prolonging it was not in the best interest of those in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County. Gudex also says that the drives that stretch of road quite often and the construction will increase safety as traffic flow increases. The DOT will schedule State Highway 23 for substantial completion in fiscal year 2018. This would be a delay of only one year from the previous scheduled completion of 2017. Pending availability of funds either from project savings or increased appropriations, the DOT would advance the completion to 2017. State Senators Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) with Representatives Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake), Dan LeMahieu (R-Cascade), Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and Mike Endsley (R-Sheboygan) were involved in getting the timeline back to 2015.
Attempted Child Enticement
The Oshkosh Police Department is investigating the report of a subject who attempted to entice a child into a vehicle in the 1100 block of W. 7th Avenue on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 prior to school. The child said that as he was walking to school a tan four door vehicle stopped and the male driver asked the child if he needed a ride to school. The child ignored the driver and the driver left the area. The child did not know the male driver. The male driver is described as black with short black hair and rectangular glasses. The male driver was further described as being about 50 years old and had wrinkled skin. The vehicle was described as a large 4 door tan in color. The Oshkosh Police Department continues the investigation. If anyone has information on this subject, they are encouraged to contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.
Unemployment Help
(WRN) Beginning October 13th, those signing up for Unemployment Insurance in the state will have to register with the Job Center of Wisconsin. Department of Workforce Development Deputy Secretary Jonathan Barry says benefits will be withheld for those who fail to sign up. Unemployed workers will have two weeks to sign-up after they file a claim.
Speed Limit Increase
(WRN) Raising the speed limit to 70 miles an hour on Wisconsin’s interstate highways would not have a huge impact on safety. David Noyce, director of the UW-Madison’s Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory, says many other states have made the switch safely. Noyce says there is some pressure not to fall behind, with all of Wisconsin’s neighbors already making the switch from 65 to 70. Lawmakers are expected to debate the bill this fall, although Governor Scott Walker has indicated it’s not a priority for him.
Teachers Spending Own Cash
(Wis News Connection) As 872-thousand Wisconsin public school students returned to the classroom this week, many of the 58-thousand teachers in the state dip into their own pocket to help out. . A recent survey from the National School Supply and Equipment Association finds teachers spend on average 485-dollars of their own money to directly assist students. Erin Heinemann, a 5th grade teacher at Oakwood School in Oshkosh, is starting her 30th year of teaching in Wisconsin. She says that she easily spends $600 to $700 per school, year which is much more than when she first started teaching. The survey says that nationwide, 80% of teaches spend their own money to help students get the supplies they need to learn in the classroom.
Fondue Fest
The 7th annual Fondue Fest is in downtown Fond du Lac on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. The Farmers Market vendors will be moved to Main Street, there will be plenty of activities for the kids. A pair of music stages will be on North and South end of Main Street. The K107.1-FM Music Stage will be on South Main Street near 4th Street. The lineup on that stage includes; Black Iris from 10am to Noon, Vinyl Groove from 12:30pm to 2:30pm, and Unity from 3pm to 5pm. Over 20,000 attend Fondue Fest each year. Head to fonduefest.com for a complete list of activities.