Local News Briefs Monday 7/13/15

Severe thunderstorms moved through the area early this morning prompting two separate severe thunderstorm warnings for Fond du Lac County. The first was for southeastern Fond du Lac County and the second for the southwestern portion. Both ran about a half hour in length. Dodge County also had a couple of warnings including a tornado warning for the southern portion of the county. Storms interrupted electrical service for hundreds of Alliant Energy customers in Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Winnebago Counties. Humid air could fuel another round of strong to severe storms this evening depending on how much sun we get.

FDL School Board Consider Hiring New Athletic Director

The Fond du Lac School Board this evening is expected to approve the hiring of a new athletic director for the high school. David MichalKiewicz was one of 36 applicants for the position. He has worked as a teacher and athletic director in the Bellmont School District since 2006. He succeeds Kevin Deering who left for a job in Grafton. The Board meets at 5 p.m. at the District Administration Center Board Room on West 9th Street in Fond du Lac.

FDL City Council Fine Tuning Pedal Pub Ordinance

The Fond du Lac City Council last week made some suggestions for changes to a draft of an ordinance that would allow the operation of pedal pubs in the City. City Council President Lee Lorrigan did read some correspondence during the meeting from Drug Free Communities Coordinator Ellen Sorensen. The DCF is opposed to the pedal pubs because it would promote binge drinking. Councilman Brian Kolstad suggested maybe limiting consumption on the bicycle ride to two 12-ounce drinks in an hour and maybe three in two hours. Under a new state law riders could consume up to 36 ounces of alcohol, basically beer, on a ride. The Council also decided not to limit locations where a pedal pub could go, leaving it up to the operator to inform the City. Councilwoman Catherine Block was one of several Council members who think the pedal pubs should be allowed to ride through Lakeside Park. Revisions will be made to the draft of the ordinance and will be brought back to the City Council.

Mercury Living Up To Agreement With The County

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac has more than lived up to its end of the bargain when it comes to repaying a loan that was extended to keep it from leaving the City in 2009. He says they are making their payments on time and are getting credits for all the additional jobs they created. He says they range from 2,900 to 3,100 employees depending on the season. He says recently Mercury broke ground on their fifth expansion. He says it’s a $25 million capital investment that will modernize their paint facility and create additional jobs in the future. Buechel says each additional investment Mercury makes at the plant further cements their ties to the community.

DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Visits FDL

The Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Department of Workforce Development visited Fond du Lac last Friday. Dave Anderson stopped at four businesses that are participating in the Job and Business Development Program. Locally the program is administered by ADVOCAP. The businesses are Russtiques Antiques & Collectibles, Ang An Eddies Pizza, CH Welding, and River Haus Bait & Tackle. Anderson in the past has worked for Congressmen Tom Petri and Sean Duffy. He says it’s an exciting time to be involved in workforce development programs. He says workforce issues are critical to the future economic wellbeing of the state. He says both workers and employers are looking for opportunities. The Jobs and Business Development Program supports activities to help low-income entrepreneurs launch or expand small businesses, create and preserve jobs, and support economic self-sufficiency.  ADVOCAP is in the midst of a one-year allocation of $19,000 in state funds with an equal local match to provide local businesses with technical assistance, such as financial, business and marketing plan development.

Most Voters Fine With State Smoke Free Law

The program coordinator for the 5 Counties for Tobacco Free Living says the state has made some progress since it implemented the smoke free law.  Recently the five year anniversary of that law was celebrated. Sandy Bernier says according to an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Survey an overwhelming majority of state voters approve of the law that number was 86 percent. She says on the other hand very few people have actually been cited for not complying with the smoke free law. She says there has been a less than 1 percent noncompliance with the law. She says Fond du Lac had its own smoking free ordinance about a year before the state and there was very little noncompliance with that too. Bernier says fewer people are smoking, but to keep that number going down will require a comprehensive approach. She says we have to maintain funding for smoking prevention programs, continuing to find help people who want to quit, continuing to change the norm about smoking, which she says has to be done at the state and community levels.

Many Health Services Available Through Agnesian Health Plaza

A spokeswoman for Agnesian HealthCare says they’ve made some impressive changes to their Camelot Drive facilities in Fond du Lac. Shelly Haberman says most people would be familiar with what was in the past known as the “Surgery Center.” She says it’s now known as the Agnesian Health Plaza because of the many services within it. She says all the services people found there are still there plus new services like the wound care service. She says that includes their Sport and Spine Center, orthopedic surgeons, audiologists and more. She says you find even more services in their new Building B, which opened last month. She says you’ll find eye care, dialysis services, chiropractors and the Agnesian Health Shoppe is there with a brand new showroom.

Congressional Internships Available

Congressman Glenn Grothman is accepting applications for fall internships in his Washington, D.C. and Fond du Lac offices. Intern applicants should submit a resume and references to Matt Furlow at matt.furlow@mail.house.gov  In Washington, DC and Fond du Lac, intern responsibilities will vary. They will be asked to answer phones, run errands, research legislation for the Congressman and legislative staff,attend hearings and briefings, and answer constituent letters on various issues before the House of Representatives. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a congressional office. Internship positions are unpaid and run from August 31 – Mid-December, dates are flexible. “I encourage college students in Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District to apply for an internship in my office,” said Congressman Grothman. “Internships provide opportunities to learn more about the way our laws are made and how the federal government works.” For more information contact the Congressman’s Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2476 or email Matt Furlow at matt.furlow@mail.house.gov