Local News Briefs Wednesday 3/4/15

North Fond du Lac Village officials are taking a look at having one person act as their Fire Chief and EMS Director. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says it’s been done in the past, but for a couple years now Pat Stephany has been their Fire Chief and Randy Stutz has been their EMS Director. He says seven people have applied for the job. He says he will meet with the Police and Fire Commission and after that put together a interview panel before inviting some of the candidates back for interviews. He says the person they choose would have to a paramedic who can go out on calls during the daytime hours when they are on duty and a second ambulance is needed. Hornung says it would also help with scheduling and staffing because some of their medics are in the reserves and if someone takes family leave it can cause a problem sometimes.

Closing Of Mine Office Disappointing To State Representative Schraa

State Representative Michael Schraa says it’s disappointing to see Gogebic Taconite close down its office in northern Wisconsin. Schraa and State Senator Rick Gudex were among the legislators who toured the area a couple years ago where the potential iron ore mine would have been located.

The state lawmaker from Oshkosh says it didn’t help that the price of iron ore is down, but mine officials had too many other hurdles to overcome including rulings from the EPA that still had to come down.  Schraa says he and Gudex saw how economically depressed the Hurley area is, but the mine and its construction would have created jobs across the state. Gogebic officials say they will continue to pursue a permit to mine the site, but couldn’t justify continuing to keep the office in Hurley open.

Irish Music Friday Night Will Benefit Free Spirit Riders Program

Some Irish music this Friday will benefit the Free Spirit Riders program. For 28 years the program has provided therapeutic horseback riding to people with developmental disabilities. Free Spirit Riders Executive Director Mary Narges says they have helped out over 700 riders over the years and their horses know instinctively when they are carrying a special rider. This Friday night from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Hornung Center on the Marian University campus they will host the Gathering of the Clans Irish music event. It will feature the music of Seamus Fitzgerald and the McNally Boys. She says they will also hold a silent auction, their purses 4 ponies, have a 50/50 raffle and snacks. The West Fond du Lac Thrivent Branch of Thrivent will be providing matching funds for money raised during the evening. Narges says next to their annual Ride-a-Thon it’s their biggest fundraiser of the year. Advance tickets for the Gathering of the Clan are available at Mike’s Music and Wegners Office Supply.

Hearts To Heroes

A motorcycle ride during Walleye Weekend in Fond du Lac will benefit veterans. Fond du Lac Festivals Executive Director Leanne Doyle says the “Hearts to Heroes” fundraiser will be held on the Saturday of Walleye Weekend. She says it will start at Open Road Harley Davidson will they have some food, a raffle and a little party. She says the 100 to 300 riders will have a route that could include the Kettle Moraine State Park and will end in Lakeside Park West. She says the ride will benefit veterans who need rides to medical appointments and VA Clinic visits. She says specifically it will help to replace the Dodge Caravan the County uses to transport veterans to those appointments. She says they will have a concert and fireworks at the park that night as part of the fun.

AAA Food Drive

The AAA office at 504A North Rolling Meadows Drive in Fond du Lac is having a food drive this week. It will benefit the Fondy Food Pantry. The drive ends on Friday. Anyone bringing in a bag of non-perishable food will receive a free atlas.

Reservations Needed For Next Women In Management Meeting

The next meeting of the Fond du Lac Chapter of Women In Management will feature a presentation on why people with disabilities need jobs, what makes it difficult for them to find employment and what makes them good employees. The presentation on “How Employing People with Disabilities Benefits Everyone” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Retlaw Plaza Hotel. Presenters will include Laurie Develice, Pam Jones, McKenzie Egan and Holly Lord. Businesswomen interested in joining Women In Management are invited to attend and reservations must be made by this Friday by calling Vicki Woschnick at 920-929-8271.  There is a fee for lunch, payable at the door.

Hobby Expo At FDL Public Library Saturday

The Fond du Lac Public Library is hosting the biannual Hobby Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday. Clubs and organizations from around the area will demonstrate and share information about their favorite pastimes. The Fond du Lac Model Railroad Club will have an all-day demonstration in the lower level meeting room, and the library will have a demonstration of some of the new tech equipment available for checkout, including Makey Makey kits and Kano/Raspberry Pi kits. Door prizes will be awarded all day long. The Expo is free; no registration required.