July 24, 2016

Region Beginning To See EAA AirVenture Traffic

 

7/24/16 – The EAA’s annual Air Venture show begins tomorrow (Mon) in Oshkosh. But by last Thursday, thousands of campers had already claimed their spaces on the grounds of the Experimental Aircraft Association — and lots more arrived this weekend. About 500-thousand people are expected to attend the week long EAA show which features numerous exhibits, many unique airplanes, and nine air shows — including two at night. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will highlight this year’s Air Venture. It’s one of the world’s most popular military aerial demonstration teams, and they’re scheduled to perform non Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

 

Injury Accidents Reported in Fox Lake, Fond du Lac

 

7/24/16 – A Fox Lake woman was pinned inside her vehicle after it rolled into a ditch Friday evening. The accident happened around 8pm on County Highway P in the Town of Fox Lake. Fox Lake Fire and EMS responded. The 66-year-old sustained unspecified injuries and was cited.

 

A Chilton woman was flown to ThedaCare in Neenah following an accident early Saturday morning on Highway 151 in Fond du Lac County. Sheriff’s officials say the 35-year-old went off the road near Kiekhaefer Parkway. Her vehicle went down an embankment and hit a tree. She sustained serious injuries. The accident was reported at 12:25am.

 

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say a semi was traveling north on Interstate-41 near Military Road in Fond du Lac when it blew a tire on the driver’s side, crashed into the median barrier and overturned. The accident was reported Saturday morning at 4:30am. The driver, a 32-year-old Manitowoc man, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital with minor injuries. The truck was carrying 20,000 pounds of bread, but none of that was spilled.

 

Wisconsin Businesses Adapting To Keep Good Workers

 

7/24/16 – Wisconsin’s top business group says companies are getting more creative to find and keep good workers. The state’s Manufacturers and Commerce group says 70-percent of the 265 members in a recent survey had difficulty finding qualified people — up from 68-percent six months ago and 70-percent last summer. W-M-C says companies are dealing with the worker shortage by using more automation, more flexible work arrangements, increasing pay and benefit packages, and working more closely with schools to recruit trainees. Group president Kurt Bauer says firms are also delaying expansions and turning down contracts because they don’t have the employees — and Bauer calls that a “harbinger of things to come” unless businesses, government, and schools can work together. Survey respondents also said the Wisconsin economy remains stable while the national economy appears weaker, and businesses are being forced to pass on higher health costs to their workers.

 

Oshkosh Corp Seeking Workers To Build Military Vehicles

 

7/24/16 – Oshkosh Corporation is looking for workers to make their military vehicles. The company will have a job fair on Wednesday at the Oshkosh Convention Center from 7am to 7pm. More than 300 jobs are available for immediate employment. Workers will be used for general manufacturing, assembly work, welding, paint and prep.

 

Columbus Woman Received Rooted As One Grant

 

7/24/16 – The recipient of the first-ever Savanna Oaks Rooted as One grant has been selected. Abigail Ehlers from Columbus was selected as the 2016 recipient. She was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. Ehlers says she and her three-year-old child are happy and appreciative to have been chosen. Applications to become a Rooted as One recipient were made available to Rio, Columbus and Fall River area residents.  The person selected will have clinic, hospital and phone bills paid up with donations from local banks, builders, companies and manufacturers. A Savanna Oaks fundraising dinner event is also being planned as part of the Rooted as One program on August 28th.

 

Local Housing Sales Increase In June

 

7/24/16 – Housing sales in many local counties last month were up from June 2015.  Dodge County had 117 sales in June, eight more than the same month last year.  The median sales price jumped from $118,000 to $134,000.  Columbia County’s 106 sales last month were five more than in June 2015.  The $184,000 median sales price is $8,000 more than last year.  In Jefferson County, the 149 home sales in June were 13 more than the same month in 2015.  The median sales price increased from $171,000 to $175,000.  Fond du Lac County’s 140 house sales were 13 more than last June.  The median sales price stayed level at $140,000.  In June, 33 fewer homes were sold in Washington County than the 271 sold in the same month last year.  The median sales price did increase though from $207,000 to $219,000.  The 24 homes sold in Green Lake County last month were six fewer than last June.  A significant jump was seen in the median sales price, which went from $118,000 to $215,000.  Statewide, over 9,800 houses changed hands.  That is over 350 more than last June.  The median sales price increased $6,500 to $175,000.  Through the first half of 2016, Wisconsin home sales were the highest in eleven years with over 38,000 transactions.

 

MPTC Moves On From Amazing Race Orientation Theme

 

7/24/16 – Moraine Park Technical College has decided to abandon the “Amazing Race” theme for student orientation and go with smaller and more intimate sessions. Moraine Park Vice President of Student Services Stan Cram says the theme worked, but didn’t draw as many students as they hoped. He says the problem was they only got a small amount students to participate in the “Amazing Race” orientation sessions. The “student meetings” will run about 90 minutes. The sessions will begin the first week of August on all three MPTC campuses.

 

Four Students Receive Waupun Hospital Scholarships

 

7/24/16 – Four local students have been awarded scholarships from the Waupun Memorial Hospital’s Gift Shop Scholarship Committee.  Kayla Bonack is currently a student at UW-Madison while the other three recipients are entering their freshman years.  Caleb Schulz and Hailey Stoll will attend UW-Madison.  Olivia Theune will attend Concordia University.  Each award was for $1,000.

 

BDCH Medical Clinic in Horicon Hosting Open House

 

7/24/16 – The Beaver Dam Community Hospital Medical Clinic in Horicon is hosting an open house this coming Friday (July 29). The clinic is inviting the community, local employers and employees. Those attending will have the opportunity to meet the Horicon clinic’s new physician, Dr. Andrew Guminski, a primary care physician practicing internal medicine and pediatrics. Clinic staff will greet visitors, who can take a clinic tour and enjoy free refreshments. There will be free blood pressure checks, five-minute massages and Foot Clinic information. The BDCH open house will be held from 11am to 1pm at the clinic at 610 Washington Street.

 

Dodge County FSA Nominations Due August 1

 

7/24/16 – Nominations are being accepted through the end of the of the month for Dodge County Farm Service Agency County committee elections.  County FSA officials say the committee makes decisions about the local administration of federal farm programs, like disaster and conservation payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals and other local agricultural issues.  In Dodge County, producers being elected come from the townships of Clyman, Elba, Emmet, Hustisford, Lebanon, Lowell, Portland and Shields. Blachowiak says farmers can nominate themselves or another producer to run for a seat on the county committee, and organizations representing minorities and women may also nominate candidates. Eligible voters may circulate or sign nomination petitions for as many candidates as they choose, including themselves. Forms are available online or at the FSA office in Juneau. The deadline for submitting nominations to the local office is August 1 and the elections will take place this fall. The FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning November 7. Ballots are due back in the Dodge County FSA Office by mail or in person no later than December 5. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2017.

 

DNR Getting Reliable Count On Freshwater Mussels

 

7/24/16 – For the first time since the 1970s, the Wisconsin D-N-R is getting a handle on the numbers of freshwater mussels in the state’s waterways. Freshwater mussels are known to protect waters from the types of sediments in which algae blooms, pesticides, and unwanted metals develop. Researchers say they should not be confused with the invasive zebra and quagga mussels that plug up lake pipes, and rob natural species of needed nutrients. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says more than half of the state’s 561 native freshwater mussel species are threatened, endangered, or are listed as concerns due to several factors including pollution. The D-N-R is examining mussels at up to 70 locations, including all of the state’s 21 largest watersheds. The U-S Fish and Wildlife Service is helping fund the survey, the first phase of which is expected to be wrapped up at the end of this month.