(Beaver Dam) After more than 26 years of public service, the Beaver Dam Fire Department has announced the retirement of Captain Paul Hartl. Joining the department in 1995 as a paid-on-call firefighter, Hartl was promoted to Lieutenant in 2000, hired full-time in 2004 before being promoted to the rank of Captain in 2010. In his 26 years, the Captain played a pivotal role in the departments EMS program serving as its director since 2010. He also serves on the Dodge County EMS Association and as Chair of the MPTC Fire/EMS Advisory Board. Captain Hartl’s last day of service will be January 6th, when family, friends, and colleagues are invited to the Beaver Dam Fire Department at noon to celebrate his retirement.
(Fox Lake) The City of Fox Lake Community Center will be open for winter walking. The Community Center, located in the municipal complex at 248 East State Street, will be open to walkers in the months of January, February, and March, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. Fox Lake Mayor Tom Bednarek says they are pleased to welcome residents and non-residents alike who are looking for a warm, dry, and safe place to walk laps indoors in the winter months.
(Fond du Lac) In a recent act of generosity Moraine Park Technical College made a donation to support literacy and reading in rural schools throughout the region. Partnering with the United Way of Fond du Lac, Dodge, and Washington counties, MPTC donated over 1,700 books to rural elementary and middle schools, as more than 40 Moraine Park staff and students volunteered to sort, personalize and deliver the books to schools in Campbellsport, Oakfield, Dodgeland, Hustisford, Jackson, Kewaskum, West Bend, and Hartford. The distributed books focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Moraine Park has Campuses in Fond du lac, West Bend, and Beaver Dam, more information can be found online at morainepark.edu.
(Dodge County) The Dodge County Health Department is reporting zero additional COVID deaths in yesterday’s update. The total death count stands at 276 with 241 confirmed and 35 probable deaths. Health officials recorded 129 new cases and five new hospitalizations. Active community cases stand at 432. The seven-day daily average of new cases per 100-thousand people is at 47.6, a decrease of nearly 15. Twenty-five cases and above is what health officials classify as the “tipping point.” So far 52.9 percent of Dodge County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 49 percent have completed the vaccination series.
(Juneau) Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt is encouraging safe driving over the New Year’s holiday. Schmidt says he has one request for those who will be drinking alcohol beverages throughout the evening: be careful. He says it is fine to have a drink or two with dinner but do not drive impaired or find a designated driver. Schmidt says the free “Driver Sober” app from the WisDOT website is also a great resource. He says the app has a ‘find a ride’ feature to help locate mass transit and taxi services. Schmidt says while the holiday season can be a great time, there are those are not as fortunate and asks the community to look out for one another. Schmidt says the sheriff’s office is available 24/7 to assist the public, so do not hesitate to call.
