KFIZ News Wednesday 8/31/16

Caution Urged For Changes At 23 And K

Fond du Lad Fire and Rescue Division Chief Troy Haase says drivers are going to have to deal with a lot more traffic near the State Highway 23 and County Highway K intersection with the opening of St. Mary’s Springs Academy’s new school. He says when it was just the high school on the Ledge there were 225 students now there will be about 800. Tuesday the intersection was closed as officials prepared to install slotted left turn lanes on Highway 23 and right turn islands on County K. A median crossover west of the intersection will be removed. Haase says it will modify traffic. He says he’s concerned motorists will go past County K a bit do a U-turn and come back down the hill. The project begins soon and will finish in November.

UW FDL Student Housing Facility Will Be Kept Filled

The executive officer and dean of the UW’s Northeast Region says the new 122-bed student housing facility at the UW-Fond du Lac will look much like the rest of the campus. Martin Rudd says it will be designed to look like it fits right in with the rest of the campus especially on the exterior. He also says they will make sure the facility is filled by offering to house students from Marian University and Moraine Park Technical College if there is a need. He says Management Group BMOC will also make that housing available in the summer for things like EAA AirVenture to keep the rooms filled. The facility is expected to be available for students by next fall.

Honorary Street Names

Fond du Lac Public Works Director Jordan Skiff is hoping an honorary street naming program will have its first taker in the next month. A local organization proposed designating the section of 2nd Street near the City-County Government Center as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Skiff says under the program it would still be 2nd Street, but the honorary name would be placed above the regular name of the street. He says people or groups would have to fill out an application and the name would have to have some cultural or historical significance. He says the request in honor of Dr. King is still going through channels. He says it has to go to next month’s Advisory Parking and Traffic Board and then the City Council. Skiff says the cost of the additional signs would be borne by the petitioner.

Beaver Dam Man Suspected Of Stealing From Churches

Bond was set at $100,000 cash this week for a Beaver Dam man suspected of breaking into churches and the home of a police chaplain. Kodey Meredith is facing four felony burglary charges in Dodge County court. He allegedly stole $16,000 worth of scrip cards from two churches. He also stole cash, keys and electronics from another church and broke into the home of a Beaver Dam Police Department Chaplain where he stole check books and electronics. Police were able to catch him by tracking his use of scrip cards at area businesses. Meredith told police he has a heroin problem. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 8th.

Highway 26 Stretch In Dodge County Closed

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt is asking drivers to obey road closed signs while State Highway 26 is closed for paving. A section of State Highway 26 from Highway 33 to US Highway 151 will be closed today and tomorrow, and next Tuesday. He says there may be times during construction that the road will be opened, but is a “Road Closed-Local Traffic Only” signs are posted that means you are only allowed to drive on the closed section if you live there or have business.

Housing Grants

Two Fond du Lac County organizations are getting housing grants from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and its Foundation. The Fond du Lac County Housing Authority is getting a $25,000 grant to replace apartment unit doors and their locking mechanisms. Arc Housing is getting a $20,000 grant to make improvements to its six properties. For more click here. 

Fair Trade Sale

Agnesian HealthCare Volunteers will be hosting a fair trade sale at the lobby concourse at 430 East Division Street in Fond du Lac today and tomorrow. Hours from the sale are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday. Just Fare will feature fair trade items, such as coffee, baskets, aprons, handcrafted kitchen and tableware and more. Proceeds will benefit Agnesian HealthCare programs and services.