Local News Briefs Monday 10/27/14

A fatal motorcycle crash occurred in Oak Grove late Saturday night. The operator, a Horicon resident, was said to have failed to stop for a deputy sheriff who tried to pull him over. The man proceeded to flee at a high rate of speed but went off the road and struck a power pole just a minute later. The incident occurred near the intersection of Fox Road and St. Helena Road.  Alcohol and an excessive speed are believed to be the reasons for the incident. The driver’s name is being withheld until the family is notified. 

Retlaw Hotel Not Likely To See Through Auction

Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Executive Director Amy Hansen says they were made aware of plans to auction off the Retlaw Plaza Hotel about three weeks ago. She says the arrangement was made by the property owner and is not the result of a bank foreclosure. She notes the current ownership group is up to date on payments to the City of Fond du Lac, including parking fees, water utility and property taxes. The hotel is supposed to be auctioned off on the Auction.com website starting November 3rd with an opening bid of $1.25 million. She says it’s unlikely the hotel will sell through the auction given the due diligence period that is required for a multi-million dollar transaction. She says normally the vetting process requires seeing the property and talking to local representatives from the DFP, City of Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation. Hansen says the good news is the hotel has received national attention, which she hopes will attract a new ownership group.

FDL School Board Preview

The Fond du Lac School Board this evening will be asked to approve the 2014 School District Budget and tax levy. The total tax levy is $32.5 million, a reduction of $1.28 million or 3.8 percent decrease. The mill rate will also be reduced by about 5 percent to $9.57 of value on a property or a 50 cent decrease. The board meets at 5 p.m. in the District Administration Center Board Room at 72 West 9th Street in Fond du Lac.

Senator Grothman On Congressional Run

State Senator Glenn Grothman says the 6th Congressional District needs someone representing it that will take a more aggressive role. He says during his time in the state legislature he has at time courted controversy, but the Republican from Campbellsport says a fearless approach is what’s needed to make a difference. He says welfare reform remains a top priority and reducing regulatory burdens for businesses. His opponent Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris would like to see the minimum wage raised and indexed, but Grothman says it’s not something all businesses can afford and the wage is meant for entry level jobs. Grothman believes Social Security is not in bad shape, but he’s more concerned about Medicare which he says is a greater problem.

Farmers Market Moves Indoors For The Winter

The last outdoors Farmers Market in the City-County Government Center parking lot in Fond du Lac was held over the weekend, but it won’t be the last of the season. Tracy Reinhardt tells us this coming Saturday it will move indoors to the former Antique Mall at 90 South Main Street. It will be located there from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday through May when it moves back outdoors to Main Street. Reinhardt says farmers and vendors still have a lot to offer during the fall and winter months. Crafts, honey, maple syrup, meats and baked goods are just some of the things shoppers can look for. Reinhardt says you can pay for items with cash and credit cards.

Bowl For Kids Sake Will Be Heroic Event

Plans are underway for the biggest fundraiser of the year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County. Big Brothers Executive Director Tammy Young says that would be their Bowl For Kids Sake that will be held in Fond du Lac the weekend of February 27th, 28th and March 1st and in Ripon on Saturday, March 7th. She says they are still looking for sponsors, but also teams. The event will be at Parkway Lanes in Fond du Lac. Pat Winkler of Big Brothers says you raise pledges through their website. Each year they have a theme. Last year the theme was zombies; this year’s theme is something more heroic, superheroes. For more about Big Brothers Big Sisters click here.  

St. Francis Home Recognized

Agnesian HealthCare’s St. Francis Home has received the Excellence in Action award from My InnerView by National Research Corporation. The honor recognizes long-term care and senior living organizations that achieve the highest levels of satisfaction excellence, as demonstrated by overall resident or employee satisfaction scores that fall within the top 10 percent of the My InnerView product database, the largest in the United States. “This honor reflects the ongoing commitment our associates make to always go the extra mile to meet the needs of our residents and their families,” according to Doug Trost, St. Francis Home president and chief executive officer. “Our associates work hard to develop relationships with our residents and take their roles very personally. They only want the best for those we serve.”