Local News Briefs Monday 5/26/14

The North Fond du Lac Village Board recently approved the forming of an exploratory committee to look into the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says their current 55-foot ladder truck is 28 years old and is requiring more and more maintenance. He says the department would like to purchase a new truck with a 100-foot ladder extension. The committee will look at the truck options and possible financing. Hornung says normally it costs in the range of $800,000 to $900,000 for a new ladder truck.

New Members On Traffic Safety Commission

Three new members have joined the Fond du Lac County Traffic Safety Commission. County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig is the County’s Highway Safety Coordinator. He says those new members are Bill Bendt who is retiring as the County’s Corporation Counsel, Tim Flaherty of Moraine Park Technical College and new County Board Supervisor Dean Will. Olig says each of the new members can bring something to the committee that meets quarterly. He says Flaherty does a lot of traffic safety training at MPTC and Will is a retired County Sheriff’s Captain who used to sit on the committee as the County’s Highway Safety Coordinator. The committee reviews fatal accidents and makes recommendations on improving highway safety in the County.

FDL Memorial Day Parade And Ceremony

Fond du Lac’s Memorial Day Parade will step off at the corner of Guindon Boulevard and South Main Street at ten o’clock this morning. It will proceed north to Veterans Park. The Memorial Day program will begin immediately after the parade.  The keynote speaker this is year is Fond du Lac City Manager and Retired Army Colonel Joseph Moore.  State Senator Rick Gudex, State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt, County Executive Allen Buechel and Police Chief William Lamb will give brief welcomes. In the event that there is severe weather an announcement will be made before the 8 a.m. news on News-Talk 1450 KFIZ.

Town Of Byron Memorial Day

Town of Byron veterans will be honored today at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. South Byron native Michael Bird, a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, is the keynote speaker. The morning program also includes unveiling of 17 names added to the Veterans Memorial, a roll call of veterans buried in Town of Byron cemeteries, a firing squad salute, and an open house exhibit from 8 to 11 a.m. The public is welcome to attend the event co-sponsored by the Town of Byron Veterans Memorial Committee and the Byron Historical Society.

Memorial Day Closings

City and County offices across Fond du Lac County are closed today in observance of Memorial Day. In Fond du Lac the Senior Center and Public Library are both closed today and City Transit buses won’t be running. There will be no refuse and recycling collection today. Refuse and recycling normally collected on Monday will be collected tomorrow along with the normal Tuesday collection.

Historical Treasures To Be Featured At FDL Public Library

The Fond du Lac County Historical Society is bringing treasures out of storage for an exhibit at the Fond du Lac Public Library Langdon Divers Gallery from June 4 to July 2. The exhibit, organized by historical society library director Tracy Reinhardt, includes portraits of Ezra Peebles and his wife (founders of the town) as well as portraits of John and Mary Hobbs and Sophia Hamilton.  The will also include 18 handmade bridal dolls created by Bernice Parfitt of Ripon. The tiny dolls feature bridal dresses from 1776 to 1966. The public is invited to a reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 20. Refreshments will be served. The reception will be held in conjunction with the downtown Fond du Lac Tour the Town downtown art walk.