Local News Briefs Monday 7/21/14

Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann says a road rage incident Saturday night could have ended very badly after a 76-year-old Clyman man confronted a 29-year-old Milwaukee woman with a gun. The complaint just before 9 p.m. involved in the Watertown are.  The man confronted the woman in Clyman where threats and a brief physical confrontation occurred. The man was arrested for his 1st drunken driving offense, being armed while intoxicated and disorderly conduct with a firearm enhancer. No charges or citations are being requested against the woman. Sheriff Ninmann says thankfully no one was injured during the incident.

Divisions Street Closure Starting Today

Division Street in Fond du Lac will be closed today from Main to Portland Street due to sewer repair work in the intersection with Main Street. Northbound traffic at the intersection of Main St. and Division will be restricted to only one lane, with through traffic and left turn traffic sharing the lane. Southbound traffic will be required to continue straight south or turn right. Eastbound traffic will be required to either turn left or right. Access to the Ramada Plaza hotel will be permitted from Portland St. It is anticipated that the work will be completed and all streets and lanes open to normal traffic by the end of the workday on Wednesday.

South Brooke Street Closure Starting Tuesday

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department tells us that South Brooke Street will be closed at the West 2nd Street intersection starting Tuesday for approximately two weeks. During that pavement will be excavated and removed, there will be placement of curb and gutter, placement of concrete pavement as well as corresponding concrete curing times. Access to businesses adjacent to the closure will be maintained but may be limited. Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour of West Division Street, South Hickory Street and South Military Road. Motorists are reminded to abide by all traffic control signs and devices.

Grant Helps Homeless Students In FDL School District

The Fond du Lac School District will be using a grant to keep track of homeless students and make sure they don’t fall through the cracks when it comes to their educational needs. The district was recently awarded a grant for $50,000 a year through 2017. District Superintendent Jim Sebert says the number of homeless students in the district more than doubled over the last three school years from 28 to 35 from 2007-2011 to 71 to 117 since 2011-14. According to federal McKinney-Vento Act, which requires specific guidelines to meet the educational needs of homeless students the definition of a homeless students applies to those with temporary living arrangements such as emergency or transitional housing. He says the money will help pay for a part-time position with that person making sure no one slips through the cracks as their housing situations changes.

UW-FDL Berger Book Bag Application Deadline Fast Approaching

Time is running out for UW-Fond du Lac students who need help with textbook costs to apply for assistance through the Berger Book Bag fund. Bethany Rusch is the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance. She says the fund was established by Judith Berger O’Brien in honor of her husband Joseph Berger, Jr. who with his father Joseph Berger, Sr. was instrumental in establishing the UW-Fond du Lac campus. Students who apply will need to write out a short essay detailing that need.She says she’s read some of the essays and they are inspiring. Applications are available at the UW-Fond du Lac Business Office, Student Services Office and the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation Office. You can also find them on the school’s web site by visiting the “Scholarships” page and clicking on the Berger Book Bag link. Applications are due by August 1st. Students cane get awarded a grant of up to $300.

Habitat ReStore “Mooving Day” Coming Up

The Agricultural Programs Director for the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce says the Agribusiness Council will be involved in helping Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore move into their new location on West Scott Street on August 23rd. The new store is located next to the Fond du Lac Children’s Museum and Mercury Marine Museum. Brenda Gudex says they will have a food drive that day. Donated items will go to the Fondy Food Pantry. She says you can also put the emphasis on “MOO” in move because they will also be having an Agricultural Community Fair. She says they will also have information coming out for those who would like to help with the ReStore move. Hours for the community fair is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hours for the move are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who would like to volunteer to help with the move can call 920-660-0932 or 

Watch Out For Highway Paint Crews

It’s time to talk about a fresh coat of paint. Not on your house, but on several roads around the state. Debby Kozol, with the State Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Traffic Operations, reminds us to watch out for paint crews restriping lane markings. She says typically they work in a three vehicle convoy, with the paint truck leading the way. She recommends slowing down and staying behind the last vehicle. Paint crews have wet paint signs on their vehicles and place paint convoy or road work ahead signs along the route they are working on. Kosol recommends paying attention to those wet paint signs and not crossing over freshly applied paint. She says the convoy will pull over when it can to allow everyone to pass.

Fill The Bus Collection Drive Schedule

The “Fill the Bus” collection drives will soon be popping up at busy shopping stops throughout Fond du Lac.  Part of the “Back to School, FDL” project, the effort works to ensure that qualifying children in the Fond du Lac area start this school year with all the necessary school supplies they will need to get off to a good start.   Collection drives will also be held at local churches and human services agencies in addition to the Fill the Bus locations. A specially marked Johnson School Bus will be accepting school supply donations on the following dates and locations:

Friday August 1 – Walgreens on Pioneer and Main from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Saturday, August 2 – Walgreens on Hwy 23 across from Festival Foods from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Saturday, August 9 – Shopko from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

School supplies that are especially needed and appreciated are backpacks, notebooks, and calculators.  The Back to School Shop is August 23 at the Boys and Girls Club located on 2nd Street in Fond du Lac. 

Marian Info Session In Plymouth Tonight

Marian University will hold an informational open house for adult and graduate students in Plymouth. The open house will be held at the Generations Center, located at 1500 Douglas Drive in Plymouth today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The open house event will feature information on Marian University’s bachelor of business administration program offered to fit the lifestyle of the adult student at Sargento Foods Inc. in Plymouth, Wis. In addition, admission counselors will be available to discuss other educational opportunities offered, including adult undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.