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News 03.29.18

29 March 2018 News


Envision Greater Fond du Lac and the Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce have announced an effort to raise awareness for expanding Highway 23 to four lanes between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County. Jane Brill with the Sheboygan Chamber says Expand Highway 23 is a grass-roots coalition is comprised of citizens, business owners, government officials, the Sheboygan chamber of commerce and Envision Greater FDL. She says the main purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public. Brill says the coalition believes the project is necessary for safety and economic growth. She says since the project was halted several years ago when a lawsuit was filed by the environmental group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, there have been multiple fatalities and serious injury crashes and the project cost has more than tripled. The coalition has been working with the DOT on the completion of a limited scope supplemental environmental impact statement needed to re-ignite the expansion project. Brill says the statement is slated for completion May with a public hearing in the middle of June.

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The Waupun School district administrator is stepping down. Dr. Tonya Olson is resigning to accept a principal position at Belleville Elementary School. In her resignation letter, Olson says the new position will allow her to spend more time with her family. During her time as superintendent Dr. Olson helped lead the District through the approval and construction for a $36 million building referendum. Olson’s last day with the district will be June 30. The school board plans to hire a search firm to assist with recruiting and hiring a new administrator.

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State documents show emissions from Foxconn Technology Group’s planned manufacturing complex would rank among the highest in southeastern Wisconsin for toxins that create air pollution known as smog. Documents filed with the state Department of Natural Resources indicate that Foxconn’s most significant air pollutants would be volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. The state’s air management staff say the factory would increase such pollutants by about 4 percent in Racine County, a figure officials say is manageable. The DNR is reviewing Foxconn’s permits and says it will likely require additional emissions cuts on top of what the company is proposing. Smog can be a health risk and harm the lungs for people working and exercising outdoors. The $10 billion plant could employ up to 13,000 and will manufacture advanced liquid crystal display panels.

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Prosecutors in Brown County are expected to consider upgraded charges against a man accused in a hit-and-run bicycle crash now that the victim has died. Authorities have identified the victim as 47-year-old Russell Owen, of Green Bay. A criminal complaint says Owen was struck from behind by an SUV Sunday and was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle, then run over after landing back on the street. The complaint says two people got out of the vehicle, looked at the bicyclist and then drove away. The SUV driver was later arrested and charged with six counts, including three felonies. 29-year-old Barry Watters made an initial appearance Tuesday when bond was set at $100,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled April 6.

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