Tuesday News 7/9/19
9 July 2019 News
Manitowoc Manufacturer Closes Suddenly
Almost 150 workers at a cookware company in the Manitowoc are out of a job. Workers at the Tramontina plant showed up Monday morning only to learn that it was permanently closed. Company officials blamed higher production costs and tariffs. The closure was announced Monday and took effect immediately leaving 145 people out of work. Company officials say as required by Wisconsin law those employees will receive their regular pay and current benefits coverage for the next 60 days.
Ripon Common Council Preview
The Ripon Common Council tonight will consider allowing a group to stage a “Scoop the Loop” event in the downtown next month. It would be held on Saturday, August 10th from 5 to 9 pm. Forty of the 41 downtown business owners that would be affected by the event have signed a petition in favor of the event that would allow vehicles to cruise a mapped out route of the downtown. The Council recently amended an ordinance allowing cruising of the downtown during special events given the Council’s blessing. The Council will also consider a tall grass ordinance that requires lawns to be maintained with grass no longer than 6 inches in height. The Council meets at 7 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Ballweg Budget Signing Reaction
State Representative Joan Ballweg says she was glad to see that Governor Evers agreed with much of what the Republican legislature approved in signing the budget. However she says through his veto process, Governor Evers reduced funding for local roads approved by the Republican legislature and again focused spending in Milwaukee and Madison. The state lawmaker from Markesan says, ““The legislature worked hard to craft a fiscally responsible budget that invests in the priorities of Wisconsinites from all over the state.” She notes Republicans traveled throughout Wisconsin, holding over 200 listening sessions and receiving over 40,000 budget survey responses.
Chip Sealing On State Highway 44 In Green Lake County Wednesday
Maintenance crews from the Green Lake County highway department plan to chip seal a section of State Highway 44 beginning at 6 am tomorrow morning. The highway crews plan to close and chip seal Highway 44 from Kingston to Dalton. Chip sealing both directions is expected to take about one day. During the closure, state highway traffic will be detoured via County H and County HH. The highway is expected to reopen before the end of the day Wednesday. A reduced, advisory speed limit of 45 mph will be present for approximately a week after the highway reopens.
Night Time Highway Closures In FDL This Week
The state’s Department of Transportation says pavement repairs will be made on I-41 in the Fond du Lac area this week. Those repairs will lead to night time lane closures. Repairs on I-41 southbound between Johnson Street and Highway 151 will be tonight through Friday night from 6 pm to 6 am. Northbound lanes of I-41 between County Highway D and County Highway OO will be repaired from 7 pm to 7 am Thursday and Friday. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and be mindful of workers near the highway during those repairs.
Area Stores Do Well In Tobacco Compliance Checks
The coordinator for the Tobacco Control and Prevention program for the Fond du Lac County Health Department says area communities did well in recent Tobacco compliance checks the program conducted. Sandy Bernier says none of the stores they sent underage teens into to buy tobacco products were able to do so successfully. Each of the fourteen businesses in Ripon, Rosendale and Berlin asked to look at the minors’ ID. “We also actually checked Rosendale all employees passed in Rosendale and we also checked the city of Berlin and every employee also passed that compliance check. So overall it was a great night because that’s what we like to see because our main priority is youth prevention and these are mandated.” The program is part of a five county effort that also includes Green Lake, Marquette, Washington, and Waushara counties. Bernier says electronic cigarettes were also included in the compliance check.
Ripon K9 Fundraiser
(Ripon Police Department photo)
The Ripon Police Department will have several fundraisers for its K9 program over the next two months. Currently underway is a sale of plush dog puppies similar to their real police dog “Rony,” but there are a limited supply. They are available at the police department lobby for $20 each. Next month there will be a brat fry at Webster’s. The brat fry on August 17th will also benefit the department’s K9 fund. Officer Trevor Henke is Rony’s handler. He says they have money set aside to replace the dog and train a new handler when Rony retires. But there are other costs involved in running the program. “We do have ongoing costs of equipment for the dog. We pay for his dog food. We do incidentals like training. If I go to a training conference it costs money to go there. So we use all that money to maintain the K9 fund.” Officer Henke says he’s very happy with the response from citizens and businesses for the K9 fund over the years.
Picnic In The Park
The Ripon Senior Activity Center will be holding a picnic at Murray Park this Friday, but if you want to save a couple of bucks on attending you should pay early. Center Director Noreen Johnson says if you register and pay them by Wednesday it is $8, otherwise the cost goes up to $10. The meal will be catered. “We are having a catered meal it is a sandwich buffet from Webster’s, pulled sandwiches turkey, ham and roast beef. We are having ice cream delivered from Sweet and Salty.” There will be music and games including bingo. Things will get underway between 10:30 and 11 Friday morning at the park. For more information call the Senior Center at 920-748-6225.
Safety Day Conference Coming Up In FDL
The Envision Greater Fond du Lac Safety Council will hold its annual “Safety Day,” a half-day conference focusing on hot topics in workplace safety, at the end of the month. The event will be held Wednesday, July 31st from 7:30 to 11:30 am at Moraine Park Technical College. Subject experts will present on the topics of drugs in the workplace, reasonable suspicion, worker’s compensation, OSHA updates, and WI Department of Transportation regulation compliance. For a complete list of breakout sessions and presenters visit the Envision website. Registration for Safety Day is available online or by calling (920) 921-9500.
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