Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday 6/23/20
23 June 2020 News
FDL County Safe Restart Plan Launched
The Fond du Lac County Health Department launched its latest reopening tool the “Fond du Lac County Safe Restart” plan Monday. Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says it will provide some guidance to those who were confused by the Badger Bounce Back effort using benchmark criteria to move through phases of reopening during the pandemic. The first phase started yesterday. “Now we are preparing and have prepared guidance to help our community open safely and incrementally. We are calling this new plan again the Fond du Lac County Safe Restart plan.” Mueller says the benchmark criteria will be updated every Monday at 2 pm on the County’s website. It will inform the public of the metrics and thresholds in five key areas; positive cases, testing, care, personal protective equipment and contact tracing.
Campus Life Will Look Different At Ripon College This Fall
Ripon College will welcome back students for the fall semester in August with in-person classes and a resumption of residence life. College President Zach Messitte says administrators, faculty and staff are spending the summer readying the campus for the new reality of the public health situation. He says when they do open they intend to follow best practices to minimize health risks for students and employees. For the most part juniors and seniors will be in single-bed dorm rooms. Those who are not will be separated in social distancing style. “Making sure that even in the room where two people might be sleeping that the beds are perhaps at different angles so that the mouths are six feet away, so we are taking all of that stuff really seriously.” The October fall break will be eliminated and the semester will end on or near the Thanksgiving holiday. Messitte says they want to open, but be safe and healthy.
Summer COVID 19 Concerns
A member of the Ripon Community COVID 19 Task Force says a recent spike in cases in Winnebago County is concerning. Winnebago County Public Health Officials blamed it on the young adults who celebrated the overturning of the Safer at Home orders by gathering while not maintaining social distancing and observing recommended safety procedures. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says it was right around Memorial Day weekend and ushered in summer which usually means a lot more outdoor activity participation. “The official start of summer and we are finally getting out of the house after a long winter, we are getting out the house and out of our social cocoon after weeks of being cooped up so people were excited about out, things felt like normal again unless you have COVID-19.” He says he has a friend that runs a campground and there are concerns about that too, but most are connected with the bathrooms and a pool if there is one there.
Lightning Safety Awareness Day
Fond du Lac County Emergency Management Director Bobbi Hicken says the safest place to be when there is lightning is inside a sturdy, enclosed structure. She adds when planning an outdoor event or activity involving you and others it’s important to know what to do in the event of lightning. Today is Lightning Safety Awareness Day. Lightning can strike 10 to 15 miles away, so it is possible to be struck by lightning even if the thunderstorm hasn’t reached you yet. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. According to the National Lightning Safety Council, 21 people were struck and killed by lightning in the U.S. last year.
FDL County Highway Maintenance Projects
During the next three days road crews will be repairing a culvert pipe on eastbound State Highway 23 at State Highway 44. Repairs will be daily from 6 am to 4 pm through Thursday. There will be a flagging operation on State Highway 23 during the repair. Also in Fond du Lac County this week pavement will be repaired on southbound I-41 on-ramp from the County Highway D off-ramp to Hickory Street in Fond du Lac. The right lane on I-41 will be closed during the repairs which will be from 6 am to Noon through Friday.
Next Generation 911 Grants
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office was among 24 agencies throughout the state to receive grants for projects related to upgrading or replacing existing end of life equipment to be Next Generation 9-1-1 capable. The state’s Office of Emergency Operations is administering the $2.1 million in grants. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is receiving a grant for more than $125,500. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department is getting nearly $110,000 for their project.
To read more click here.
Waupun Fine Arts Thursday Concerts
Waupun Fine Arts will be hosting a series of concerts in the West End Park on Beaver Dam Street every Thursday evening at 6:30 beginning July 2nd. The first concert will feature Ivory Tower a classic 60’s through 80’s five-piece band. The concerts will run through July 30th. People should bring their own chair and blanket. In the event of rain the concerts would be held at the Waupun Community Center. The park will also host the Waupun Fine and Craft Fair on Saturday, August 2st from 1 to 3 pm. Music will be provided by Scotty Meyer.
July 9th Big Cedar Bluegrass
July 16th Reehl Steel Drums
July 23rd Cream City Jazz
July 30th Disciples of Dixieland
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