Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday 2/25/21
25 February 2021 News
FDL County Safe Restart Dashboard Returns To Phase 2
A dashboard launched by the Fond du Lac County Health Department in the County’s Safe Restart program last June has entered Phase 2 of the restart program. It’s the first time the county has been in that phase since the first week of July. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says that means the five key metrics used for dash board have improved dramatically including; cases, testing, care, PPE availability, and contact tracing. He says the county’s current positivity rate of 2.7 percent for new cases is amazing given where we were at just a few months ago. “Most infectious disease experts would say if that we got under the 5 percent rate level we are getting close to getting it under control and now at 2.7 percent almost half of 5 percent that is admirable.” Phase 2 of the Restart plan still carries many of the same restrictions including wearing face masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and avoiding large gatherings.
Federal COVID Relief Helped State
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the last Federal coronavirus relief package resulted in a lot of money for the state. She says in fact it will help tremendously in balancing the state’s next budget. The state lawmaker from Markesan says for instance the state thought it was going to fall short on the transportation budget because people have been driving less and purchasing fewer new vehicles during the pandemic. “We thought that our transportation budget was going to be short quite a bit. The amount of money that is coming to us from that will more than backfill the losses we had from reductions in driving because of loss of gas tax, because of less vehicle sales.” She says the Federal Government also sent the state nearly $700 million to help schools that tried to stay open during the pandemic as well.
Waupun Creating Emergency Medical Responder Unit
The City of Waupun is working on a plan to use trained volunteers to meet a rising need for ambulance services. City Administrator Kathy Schlieve says 9-1-1 ambulance calls were up 30 percent during the final quarter of 2020, while calls for ambulances to the state prisons in the city were up 25 percent during the same quarter. Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director B.J. DeMaa says, “readiness comes at a cost.” But that cost does not have to include adding a third ambulance, which could cost $350,000. Instead the Waupun Common Council voted to train up to ten Emergency Medical Responders at a cost not to exceed $15,000. The estimated cost for one year of the program, which would start next year is $50,000.
Protecting Community Rehabilitation Providers
Congressman Glenn Grothman is hoping a provision in the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill will be removed before the bill can be approved. He says Community Rehabilitation Providers like Brooke Industries in Fond du Lac, Green Valley Enterprises in Beaver Dam, and Diverse Options in Ripon provide jobs to people with cognitive disabilities. Altogether 5,000 Wisconsinites with different abilities are employed by CRP’s around the state. But Grothman says they have to pay sub-minimum wage to survive, which they wouldn’t if a section of the Fair Labor Standards Act is removed and the Federal Minimum Wage is gradually increased to $15 an hour. “They are removing what they call the sub minimum wage. They are removing the right or the ability of a Brooke Industries to pay less than if they get the minimum wage now it’ll be $15 an hour. Pay people less than $15 an hour and it would just be a disaster for these folks.” The federal lawmaker was one of four House members to send President Biden a letter asking him not to allow that section of the Fair Labor Standards Act to be removed.
Oshkosh Defense Will Build Mail Trucks
Oshkosh Defense is getting a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. Government, but not to make trucks or military vehicles. No this one would be for the next generation of mail truck for the United States Postal Service. It’s the Postal Service’s first large-scale fleet upgrade in three decades. Oshkosh Defense will be paid $482 million to bring its design work to production. Then, between 50,000 and 150,000 of the new mail trucks will be built over the next 10 years. It will include a mix of battery powered and low emission vehicles. Oshkosh Corporation President and CEO John Pfeifer says it represents billions of dollars depending on how many trucks and what type of trucks are built.
ThedaCare COVID Vaccine Spoken For
Officials with ThedaCare say they’ve received 2,340 doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week. However, all available doses have been scheduled. ThedaCare has administered 22,217 vaccines from last December 24th through last week. More eligible patients will be contacted through MyThedaCare if additional doses become available. Walk-in vaccinations are not available at this time. MyThedaCare accounts can be set up at the ThedaCare website. ThedaCare Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Mark Cockley says their goal is to administer 10,000 vaccinations a week.
A Medal For Maggie
Another effort is underway to get a Fond du Lac World War II hero the Medal of Honor. Congressman Glenn Grothman and U.S. Senator Ron Johnson introduced legislation this week to posthumously award Lieutenant Colonel James “Maggie” Megellas the Medal of Honor. Megellas is a Fond du Lac native and graduate of Ripon College. Megellas was the most decorated soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division. For his heroics at the Battle of the Bulge Lt. Col. Megellas was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership, valor, and sacrifice. Megellas passed away last April at the age of 103. There have been several efforts over the years to have him awarded the Medal of Honor.
Ripon Summer Concert Series Returning
Ripon Main Street Executive Director Craig Tebon says after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the streets of downtown Ripon will once again be filled with the sound of music this summer. Planning for the 2021 Horicon Bank Ripon Summer Concert Season is underway, and this year’s series will include a greater variety of music than ever before. Organized by Ripon Main Street, the free outdoor concerts take place from 7 to 10 pm on Friday evenings at the Village Green in downtown Ripon. Several community favorites are set to return to the lineup including Star Six Nine, Road Trip, and Cherry Pie. New groups are also being added to the schedule including the Zac Matthews Band and Madison County.
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