Chuck

Outagamie Co. holding H1N1 clinic for all

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:25:00 CST

Today is the first chance for the general public in Outagamie County to get the swine flu vaccine.

County public health director Melody Bockenfeld says they'll have a lot of doses available and plenty of staff on hand to administer shots or the nasal form of the vaccine.

She says the clinic will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the D.J. Bourdini Center, across the street from the main campus of Fox Valley Technical College in Grand Chute.

Bockenfeld says there hasn't been as much attention paid to the H1N1 flu over the holidays, but the virus is still out there. She says the only way to prevent it, is to get the vaccine.

The city of Appleton is also holding a series of clinics in January, on Jan. 7, 19 and 28, at Northland Mall.

There is no charge for the vaccine.

New program could help homeless

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:24:00 CST

A new program at Appleton's library could help the area's homeless population get back on its feet, and improve its status in the community.

Brad Vivoda is the director of the Fox Valley Warming Shelter. He started a support group at one of the library's conference rooms that runs from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

He says people who participate can talk about their problems and do volunteer work in the community. Vivoda says those kinds of activities can improve their self-esteem and give them a sense of purpose.

Vivoda says he's also looking for small jobs that the homeless can do. He says anyone with some work that needs to be done can give him a call.

Group criticizes stricter OWI law

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:23:00 CST

Wisconsin didn't need a tougher drunk driving law signed by Governor Doyle last week. That's the argument of Jim Baxter, the president of the National Motorists Association.

His group is based in Wisconsin, and he says the state's .08 blood alcohol standard is too strict. Baxter also refutes claims that drunk drivers are responsible for more than 40 percent of the fatal accidents in Wisconsin.

The legislature overwhelmingly approved a series of stricter penalties, including a provision that makes a fourth OWI a felony. It also requires ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders and first-timers with a high blood-alcohol concentration.

Airline travelers can expect weather delays

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:25:00 CST

The winter storm hitting the Midwest today will likely delay a lot of holiday flights.

Outagamie County Regional Airport Director Marty Lenss says travelers should call their airlines before they leave for the airport, to see if their flight is affected. He says they can also check on-line.

The worst part of the storm is expected to miss northeast Wisconsin, but some snow, rain, and freezing rain is expected.

Lenss says airport crews are prepared to de-ice the planes and runways.

Snow helps set bottom line for Ariens

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:24:00 CST

The winter storm might reek havoc for Christmas travelers, but a Brillion company could benefit from any snow that falls.

Ariens is in the midst of producing snowthrowers that will be sold across the country, and president Dan Ariens says it's been a good season, so far.

Workers make an average of 700 snowthrowers a day, but depending on demand, production levels can reach 1,200 per day.

Ariens says if New England gets hit with another storm, that would take care of any of their inventory issues.

Appleton's in-school H1N1 clinics done

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:23:00 CST

The city of Appleton's in-school H1N1 clinics are done, and around 8,400 kids were vaccinated from the swine flu.

Public health director Kurt Eggebrecht says they held their last one for Catholic school students on Tuesday night, at St. Joseph's middle school. He says they're pleased with how they all went.

Eggebrecht says now the city will focus on getting the vaccine out to the public. He says the city will hold three clinics at Northland Mall next month. They'll be on Jan. 7, 19, and 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Eggebrecht says kids who are under 10 and already got a dose will have to come back for their second to be fully vaccinated against the swine flu. He says they have to wait at least 28 days between the two doses.

State's population climbs in 2009

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:22:00 CST

About 27,000 people live in Wisconsin now, compared to a year ago.

The U.S. Census bureau estimates the state's population is more than 5.6 million people this year. That's up about 0.5 percent from 2008.

Since 2000, analyst Greg Harper says Wisconsin's population has climbed about 5.5 percent. He says that's a little more than half of the nationwide average of 9.1 percent.

Harper says Nevada and Arizona were the fastest growing states over the last decade. In the last year, Texas added the most people, but Wyoming had the largest percentage of growth, at 2 percent.

Watchdog warns of wasteful spending

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:21:00 CST

A local lawmaker is supporting the postal service, with taxpayer dollars.

A new report shows that Appleton Congressman Steve Kagen spend more than $126,000 on taxpayer funded mailings during the first three-quarters of the year. That's $40,000 more than any other federal lawmaker from Wisconsin.

Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says that's a lot of money, but it's small potatoes when compared to other waste in the federal government. He says one earmark in a bill can cost tens of millions of dollars.

Berry says if people paid as much attention to that as they do the little things, the country would be in better financial shape.

Fox Valley should miss worst of storm

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:45:00 CST

It looks like the Fox Valley will be spared the brunt of the winter storm that's bearing down on the Midwest.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Jeff Last says the heart of the storm is heading straight for the Badger State and that should keep the snow totals on the low side. But he says we will likely get a mix of snow, sleet, and rain.

Last says tomorrow afternoon is the best time to travel for anyone heading east or south. He says anyone traveling west will find bad road conditions tomorrow and Friday.

Kaufert pushed for ignition interlock devices

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:43:00 CST

Once a new law takes effect, repeat drunk drivers in Wisconsin will need to put ignition interlock devices in their vehicles.

Rep. Dean Kaufert of Neenah worked for five years on the proposal. It was one of the stiffer penalties that was included in the drunk driving bill that Gov. Doyle signed yesterday.

Kaufert says the devices already have made a difference in New Mexico, where a similar law has been in place for about three years. He says the number of fatal accidents involving alcohol have dropped dramatically.

First-time offenders with a blood-alcohol level that's twice the legal limit would also need to use the devices, and Kaufert says that was part of a compromise with the author of the bill, Rep. Tony Staskunas.

For several years, judges have been able to order that offenders use ignition interlock devices, as part of their sentence, but it wasn't a mandate.

Red Kettle in Appleton takes credit cards

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:42:00 CST

One of the Salvation Army's red kettles in Appleton now takes credit cards.

Spokesman Robb Waugus says the "plastic" kettle is outside of Joseph's Shoes in the City Center Plaza. He says the credit card reader is similar to the ones at gas stations that let people "pay at the pump." He says it will print out two receipts -- one for the kettle...and another to keep for tax purposes.

Last year, the Salvation Army tested the "plastic" kettles in Dallas and Colorado Springs, and the average donation was about $15. Waugus says the average cash and coin donation is $2.

Janesville marks anniversary of GM leaving

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:41:00 CST

One year ago today production came to a halt at Janesville's GM plant.

Jim Leute is the business editor for the Janesville Gazette. He says it's a story he hoped he'd never have to write. He says for many, the ending still hasn't been written, because their benefits haven't run out yet.

He says hundreds of GM workers took jobs elsewhere, but continue to live in Janesville. They transferred to Texas, Kansas, and Indiana.

The Kansas commute is eight hours. Not all is gloom and doom, though. Leute says many predicted Janesville would become a ghost town, and that hasn't happened.

Group concerned about on-line closed captioning

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:40:00 CST

Most TV shows have closed captioning for the hearing impaired, but advocacy groups say it's a whole different story on the Internet.

Many Web sites, like Hulu., don't offer captioning. Kerry Malak is with the Wisconsin Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and she says that's a big problem.

Malak says the recent announcement from Google, that they're adding captioning to videos on YouTube, is a step in the right direction.

The machine-generated captions will initially only be available in English, and on videos from 13 partner channels, but Google hopes to eventually extend the feature to all videos that people upload on YouTube.

Gov. Doyle strengthens OWI penalties

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:25:00 CST

Tougher drunk driving laws are now on the books in Wisconsin.

Gov. Doyle signed a package of proposals this morning, and among other things, it makes a fourth-offense OWI a felony.

Rep. Tony Stakunas of West Allis is the author of the bill, and he says hopefully it will lead to more changes down the road. The democratic lawmaker says increasing court fees to help pay for the reforms was the best solution at this point in time.

The bill also makes a first offense a crime, if someone younger than 16 is in the car, and it requires ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders and first-timers with a high blood-alcohol level.

Area lawmakers applaud OWI reforms

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:24:00 CST

Two area lawmakers say the drunk driving reforms signed by Gov. Doyle yesterday are a good start.

Appleton Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber says the measure covers the three areas that she wanted to address. They include stricter penalties, treatment, and preventing repeat offenders from getting behind the wheel.

Kaukauna Rep. Tom Nelson says the treatment option started in Winnebago County.

Counties can start implementing the treatment programs immediately. Other measures, including changing the fourth offense to a felony, criminalizing first offense if a child 16 or under is in the vehicle, and requiring ignition interlock devices, don't take affect until July 1.

Senator calls insurance inflation 'outrageous'

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:23:00 CST

Something needs to be done to combat rapidly rising health care costs. That's Green Bay Senator Dave Hansen's reaction to a recent study of inflation rates for health care coverage in Wisconsin.

The Green Bay area saw the highest increase of 290 percent. The Appleton and Oshkosh areas were tied for second with 192 percent hikes. Hansen says that large of an increase is outrageous.

The Green Bay Democrat says provisions included in the national health reform bill could reign in increasing insurance costs.

Hilbert puts school referendum on ballot again

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:22:00 CST

Voters in the Hilbert school district will weigh in on a referendum again next year.

Administrator Tony Sweere says they're putting $4.7 million worth of renovation projects on the February 16 ballot. He says most of the work would be done at the high school, including a new science wing, receiving area, and improved security. He says they also want to replace the boiler at the elementary school.

It's the fifth time in six years that the district is turning to voters, and Sweere says this one would have the smallest impact on property taxpayers. He says it would increase the tax rate by 57 cents per thousand dollars of value, or $57 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Sweere says they hope to get some help from the federal stimulus package, through a no-interest or low-interest loan. He says they're facing an application deadline, and that's why they scheduled the referendum in February.

In November of last year, voters shot down a $6.8 million referendum by 89 votes.

Health insurance inflation worst here

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:44:00 CST

The cost of health insurance is rising across all of Wisconsin, but over the last 10 years some of the highest price hikes happened in our area.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Director Robert Kraig announced the findings of a study this morning.

Kraig says Green Bay saw the highest inflation at 290 percent. Health insurance costs in the Appleton and Oshkosh areas rose by 192 percent over that period.

Madison's inflation rate was the lowest in the state at 132 percent.

The national average for the past 10 years was 120 percent.

Youth tobacco sales up in Winnebago Co.

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:43:00 CST

While tobacco sales to minors have dropped significantly statewide, in Winnebago County, it's a different story.

Emily Dieringer is the coordinator of re:Think, Winnebago County's Healthy Living Partnership. She says 25 percent of businesses there sold tobacco products to minors this year.

That's almost double the 2007 rate of 13 percent. Statewide, 5.7 percent of businesses were caught selling tobacco during compliance checks.

Dieringer says funding cuts could be a part of the problem. She says some businesses are taking advantage of the reduced oversight.

FVHA hoping to help two puppies

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:42:00 CST

After taking in two yellow Labrador puppies, the Fox Valley Humane Association is seeking donations to treat their serious eye conditions.

Director Deb Lewis says the dogs were a part of an animal cruelty case in Clark County, and they both need surgery. She says one puppy will not be able to see, and the other will only be able to see out of one eye.

Lewis says a specialist from Animal Referral Center in Appleton is going to donate his time to perform the operations, but there will be additional costs to care for the puppies.

She says it's the humane association's Christmas Wish to raise money to pay for the treatments. Lewis says they don't know how much they'll need, but any leftover money will go toward a fund for special needs for dogs.

'Mental health parity' bill progressing

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:41:00 CST

A Green Bay lawmaker's proposal for "mental health parity" cleared another hurdle today.

Sen. Dave Hansen wants to require that insurance plans for small employers cover mental health and substance abuse treatments. A senate committee approved the bill this morning.

The Green Bay democrat says people who argue that the measure would drive up insurance costs are ignoring the other financial impacts from the disorders.

An assembly panel also endorsed the bill, which will now go before the full legislature. Hansen hopes that lawmakers will vote on it early next year.

The federal government already passed a "mental health parity" bill this year, but it exempted plans for employers with fewer than 50 workers. Hansen says his bill would fill in that gap in Wisconsin.

Doyle signs drunk driving bill

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:25:00 CST

Some people who drive drunk in Wisconsin will face tougher penalties, under a bill signed by Gov. Doyle.

Doyle was joined by families of victims of drunk drivers yesterday. He says the changes may not be what everyone wants, but he believes it is a good bill.

The new law makes a fourth-offense OWI a felony and allows prosecutors to file criminal charges against first offenders, if a child under 16 is in the car.

It also requires ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders, and people who have a blood-alcohol level that's twice the legal limit when they're arrested for the first time.

Doyle says it must become "socially unacceptable behavior" to drink and drive in Wisconsin.

Late shoppers could find empty shelves

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:24:00 CST

Last-minute shoppers may have a difficult time finding this year's must-have Christmas gifts.

UW-Oshkosh economics professor Kevin McGee says after being stuck with a lot of extra inventory last year, many retailers cut their orders this year. He says they also offered a lot of good deals, so many items are in short supply. McGee says that may also impact after Christmas sales.

But there will be some good deals after the holidays. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College marketing instructor John Meyer says some stores are already advertising after Christmas deals on TVs. He says if you need a new one, that will be the time to buy.

Meyer expects prices on other electronics to fall as well.

Homelessness an issue on longest night of year

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:23:00 CST

The day of the winter solstice features the longest night of the year, and homeless shelters across the country spent a part of the night remembering the homeless who have died.

Bill Guilbeault of the Fox Valley Warming Shelter is working to raise money for a permanent shelter on Appleton's westside. He says they've been seeing an increase in the number of people who need help, and they set a record last Thursday, when 29 people stayed at a temporary shelter.

Guilbeault says with the Christmas season approaching, they're trying to find places where the homeless can go during the day, when many buildings are closed. The warming shelter is only open at night.

More than 100 cities hosted events last night to bring attention to the issue of homelessness, including Green Bay at the shelter at St. John the Evangelist Church.

Senator upset about Wis. Covenant limit

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:22:00 CST

A Fond du Lac lawmaker says the governor is backing out of a promise that he made to Wisconsin students.

The governor's office released a statement last week on the Wisconsin Covenant program, saying that students who get good grades, stay out of trouble and meet other requirements could be eligible for two-year grants to help off-set tuition costs.

Sen. Randy Hopper says in the past, Gov. Doyle implied that the state would help with all four years of college.

The Fond du Lac Republican says the state is letting down the students by denying the aid for their final two years of college.

ADI reacts to new downtown jobs

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:21:00 CST

West Business Services is adding more than 90 positions in Appleton, and the leader of a business group is happy that more jobs are coming to the downtown.

Jennifer Stephany is the executive director of Appleton Downtown Inc., and she says the new employees will be a benefit to the shops and restaurants.

West Business Services has a sales and customer service center in Appleton's City Center. The vast majority of the new positions are full-time, but there will be some flexible part-time positions available.

DMV hours changing, including in Appleton

chuckfm@wcinet.com (Chuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:20:00 CST

Some changes are coming to the DMV office in Appleton.

On Jan. 4, the local office will open one hour earlier and close one hour earlier on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, people will be able to renew their drivers licenses and do other business a half hour later, to 5:30 p.m..

DMV spokeswoman Kristina Boardman says for the most part, all 30, five-day-a-week offices in the state will have the same schedule.

She says having the same hours at full-time service centers should make it easier for people to get the help they need.

The hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays will stay the same -- 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.