FOND DU LAC – A Fond du Lac resident suffered burns to his hands arms and face Saturday evening after trying to light a fire pit with gasoline being poured from a gas can onto some cardboard In a news release, Fond du Lac Fire Rescue Department said the gasoline ignited the carboard and followed the gas to the can The force was strong enough to blow the top of the can off the container where he was treated for burns to his hands before being transported to a local hospital for treatment Read more: Village of Eden garage fire results in loss of 2 garages, a shed and a vehicle Fire crews were dispatched to the North Park Avenue residence at around 5:52 p.m May 3 after a report of an explosion followed by a structure fire Police arrived on scene first and reported the fire was contained to a portable fire pit in the driveway The fire was extinguished with a water extinguisher once fire crews arrived “NEVER use gasoline or other flammable liquid to light any type of recreational fire,” the fire department said in the news release “Gasoline is extremely flammable and can cause very violent reactions when used in this type of situation.” The department added the city has an ordinance prohibiting the use of flammable liquids in recreational fire pits The ordinance also limits how close to houses and other structures recreational fires can be lit Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com FOND DU LAC – Spring has a variety of appealing aspects to Fond du Lac Some of the most-read stories of last month were related to the spring election April 1 which decided the future of local school districts and municipal leadership April held updates on two properties on the Forest Mall site with one opening and one getting a new tenant Here are eight Fond du Lac stories you may have missed in April April started immediately with a spring election that decided local leadership and four Fond du Lac County school referendums One of the biggest contested races was Fond du Lac City Council Keith Heisler and Patrick Mullen kept their seats the Fond du Lac School District Board of Education met three newcomers: Luke Frame Oakfield and Waupun each presented operational referendums for the election but only Waupun Area School District's passed Local election results explained: Fond du Lac-area election results lead to school board changes, failed referendums As a result of the Fond du Lac School District referendum failing, the district was the first in the county to decide on budget cuts to address a deficit for next school year The school district board April 14 unanimously approved five measures to reduce the deficit: changing the middle school schedule About a week later, preliminary layoff notices went out to those affected including the president of the local teachers' union On April 26, a local black bear decided to spend the day hanging out at Rolling Meadows Golf Course to the shock and disbelief of golf course staff Department of Agriculture's Wildlife and Fisheries division they closed several holes and watched the bear from a distance The bear's chosen activity was to rest in the woods until he moved along on his own by the next day Fond du Lac's Hardee's location closed last September there is activity at the site on Johnson Street Known for its burgers and Frosty ice cream, Wendy's announced its incoming presence to Fond du Lac with new signs in April This will be the third time the fast-casual chain has come to the city since 1979 The highly anticipated ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac opened April 16 as a hospital campus equipped to provide all levels of care and other inpatient and outpatient services ThedaCare and Froedtert Health first announced the joint venture to build the Fond du Lac hospital in October 2022 and the project broke ground in February 2024 to build the approximately 25,000-square-foot hospital on the site of what was once a long-vacant Younkers store at the Forest Mall vice president of ThedaCare Medical Centers-Fond du Lac and Oshkosh has emphasized that the vision of this new health center is to offer a local facility so patients don't have to travel for care Antonio Godfrey Sr. will continue advocating for local kids after leaving school boardSince Antonio Godfrey Sr.'s time on the Fond du Lac School District Board of Education came to an end in April he reflected on the last few years and shared his experiences of watching the district improve navigating in a space that wasn't designed for a Black person originally," he told The Reporter "I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding Godfrey was passionate about advocating for all students and he said he will continue to do that as a citizen and — perhaps most importantly — his wife and family The final COVID-19 five-year anniversary story invited Fond du Lac-area health care professionals to share their experiences of being on the front lines of the pandemic Agnes Hospital's Emergency Department director and led her team in figuring out how to keep both staff and patients safe develop treatment plans and still maintain the department's day-to-day operations The lasting toll on health care workers includes burnout from constant long shifts and the hospital's Director of Hospital Nursing Resources Lori Cardinal said that staff are still haunted by the loss of life they witnessed Fond du Lac's Joann fabrics and crafts location announced its closure earlier this year but did you know about the city's small-business craft stores and an array of notions and gadgets for knitting and crocheting and mother-daughter duo Joan Ziegel and Samantha Clark also host classes and other supplies for all levels and types of sewing and quilting enthusiast Owner Amanda Bauer-Frisch moved the shop — which used to be called Stitches 'N Tyme in Oakfield — to Fond du Lac last year she and her team have space to include classes and more Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com The Fond du Lac Fire Rescue Department is holding their annual fund raising brat and burger fry Friday The event took place from 10AM to 2PM at Fire Station 1 at 815 south Main Street Proceeds from the brat fry will benefit the local American Red Cross Soda and water is $1 or a meal can be purchased for $5 which includes sandwich drink and chips The department was set up in the fire station parking lot and allowed parking and walk up with a sit down to eat option In 2023 the department raised over $7600 for the red cross TOWN OF HUBBARD – A second Dodge County crash May 4 involved three vehicles and resulted in four people being injured including two passengers who were seriously injured Read more: Fond du Lac resident tries to light fire pit with gasoline, resulting in explosion & burns According to a news release from the sheriff’s office preliminary investigation into the three-vehicle crash shows a 2017 Chevy Traverse was southbound on County TW and stopped at the intersection with County S The driver then failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of an eastbound 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck that was driven by a 67-year-old Iron Ridge man causing the Dodge to then strike a northbound 2024 Chevrolet Silverado that was stopped at the south side of the intersection The Silverado was driven by a 56-year-old Iron Ridge man The driver of the Chevrolet truck did not sustain any injuries and was the only occupant The driver of the Traverse sustained minor injuries and was the only occupant He was transported by ambulance to Marshfield Medical Center in Beaver Dam Read more: Fond du Lac School District layoffs & the latest on 7 more top stories from April The driver of the Dodge Ram sustained minor injuries and was transported to a Hartford hospital Two other occupants of the Dodge Ram were an 86-year-old Iron Ridge woman and a 60-year-old Lebanon man The 86-year-old woman sustained serious injuries and the 60-year-old man sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries They were also transported to the Hartford hospital Assisting at the scene were Horicon Fire Department Beaver Dam Paramedics and the Dodge County Emergency Response Team The sheriff’s office said the crash remains under investigation by the Crash Investigation Team The Fond du Lac Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating and identifying a man who is suspected of stealing nearly $3,000 worth of chainsaws Police shared a photo of the man on social media asking if anyone recognized him The photo showed the man as a middle-aged white man with dark hair and a short Anyone with knowledge of the man is asked to contact Detective Lee Mikulec with the Fond du Lac Police Department at 920-322-3726 or via email at lmikulec@fdl.wi.gov FOND DU LAC – At its core, the Fond du Lac County Fair has been about local agriculture each summer since 1852 but other major draws include carnival rides and games the fair started offering big-name music acts on the grandstand "From the moment Janie Fricke appeared and started blowing kisses to the crowd she held the audience in the palm of her hand," The Reporter read on July 19 The stands were packed for all three singers that year inspiring the fair to continue booking popular musicians Many famous faces have graced the stage ever since With a few months to go until the 2025 fair, organizers announced this year's headliners would be Bret Michaels we asked readers what their favorite performers have been in the history of the Fond du Lac County Fair Read more: Country singer Tracy Lawrence revealed as third Fond du Lac County Fair music headliner country singer Lee Greenwood took the stage at the fair with his white suspenders and a saxophone The band behind him included his 26-year-old son Greenwood was a five-time country male vocalist of the year and he played several of his classic songs "I Don't Mind the Thorns if You're the Rose," women in the audience walked up to the stage with roses "God Bless the USA," which he wrote in 1983 and the audience joined in with singing and cheers waving American flags for a performance that moved many Eddie Rabbitt performed at 1988 Fond du Lac County FairEddie Rabbitt took the hearts of a packed crowd in 1988 with both his music and a stream of jokes with the audience as well as songs he wrote for other artists including Elvis Presley's "Kentucky Rain." One of his songs was the title song for the Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose." He teased the audience by having them participate in finishing the line get those tight ends out there," he'd said After 30 seconds of the audience dragging it out Joan Jett and the Blackhearts performed at 1988 and 2008 county fairsSeveral performers have come to the fair multiple times including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in two concerts 20 years apart Joan Jett performed the night after Eddie Rabbitt in 1988 singing "I Hate Myself for Loving You" from her newest album early in the show to a screaming crowd The Reporter interviewed her after the show and she was "quite modest" about her recent achievements from the new album to her role in the movie "Light of Day" alongside Michael J In 2008, Fond du Lac was still picking up the pieces from the previous month's 100-year flood but that didn't stop a crowd of about 12,000 to 15,000 that came out to watch Joan Jett and the Blackhearts rock the stands again Styx performed at 2001 and 2004 county fairsIn 2001 the fair was celebrating its 150th anniversary and thanks to Styx and the rest of the entertainment line-up it almost broke an attendance record — if it weren't for the rain The rock band was also a huge draw in its 2004 return and some of the locals that attended met a group of devoted fans who followed the group from state to state to watch many of their shows Many attendees agreed in both years that Styx most popular for the songs "Renegade," "Babe" and "Come Sail Away." Tracy Lawrence had also come to the fair in 2001 and is another example of a returning act with a performance this year Heart performed at 2003 fairRock band Heart came to the fair in 2003 with some of its most popular hits "Crazy on You," "Magic Man" and "Barracuda" — all from the 1970s — as well as songs from the rest of their career That year was one of the first with a new band lineup behind lead vocalists Ann and Nancy Wilson as they made Fond du Lac a stop on their U.S The fair set an attendance record of 80,000 in 2007 due in large part to the headliners on the grandstand Blue skies were on the fair's side that year and '80s band Tesla took the stage first as the Friday night act leaving crowds in awe with its rock and roll set and Bret Michaels of Poison will return to the fair this year Read more: Remember when Miracle Mile gave Fond du Lac a lucky lotto streak? Here are some big winners. Daughtry was on the docket to play the fair in 2020 but with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling many aspects of the fair fans waited patiently until the rock band was confirmed as one of the acts in 2021 the band is one of the more modern ones on readers' lists having formed in 2006 with its most popular song The band was working on a new album when the 2020 performance was canceled but the single "Heavy Is the Crown" was released a few months before the rescheduled county fair performance but not at the fairWelsh band Badfinger performed at the Cow Palace at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds on April 14 their career included recording with The Beatles member George Harrison and Paul McCartney wrote and produced their first single Admission to the concert was $3.50 at the door (WLUK) -- A man who supplied fentanyl-laced drugs to two people and led to a fatal overdose was convicted guilty of first-degree reckless homicide after a five-day trial Prosecutors say Mayne provided heroin mixed with fentanyl to the victim on May 16 emergency responders were called to a home on Franklin Street in Waupun for a potential death The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and a second individual was flown to a hospital and survived Fond du Lac County has a somewhat rare visitor passing through the area Yesterday a black bear was spotted on the grounds of the Rolling Meadows Golf Course While habitat in Fond du Lac County isn’t conducive for bears they can sometimes be seen passing through looking for a suitable environment to continue a life of their own as they leave the area where they were born and raised bears are often driven away from their mothers to go find their ownterritory they can travel over great distances to find a place often finding themselves wandering into populated areas.Last year a black bear was seen in the village of Rosendale At that time a DNR ranger and Rosendale Police tracked the bear as it passed through and then left it alone once it was out of the area Golf course officials closed down the part of the course where the bear was and told people to leave it alone as they watched it from a distance At some point yesterday the bear was seen taking a nap in a grove of trees The hopes are that the bear will continue on it’s way overnight Residents are urged not to leave food scraps in uncovered garbage out in an area that may attract the bear.DNR officials say if you come in contact with a bear raise your arms to appear larger and speak to the bear in a stern — A man was taken to the hospital to treat his burns after he poured gasoline on a fire according to the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department (FDLFRD) The man poured the gasoline onto a fire in a portable fire pit in the driveway of a home on North Park Ave he was trying to light the fire using the gas It ignited a piece of cardboard in the pit but the fire followed the stream of gasoline to the can and it exploded in his hands which was not found by authorities at the scene and face and was taken to the hospital to treat the injuries Authorities initially responded to the scene just before 6 p.m for a report of a structure fire following an explosion "Fond du Lac Fire Rescue would like to remind everyone to NEVER use gasoline or other flammable liquid to light any type of recreational fire Gasoline is extremely flammable and can cause very violent reactions when used in this type of situation," FDLRD wrote in a release there is an ordinance in the City of Fond du Lac that prohibits using flammable liquids in fire pits and limits where fire pits are allowed Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error Report a typo WAUPUN – A Waupun man has been convicted of first-degree reckless homicide related to an overdose death from 2023 according to Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13 Judge Douglas Edelstein revoked bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report Read more: Three-car crash in Dodge County Sunday injures 4, 2 seriously the victim was found dead in their bedroom May 17 with the cause of death determined as "fentanyl toxicity." The autopsy report listed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.028 g/100mL and fentanyl of 20 ng/mL Investigators learned Mayne provided drugs the night before based on messages and other data in the victim's phone A witness who was also connected with the victim and Mayne had been taken to a Madison hospital the same day because of a suspected overdose The Waupun Police Department investigated the case and Toney and Assistant District Attorney Alexander Angle prosecuted Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com The Fond du Lac Department of Public Works has announced information to City Residents on an upcoming Curbside Bulky Waste Lottery program occurring in late April The program will be at no cost to residents but is limited to fifty City Residents who have their garbage pickup serviced by the City excluding apartments or commercial buildings Those chosen to participate will be limited to one bulky item or five bags of garbage picked up at no cost Electronics including TV’s or hazardous waste are not eligible for pickup A $25 charge will apply to any Freon items and a $10 charge for any tire Residents wishing to participate in the program need to complete the Bulky Waste Lottery form through a website provided by the City of Fond du Lac The 50 residents will be contacted by the Municipal Service Center Office to confirm their address and bulky item Residents with questions can contact the Municipal Service Center at (920) 322-3544 by Josh Cavender (WUK) -- In an effort to combat a $7.5 million deficit the Fond du Lac School District has to make cuts only 27 will not have a job next year," Superintendent Jeff Fleig said 14 of those teachers won't be returning next year "We will not be able to find a place for them in our organization because what we do is look at certifications And if they were certified in another area we placed them like we did with our middle school teachers," he said such as middle school teachers moving to elementary schools That will lead to larger class sizes across the district "Secondary class size right now will increase "So we're able to kind of stretch that a little bit not to the point where I think it's going to impact student learning or instruction." Fleig told FOX 11 the district's list of planned cuts will cover nearly all of the current deficit. This comes after the district's referendum question on the April 1 ballot did not pass president of the Fond du Lac Education Association spoke at Monday night's board meeting "On behalf of the Fond du Lac Education Association I urge you to make decisions tonight that set the district up for success especially if we plan to go back to the community with a referendum next April," Brault said Parent Paula Klapperich told FOX 11 it's a dramatic change "It was really hard to hear how he was handling the cuts there are so many other things that can be cut before he starts cutting teachers," she said And it doesn't stop at cutting positions Fleig said the district may have to consider closing buildings "I think the days of us maintaining all 14 or 15 of our buildings is going to.. They're going to have to take a look at it And I think there is some obvious areas where the board can look to make some changes," he told us FOND DU LAC – Rolling Meadows Golf Course had an unexpected visitor this week golf course staff noticed a black bear in one of the trees prompting the closure of nine holes to give the bear some space "The first staff reaction was disbelief followed by shock," golf course Manager David Brandenburg told the Reporter "We quickly educated ourselves about black bears and let him rest in the woods the remainder of the day keeping an eye on him from a distance so we knew if he moved deeper onto the course." Read more: Marsh Haven Nature Center launches fundraiser to build 'boardwalks to wildlife.' What improvements would entail. Closing the holes was a recommendation from the U.S which also advised he's "just being a bear" and wasn't a danger to people according to the Rolling Meadows Golf Course Facebook page "How's he supposed to watch if you closed the course," one Facebook comment joked expected to move along on his own eventually Staff continued to keep golfers away so the bear was free to leave the property Read more: Fond du Lac Women's Chorus to celebrate 75 years with concert of Broadway music May 4 FOND DU LAC – The local teachers’ union is urging the public to attend private conferences Wednesday for five Fond du Lac School District teachers who received preliminary layoff notices The private conferences will be held at the Fond du Lac School District Office hearing regarding a preliminary layoff notice issued to Fond du Lac Education Association President Andy Brault was issued despite the FEA president’s ongoing work advocating for educators students and public education in Fond du Lac.” private conference is an open meeting and the FEA is encouraging the public to attend The release noted future appeal hearings may be held in closed session Prior to the conferences, the FEA will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. April 23 near the entrance to the Fond du Lac School District Office. The press conference will include FEA members and community allies speaking about the broader implications of the preliminary layoff notices issued to the 14 teachers across the district Read more: Tuesday’s Fond du Lac-area election results lead to school board changes, failed referendums The layoff notices for teachers come after a referendum asking for authorization for the district to exceed the revenue limit by $10 million per year for four years failed in the April 1 election the school board on April 14 unanimously approved five measures to reduce the deficit Changing the middle school schedule;Changing the high school teacher schedule;Reducing one of the staff benefits;Scaling back contracted services; andEliminating a number of positions.A total of 83 positions will be eliminated under the measures Fond du Lac School District Superintendent Jeffrey Fleig said the 83 total positions being eliminated amounts to 27 layoffs because many of the affected employees can be moved through attrition into open positions and areas that are otherwise hard to fill “The administration spent many hours placing people into jobs that they were certified for,” Fleig said “I believe we will be fully staffed come the fall for the first time this was also an opportunity for us to fully staff our positions that are hard to staff.” Fleig added more administrative positions weren’t on this list because they are under a two-year contract Those are the only two employee groups under contract The measures are expected to save the district about $2.9 million Read more: Matt Steinbarth chosen as next Fond du Lac School District superintendent Two additional cuts were not recommended at this time: an employee wage freeze and district building closures the district said these may be on the table in the future especially the possibility for building closures The current cuts are to make up for the next year's funds since the district can't pursue another referendum until next spring Fleig said the future school board needs to have a contingency plan to close a building in case another referendum fails Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com. Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com FOND DU LAC – With the warmer weather in Fond du Lac comes a full slate of events Annual events returning this month include the farmers' market Mother's Day Brunch and the Fondy Food Truck Festival New events include a play that combines the sword fights and mayhem of Dungeons & Dragons with real-life experiences of grief and finding strength Here's what's going on in Fond du Lac in May Downtown Fond du Lac businesses will participate in an all-day celebration of the Kentucky Derby May 3 as 18 Hands Ale Haus and Blue Line Tavern are both running contests among their activities Live music throughout the day includes Until Dawn As of April 30, tickets were still available for the Beer & Bourbon Crawl as part of the event More information and a list of business specials are available at downtownfdl.com. More: Fond du Lac Women's Chorus to celebrate 75 years with concert of Broadway music May 4 Impact Theatre Company will present "She Kills Monsters" starting at 7 p.m May 8 at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts is going through her sister's things when she finds a Dungeons & Dragons module Agnes plays the game to help her understand the sister she never really knew embarking on the high-stakes adventure her sister had written going back and forth between the real world and the fantasy world of the Dungeons & Dragons game Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin will present a talk-back after the show on May 8 on how the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and individual freedoms continues today acceptance and standing up against discrimination ACLU will have a booth in the lobby for all show dates Tickets are available at hometowntickets.com Second Impressions Thrift Store, 325 Winnebago Drive, will host a car cruise with a brat fry and 1950s music starting at 9 a.m the event will include not only classic cars but also a variety of vendors and 50% off all clothing in the thrift store Celebrating both spring and Mother's Day weekend, Lavish Coffee will host a spring market from 9 a.m Hotel Retlaw's Crystal Ballroom will be the backdrop for a Mother's Day brunch May 11 at 1 N Highlights from the menu include a waffle station banana pudding trifle and a grand fruit display The two seatings are at 10 a.m. and noon, and reservations are required through opentable.com or by calling 920-204-0400 spots were still available for both seatings The Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers' Market opens May 17 with more than 90 vendors lining up Main Street from First Street to Western Avenue selling fresh produce Opening day music includes Seth James & Friends The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 25, though the exact location is expected to adjust with ongoing road construction this summer and kept far enough from food and other goods to avoid contaminating or damaging them Owners are responsible for cleaning up after them and using discretion for whether the market is a good fit for them if they exhibit signs of anxiety or aggression For more about the farmers' market, visit downtownfdl.com Laughable Productions will present "A Star is Dead," a Hollywood-themed murder mystery dinner theater production at 6 p.m The event invites attendees to don their best red-carpet attire and step into the story: tragedy strikes at the most anticipated Hollywood event of the year leaving a famous star dead and everyone a suspect Annie's Fountain City Catering will prepare a three-course dinner featuring garlic butter chicken with creamy parmesan pasta or a vegetarian dish available upon request when buying tickets Tickets are $60, available at laughableproductions.com. Read more: Fond du Lac's top stories a year ago included good Samaritan rescuing 2 women from Rock River The Friends of Lakeside Park's free Fondy Food Truck Festival is back for another year featuring 34 food trucks with a variety of foods from 11 a.m with the Fond du Lac Softball Association providing drinks and Until Dawn providing live music Fond du Lac Fire Rescue and Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office will return Kid-friendly activities include bounce houses a petting zoo from Whisper Hills Clydesdales The Friends of Lakeside Park will also sell tickets for a 50/50 raffle at the welcome and fundraising tents FOND DU LAC – Antonio Godfrey Sr.'s historic role on the Fond du Lac School District Board of Education may be over but his advocacy in the community is far from finished This month, Godfrey said goodbye to his place on the board, as well as his representative seats at Wisconsin Association of School Boards and CESA 6 navigating in a space that wasn't designed for a black person originally," he said Godfrey was first appointed to the board in 2020 to fill a resigning board member's seat — chosen for his involvement in the school district and the community as a whole — and became the first Black member in the board's history Though he lost the election to keep his seat the next year he said when he got elected the second time he educated himself on anything that would make a board member successful including getting to know other districts and their boards through his additional roles he has departed the board — as have Todd Schreiter and Brittany Hoerth who didn't run for reelection — and his outgoing message to the board and district is to keep advocating for all students Not just the ones involved in extracurriculars Read more: After failed referendum, Fond du Lac School District faces layoffs and increased teacher workload Godfrey said the main reason he wanted to get involved with the school district was a newspaper article detailing that a disproportionate number of Black and brown students were being placed into special education programs "Kids were held accountable more than the adults," he said "These are supposed to be the people that were supposed to educate them." The disparities among Black, brown and poor white students became a pattern no one had a plan to address, he said, until Jeffrey Fleig took the helm as superintendent in 2021 and initiated a plan to educate all children and meet them where they're at One of the decisions that addressed this was the district eliminating self-contained classrooms an alternative classroom setting that places students into smaller groups but he credited it as one of the reasons the district has changed positively in the eyes of students and fellow school districts Some kids need to be separated from students," he said "But you have to look at it in one way: if these kids are in these self-contained rooms and they're sitting there having a meltdown and multiple of these kids would stay in those rooms all day Many of these students stayed in the self-contained classrooms for years without learning how to even read or write Fleig shared in his "welcome back" address to staff last fall the story of one fourth-grader who when he was provided the opportunity to learn moved up to his appropriate grade of learning and didn't have any behavioral or disciplinary issues anymore Godfrey's youngest son was graduating high school when he said he wished he could stay — a contrast to what he told his dad his sophomore year when he said nothing had changed in the district "You can definitely tell this is a totally different district." Stay informed: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the FDL Reporter app The school district and the board were under scrutiny this past year including several community members speaking out last fall against teacher turnover and an "environment of fear" within the district Many people wanted the board to take actions they legally couldn't do things that were more appropriate for human resources he said it was personal for him and what he wanted to do but he quickly realized how the board worked together under the same goal of doing what's best for the students As he and the board members got to know each other even if they didn't get along with each other before taking up the seats he and the other board members watched progress in the district including raised test scores and partnerships that shared Fond du Lac's successes from the hard work of teachers In the Wisconsin Department of Instruction 2023-24 report cards all 14 schools scored as at least "met expectations" for the first time in 11 years Half of the schools "exceeded expectations," and two "significantly exceeded expectations." One of the toughest decisions came at Godfrey's last meeting April 14, when the board voted on budget cuts in light of the referendum failing in this spring's election He said he's irritated the referendum didn't pass and more so that they had to decide on the cuts because the district has made so much progress and cutting any services or staff will make it regress a little it's the kids that are gonna be impacted," he said Read more: Nate Groves to succeed Matt Steinbarth as Fond du Lac School District chief academic officer Will Godfrey run for school board again in the future he said he will continue to advocate for the students in the community "There wasn't a building in this district that I didn't walk into regularly," he said "Anything that had to do with supporting kids because somebody has to speak up for them." Godfrey also has city council to focus on, as well as Ebony Vision mentoring program Men of Vision Daisy Frazier and Tyrone Wisdom put their heads together to find a way to address a high number of Black students getting expelled or suspended in Wisconsin They spread the word as a community outreach program including through Bread of Life Church members and their first meeting welcomed 35 young men for mentoring the program has watched hundreds of local boys become men and some of the students have even returned as mentors Godfrey said if he can share his story with a young teenage boy and help him not go down a bad path No one showed him that same kind of role modeling he's also going to spend time with his wife and family and focus on the High School Equivalency Program to finish his education "I'm going to take the time to concentrate on the things that are immediately important to me." FOND DU LAC – Fond du Lac School District students and employees will soon face budget cuts for the next school year The district referendum asking for authorization to exceed the revenue limit by $10 million per year for four years failed in the April 1 election the district needed to find alternative ways to meet its funding needs scaling back contracted services and eliminating a number of positions A total of 83 positions will be eliminated resulting in 27 employees getting laid off Here's what to know about the incoming budget cuts The district has until June to approve a preliminary budget to have spending authority in the 2025-26 fiscal year, which starts July 1, and it faces a projected $7.5 million operational deficit for the year, according to an executive summary from Michael Gerlach the district's chief of finance and operations A deficit budget of about $5.5 million was previously approved for the 2024-25 year covered by a one-time-only use of district fund balance reserves but any additional reduction in that balance will increase the amount of fundingneeded to meet cash flow needs "Any further use of fund balance reserves for operational expenditures would be financially devastating to the district both in the present and the future," the executive summary reads While the district hoped the referendum would get approved and meet the necessary costs district leaders have discussed their plan for months if the referendum were to fail Fond du Lac School District Superintendent Jeffrey Fleig explained one of the changes will be to the schedule at the district's middle schools students will have a six-period school day Teachers will have five classes instead of three increasing their teaching responsibilities and they will get 59 minutes of prep time instead of about 86 minutes This will save about $1.5 million for the district The high school will keep its eight class periods but teachers will teach six of those periods rather than five This will eliminate 21 teaching positions and save more than $1.7 million for the district The employee benefit that will be affected by the district changes is the "cash in lieu" benefit employees receive $6,000 annually if they don't enroll in the district's health insurance The district will reduce contracted services with its partners This will have a negative impact on student learning and culture Fifth budget cut is eliminating additional positionsIn addition to the teacher positions being eliminated with the middle and high school schedule changes several other positions within the district will be lost This includes 12 custodial and maintenance positions; 15 secretary instructional assistant and interpreter positions; two administrative positions; 14 additional teacher positions; and one specialized position The 83 total positions being eliminated only amounts to 27 layoffs because many of the affected employees can be moved through attrition into open positions and areas that are otherwise hard to fill "The administration spent many hours placing people into jobs that they were certified for," Fleig said "I believe we will be fully staffed come the fall for the first time So this was also an opportunity for us to fully staff our positions that are hard to staff." Fleig added that more administrative positions weren't on this list because they are under a two-year contract This will save about $2.9 million for the district Fleig said none of the cuts should come as a surprise to anyone who attended a referendum information meeting those who spoke on the issue in public comment asked the board not to take action that night as the community had only just gotten notice of what the cuts would be One speaker added the decision should wait until the three new board members took office Fond du Lac Education Association President Andy Brault was one of the speakers who urged to give the community more time to digest the information and provide feedback "I urge you to make decisions tonight that set this district up for success especially if we plan to go back to the community with another referendum next April," he said the FEA — though disappointed that the board moved forward with action — commended the board for choosing not to freeze wages or close buildings and also for asking thoughtful questions about the reductions It encouraged the board and incoming superintendent to reverse budget cuts when additional funding becomes available by restoring positions and reducing teacher workloads back down to their current levels The FEA also encouraged board members to follow member Mark Henschel and incoming Superintendent Matt Steinbarth's lead in advocating for increased state funding and call for a fair and sustainable solution to Wisconsin’s school funding challenges SAWYER — Authorities said a man was detained after shots were fired on the Fond du Lac Reservation late Sunday afternoon Carlton County 911 received a report around 4 p.m that a man had shot himself while cleaning a gun at 3667 W Officers from the Fond du Lac Police Department arrived on the scene where they found a man screaming out a window who then fired a gun according to a news release from the Carlton County Sheriff's Office and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa "It was unknown at that time whether the shots were fired directly at officers," the release said called for mutual aid support and told neighbors to shelter in place Authorities asked the public to continue to avoid the area after the arrest as they continued to investigate the incident Aurora Medical Center – Fond du Lac is celebrating its one-year anniversary having created 125 new jobs and increased vital services in the community The medical center will commemorate its first anniversary on May 6 proudly marking several milestones and achievements since opening its doors This includes expanded access to sexual assault nursing services high markings in patient satisfaction ratings and the creation of more than 125 new jobs.  the medical center has become a trusted place of hope and healing for thousands of community members Nearly 90% of patients who sought care at Aurora Fond du Lac in 2024 said they would recommend the hospital to family members more than 90% of patients said their doctors and nurses carefully listened to their needs and provided information in an easy-to-understand manner.  The 70,000 square foot addition to an existing Aurora Health Center made room for much needed services in community Aurora Fond du Lac introduced a unique sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program compassionate care to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors needed to travel outside of the Fond du Lac area to receive a head-to-toe assessment and treatment The medical center is also supporting the growing needs for outpatient IV therapy used to administer IV medications or provide blood transfusions the hospital added its 24/7 emergency department with an indoor ambulance bay as well as private inpatient rooms and state-of-the-art operating room all contributing to keeping care local in Fond du Lac In addition to expanding services and providing exceptional care Aurora Fond du Lac has stimulated local job growth by bringing more than 125 new jobs to the area It’s part of a pledge by Aurora Health Care to build the next generation workforce.   “It’s been a rewarding year for us in Fond du Lac We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality health care to everyone in this community and its surrounding areas,” said Jeff Bard President of Aurora Medical Center – Fond du Lac and North Wisconsin Area “I’m proud to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional physicians Thank you to our incredible patients for trusting us as your health care experts.”    Aurora Fond du Lac combines state-of-the-art resources with a commitment to providing personal The medical center offers 24/7 emergency services and inpatient and outpatient surgery.    FOND DU LAC – Fond du Lac offers plenty of little tastes of Wisconsin as well as its own crown jewel of Lake Winnebago The best of Fond du Lac may be highlighted this week as the NFL draft brings in nationwide fans to this side of Wisconsin April 24 to 26 Many locals will be seeing the action in watch parties visitors can chase iconic Wisconsin experiences like a fish fry or any of the area's downtown sectors For more about Fond du Lac during draft week, visit fdl.com/2025-nfl-draft. For more about the draft itself, visit nfldraft.com or the Green Bay Press-Gazette website Here's just a small sample of what Fond du Lac has to offer this week 18 Hands Ale Haus, 18 E. Division St., will host an NFL Draft Watch-a-Thon during the draft April 24-26 and among the specials will be free brats with the purchase of alcohol The event includes complementary appetizers and BBBS will cover ticketholders' first drinks Read more: Fond du Lac hopes for tourism boost as NFL draft comes to Green Bay in April April 26, Fat Joe's Burgers and Brew also will host a Draft Wrap-Up party with football star Eddie Lacy. General admission is free, but reserved seats are $10 on hometowntickets.com and photo-ops and autographs are optional add-ons At LaClare Creamery the baby goats will be dressed up in football apparel April 23-25 and they'll be looking for cuddles — but you'll have to find them first in the free "Where are the Football Kids" event Downtown Fond du Lac contains a variety of unique shops including Arbor Acres for plants and terrariums The Goldsmith and Argentum et Aurum for jewelry and other gifts If you want to take a little bit of Wisconsin home offers a variety of goods from small businesses in Fond du Lac there's the steampunk-inspired Brick House The Cellar District inside a historic church and two longtime local favorites for pizza: Joe's Fox Hut and Bob's Pizza A downtown directory, including experiences like galleries, ax-throwing and more, is available at downtownfdl.com Cruise around the lake and find a fish fry or old fashionedThe Fond du Lac area's crowning feature is Lake Winnebago A few waterfront dining spots in the area popular for fish and old fashioneds are Wendt's on the Lake N9699 Lakeshore Drive in Van Dyne; Jim & Linda's Lakeview Supper Club W3496 County W in Malone; and Schmitty's Oar House Lake Winnebago's east side features a number of shops and other establishments and Ziegler Winery in Fond du Lac County alone If you're new to frozen custard, Fond du Lac has the longstanding drive-in Gilles Frozen Custard Kelley Country Creamery serves old-fashioned ice cream in a variety of handcrafted flavors April's flavor of the month is Blue Moon and this month's sundaes include April Showers — vanilla ice cream with strawberries marshmallow and sprinkles — and Meteorologist Mistake which tops vanilla ice cream with butterscotch Read more: La Belle FDL curates gifts, other items embracing beauty within Fond du Lac and Wisconsin With road construction ongoing on Interstate 41 between Fond du Lac County D and State 26 in Oshkosh the Wisconsin Department of Transportation warns of possible lane shifts and reduced speed limits on the highway All lanes will remain open during the daytime hours drivers can expect more lane shifts and reduced speed limits between Appleton and Green Bay FOND DU LAC – Occupants are safe after a Fond du Lac fire April 29 Fond du Lac Fire Rescue responded at 10:47 a.m finding heavy smoke coming from the rear of the home Crews entered the house and found the origin of the fire in the kitchen area it had caused extensive smoke and moderate fire damage Read more: Fond du Lac apartment fire quickly extinguished, was caused by unattended cooking The smell of smoke had alerted occupants to the fire Paramedics medically evaluated them for smoke inhalation "If the resident was not alert and investigated the smell of smoke immediately the outcome of this situation may have turned out much differently," Fire Chief Erick Gerritson said "Early detection of fire is key to the survivability when dealing with house fires and the best means to do that is by having smoke detectors on every floor of your home." The news release from the department also included a reminder to make sure kitchen appliances are completely turned off after cooking food The Fond du Lac Police Department assisted with scene management and Alliant Energy assisted with securing the electrical and natural gas service Fond du Lac will soon have a new alternative when it comes to buying electric bikes and golf carts is finishing up refurbishing a building that’s stood empty for years on the city’s far west side to be their new store location Small Town EV lives up to it’s name being headquartered near Waldo in Sheboygan County The Fond du Lac location will be the companies second location after forming six years ago The electric bike and golf cart makers will hold a grand opening at their new location May 5th at N6296 south Rolling Meadows Drive One of the companies owners Kevin Boon recently talked with KFIZ about the companies bikes and the grand opening of the store saying Monday May 5ths grand opening hours will be 10-7 and will have free tacos over the lunch hour to not only celebrate the opening but also Cinco de Mayo Bikes offered from the company feature a cruiser style Boon went on to say their golf carts are not only good for the golf course but are also street legal once registered with the DMV and come in a variety of models and colors You can find Small Town EV online before the store opens at smalltownev.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFOND DU LAC (WBAY) - The Fond du Lac School District board announced it is cutting 83 district positions A letter from the superintendent to families sent out Tuesday morning says the district needed to address a $7.5 million budget deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year and they “cannot sustain the current staffing levels.” This decision comes just a few weeks after an unsuccessful referendum vote in the April election Jeffrey Fleig says the district spent several months preparing a plan to balance their budget in the scenario that the referendum failed and that is what was approved Monday night at the school board meeting Fleig wrote in that letter to district families that they cannot sustain current staffing levels leading to the board’s unanimous decision to cut many jobs He tells Action 2 News of the 83 positions cut all but 27 of those employees are designated to new roles for the upcoming school year educators at the middle and high schools will take on more classes Fleig saying although it was a difficult decision It’s no fun to hear that you’re not going to have a job and so we’re working through that right now and we’re going to offer them any support we can give them to obtain another job in another district,” said Fleig After asking the board to push the vote back the President of the Fond Du Lac Education Association addressed the staffing cuts in a statement following the meeting the FEA is hopeful that a new school board and superintendent will bring a renewed commitment to collaborative Fleig says the district will not know until fall if they will receive any additional funding from the state for the budget the shelter in place order has been lifted Police didn't provide details as to why it was issued ------------------------------------------------------------- FOND DU LAC (WLUK) -- Residents in the 100 block of S National Avenue are asked to shelter in place due to an active law enforcement incident In a Facebook post around 8:30 p.m the Fond du Lac Police Department urged everyone to avoid the immediate area FOX 11 will update this story when more information is available This article has been rewritten to reflect a misunderstanding of the original press release In the release it stated 83 positions were cut with 27 layoffs This was taken as two separate numbers that totaled over 100 jobs lost In reality the 27 layoffs are included in the 83 with the balance of positions not being refilled as people retire or resign the Fond du Lac School Board met to discuss and vote on proposed budget reductions following the failure of the April 1st operational referendum the board entered executive session to determine staff layoffs Fond du Lac Education Association (FEA) President Andy Brault addressed the board and urged them to delay the vote to give the community time to review the proposed cuts and offer feedback “While I remain hopeful that the state will eventually do what’s right we also have to prepare for the reality that additional support may not come,” Brault said “On behalf of the Fond du Lac Education Association I urge you to make decisions tonight that set this district up for success — especially if we plan to go back to the community with another referendum next April.” and the families we serve deserve transparency,” Brault added “Show this community that you’re committed to open and honest governance — it’s a necessary step toward rebuilding public trust and support.” Despite these pleas from the FEA and other community members the board unanimously approved the budget cuts as presented by district administration While the FEA is disappointed that the board did not allow more time for community engagement or schedule a second meeting we applaud the board for several important decisions: The FEA also commends Board Member Mark Henschel and incoming Superintendent Matt Steinbarth for their continued advocacy for increased state funding We strongly encourage all board members and district leaders to join us in calling for a fair and sustainable solution to Wisconsin’s school funding challenges The FEA stands ready to work side-by-side with the board and administration in this effort The district has announced it will cut 83 positions While many of these reductions may occur through attrition the FEA urges the board to use the general fund to reduce the number of staff being laid off We understand this may only be a short-term solution but it is a critical step in protecting students and maintaining stability we urge the school board and district administration to begin preparing a clear community-focused plan to pass a future referendum The FEA looks forward to collaborating with the board and administration in this effort FOND DU LAC – Residents in the 100 block of South National Avenue were told by police to shelter in place Friday night as officers responded to the report of an armed man who had fired multiple rounds inside an apartment Police said in a news release that a 911 call was received shortly before 8 p.m April 11 from a mother inside an apartment who advised her son The man had “fired multiple rounds from a handgun inside the apartment which shattered a bedroom window,” the release said The release noted the man was in a wheelchair and unable to safely exit the apartment Police issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in the apartment complex and then officers established a perimeter and began evacuating residents Read more: Milwaukee man leads Fond du Lac County authorities on 3.5-mile pursuit, ending in arrest FDLPD SWAT and Crisis Negotiations teams and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Crisis Negotiations teams were activated Both FDLPD and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office also deployed their rescue armored vehicles The news release said the man “refused to engage with crisis negotiators and began to escalate entry was made into the apartment using an “explosive breach tactical technique.” The mother was then moved to safety and the man was taken into custody The news release did not report anyone getting injured in the incident we responded to a critical situation involving an individual in severe crisis,” FDLP Chief Aaron Goldstein said in the news release the individual discharged a handgun multiple times inside an apartment I recognize the fear and uncertainty these actions caused for those directly involved and for the surrounding neighbors This situation is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion training and teamwork in protecting lives and navigating complex crisis with care and professionalism.” Read more: Fond du Lac police arrest man suspected of swerving in front of motorcycle, causing fatal crash and police said the investigation “is at the preliminary stages.” “FDLPD wants to remind our community that help is available and we ask anyone who knows of someone struggling and possibly may be in crisis to reach out so that we can connect that person to the resources they need.” Anyone in imminent danger or experiencing a medical emergency can call 911 People in crisis can call the Fond du Lac County Crisis Line at 920-929-3535 or 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline The Fond du Lac County Crisis Line and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provide free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a suicidal To reach out to the FDLPD Co-Response Team call the Fond du Lac County Communications Center non-emergency line at 920-906-5555 FOND DU LAC – What did the end of the winter season bring to Fond du Lac readers took interest in stories previewing the April 1 election as well as ones that looked back on the past — whether five years or 65 years — and one that looks forward to this summer Election recap: Tuesday’s Fond du Lac-area election results lead to school board changes, failed referendums One of Fond du Lac's most popular summer events is the county fair which this year falls July 16-20 with the theme Three of those nights bring in a highly-anticipated music act, and fair organizers have announced the first two headliners: country singer and songwriter Dylan Scott will perform July 17 and rock and glam metal star Bret Michaels will follow on July 18 Tickets are on sale for both acts, and the July 19 performer will be announced on the Fond du Lac County Fair Facebook page March's top "Remember when ..." story looked back at Wayside Bar which had a loyal following as a little business "off the beaten path" in Fond du Lac since 1986 Owners Bob and Pat Moses drew in crowds during Packers games and every Friday for a fish fry as a fire broke out in 2016 that destroyed the back half of the building and collapsed the second floor Moses made plans to relocate and bring back the fish fry to Fond du Lac — the laminated secret recipe was recovered from the fire — but he died in 2019 before he could fully execute them Trevor Casper is still remembered as a hero 10 years after his deathOn March 24, 2019, Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor Casper laid down his life to apprehend a serial bank robber who had already killed a bystander in his escape from authorities Casper and the suspect both died in a shootout after he followed the suspect into Fond du Lac while reinforcements were on their way his State Patrol colleagues and the community members in his hometown of Kiel remember him for his big heart and enthusiasm for public service The hundreds of people who turned up at his memorial service remembered him as a hero A memorial bench and flower garden in Fond du Lac were dedicated in his honor in 2017, and more recently, the U.S. Post Office on Fremont Street in Kiel was renamed the Trooper Trevor J. Casper Post Office Building in November Johnson Street not only sees a lot of traffic through Fond du Lac, but also developments. A roundup of key Fond du Lac properties on Johnson Street lists their current status of redevelopments including the former Home Depot and the remaining available spaces on the Forest Mall property Other available spaces include one behind Caribou Coffee two lots at the former Wendt's Auto Body property and two spaces and an outlot near Festival Foods In light of the five-year anniversary of COVID-19 first disrupting day-to-day operations everywhere, we asked Fond du Lac-area readers to share their experiences from the height of the pandemic Some shared their experiences of losing parents and other loved ones in the first year without getting to say goodbye in person because of visitor restrictions alone — whether hospitalized for COVID-19 or another medical issue A few responses found some positive aspects of the time whether they took the opportunity to initiate a change or facilitated bonds between educators and families John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, once graced the halls of the Retlaw in 1960 for a speech during his campaign to become the 35th president of the United States Community members packed into the Crystal Ballroom to hear Kennedy speak Many people would walk away remembering his speech on water pollution but a few would walk away remembering the story of him accidentally locking himself out of his hotel room just hours before The story on JFK also includes 1993 stories of newspaper staff area leaders and other communities recalling where they were when they heard the news of the assassination on Nov Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com. Severe thunderstorms have developed and the threat of severe weather will be ongoing into early Tuesday morning. Share photos & videosThedaCare cuts ribbon on new hospital in Fond du Lac ahead of next week's grand openingby Mallory Allen & David Go FOND DU LAC (WLUK) -- Community members and staff got their first look Thursday inside ThedaCare's newest hospital guests were invited to tour the hospital and talk with care teams to learn more about the services the health campus will offer "We know that the demand for access to care continues to increase in the Fond du Lac community," said Jenny Nikolai vice president of ThedaCare Oshkosh-Fond du Lac "Our focus is meeting patients where they are and being able to provide that care locally and close to home where people live and work." the hospital is centrally located in a retail district near I-41 and designed to provide convenient access to medical care for residents in the greater Fond du Lac area "In a city our size in any given year," said Fond du Lac City Manager Joe Moore emphasizing the hospital's importance "our 911 center will receive about 7,000 calls for ambulance service." The building is approximately 25,000 square feet with an estimated $35 million investment "Fond du Lac is an important community," said ThedaCare Health North Region President Robert Cavagnol "We've been here for a long time taking care of this community and it's just an opportunity to expand on the primary care services that we have and we want to make sure that we meet the needs of the patients." Officials say the health campus was designed to be "different" from other hospitals the hospital will have 24/7 computed tomography (CT) scans x-ray and ultrasound with outpatient access which is expected to be completed later this year Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application artistry and creativity touched the lives of everyone she knew and was a cherished child of Terry (Richard) Burns and Jerry (Wendy) Krueger from Friendswood She graduated from Goodrich High School in 1986 and went on to travel and experience the world with her career in travel management She was currently employed with Fox World Travel in Fond du Lac She previously had many successful entrepreneurial endeavors Tiffany actively supported many nonprofit organizations in the Fond du Lac community through countless hours of volunteer work – which she felt very passionately about – as helping others was her specialty Tiffany was known for her love of family and her love of traveling domestically and internationally She enjoyed having people over to share stories and volunteer to raise up other women in the community She deeply loved her family pet and best girl “Subi.” Her heart and soul went into her children Her community knew her as “Mama T” because she mothered and loved all of her kids’ friends as her own and she will be remembered for her kindness and ability to pivot as needed to be there for those she loved so deeply Emily (Dylan) Schifelbine and Joey (Alyssa) Trusk She is further survived by her four sisters and Chris (Randy) Kieffer; and her nieces and nephews and Jeremiah Grossen; along with many other family and friends who loved her dearly Tiffany was preceded in death by her brother Scott (Sara) Krueger; grandparents; aunts; uncles; and beloved friends whom she never forgot at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home in Fond du Lac A Time of Remembrance Ceremony to follow from 6:30 PM-7 PM and memories will take place at a later date – details to come Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors FOND DU LAC COUNTY (WLUK) -- The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office says a 45-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested after a 3.5 mile vehicle pursuit A deputy made a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation on S The initial deputy asked the driver to step out of the vehicle but refused the deputies' multiple commands The driver then went to put the car in drive and another deployed his taser on the driver The taser deployment was unsuccessful and the vehicle drove away leading to a vehicle pursuit Deputies say the driver turned off all of his lights and increased speeds They also say the driver hit a roundabout at Morris St The vehicle then continued and hit a curb at Main St A deputy was able to perform a pit maneuver on the vehicle The driver then went off the road and drove through a lawn on Camelot Dr Another deputy was able to perform a successful pit maneuver and the vehicle stopped Two sheriff's office squad cars received minor damage during the pit maneuver The man was evaluated by paramedic due to the taser deployment FOND DU LAC – Downtown visitors may notice various contractors soon as the Main Street Resurfacing Project starts The project will affect Main Street from Merrill Avenue to Sixth Street as well as Court Street from Main Street to Macy Street through this spring and summer according to the City of Fond du Lac Public Works Department private lead service replacement and repairs to curbs Some contractors are anticipated to begin work the week of April 7 and the resurfacing is expected to start later this month in Phase I which involves Merrill Avenue to First Street and lasts approximately through June Phase II will immediately follow from First Street to Sixth Street into September Main Street will remain open to traffic and customers until the resurfacing starts and access to downtown businesses will remain open throughout the project as sidewalks will still be available On-street parking will be limited in the project areas but visitors can use city parking lots and side-street parking spaces Working hours for the contractors are expected to be 7 a.m The Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers' Market will move on Main Street from Fourth to First Street during Phase I of the project and then from First to Division Street during Phase II according to the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership The Memorial Day Parade May 26 will also move to Macy Street this year Fondue Fest and THELMA's Thirteen Thursdays concert series will continue as usual this year events like the Beer & Bourbon Crawl during Downtown Derby Day May 3 and the Summer Wine Walk June 13 will also continue unchanged but the DFP released a "Main Street Makeover Toolkit" detailing how business will continue through the project The city will provide clear directional signage for customers delivery drivers and others that will be affected and is working on addressing parking concerns Read more: At COVID’s 5-year mark, Fond du Lac health care professionals remain haunted by loss of life they witnessed Visitors are encouraged to continue supporting the downtown area and can look out for special promotions throughout the project's length Updates to the project and any significant schedule changes will be available on the city's website and Facebook page. More about the impact on businesses and customers is available on the "2025 Main Street Makeover" page of downtownfdl.com FOND DU LAC (WLUK) -- Fond du Lac County is looking to renovate its Veterans Park with the goal of honoring all servicemembers in the community the funds needed for the project are lofty and the county still has plenty of money to raise Veterans Park in Fond du Lac has provided a place for everyone to gather while recognizing those who have served our country style memorial to Fond du Lac because I think that’s very impactful and the support I’ve received personally from this community says that we support our veterans,” Director of Fond du Lac County Veteran Services David Tellefsen said Tellefsen served in the military for 22 years. He knows not every veteran is able to travel to our nation’s capital to see the memorials. But with the help of Fond du Lac Area Foundation and Fond du Lac County Veterans Services all area veterans will soon be honored with a new and improved space in their hometown "I want people to know what this park is and how impactful it is to us as veterans Improvements will include a paved event stage for celebrations a gold star centerpiece to represent families of the fallen a memorial walk with a brick wall and emblems with every branch of service on pillars The transformed park will also eventually have honor bricks people can purchase the project already has $400,000 donated from the county but about $266,000 more is still needed for the park to become a reality The total amount needed in order to break ground is $666,000 Added features like specialty lighting and a new sound system will be an extra $170,000 “It’s hard to say when you’re standing here right now but when you see the facelift that it’s gonna have it will move anybody -- whether you’re a veteran or not,” Tellefsen said It's the very thought of doing this project that already has area veterans feeling appreciated and then to come back and see that there is this big push for veterans is amazing The goal is to break ground in the coming months and have the park ready to go by Veterans Day. Right now, no specialty fundraising events are scheduled. Click here to donate FOND DU LAC – It’s “orange barrel season” in the city Here’s a look at road construction projects underway this week in Fond du Lac. Follow the latest updates at fdl.wi.gov Read more: Downtown Fond du Lac businesses will be accessible as Main Street resurfacing begins Fond du Lac Police say a 19-year-old man Sunday set fire to a Wisconsin congressman’s office over the federal ban on TikTok Sunday to a fire at a strip mall that houses an office of U.S Officers arrested a man from Menasha near the building who admitted to starting the fire “in response to recent talks of a TikTok ban”, according to a department press release Police did not identify the man but said they expect more information to be released if the man is charged by the Fond du Lac District Attorney But the app was restored for users by Sunday afternoon. President-elect Donald Trump said in post on Truth Social Sunday that he planned to issue an executive order delaying the ban on his first day in office.  TikTok leaders said in a post on X that Trump’s promise had provided “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans.” Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board FOND DU LAC (WLUK) -- Police are urging Fond du Lac residents to take precautions after a number of reports of open garages and unlocked vehicles being rummaged through overnight Officials say no "significant thefts" have been reported authorities remind community members that the best way to prevent theft is by locking your cars and ensuring doors and vehicles are properly secured before leaving or going to bed Police also recommend keeping your house well-lit as motion-activated lights can help deter crime Break-ins have been reported in a specific part of Fond du Lac Residents in this area are asked to check their security camera systems for any suspicious activity especially from the past few days during the evening and overnight hours contact the Fond du Lac County Communications Center at (920) 906-5555.