Construction resumes on interchange project
BROWN COUNTY – Construction has resumed on the WIS 29/County VV interchange project in the villages of Hobart and Howard and Oneida Nation Reservation.
The project began last March and is expected to finish this fall.
Lane closures can be expected during off-peak hours intermittently beginning Tuesday, March 15.
More information on the project and traffic impacts can be found at projects.511wi.gov/29vv/.
Howard seeks paid-on-call firefighters
HOWARD – The Howard Fire Rescue (HFR) department said it is in desperate need of paid-on-call firefighters to join its team.
Under the direction of HFR officers, a paid-on-call firefighter is responsible for responding to calls and extinguishing fires, protecting life and property and operating and maintaining fire equipment, apparatus and quarters.
Training is provided, and applicants from diverse backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply at: villageofhoward.com/420/Recruitment.
Sun Country announces new flight
BROWN COUNTY – Sun Country Airlines will begin service to Las Vegas from Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) beginning Sept. 9.
Introductory fares are $79 one way and are on sale now at suncountry.com.
In addition, the airline extended its booking calendar so travelers can plan and book flights now through early mid-December 2022.
“This is great news for the airport at a time when people are returning to air travel,” Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach said. “Every new flight gives our area an economic boost, with people staying in hotels preflight, going out to restaurants, gassing up their vehicles and parking in our lots.”
Senior housing project awarded grant
ASHWAUBENON – A senior housing project planned between Mike McCarthy Way and Borvan Avenue was awarded a $4.7 million Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant.
The formal grant announcement was made March 3 by Gov. Tony Evers.
General Capital submitted plans to the Village of Ashwaubenon last year to build a three-story, 60-unit senior apartment building and 15, two-story, three-bedroom rental townhomes.
Josh Hafron from General Capital requested the grant money because of an increase in construction costs.
The Village Board will now look to renegotiate the terms of its TIF (tax increment finance) agreement with General Capital, because the grant was awarded.
Village Manager Joel Gregozeski said he expects the board to discuss the issue in closed session at its March 22 meeting.
In addition, Gregozeski said another extension on closing on the property will be likely, given the difficulty to complete the sale by the end of March.
Bellin Health recognized
GREEN BAY – Bellin Health was recognized by health care supply chain company Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) as a “Best 50” healthcare provider.
Honorees are selected from a pool of more than 4,100 provider organizations connected to the
GHX digital trading platform that score highest in areas such as maximizing document
automation, exchange utilization and trading partner connections during 2021.
Recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the GHX Summit 22 May 11.
Enrollment information sessions
GREEN BAY – Families looking to learn more about the Leonardo da Vinci School for Gifted Learners are invited to attend an enrollment information session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 or Tuesday, April 12.
During the sessions, the school said families will be informed about the various features of the school, including the school structure, academic offerings, overall school philosophy and the admission process for the 2022-23 school year.
Attendees are asked to enter through door #3 (parking lot on the corner of Doty and Monroe).
The meetings will take place in the gym.
Online driver license renewals hits milestone
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) said a little more than 200,000 drivers have renewed their driver license online since the online renewal pilot program launched in May 2020.
Those eligible to renew online include drivers between ages 18 and 64 who are U.S. citizens with an unrestricted driver license, those who have not had a change in medical conditions and those who do not need an original REAL ID.
All vehicle related services, including license plate renewal and titling, can be done online (wisconsindmv.gov), through the mail, or with a third party.
The war in Ukraine roundtable discussion
BROWN COUNTY – The Brown County Library will host a roundtable discussion with three faculty members from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay history department to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The free event from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, will be held in the Central Library auditorium.
More information can be found at browncountylibrary.org or by calling (920) 448-4400.
County receives grant for port redevelopment
GREEN BAY – Gov. Tony Evers visited Northeast Wisconsin March 3 to announce a $15 million grant to redevelop facilities at the old Pulliam Power Plant site, which will allow for the long-awaited relocation of the C. Reiss coal piles.
The project is planned in phases, which includes prepping the Pulliam Power Plant site, moving the piles and redeveloping the downtown land.
The hope is to also include growth of the Port of Green Bay.
“This funding is vital for us to take the next steps in expanding the Port and spurring economic development in Northeast Wisconsin,” County Executive Troy Streckenbach said. “This is a big win for our economy and the residents of Brown County to see this strategic location redeveloped.”
Bellin adds cardiac electrophysiologist
GREEN BAY – Bellin Health Cardiology Associates has added the expertise of fellowship-trained cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Rudolph Evonich III to its health care team.
Evonich offers expertise in: Cardiac electrophysiology, complex arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, stroke prevention, physiologic pacing, EP research, catheter ablation and lead extraction.
He sees patients in Green Bay and Marinette.
Spring/summer camps return to NEW Zoo
SUAMICO – Registration is open for the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park’s spring break, summer and adventure camps.
Programs are designed for students ages 6 to 14, entering grades 1-7 for the 2022-23 school year.
Specific activity details, prices and registration instructions for each camp can be found at: newzoo.org/2022/03/04/2022-summer-zoo-camp.
Pre-registration is required, and spaces are limited.
State Supreme Court upholds Brown County sales tax
BROWN COUNTY – The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of Brown County in a challenge to the 0.5% sales tax.
The Brown County Taxpayers Association appealed a circuit court ruling upholding the tax, arguing it was illegal, because the county was using it to fund capital projects and facility improvements, claiming state law states it can only be used for reducing the property tax levy.
Brown County Corporation Counsel David P. Hemery said “utilizing revenue from the sales tax, the county has made crucial investments in our infrastructure, while paying down our debt and providing tax relief to property owners here in Brown County.”
The tax is set to expire in 2024.
Area educator involved in PBS game development
SUAMICO – Kelly Koller, Bay View Middle School Technology Integration Specialist, contributed to the development and testing of a new free online video game, The Legend of the Lost Emerald produced by PBS Wisconsin.
The game, available at pbswisconsineducation.org/emerald/about/, is a point-and-click adventure where players in grades 4-6 use critical thinking and historical inquiry skills by stepping into the shoes of Jules, a maritime archaeologist.
Koller was one of 18 educators from across Wisconsin who contributed to the initial design and playtesting of the video game.
Vehicle admission sticker design contest
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting artwork entries for the 2023 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission sticker design contest.
Now in its 32nd year, the annual DNR-sponsored design contest is open to all high school-age students in Wisconsin attending public, private and parochial schools, as well as homeschooled students.
Artwork entries should focus on animals, plants or outdoor activities in Wisconsin.
Rules, submission guidelines and past sticker design winners are available at: dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/designcontest.
Sensory-friendly vaccine clinic
BROWN COUNTY – The Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, Bellin Health and Milestone Behavioral Pediatrics are teaming up to host a sensory-friendly COVID-19 vaccine clinic for individuals ages five and older and their families.
The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Milestones Behavioral Pediatrics, 2073 Lawrence Dr., in De Pere.
A second-dose clinic will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, April 8.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling (920) 445-7313.
Annual membership drive
DE PERE – The De Pere Historical Society is again hosting its annual membership drive.
The society’s mission is to promote public awareness, understanding and appreciation for De Pere’s historic past through educational programs; to discover, to collect and to preserve materials related to De Pere’s history; to serve as a repository of information for others interested in De Pere’s history; and to chronicle the events of the present for future generations.
Society leadership said business and household memberships account for most of the income needed for operations, events, building improvements and project management.
For more information, visit deperehistory.org.
Two local schools do well in academic decathlon
WISCONSIN – Green Bay East and Preble high schools joined 18 other Wisconsin schools last month for the 2022 Wisconsin Academic Decathlon.
A total of 173 students participated in this year’s entirely virtual event.
Green Bay East won the top team awards in interview and speech, and students Lydia Munchoff and Anika Sorenson earned perfect scores of 1,000 in the interview and speech events, respectively, and in doing so tied state records in the scholastic and honor categories.
Preble placed third in its division, and earned the opportunity to compete at the National Competition in Division IV, which will also be held virtually.
SNC summer productions announced
DE PERE – St. Norbert College (SNC) Music Theatre will present two productions in summer 2022:
• June 23-26 – “Sondheim on Sondheim” at Dudley Birder Hall
• Aug. 11-14 – “Anastasia: The Musical” at Walter Theatre
Tickets for both productions are on sale now at snc.edu/tickets.
SNC Music Theatre is a community-focused program that supports the mission of the college and enhances the educational, economic and cultural vitality of the region.
To learn more about St. Norbert College Music Theatre visit snc.edu/musictheatre or email [email protected].
Service award recipients
DE PERE – Schmidt & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in De Pere, has earned the 2021 Ameriprise Client Experience Award.
Kathy M. Schmidt, a private Wealth Advisor with the company, also has qualified for the Circle of Success annual recognition program and will be honored for this achievement in 2022.
Only a select number of high-performing advisors earn this distinction.