Fond du Lac's Moraine Park Technical College begins work on referendum projects, plus more news in weekly dose
FOND DU LAC - Moraine Park Technical College will begin construction this May on the first of four referendum projects, updating the Fond du Lac Advanced Manufacturing and Trades area.
The Moraine Park District Board unanimously approved the $10 million winning bid placed by C.D. Smith of Fond du Lac.
The Fond du Lac Advanced Manufacturing and Trades project has two phases — the addition of the Automation, Innovation and Robotics Center and an update of the existing B-Wing facilities.
The project’s groundbreaking will take place after the spring semester, and the community will see visible changes to the building’s exterior this summer, a news release said.
The total project is expected to cost $12.8 million.
The AIR Center is partially funded by donor contributions of nearly $2.7 million, a goal set and met by the Moraine Park Foundation, the college’s advancement entity.
The Advanced Manufacturing and Trades project is expected to be completed in June 2024 with students first utilizing the space in fall 2024.
Moraine Park Technical College’s campus is at 235 N. National Ave. in Fond du Lac. Visit morainepark.edu/future to learn more.
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Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County in your weekly dose.
▶ Byron veterans to be honored at annual Memorial Day tribute: Town of Byron veterans will be honored at the annual Memorial Day tribute May 29 at the Byron Town Hall and Veterans Memorial.
An open house will run 8-11 a.m. featuring military and historical exhibits.
The outdoor program begins at 9:30 a.m. with a keynote address by Byron’s Marlin Towne, a Korean War veteran who served with the 38th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon in Korea from 1953 to 1954.
American Legion Post 347 of Lomira and VFW Post 8092 of Oakfield will conduct a color guard/rifle squad salute and a roll call of veterans laid to rest at Bethel, Byron and St. John’s cemeteries in the Town of Byron.
The open house exhibit will include recognition of the 84 service members whose names will be placed on the Memorial in 2023. The service times of these veterans span from the Civil War era to the Global War on Terrorism.
▶ ‘Check out’ a state park pass from Fond du Lac library: A limited number of free, one-day passes to any Wisconsin state park may be “checked out” from the Fond du Lac Public Library.
The passes are available as part of a new partnership between libraries, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
One pass will be available per family, and passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Patrons will need to know what date they plan to use the pass, have an active library card and have a vehicle with Wisconsin plates.
Passes may be used any time through the end of the year that a state park is open with no blackout dates.
To get the pass, patrons will have to visit either library in person.
For more about the program, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/outwigo. For more information about the library, visit fdlpl.org.
▶ St. Mary’s Springs places first at academic bowl: St. Mary’s Springs Academy participated in the Flyway Conference Academic Bowl in April.
Six flyway conference schools — including Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Omro, Campbellsport, Laconia, Lomira and St. Mary’s Springs Academy — competed.
The Flyway Conference Academic Bowl consists of high school students in grades nine to 12, chosen by their teachers, who compete in two rounds of academic testing. The first round is based on an individual written test in their area of expertise. The second round is an oral round, where four students work together answering questions of varying difficulty, covering math, science, language arts and social studies.
SMSA received a total score of 748.4, placing first overall.
WLA placed second with a total score of 706.04.
SMSA’s coaches were Cori Anderson, Patty Arndt and Soledad Theel.
Ten of the 23 participating SMSA students earned medals.
▶ SSM Health donates $3,000 to Get Active! program: SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac recently donated $3,000 to REACH Waupun to support its Get Active! program, which is designed to help improve the health and well-being of youth in the Waupun community.
The funding will help the Get Active! Program provide financial assistance to students within the Waupun Area School District or Central Wisconsin Christian School to pay for fees related to sports, clubs, or extracurricular activities.
Students would qualify for a variety of sports, including bowling, dance, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, swim team or swimming lessons, and wrestling. Students can receive up to $250 a year in assistance.
REACH Waupun has been an active nonprofit since 2015. REACH offers one-on-one youth mentorship, school supply distribution, and community relief. The REACH Relief program provides assistance with costs such as driver’s education, glasses, winter coats and other needs.
▶ Stolen bases to benefit Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac: Each time a Dock Spiders player steals a base at home this season, including the playoffs, Silica For Your Home will donate $50 to the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac.
Silica For Your Home recently celebrated 100 years of service to the Fond du Lac-area community in 2022 and is proud of its family business spanning four generations.
“Being around as long as we have, we take giving back to the community seriously because we see firsthand the positive impact that it has on our community,” said Silica For Your Home President Josh Schneider in a news release.
“The Boys & Girls Club is honored to partner with two amazing Fond du Lac businesses with this promotion in Silica For Your Home and the Dock Spiders,” said Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac Chief Executive Officer Dan Hebel in the news release. “The dollars earned will support the provision of amazing afterschool and summer opportunities for youth in Fond du Lac. We’re hopeful for lots of action on the basepaths this summer!”
In addition to providing a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac for each Dock Spiders stolen at home this season, Silica For Your Home has partnered with the Dock Spiders for a Chandler Simpson bobblehead giveaway on Aug. 5. The bobblehead features Simpson celebrating his Northwoods League record-breaking stolen base during the 2021 season. Simpson finished that season with a Northwoods League-record 55 stolen bases.
Currently, former Dock Spider Victor Scott (St. Louis Cardinals organization) leads all of minor league baseball with 22 stolen bases this season, while Simpson (Tampa Bay Rays organization) is tied for second among all minor leaguers with 20 stolen bases. Scott and Simpson accounted for two of the eight former Dock Spiders selected in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders’ 2023 schedule is highlighted by 18 giveaway items this season. With 36 home games, half of the home slate features a giveaway.
The Dock Spiders begin their seventh season on Memorial Day (May 29) against the Green Bay Rockers at 1:05 p.m. at Marian University’s Herr-Baker Field. Tickets are available at dockspiders.com, by visiting the ballpark ticket office or by calling 920-907-9833.
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This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac begins major projects
