Eye on Oshkosh

Here’s your chance to meet Our Nature’s Works of Art, when the Oshkosh Area Humane Society participates in next weekend’s Gallery Walk in downtown Oshkosh. Details on the Catapalooza event are included in the attached ”poster.” Click on it to enlarge. Hope to see you there!!

Red Cross Urges People to Get Prepared

September is National Preparedness Month

August 26, 2010…Many people in this country have experienced a significant crisis in their home or neighborhood, but less than half of the people surveyed by the American Red Cross have taken steps to be prepared for emergencies.

National Preparedness Month is a month set-aside to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. The Red Cross, among others, urges everyone to take steps now to be ready when emergencies happen. 

In a survey conducted late last summer, the Red Cross found that although 89 percent of those surveyed believe being prepared is important, far fewer people are ready for when that happens. In fact, twenty percent of those surveyed have not done anything to get prepared, and aren’t sure where to get started.

“Being prepared today can save lives tomorrow,” said Steve Hansen, Regional Chapter Executive.  “You are your best defense against emergencies.  The Red Cross can show you what simple steps you need to take to prepare yourself and your loved ones for emergencies.”

There are three things people should do to be prepared – build an emergency preparedness kit, make a plan as to what your family will do in an emergency, and be informed about what resources are available in your community and what types of disasters could occur there.

Your emergency preparedness kit should contain enough supplies for three days in case you need to evacuate.  The Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of supplies at home. Supplies should include water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents.

Your emergency plan should be a joint effort, including the members of your household.  Make sure each person knows how to reach household members, including an out-of-area emergency contact person, and knows where to meet if they can’t go home.

Being informed is important.  Learn about what resources are available and what types of disasters are most likely to occur where you live, learn, work and play. Take a first aid and CPR/AED course—a vital component of disaster preparedness in case emergency help is delayed.

You can also give blood to help keep your community prepared.  It is the blood already donated and available on hospital shelves that is available in an emergency.  To give blood, you must be healthy, be at least 16 years old, have parental consent and weigh at least 110 pounds.  If you have given blood before, it must be 56 days since your last donation.  For more information on giving blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org.      

All Red Cross Chapters are urging area residents to make a renewed effort in September to prepare for emergencies such as fires, floods or storms.  The Red Cross has created a free online education program to make it easier for people to get prepared. The Be Red Cross Ready program walks people through three key preparedness steps: getting an emergency kit, making an emergency plan and being informed.

A few of the specific programs happening throughout the Region include:

* Disaster Action Team volunteer, Joyce Keyes continues work on the Disaster Advisory Council.  The Fond du Lac area is one of Chapters nationwide piloting a Jumpstart to Recovery Kit and “Moving Forward After a Disaster” booklets.  She represents one of 15 Chapters from around the nation to serve on committee to review prevention, preparedness and response policies and procedures.  Within the past month, a Director from our National Headquarters was in Fond du Lac to the training required for this project.

* On Saturday, September 11, the Scenic Shores Chapter partners with the Two Rivers Fire Department and Point Beach Nuclear Plant (Next Era Energy) to train Boy Scouts from cities throughout the Region for their “Emergency Preparedness” Badge. The plant also sponsors a Disaster Supplies Kit, assembled by the Red Cross, for each troop for them to use as an example. Last year, 100 Scouts participated and they were given information on all three Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit components. In addition, each Boy Scout Troop will complete a kit containing items such as canned food (with the pop top lids so you don’t need a can opener), bottled water, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle, a dust mask, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, toilet paper, and a complete list of items they should include in their own kits.

* On Friday, September 16, the Forever Young Group will host a Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors presentation and distribute Red Cross disaster kits at the Grace Lutheran Church at 913 Nebraska Street, Oshkosh. The kits are made available due to a Ladies Benevolent Society grant to support Senior Citizen preparedness.

* On Wednesday, September 21, Volunteer Recruitment event and Fulfilling Our Mission course will be held at the downtown Neenah office, 181 E. North Water Street, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. 

* On Saturday, September 25, the American Red Cross, the Fire Department and more will partner with Lowe’s in Oshkosh for Safety Saturday.  Offices in Iron Mountain, Michigan and the Oshkosh, Wisconsin office have also just completed Disaster Exercises. The first was with the regional airport and the latter in collaboration with Winnebago County Emergency Management with simulated disaster event at UW Oshkosh.

* Additional programs, partnerships and training are happening throughout the Region, please check with your local Chapter for additional details.

The Northeast Wisconsin American Red Cross is a regional grouping of four Chapters serving 20 counties by providing relief to victims of disaster and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. This regional grouping strives to maintain both consistency and momentum in serving this purpose across the multiple Chapters including the East Central Wisconsin, Lakeland Chapter, Outagamie and Scenic Shores Chapter.  For more information about local activities during National Preparedness Month, contact your local Chapter or by visiting our regional website www.newredcross.org.

(1)  The general preparedness findings are based on an online survey of 1,306 U.S. residents 18 years and older conducted July 24-August 7, 2009 by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Red Cross.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

• US 41 northbound on-ramp at US 45 closed for construction of temporary bypass lanes.

• Various lanes of US 41 northbound between WIS 21 and US 45 closed Sunday through Wednesday from 7 p.m. to  5 a.m., and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Required because of construction of new Lake Butte des Morts overpass.

• Various lanes of US 41 northbound and southbound closed between 9^th Avenue and WIS 21 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. These closures needed for the staining of the reconstructed Witzel Avenue overpass.
• Various lanes of US 41 northbound between US 45 and Breezewood Lane closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.  Additionally, the left lane of US 41 southbound between Breezewood Lane and US 45 is closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. The project involves widening US 41 northbound lanes.

• US 41 northbound off-ramp to Breezewood Lane interchange closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for temporary shoulder widening.

According to this story (http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100827/OSH0101/8270411/Sexual-assault-charges-filed-against-Oshkosh-man) from the Oshkosh Northwestern and court records, Kent Monte, a former candidate for the Oshkosh Common Council and a current member of the city’s Plan Commission, is facing sexual assault charges. He is suspected of repeated sexual assault of a child, child enticement and exposing genitals. According to the article, if convicted, Monte faces  65 years, nine months in prison and $210,000 in fines. While presumed innocent until proven guilty, and whatever the actual circumstances surrounding this case, the one true victim in this situation is the child – not only for having to be subjected to the alleged assault, but also for having to undergo police interviews and all else that may follow. It would be a lot for anyone to deal with, but especially for someone of such a tender, innocent age. 

This case, of course, will play out in our judicial system where there are laws, rules and guidelines that must be followed as the case proceeds. What remains less clear, however, is what, if anything will happen to Monte’s position on the Plan Commission while the legal proceedings play out. Will the city feel there is cause for his removal from the Plan Commission while he’s presumed innocent? If so, is there a policy in place to bring about such a removal? Will he simply resign? Or will he remain on the commission with the possibility, even likelihood of his being unable to attend meetings? And if convicted, I suspect he would resign, but what if he wouldn’t? Is there then a policy in place for removing him? There are more questions than answers at this point. Perhaps in time, we’ll know more. In the meantime, let’s hope and pray the child gets whatever help or counseling may be needed as a result of this situation.

We all need to help keep the Oshkosh Postal Processing & Distribution Center open and not move it all to Green Bay. This will cost us losing 100-150 jobs. This consolidiation plan will effect all cities that zip code begains with 549.

Attached is a petition (click on the image, then enlarge to print your own copies) that the American Postal Workers are collecting to show that all in the 549 zip area are also against this consolidation. you can send completed petitions to

OSHKOSH AREA LOCAL APWU 178

PO BOX 2321

OSHKOSH, WI 54903-2321

Also the American Postal Workers Local 178 is asking for your help with a informational picket they will be having on Wednesday Sept. 1, 2010 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and then again from 1: 00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. we are asking all union brother and sisters as well as citizens in the 549 zip code area to come and show support for our American Postal Workers brother and sisters and to keep open the Oshkosh Postal Processing & Distribution Center.

Larry Lautenschlager, President

Winnebago County Labor Council

(Oshkosh, WI.) The Menominee Park beach re-opened on Wednesday, August 25th and will remain open after a one day closure because water samples showed high levels of E. coli.

Testing guidelines require daily testing until the results come back satisfactorily after a closure, which they did after the first re-test.

The sample that was taken on Monday and reported to the city on Tuesday showed E. coli levels of 1,732.9 cfu/100 ml and the test taken on Tuesday and reported to the city on Wednesday showed E. coli levels of only 7.2 cfu/100 ml.

Another test will be performed on Monday as part of the regular testing schedule. If you would like to view the water test results you may do so by logging on to the city website,

www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us and going on the Parks Department page or by clicking here.The cause for the one day elevated levels has not been determined

If you would like more information please contact the Parks Department at (920) 236-5080.

(Oshkosh, WI.) The City of Oshkosh Sanitation Division would like to notify residents that the recycling cart exchange program is underway. This is for residents that signed up to exchange their 96-gallon recycling cart for a smaller 64-gallon cart.

Residents are advised to put their cart out on their normal recycling day with their recyclables prepared as normal. The Sanitation Division will then collect the cart and recyclables and drop off a new cart.

This exchange program is only for residents that requested a smaller cart and received confirmation from the city that they were approved for a new cart.

If you would like more information please contact the Sanitation Division at (920) 232-5383.