ESPN coming to Green Bay July 4

This year offers even more reasons to celebrate the Fourth of July in Green Bay.

In addition to Fire Over the Fox, with six stages of entertainment, Waterboard Warriors ski shows, family activities, and great food, this year adds ESPN’s search for the true Titletown to the day’s events.

As part of their nationwide search for the ultimate Titletown city, ESPN will be filming in downtown Green Bay on the Fourth of July in search of avid fans. From 2:30 to 4 p.m. Packers fans are encouraged to participate at Leicht Memorial Park in this national television opportunity to show that Green Bay is the rightful recipient of the ESPN title.

Aside from ESPN joining in on the celebration, Fourth of July entertainment will be constant in downtown Green Bay beginning at 1 p.m., kicking off with the Old Fashioned Liberty Bell ringing in front of the Brown County Courthouse.

The six stages of entertainment on the east and west sides of the Fox River will feature entertainment all afternoon and evening and showcase three national recording artists. Fisher Stevenson will perform at the Y100 Leicht Memorial Park Stage at 4 p.m. The WOZZ Stage at the Days Inn will feature Saturday Morning at 3:30 p.m., and Cycle Down will appear at the Neville Public Museum Stage at 4:15 and 7 p.m. The Waterboard Warriors will perform at 3 p.m.

The grand finale to the day begins at 9:45 p.m. with the Festival Foods Fire Over the Fox fireworks display. The display is the area’s largest and will be set to music courtesy of Midwest Communications.

Available again this year are a limited number of general admission tickets in a reserved section of seating. The reserved seating area features padded chairs along the Leicht Memorial Park riverfront walkway, ensuring great viewing of the evening’s fireworks display. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance at Green Bay-area Festival Foods locations, Bosse’s in downtown Green Bay, or any Oneida Casino Ticket Star location. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketstaronline.com.

More information about the 2008 Festival Foods Fire Over The Fox Fourth of July celebration in downtown Green Bay can be found online at www.fireoverthefox.com.

Road construction to stop July 3 for weekend

Wisconsin drivers will get a break from road construction this weekend.

Road work is scheduled to stop Thursday at noon throughout the Independence Day weekend, until Monday morning, July 7, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The DOT's road construction update:

Brown County: Dousman Street between Military Avenue and Platten Street in Green Bay is closed for a reconstruction project through Aug. 29. The detour is Oneida Street, Shawano Avenue and Military Avenue. The Wisconsin 172 project between U.S. 41 and Airport Drive continues, with 172 reduced to one lane in each direction. The U.S. 41/172 westbound ramp is scheduled to open Wednesday.

Door County: Work continues on the Maple Street Bridge in Sturgeon Bay. Both leaves of the bridge are down, with one leaf opening at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. weekdays, and one leaf remaining open between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. weeknights, and between 4 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m. Mondays. Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay is expected to open to traffic late Thursday afternoon.

Fond du Lac County: Traffic on U.S. 151 northbound has been switched to the new 151/Fond du Lac County D interchange as part of the 151 project between D and U.S. 41. Concrete paving is taking place on the new 151 bypass, with the 151/Wisconsin 175 (Main Street) intersection closed through Aug. 25. The U.S. 41 resurfacing project continues between 151 and Fond du Lac County OO, with lane closures daily between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Manitowoc County: The U.S. 10/Wisconsin 310 resurfacing project between the Branch River and Manitowoc County R is scheduled to start Saturday. 10 and 310 will be closed to through traffic, detoured on Manitowoc County P, R and 310 northbound and 10 southbound. The Interstate 43/10 West/310 interchange will be closed, detoured to 10 East (Waldo Boulevard). In Manitowoc, U.S. 10 eastbound is open to traffic, but 10 westbound is closed as part of the Eighth Street/Madison Street reconstruction project. In Two Rivers, the Wisconsin 310 (Madison Street) bridge replacement and 16th Street reconstruction project is continuing, with Madison closed between 14th Street and River Street, and 16th Street closed between Monroe Street and Wisconsin 42 (Washington Street).

Marinette County: The Wisconsin 64 Peshtigo River and Little Peshtigo River bridge replacement projects are continuing. The Little Peshtigo detour is U.S. 141, Marinette County P and County W; the Peshtigo detour is Marinette County D, County B and U.S. 41.

Oconto County: Bridge deck sealing is taking place beginning this week on Wisconsin 32, Wisconsin 64, U.S. 41, U.S. 141 and Old 141 through July 11, with one lane of traffic open.

Outagamie County: Wisconsin 76 between Wisconsin 54 and Bear Creek will be closed through July for construction of the Embarrass River and Bear Creek bridges. Nighttime concrete repairs begin Wednesday on Wisconsin 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) between U.S. 41 and Outagamie County A (Lynndale Drive), with nightly lane closures at Bluemound Drive and Westhill Boulevard. Pavement removal is beginning this week on Wisconsin 55 (Crooks Avenue) in Kaukauna between 18th Street and Seventh Street. Bridge deck sealing elsewhere is complete.

Winnebago County: U.S. 45 remains closed between Winnebago County II in Winchester and Wisconsin 116/Winnebago County GG in Winneconne through August for the four-lane project. Work also continues on the 45/Winnebago County T interchange.

41/96 interchange to close tonight

The U.S. 41/Wisconsin 96 interchange ramps will close today at 7 p.m. and remain closed until Tuesday at 7 a.m.

The closure is part of the 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) reconstruction project, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Message boards will announce the closing. Drivers can use the Wisconsin 125 (College Avenue) exit south of 96 or the Wisconsin 15/Outagamie County OO (Northland Avenue) exit north of 96.

Federal aid for public flood expenses OK'd

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

President Bush has declared 14 Wisconsin counties, including Winnebago County, eligible for federal aid to recoup flood-related public expenses, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency now can reimburse the counties up to 75 percent of their costs for debris removal, emergency services related to the flooding and repairing public infrastructure such as roads and buildings.

The state will cover another 12.5 percent. The counties are responsible for the rest.

The counties include Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Monroe, Milwaukee, Richland, Sauk, Vernon and Winnebago.

Bush on Friday also declared Manitowoc County a federal disaster area, making individuals and businesses there eligible for loans and grants. A total of 29 counties in the state have received that designation, including Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Sheboygan and Winnebago counties.

About 21,000 residents have registered for individual federal and state assistance, state emergency officials said. About $11.8 million has been distributed so far, with most going for temporary housing and home repairs.

State global warming task force OKs package

By Thomas Content
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A package to reduce Wisconsin's greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades won overwhelming support this afternoon from members of a state global warming task force.

With three of 29 members voting no, the task force adopted a compromise that calls for the state to bring down emissions linked to global warming by 22 percent by 2022.

The proposal also endorses a plan to reduce the state's global warming emissions by 70 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

Among those voting in favor of the deal: the state's five investor-owned utilities, businesses including S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. and Johnson Controls, as well as environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Clean Wisconsin, the Nature Conservancy and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

Voting against the recommendations were three manufacturing firms, Ariens Co., NewPage Corp. and General Motors Corp.

Key elements of the package include recommendations to boost funding for energy efficiency and conservation, as well as mass transit. In addition, the proposal recommends that the state move to supply 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2013, and 25 percent by 2025. Finally, the recommendations would relax some of the restrictions currently in place against building.

The vote came after a series of wording changes designed to address concerns raised primarily by Clean Wisconsin, the Sierra Club and the Citizens' Utility Board, a utility customer advocacy group.

"I hope others in this room will join us to do everything we can to make recommendations that come out of this group a reality without delay, given the gravity of the issue," said Roy Thilly, co-chairman of the task force.

Technically, today's vote was not a final vote on the plan, but a vote on compromise language trying to resolve some of the most controversial elements of the platform. A final report is expected to be adopted and forwarded to Gov. Jim Doyle next month.

John Pearse, controller at the GM Janesville assembly plant, said the company supports the vast majority of the recommendations in the plan, but added that the company can't support the final proposal because the state plan endorses stricter vehicle-emission standards adopted by the state of California.

Tom Scharff of NewPage said he appreciated the fact that Thilly and Tia Nelson, who co-chairs the panel, included language designed to provide incentives and assistance in reducing emissions for energy-intensive industries facing global competition, such as the paper industry. But NewPage and other paper-makers are closing mills and scaling back production because of the economic downturn, he said.

"It's going to increase costs substantially, at a time when we are already shutting down equipment," Scharff said. "We can no longer afford more costs."

Rick Kuester, executive vice president of Wisconsin Energy Corp., said the utility supported the compromise package, though it doesn't support every policy proposed. The company, parent company of We Energies, is concerned that some of the policies will result in higher rates for customers, he said.

Aggressive investment in energy efficiency in the near term will help bring down costs for customers in and provide more ability to pay for more costly initiatives, said Susan Stratton, executive director of the Energy Center of Wisconsin.

Nelson said she became frustrated with efforts in Washington, D.C., to deal with global warming during the decade she spent working on climate issues at the Nature Conservancy. She said was proud of the Wisconsin panel's work over the past year.

"I find myself much more hopeful today than the day I left Washington," she said. "I really think the states have become the drivers of climate change policy and that Wisconsin is playing an important and unique role."

Paper company will slow production

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

NewPage Corp. will take downtime at its paper mill in Kimberly next month to further reduce production amid an economic slowdown.

Ohio-based NewPage said Tuesday it needs to slow production by 34,000 tons of coated paper. That’s in addition to the 25,000 tons it announced earlier this month that it would cut back.

Downtime at the Kimberly mill would account for about 18,000 tons, the company said. The other 16,000 tons would come from the closing last week of the company’s mill in Niagara. NewPage acquired the former Stora Enso North America operations, based in Wisconsin Rapids, in December, and in January announced it would close the Niagara mill, with 319 employees, and a machine in Kimberly employing about 125.

Oshkosh Corp. expects third quarter losses

By Avrum D. Lank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Oshkosh Corp. (OSK) expects to lose money in its third fiscal quarter because of a write down of the value of an investment in a European subsidiary and "weaker performance" than expected.

For the quarter, which ends Monday, the maker of specialty vehicles said it expected a loss of between $1.22 and $1.32 a share. Previously, it has expected to earn between $1.40 and $1.50 a share, and the 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News had a mean estimate of $1.44. The company said it also expects lower earnings in the fourth quarter than last year, when it posted an $85.4 million profit.

The company said the third-quarter loss "relates to a non-cash charge for the impairment of goodwill to be recorded in connection with the company's European refuse collection vehicle manufacturer, the Geesink Norba Group." That loss is expected to be $175 million, or $2.32 a share.

"Lower than expected sales in both North America and Europe driven by softness in non-residential construction and general economic weakness, and rising raw material and fuel costs, have caused us to reduce our outlook for the third quarter and full fiscal year 2008," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert G. Bohn.

"During the quarter, we also lowered our outlook for Geesink due to a slower and more difficult than expected return to profitability, coupled with expectations of a weaker European economy and higher raw materials costs. This revised outlook has caused us to believe that the value of Geesink no longer supports the goodwill recorded for this business, resulting in the impairment charge we are announcing today."

Unemployment drops in most of state

Unemployment rates dropped in May in 61 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.

The only Northeast Wisconsin county where unemployment increased from April to May was Sheboygan County, increasing from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent. Unemployment rates stayed the same in Brown, Florence and Winnebago counties.

“In May, Wisconsin’s labor market continued to see the steady overall month-to-month improvement it has experienced the past several months,” said Roberta Gassman, secretary of the Department of Workforce Development. “We continue to see the expected seasonal job increases that occur when the weather warms and spring hiring begins. Wisconsin’s economy overall is holding up better than many parts of the nation.”

Unemployment rates dropped or stayed the same between April and May in all but one of Northeast Wisconsin’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas — Appleton, from 4.3 percent to 3.9 percent; Fond du Lac, from 4.1 percent to 4 percent; Green Bay, from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent; Oshkosh–Neenah, 4 percent; and Sheboygan, from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent.

County unemployment rates in Northeast Wisconsin, with state rank and the 2007, April 2008 and May 2008 unemployment rates:

1, Menominee, 9% in 2007, 10% in April 2008, 9.1% in May 2008; 15, Marinette, 5.8%, 5.3%, 5%; 19, Oconto, 5.5%, 5.9%, 4.9%; 25, Florence, 6%, 4.7%, 4.7%; 26, Marquette, 5.2%, 5.4%, 4.6%; 27, Green Lake, 4.9%, 5.3%, 4.6%; 31, Waupaca, 4.9%, 5.1%, 4.5%; 32, Door, 5%, 5.6%, 4.4%; 34, Shawano, 5%, 4.9%, 4.3%; 35, Waushara, 5.1%, 4.7%, 4.3%; 39, Manitowoc, 5.1%, 4.4%, 4.2%; 41, Brown, 4.5%, 4.1%, 4.1%; 46, Outagamie, 4.5%, 4.4%, 4%; 47, Fond du Lac, 4.5%, 4.1%, 4%; 48, Winnebago, 4.6%, 4%, 4%; 55, Sheboygan, 4.1%, 3.8%, 3.9%; 61, Kewaunee, 4.3%, 3.9%, 3.6%; 62, Calumet, 4.6%, 3.7%, 3.6%.

City unemployment rates in Northeast Wisconsin, with state rank and the 2007, April 2008 and May 2008 unemployment rates:

5, Green Bay, 6.7% in 2007, 6.2% in April 2008, 6.1% in May 2008; 8, Appleton, 5.6%, 5.6%, 5.2%; 13, Sheboygan, 4.9%, 4.9%, 4.9%; 14, Manitowoc, 6%, 5.2%, 4.8%; 15, Fond du Lac, 5.4%, 4.9%, 4.6%; 18, Oshkosh, 5.1%, 4.3%, 4.3%; 20, Neenah, 4.6%, 4.1%, 4.1%.

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May, down from 4.4 percent in April and 4.7 percent in 2007.

Broadwind increases number of shares

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Broadwind Energy Inc. (BWEN) said today shareholders approved a 50-percent increase in the company's common shares to 150,000 from 100,000.

Naperville, Ill.-based Broadwind manufactures and installs components for wind energy companies. It is the parent company of R.B.A. Inc., a heavy steel fabricator in Manitowoc; Tower Tech Systems Inc., a wind tower manufacturer in Manitowoc; and Badger Transport Inc., a heavy hauler in Clintonville.

Associated Bank helping flood victims

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) said today it will donate $50,000 for disaster relief to assist individuals and communities in those areas that have been affected by recent flooding and severe weather in the Midwest.

Donations will be made to local American Red Cross chapters in the declared disaster areas throughout the bank’s three-state area. In addition, Associated has launched an employee giving campaign and will match employees’ donations to the disaster relief fund up to an additional $50,000.

Associated Bank has also agreed to set aside up to $100 million for special loans for individuals who have been directly affected by the floods and severe weather. Qualified borrowers will be able to obtain an unsecured loan (a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $10,000) at a discounted rate. The bank will also offer qualified homeowners a home equity loan at a discounted rate with reduced closing costs.

The bank has established a special toll-free number, 1-866-504-2774, to assist customers who have been affected by the recent flooding. A Flood Response Team will provide callers with information about the bank's payment deferral program (up to 12 months) for customers in need and special loan programs for flood victims, along with information about state and federal disaster aid and how to file insurance claims. Associated’s Flood Response Team is available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time.

Walgreens subsidiary to open walk-in clinics

By Don Walker
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Take Care Health Systems, a manager of convenient care clinics, is expanding its presence in Wisconsin to Ashwaubenon, Madison and Neenah.

Take Care, a subsidiary of Walgreen Co. (WAG), operates walk-in clinics that provide professional medical information seven days a week with extended evening and weekend hours.

The Northeast Wisconsin clinics will be at 2301 S. Oneida St. in Ashwaubenon and 500 S. Commercial Street in Neenah.

With the three openings, Take Care Health Systems now has 13 clinics at Walgreens in the state, including 10 in the Milwaukee area.

Up to six more clinics are planned in the state later this year.

The clinics are staffed by board-certified family nurse practitioners who treat patients 18 months and older for common illnesses, throat, ear and sinus infections, pink eye and poison ivy, and are licensed to write prescriptions.

The practitioners also provide school, sports and camp physicals and offer vaccinations for flu, hepatitis B, meningitis and tetanus.

Shawano manufacturer to ship 3,000th tree harvester

Komatsu Forest LLC of Shawano has announced plans to ship its 3,000th Valmet Tree Feller/Harvester machine.

This marks a significant milestone for Komatsu Forest, a leading manufacturer and distributor of heavy tree harvesting and loading equipment throughout the world.

“For over 20 years, we have manufactured and distributed our products under the Timbco and Valmet brands from the manufacturing facility in Shawano,” said Nate Burton, Komstsu Forest’s marketing general manager. “Although this particular unit is destined for Australia, we have many customers in Chile, Brazil, South Africa, the UK, Russia, Canada, and of course the U.S.”

The company was founded in 1979 and purchased by Komatsu Ltd of Japan in 2003. Komatsu is the second largest construction equipment manufacturer in the world, behind Caterpillar. Other Komatsu Forest machines are produced at the company's world headquarters in Umea, Sweden, and are distributed in North America through the Shawano facility.

On June 26, Komatsu Forest will ship the 3,000th Valmet Tracked Tree Feller/Harvester manufactured at the Shawano facility. Machine number 3,000 is a Valmet 430FXL, a 300-horsepower self-propelled tracked machine weighing about 60,000 pounds that fells and processes trees at the stump for transport to a consuming mill. The eventual selling price of the machine in U.S. dollars including the harvesting attachment installed in Australia will exceed $500,000.

The company is planning a ceremony and lunch for employees June 26 to recognize their achievement, the impact of their work on the local and state economies and the support the region has provided to the company.

“Companies like Komatsu Forest have such an incredibly positive impact on our economies as well as our communities,” said State Rep. Gary Tauchen (R–Bonduel). “Achieving this milestone is a great accomplishment that was achieved thanks to the dedication, skill and hard work of their employees and we congratulate them on their achievement.”

Economy still growing, but slowly

The U.S. economy continues to grow, but slowly, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Real Gross Domestic Product grew at a rate of 0.9 percent in the first quarter of 2008, according to quarterly statistics released today, up from 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007. Over the past four quarters, real Gross Domestic Product grew 2.5 percent.

Business investment decreased 0.3 percent, and residential construction dropped 25.5 percent. Exports increased 2.8 percent, while imports dropped 2.6 percent.

Personal saving increased 0.6 percent in the first quarter, and consumption increased 1 percent.

Nonfarm productivity increased 2.6 percent in the first quarter, while manufacturing productivity increased 3.6 percent. Nonfarm unit labor costs increased 2.2 percent, and hourly nonfarm compensation increased 4.9 percent.

Unemployment increased 5.5 percent in May, up from 5 percent in April, according to monthly statistics released today. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 49,000 in May, and private nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 66,000 in May.

The Consumer Price Index increased 0.6 percent in May, and over the past year the CPI has increased 4.1 percent.

Microsoft Across America truck at FVTC Tuesday

Skyline Technologies, Ledgeview Partners, ABC Computers, Fox Valley Technical College and Microsoft are rolling into the Fox Cities with a truckload of the world’s most innovative technology products to leverage complete business solutions for small and mid-sized companies in the area.

The Microsoft Across America truck will be at FVTC’s D.J. Bordini Center, 5 Systems Dr., Appleton, Tuesday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This 42-foot state-of-the-art truck has been transformed into a hands-on interactive environment complete with the latest technology, integrated software, and hardware solutions to help local businesses achieve their goals. A few of the various Microsoft technologies highlighted include Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Windows Server 2008, SharePoint Server 2007, and SQL Server 2008. In addition to the truck tour, Skyline Technologies and Ledgeview Partners are offering 30-minute breakout sessions throughout the day that complement the new technology on board the truck.

“We’re excited to be able to host this national event for our customers and business leaders in Northeast Wisconsin,” said Pat Deprey, co-founder and CEO of Skyline Technologies. “It’s beneficial for companies to be able to experience the latest technology first-hand to discover ways to enhance their business operations.”

“Even though Ledgeview Partners, Skyline Technologies, and ABC Computers specialize in different Microsoft technologies, we frequently work together to provide comprehensive solutions to businesses,” said Lisa Benson, president of Ledgeview Partners. “We saw this event as a perfect opportunity to further collaborate as Microsoft Partners and showcase a breadth of Microsoft solutions to local businesses.”

Three area firms among best places to work

By Joel Dresang
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Seven Wisconsin companies were ranked today among the 50 best to work for by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Great Place to Work Institute.

The list includes:

• Acuity, Sheboygan.
• 4imprint Inc., Oshkosh.
• Badger Mining Corp., Berlin.
• Kahler Slater, Milwaukee.
  
• Stark Investments, St. Francis.
• Runzheimer International, Rochester.
• Cascade Asset Management, Madison.

“Particularly in times of economic instability, knowing how to best manage your employees is an essential part of keeping productivity high and your organization open for business,” Susan R. Meisinger, president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management, said in a statement.

The Great Place to Work Institute, a research and consulting group that also compiles the list for Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, chose the winners announced today from 321 employers that applied for the recognition.

Two-thirds of the organizations’ scores is based on random surveys of employees. Independent evaluators also use management surveys and a review of annual reports, employee handbooks and other materials to grade the companies on credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

I–43 projects done, FdL projects slowed by weather

Work continues on a number of road construction projects in Northeast Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Transportation:

Brown County: Deck sealing continues on Interstate 43.

Door County: Base course will be applied this week to the Wisconsin 57 four-lane project. Work also is being done on the new Park and Ride lot at 57 and Door County C. Concrete, pavement markings and landscape work is being done this week on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

Florence County: The Wisconsin 139 resurfacing project is continuing between Long Lake and the Wisconsin–Michigan state line through late July.

Fond du Lac County: Work on U.S. 45 (Sixth Street) in Fond du Lac has been slowed due to Fond du Lac’s flooding. Storm sewer is being installed this week between Marr Street and Park Avenue.

Manitowoc County: The Wisconsin 310 Madison Street bridge in Two Rivers is now complete. Paving is taking place on 16th Street, Adams Street and Monroe Street in Two Rivers. New paving is also taking place on U.S. 10 (Eighth Street) in Manitowoc. The Interstate 43 exit project at Manitowoc County C is now open to traffic.

Marinette County: The Wisconsin 64 Peshtigo River and Little Peshtigo River bridge will close this week. The Peshtigo River bridge detour is U.S. 41 and Marinette County D. The Little Peshtigo bridge detour is U.S. 141, Marinette County P, and Marinette County V.

Oconto County: Paving is continuing on U.S. 41 between Rodney Lane and Kasal Lane, and shoulder work will begin between Oconto and County W. The bridge causeway is being built on the 41 bypass route in the Oconto River for the next several weeks. Work also is continuing between Wisconsin 22 and Range Line Road, and between the existing 41 and Old Highway 15.

Outagamie County: Wisconsin 76 will be open this week at the Embarrass River and Bear Creek bridges. Work continues on the Wisconsin 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) project between 76 and Outagamie County A (Lynndale Drive), with utility work finishing in the 96/Outagamie County CB area. Utility work is continuing on the Wisconsin 55 (Crooks Avenue) project in Kaukauna.

Shawano County: Wisconsin 22 is closed between Wisconsin 156 and Wisconsin 29 for replacement of the Embarrass River bridge in the Town of Belle Plaine, through early September.

Sheboygan County: The Interstate 43 exit project at Taylor Drive is nearly complete and is open to traffic.

Waupaca County: A roundabout is being constructed on Wisconsin 22/54 between Godfrey Drive and Royalton Street in Waupaca, part of the 22/54 east bypass of Waupaca between the U.S. 10/Waupaca County A interchange and the existing 22/54 west of the CN Railroad overpass. The project is expected to be completed by Aug. 15.

Waushara County: The southbound Interstate 39/U.S. 51 rebuilding project between Coloma and Plainfield is expected to be completed this week. Traffic on southbound 39/51 is restricted to one lane between Tuesday at 5 a.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m.

Winnebago County: The Wisconsin Street Bridge project in Oshkosh is continuing, with Wisconsin Street closed through Oct. 11. The new northbound lanes of U.S. 45 are being graded, with 45 closed between Winnebago County II in Winchester and Wisconsin 116/Winnebago County GG in Winneconne through the end of August. Work also continues on the Wisconsin 44 project in Oshkosh, with Ohio Street closed between South Park Avenue and the Fox River bridge, and Wisconsin Street closed from the Fox River bridge to Campus Place. The South Commercial Street project in Neenah continues, with South Commercial closed between South Park Street and Lyon Drive.

Credit union offers home equity loans for flooding repairs

CitizensFirst Credit Union recently established an emergency relief fund of $1.5 million in order to offer as low as possible fixed rate home equity loans to members who own homes damaged by flooding in Northeast Wisconsin.

The loans are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be used for clean-up services, home repairs, wall repair, or replacement of furnaces, hot water heaters, washer and dryers, or furniture damaged in the flood. Each household can borrow up to $5,000 for five years.

“We know some of our members suffered significant losses,” said Carla Altepeter, president/CEO of CitizensFirst Credit Union, which serves 31,000 members in counties hard-hit by flooding. “This isn’t a marketing promotion. It’s the best way we knew of to help as many members as possible.

“We are subsidizing the operating costs associated with these loans, so we can guarantee this low interest rate for the full-term of the loan, not just a couple of months like other programs. In addition, we have streamlined the normal approval process to get the money to our members as quickly as possible. And our employees volunteered to work extra hours so we could be more responsive to members’ needs at this difficult time.”

The below-market-rate home equity loan is just one part of CitizensFirst’s disaster relief program for its members, which includes:

• Emergency fund disaster relief loans: Members who own homes damaged by flooding can qualify for a five-year home equity loan up to $5,000 with a 3.5-percent APR fixed interest rate. Must meet credit requirements and be a member of CitizensFirst as of the day of the flood, June 12
• Low-interest auto loans: CitizensFirst is extending its recently ended auto loan special to members who need to replace cars lost or damaged in the flood. Rates on these auto loans are as low as 3.99 percent APR.0
• Skip-a-Payment: Qualifying members with consumer loans at CitizensFirst can skip one month’s loan payment with no fees.
• Financial consultations: CitizensFirst team members are available to help members understand their financial options. For example, if a member needs to make repairs and wants to understand the difference between using 401(k) funds or taking out a loan, CitizensFirst team members can help crunch the numbers.
  

“These options are available to help members while they apply for federal disaster relief funds,” said Altepeter. “Members can use these funds for immediate needs, home repairs, temporary housing or replacement of furnaces, hot water heaters or other items lost in flooding.”