Month: May 2020

The Fond du Lac Area Foundation has announced  that  Society Insurance will provide cash matches to the first $10,000 in gifts donated to the Foundation’s  Disaster Relief Fund.   The Foundation announced last month it was activating the Fund to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.    Foundation Executive Director Joe Braun said that the matching gift from the Society Insurance Charitable Foundation will result in $20,000 of  additional coronavirus relief for Fond […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s presidential primary election held last month in the face of the coronavirus pandemic drew concern from doctors, voters, poll workers and politicians. Now far beyond the 14-day incubation period for COVID-19 it remains largely unknown just how many people contracted the virus at the polls. Public health experts say a lack of testing, not enough contact tracing, difficulty in pinpointing where a person got infected […]

Richelieu Foods of Beaver Dam has announced it will test all employees for COVID-19 after confirming eight cases at it’s Beaver Dam facility last week.  The facility, which employs 420 people, will be closed the remainder of the week for employee testing with assistance from the Wisconsin National Guard.   Company Chief Executive Officer, Ric Alvarez, says the health and safety of employees,  their families and customers is the top priority.  The company manufactures pizza, […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New budget figures for Wisconsin show an $870 million drop off in tax collections last month, the latest stark sign of how much the coronavirus pandemic is hurting the state’s economy. The bleak but expected budget figures delivered to state lawmakers Wednesday come as pressure continues to build on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to reopen business in the state faster and loosen his “safer at home” […]

The president of Envision Greater Fond du Lac says it’s difficult for local businesses to plan for reopening when there is no specific date to reopen.   Sadie Parafiniuk says a local COVID-19 task force’s goal is evolving as the state’s  guiedelines  continue to evolve.  "Our goal is evolving based on there is starting to be more guidance being put out,"  Parafiniuk told WFDL news.   "However a concern that I have is a […]

The director of the Center for Suicide Awareness in Wisconsin says she is not surprised that a new survey finds the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on Americans’ mental health and stress levels.   The survey found roughly two-thirds of Americans say they felt nervous,  depressed, lonely or hopeless at least one of the past seven days.  Barb Bigalki says the problem is we weren’t prepared for a pandemic.  Bigalki says […]

May is Mental Health Awareness month and Comprehensive Service Integration of Fond du Lac County says anyone can make small changes that can have a big impact on their mental health.  Coordinator of the Destination Zero Suicide Prevention Initiative in Fond du Lac County, Tammi  Kohlman, says COVID-19 is having an impact on everybody, but is certainly not impacting everybody the same way.  Kohlman says practical tools include creating healthy routines, supporting […]