Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Oshkosh Northwestern Blogs about the Council Election

According to his Twitter account and his website, Winnebago County Supervisor and former Winnebago County Democratic Party chairman Jef Hall has started campaigning for an Oshkosh Common Council seat.

And it looks like Hall has the support of some big names in local politics behind his campaign. Former Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Bryan Bain is the treasurer of his campaign and he has listed on his website supporters such as Mark Harris, Winnebago County Executive, Christian Gossett, Winnebago County DA, sitting council members Steve Herman and Jessica King (who isn't seeking re-election to council), State Rep. Gordon Hintz, former mayor Steve Hintz and former council member Shirley Brabender Mattox.

the whole story, including an update on the Oshkosh Mayor Race is here: http://goo.gl/5QIhs

City of Oshkosh Press Release: False Facebook Pages Posing as City Services

False Facebook Pages Posing as City Services

(Oshkosh, WI.) The city of Oshkosh would like to notify residents and the media about false Facebook pages claiming to be city operated. The pages are not facilitated through the city and are distributing inaccurate information about city services and staff.

The city does not currently have any authorized Facebook pages relating to the Parks Department or Menominee Park. The city suggests that participants remove themselves from these pages, as the operators may be phishing for personal information.

The city believes that social media is a positive way of sharing information and has several authorized Facebook pages. A link to city operated Facebook pages can be found by going to the city website, www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us and clicking on the Facebook icon.

For more information please contact Information Technology Director Tony Neumann at (920) 236-5148.

###

The release is here: http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/assets/pr/PR_False_Facebook_Pages_Posing_as_City_Services2_11-30-10.pdf

“Good Drugs Gone Bad”


“Good Drugs Gone Bad”
Nov. 30, 2010
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
North High School
Jesse Hooper Auditorium

“Armed robber hits pharmacy”; “Resident hospitalized in home invasion”; “20 year old dies from overdose”…….these are recent headlines from Northeast Wisconsin, all with one thing in common….prescription drugs.

National studies have identified a growing concern regarding the use of prescription and over the counter drugs to get high.    Pharmaceuticals currently rank as the third most abused drug behind alcohol and marijuana.  In the past year, there were 36 drug related deaths in the Fox Valley.  Twenty seven of these were the result of the abuse of pharmaceuticals.  In addition, 46% of all drug related emergency room visits were pharmaceutical related.

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey taken last spring by Oshkosh high school students, 26.7% said they had taken a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription at least one time.  In the last year we have seen an increase in the number of juveniles in Winnebago County being charged with drug and alcohol related violations.  In 2008 159 or 8% of all of the offenses referred to the Winnebago County Juvenile Intake office were drug and alcohol offenses.  That compares to 102 or 5% in 2007 and 118 or 5.5% in 2006.  Information gathered by the intake staff suggests that an increasing number of Winnebago county juveniles have experimented with or abused prescription drugs. 

Law enforcement agencies have seen an alarming increase in crimes associated with pharmaceuticals.  Prescription drugs are the #1 threat in the Fox Valley.  In 2007, there were 8 armed robberies of pharmacies in the Fox Valley.  This accounted for nearly a third of the total armed robberies of pharmacies for the entire state.  In 2008, there were 4 home invasions in the Fox Valley in which pharmaceutical drugs were the primary target.

With the assistance of national organizations such as The Partnership for a Drug Free America and the National Office for Drug Control Policy, and pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma; a campaign “Good Drugs Gone Bad” has been developed to combat this growing problem.

Parents please join us on November 30 or December 2, 2010 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. to see what we can do to combat the abuse of pharmaceuticals and keep our children safe.  Together we can make a difference.




Dorry Wilner
Community Programs Coordinator
Oshkosh Police Department
420 Jackson Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920)236-5714
(920)236-5087 Fax
"We encourage citizens to join us as volunteers, partners and donors and thank you for your support and commitment to our partnership for a safe and strong community."

Signatures

Help Jef for Oshkosh get on the ballot!

Click here for Jef for Oshkosh signature sheets.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Oshkosh Fire Department rating within top 1 percent

Oshkosh Fire Department rating within top 1 percent

A recent audit placed the Oshkosh Fire Department among the top 1 percent of fire departments in the nation when it comes to the level of fire protection provided to the community.
...
The rating takes into account not only the fire department — including equipment, manpower and training — but also how fire calls are handled at the Winnebago County 911 Communications Center.

It also looks at the capacity of the city's water supply system, the number of fire hydrants, and the\condition of the water system.

Oshkosh scored a near perfect 39.38 out of 40 points in the water supply category.
...
The ratings are also used to help insurance agencies set property insurance rates and can also be used as a tool to help attract new businesses to the area, Franz said.

"It's not just a feather in our cap," he said. "It has value."

Read it all here:

OshNW: Event City host to world's largest fishing tournament

OshNW: Oshkosh Event City host to world's largest fishing tournament

Wednesday the Cabela's National Team Championship and the Masters Walleye Circuit's Lake Winnebago Central Division Qualifer was officially named the world's largest fishing tournament by Guinness World Records.
The two-day event put 714 anglers in the water of Lake Winnebago and offered more than $350,000 in cash and prizes, with Oshkosh's own Michael Galligan and Stuart Wells taking home the top prize for the NTC event.

Read it all here: http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20101129/OSH0602/11290375