Red Cross reaching out with text messages in Fox Cities tornado damage areas (APPLETON)
The American Red Cross is reaching out directly to Fox Cities residents affected by last week’s tornado. Northeast Wisconsin Chapter Director Rebecca Rockhill says people in the impact zone can expect a text message. It’s not spam – it’s the how the agency can start to get in touch with people requiring assistance. The EF-3 tornado with winds up to 140 miles per hour left a trail of damage across Neenah, Appleton and Fox Crossing. The Red Cross emergency shelter facility moved from Christ of the Rock Church to Appleton North High School this week. Another resource center for tornado victims is opening in Menasha to provide assistance with housing, finances, mental health, food, and essential needs.
Korean company partners with Fraser Shipyards to reinvigorate industry (SUPERIOR)
A Wisconsin company will work with a top global shipbuilder to modernize the industry. South Korean’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering plans to turn the Fraser Shipyards in Superior into a model for renovating the US shipbuilding industry. Much of that capacity moved overseas over the last 30 years, and Fraser Industries wants to see that work return to the US. No formal agreement is in place yet, but HD Korea and Fraser are hoping to have a partnership in place by this fall after signing a memorandum of understanding in Washington, DC last month.
Wisconsin State Fair opens for 175th season (WEST ALLIS)
The Wisconsin State Fair is open. Doors opened at 10 am Thursday for the fair’s 175th anniversary. If you’re heading out to the fairgrounds in West Allis, be aware that all bags are being searched on the way in and that restrictions on the number of bags you can have are lifted. You can find a full listing of events at the fair online at W I State Fair dot Com. Visitors to the Cream Puff bakery in The Dairy Building will find that it now bears the name of Tony Evers in honor of governor’s long-time support of the Wisconsin State Fair and State Fair Park.
Two teens injured in e-bike crash (SHEBOYGAN)
Two Sheboygan teens are sent to the hospital in an e-bike crash. The crash happened Wednesday, when an e-bike being driven by a 14-year-old was struck by a vehicle when it failed to stop at an intersection. A 13-year-old passenger on the bike was also injured. Police say the e-bike was not legal and the 14-year-ld was cited for operating without a license. Neither teen sustained life-threatening injuries. Health care providers in Wisconsin and around the nation are seeing an alarming increase in youth emergency room visits linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.