*****************ECRWSS**** PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID SHAWANO, WI PERMIT NO. 135 MAY 27, 2020 x OSHKOSHHERALD.COM VOLUME 3, ISSUE 21 INSIDE Contact tracing ramps up Special duty in county Veteran’s service By Jack Tierney dedicated to fallen Oshkosh Herald As schools finish for the year and busi- Page 5 nesses and parks continue to reopen after Safer at Home orders expired, contact tracers will be relied on to examine data, Care facility tests identify and address the spread of the Bethel reports coronavirus and contain its reach in Osh- kosh, Winnebago County health depart- multiple virus cases ment director Douglas Gieryn said. Page 6 Contact tracers provide recommenda- tions for self-quarantine and review daily monitoring, check support to maintain compliance during self-quarantine, com- Accolades municate with symptomatic patient’s Writer gives Herd contacts, conduct daily monitoring with players their due temperature readings and advise use of medications until 14 days after the last po- Page 14 tential exposure. There are 12 COVID-19 contact tracers in Winnebago County, Gieryn said at a Photo by Michael Cooney May 18 special session Common Coun- cil meeting. The number of tracers will Rental eviction increase or decrease depending on the Mobile food assistance county’s needs and patterns of spread, he A Drive-thru Mobile Food Pantry set up Thursday at the Oshkosh Area Communi- said. protections ty Pantry handed out 1,000 boxes of produce, meat and dairy products on a first- Gieryn said right now most of the come basis to the public thanks to a partnership between Feeding America Eastern staff-mobilized contact tracers in Win- no longer hold Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Oshkosh delivery was one nebago are former nurses who were asked Tenants and landlords are questioning of several in the region to distribute healthy food directly to high-need areas free of to break retirement and help along with what will happen now that a statewide charge. The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation is partnering with UW Osh- school district nurses. He said the Wiscon- moratorium on evictions for nonpayment kosh to host a similar event every Monday on the university campus. Each mobile of rent ended Tuesday. pantry delivers more than 8,300 meals. SEE Contact tracers ON PAGE 13 Though the measure didn’t eliminate the obligation to make rent or mortgage payments, the moratorium order kept lo- cal residents from losing their housing as Family businesses work to weather storm the pandemic unfolded and people were urged to practice social distancing and Owners focus on keeping stay at home. Landlords can once again file for evic- customers comfortable tions and existing cases in the court sys- By Lee Reiherzer tem will proceed. This is what has many Herald contributor worried. “We don’t want a housing crisis on top The spring of 2020 will be remembered of a public health crisis so we helped pull as among the worst of times for family-run together key stakeholders to take action,” businesses like Jerry’s Bar and the Fox Riv- said Amy Putzer, director of programs at er Brewing Co. the Oshkosh Area Community Founda- Scott Engel, whose family has operated tion. Jerry’s at 1210 Ceape Ave. for more than a She said representatives from 12 local century, will never forget March 17. It was organizations have been meeting to enact the day he learned that Wisconsin’s Safer strategies to prevent a surge in evictions. at Home order would force him to close Last week, the Wisconsin Rental Assis- his business. tance Program (WRAP) was announced “It made me sick when I got the news,” by Gov. Tony Evers and the state Depart- Engel said. “At the time Mike Koplitz, ment of Administration. my partner in the business, was working. The widespread job loss and cut wages There were a few of our regulars already amid the pandemic have further stressed there. I came in to help Mike lock up the those living paycheck to paycheck. In the place. It was pretty upsetting. At one point, last seven weeks, Winnebago County has I had to leave. I walked out that back door. seen more than 12,000 new filers for un- It had me so upset that I just had to leave.” Photo by Lee Reiherzer Mike Koplitz (left) and Scott Engel are shown at Jerry’s Bar recently. Engel is the fourth gener- SEE Landlords ON PAGE 18 SEE Survival mode ON PAGE 17 ation of his family to run the tavern since 1911. PAGE 2 x OSHKOSHHERALD.COM MAY 27, 2020 Mabel Murphy’s rebuild effort advances By Tom Ekvall in an apartment building next door spread outdoor storage area at 2676 S. Oakwood Herald contributor to the tavern, which collapsed as a result. Road as part of the company’s plans to The building next door had significant fire, move its Oshkosh facilities there. The The Oshkosh Plan Commission rec- water and smoke damage, displacing nine company purchased the site in the South- ommended approval of a conditional use 923 S. Main St. Suite C residents. west Industrial Park previously used by permit that will help with the rebuilding At the conclusion of the meeting, Dynamic Drinkware. Oshkosh, WI 54902 of Mabel Murphy’s tavern at 701 N. Main Planning Services Manager Mark Lyons The company has facilities at 51 W. Fur- St., which was destroyed by fire last May. General information/customer presented Chairman Tom Fojtik with a nau Ave. and 3200 N. Main St. and wants The permit discussed at the commis- service: Julie Vandenberg certificate for his leadership on the Plan to shift all production to the industrial sion’s May 19 meeting will allow the addi- [email protected] Commission, serving as chairman for 12 park site. The outdoor storage area would tion of an outdoor commercial entertain- Phone: 920-508-9000 years and a member for 15. house raw materials for sheet metal pro- ment use at the property that can serve up Website: www.oshkoshherald.com Fojtik announced he would be stepping duction as well as fleet vehicles for deliv- to 32 patrons in the 800-square-foot area. down from the Plan Commission and ery of finished materials used in the build- Applicant Dan Meissner said in his re- News tips and story ideas voiced support for public participation in ing construction industry. quest that he needs the permit for a patio [email protected] the overall planning process. “I would like The commission also advanced: area to better serve customers. Planning to call this body a ‘glamour commission,’” • Zoning change at 19 W. 28th Ave. staff supported his proposal and noted he said. from heavy industrial to heavy industrial Support the Oshkosh Herald that its does not exempt the bar from city The commission also recommended with planned development overlay to en- noise criteria. approval of a conditional use permit re- able Hydrite Chemical Co. to add a rail Membership An early-morning fire May 7 that started A $50 annual membership quested by Muza Sheet Metal Co. for an yard expansion to connect to Canadian supports receiving the newspaper National rail area track. Also recommend- weekly. Call 920-508-9000 or visit ed for approval was a general development www.oshkoshherald.com/store plan and specific implementation plan for /membership. the project. • Zoning change from institutional dis- trict to institutional with planned devel- Subscribe opment overlay for Winnebago County to For $70 annually the Oshkosh enable expansion of the Sunnyview Expo Herald is mailed to non-delivery Center as part of a two-phase approach. areas via first-class mail. Go to • Storm sewer easement at 1658 Mar- www.oshkoshherald.com/shop icopa Drive that will improve surface /subscribe or call 920-508-9000. drainage. • Allowing a property at 11 Chateau Advertising Terrace to construct a small solar energy [email protected] system on the roof consistent with state Mike Sohm: 920-508-0084 requirements, including two groups of Tammy Ording: 920-508-0030 eight panels. Put our experience to work for you! Contact us today! • Zoning change at Jackson Street and Classified advertising West Fernau Avenue from heavy indus- [email protected] 814 Knapp St · Oshkosh trial to heavy industrial with a planned 920-508-9000 920-230-8880 development overlay for three properties www.oshkoshrealty.com that will enable consistent zoning for re- All advertisements are subject to Locally Owned and Operated development. the applicable rate card, copies of which are available from our Ad- vertising Department. All ads are subject to approval before publica- COVID-19 TIPS FOR tion. Oshkosh Herald reserves the right to edit, refuse, reject, classify or cancel any ad at any time. Errors OSHKOSH TENANTS must be reported in the first day of publication. The Herald shall not be liable for any loss or expense that Continue to pay your rent and utilities as best as you can so that results from an error in or omission CONTINUE TO you don’t get further behind or become at risk for eviction later. of an advertisement. No refunds Wisconsin has banned all evictions, except those where there is an will be given for early cancellation PAY RENT imminent risk of serious physical harm to another person until of an order. AND UTILITIES. Advertising deadline is noon Friday May 26, 2020. Wisconsin prohibits all landlords from charging late for the following Wednesday. fees until 90-days after the state emergency expir. The classified line ads deadline is 4 p.m. Friday for Wednesday. Let your landlord know if you or anyone else in your Publisher COMMUNICATE household experiences a loss of income.