Eye on Oshkosh - Spring election, county exec and school board candidates

On the latest edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz chats with Jon Doemel and Gordon Hintz, candidates for the position of Winnebago County executive, and Molly Smiltneek, Michael Ford and Jacob Wolf, candidates for the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education. 

Due to some technical problems earlier in the month, we were unable to tape a show earlier in the month where we could have had more time with the candidates. So on this episode, we were crunched for time and could not explore all the things we had wanted to with the candidates, but we tried to cover the more salient points. Some of you submitted questions to us to ask the candidates and we tried to dovetail them with some of our own questions. Please accept our apologies if we didn’t get to a particular question you may have sent in. We and the candidates did the best we could with the time we had. On that note, we want to thank the candidates for being as concise as they were in answering questions so we had more time to cover other topics.

On this episode, you’ll hear why the candidates are seeking the positions they are and why they believe they’re the best-qualified. You’ll also hear what the county is trying to do currently and what it will be doing in the future in partnership with others to create more housing in the area. 

Meanwhile, the school board candidates discuss the upcoming referendum, the district’s huge $1.2 million misstep with regard to purchasing homes for an expansion or construction of a new South Park school, and behavioral problems with some students at Vel Phillips Middle School, resulting in the police being called on numerous occasions. 

Whatever your position on issues or candidates in the April 1 election, PLEASE make sure to vote and let your voice be heard. If you have any questions about polling places, or how to register to vote, contact your local clerk of courts and they can help you.

You can watch the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/Qzve2xPpHR4

Eye On Oshkosh - Oshkosh Area School District issues - taped 2-20-2025

On this edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz spends the hour visiting with Dr. Bryan Davis, superintendent of the Oshkosh Area School District. 

One topic heavily discussed was the recent discovery that the $1.2 million spent to purchase five homes to either enlarge or rebuild South Park Middle School, was wasted because of zoning changes that occurred more than a year ago which don’t allow buildings with large numbers of people in them to be located in the runway/departure zone of Wittman Regional Airport.  The district assumes full responsibility for this mistake and Dr. Davis explains what they’re going to do about this moving forward.

They also talked about the school referendum going on the ballot this past April 1, 2025, in which the district is asking voters to approve $197.8 million for the construction of a new middle school and, additions and improvements to other schools. If the referendum fails in April, Dr. Davis explains what that means to the district and that they’ll put together another referendum to bring forward next April.

They also talked about the recent activity of two school board members who created fake Facebook accounts to oppose the upcoming referendum and the district’s policies, in general; the district’s recent report card; school safety issues; etc.

You can see the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/SJA3h8umBkw

Eye on Oshkosh - Kids museum and Seniors Center - taped 2-6-2025

On this episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz visits in the first segment with Lisa Heller and Tina Fillmore, two women who are part of a small group of folks dedicated to creating a Kids Museum in the city of Oshkosh. They explain how the idea came about and the steps they’ve taken thus far to make this dream a reality by sometime in 2027. Find more information about them, including how you can join them in this effort or donate to the cause, at oshkoshkidsmuseum.com.

In the second segment, Hentz chats with Jane Wells, program supervisor at the Oshkosh Seniors Center about the many programs and services this 50-year-old center has to offer to people 50 years and older. From balance and fall prevention screening, fitness and wellness programs, and social events to providing assistance with technology, woodworking instruction, and educational seminars, the Oshkosh Seniors Center offers something for everyone.

People can take a free tour of the facility by calling them at 920-232-5300, or pick up a copy of their monthly newsletter, “The Current,” to see what’s happening each and every month. You can also find the newsletter online at oshkoshwi.gov/seniorservices.  

Watch the program here (if offered) or by going to this link: https://youtu.be/bSPWotq6H50. 

EyeOnOshkosh - Habitat for Humanity, taped 1-16-2025

On the most recent edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz discusses with Tom Simon, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh, the affordable housing crisis – homes that people with low-to-moderate income or those with income of $100,000 or less can afford. This includes the Washington Elementary School site, where the school is being demolished, and -- as part of a public-private partnership between Habitat and the City of Oshkosh -- 18 new homes will be built there – 9 by Habitat and 9 by the City. The proposed cost of these new homes, especially by the City is ridiculous and will do little to nothing to help those with low to moderate income.

Other topics included projects Habitat recently finished and ones they are about to embark upon.  

Check it out here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/hYrKJToSNok.

Eye On Oshkosh - Care and resources for people with disabilities, famili...

On the most recent edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz talks with Marla Kopecky Penney, founder of Focus on Freedom and Empower Freedom, two companies designed to assist people and families who have disabilities.

Focus on Freedom helps foster independence and improve one’s quality of life by helping individuals with disabilities gain as much freedom, independence, and joy as possible. They do that by providing a variety of customized disability-focused services, such as daily living skills training, personal futures planning, communication, respite care for caregivers, etc.

Empower Freedom points folks in the right direction when looking for resources, products and other information to make lives easier when a disability is involved.

Watch the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/tbyI3VsUBgY. 

Eye on Oshkosh - Emergency Preparedness, taped 11/7/2024

Would you know what to do if a tornado was sighted near your community? If you need to evacuate your home do you know what to take to keep your family, including your pets, functioning as normally as possible while you're away? If you lose electrical power at your home, do you know how best to protect your home and belongings? Do you know why you should have a weather radio in your home even though you may receive weather alerts on your phone?

If you answered no to any of these questions you need to watch this episode of Eye on Oshkosh. Guest Winnebago County Emergency Management Director Eric Rasmussen not only answers those questions, but also explains how to best prepare yourself and your family for any type of major disaster or emergency and how to make a disaster supply kit. 

You can see the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/jekB0DAjaXY.

Eye on Oshkosh - Emergency Preparedness, taped 11/7/2024

Would you know what to do if a tornado was sighted near your community? If you need to evacuate your home do you know what to take to keep your family, including your pets, functioning as normally as possible while you're away? If you lose electrical power at your home, do you know how best to protect your home and belongings? Do you know why you should have a weather radio in your home even though you may receive weather alerts on your phone?

If you answered no to any of these questions you need to watch this episode of Eye on Oshkosh. Guest Winnebago County Emergency Management Director Eric Rasmussen not only answers those questions, but also explains how to best prepare yourself and your family for any type of major disaster or emergency and how to make a disaster supply kit.

You can see the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/jekB0DAjaXY.