Eye On Oshkosh - Journey Together Service Dog fundraisers and Winnebago County K9s

On the most recent episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz welcomes Robin Milner, a volunteer with Journey Together Service Dog, who shares information about some upcoming fundraisers the group is holding.

A major one is on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Barley & Hops in Oshkosh from 11 am to 3 pm. People will have a chance to meet some of the service dogs they’re training to eventually be given free of charge to Wisconsin residents diagnosed with PTSD or who are victims of crime and have anxiety issues. There will also be some items raffled off including a very special item – a Packers football, signed by the players and coaches from the past NFL season. As an added treat, WBAY Channel 2 evening news anchor, Cami Rapson, will act as a celebrity bartender from 11 am to 1 pm, serving up Bloody Marys and Mimosas to people in attendance.

Hentz spends the balance of the hour chatting with Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz and K9 handler, Deputy Devin Wilson and his K9 partner, Gracie, who is in training to be a therapy dog for the department. Only 11 months old at the time of this taping, Gracie is on schedule to finish her training and become certified by sometime this fall. Currently, she spends a lot of her time comforting employees of the sheriff’s department and inmates at the jail, helping to keep them calm and relaxed in otherwise very stressful situations. Once certified, Gracie and Deputy Wilson will go on calls in the community where citizens are having an emotional crisis of some kind or to help diffuse other tense situations in the field.

Much of this discussion’s focus was on the Sheriff department’s K9 program – how many dogs they have, the approximate cost for obtaining and training a dog, what jobs the dogs are assigned, and the STAR program. This program – the county’s 16-month-old sobriety-assisted treatment program – is offered to any inmate who is serious about becoming clean and sober. K9 Gracie is a unique part of the STAR program.

 

You can watch this fascinating and information-filled show here or by going to the following link: https://youtu.be/rPuJn6Dpvdk. 

Eye OnOshkosh - Fall prevention, pet fire safety, fire safety tips, etc ...

On the latest edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz spends the entire hour with Oshkosh Fire Department Chief Mike Stanley, discussing a wide variety of topics. There’s truly something for everyone in this jam-packed show.

The first topic discussed was falls and fall prevention, especially as it relates to people 60 years and older. The OFD has worked closely with experts in developing an app and/or online tool that can help people reduce their risk of falls by improving their physical coordination. The app is called NYMBL and it is free to download and use from your app store. You can also use it online if you don’t have a smartphone or would prefer to use it via your computer. There’s also lots of other good information that can help preserve or improve cognitive health. It is strictly for people in the Oshkosh area.

Also discussed during the hour were pet fire safety tips, especially as National Pet Fire Safety Day is coming up on July 15th. The tips are wonderful not just on July 15th but year-round and any pet owner should pay close attention because the information is invaluable.

General fire safety tips are also discussed as is National Fire Prevention Month and Week which aren’t happening until October, but there is good information about smoke detectors because the theme for this year’s campaign is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You.”

Lastly, there was a discussion about an insert recently sent out to City of Oshkosh water utility customers in their monthly bills. The insert focused solely on preparing your pets for disasters. This information can also be found at Ready.gov/pets or at HSUS.org and doing a search there for disaster prep.

You can either watch the show here or by going to the following link: https://youtu.be/ySU4VEbXULI

Eye On Oshkosh - Overdose Deaths in Winnebago County highlighted in recent report

On the latest edition of Eye on Oshkosh, two folks from the Winnebago County Health Department talk with host Cheryl Hentz about the results of the most recent annual survey of Overdose Deaths in Winnebago County; what the Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) team is doing to curb or reduce these numbers; what the most common drugs were that our neighbors and fellow community members overdosed from; and what the public can do to help, even if they don’t know anyone who uses or is addicted to drugs. You can watch the show here or by clicking on the following link: https://youtu.be/QOnJza9sl00. This is one show you’ll want to see.

Eye On Oshkosh - Damascus Road and Human Trafficking, taped 6-6-2024

On the latest edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz visits with two directors from Damascus Road Project about the work they do with adult women who have been trafficked. It’s frightening to learn how easy it is for people to get trafficked to begin with and how difficult it can be to escape from that situation once it’s occurred.

They talk about how common trafficking is even in Oshkosh or our surrounding communities, and how it could be happening in anyone's community, red flags to watch for, where to reach out for help if you think someone might be getting trafficked and how you can get more involved with Damascus Road Project, even as a volunteer, which they need a lot more of. They also share information about the kinds of donations they need to put together baskets for women they’re working with, including just very basic things like deodorant, soap, shampoo, etc. A complete list of those things is on their website at DamascusRoadProject.org.

Watch the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/XiCr3cCnDQc.

Eye On Oshkosh - author Carmen Leal, guests share dog rescue stories - t...

On the most recent episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz spends the hour chatting with author Carmen Leal about her latest book “When Love Wags a Tail” and two contributors to the book – Dr. Gerald Hendrickson and Quentin Wood - who share their stories about rescue dogs and the profound difference they’ve made in each of their lives. It’s a heartwarming show that you don’t want to miss. Even if you’re not a dog person, the stories can’t help but tug at your heartstrings. You can either watch the show here, or by following this link: https://youtu.be/Bn9kcE46bAI. 

Eye on Oshkosh - guest Wisconsin State Rep. 54th Assembly District Lori ...

On this edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz spends the hour talking with Lori Palmeri, State Representative for the 54th Assembly District. This visit covered nothing short of very important information for people living here to have.

After years of fighting to have, what many believed to be gerrymandered district maps redrawn, new maps were finally drawn and signed into law. With the maps redrawn, you may no longer be in the 54th Assembly District or the 18th State Senate District come 2025. Or, you may have been in other districts previously and are now the 54th and/or 18th.  There are different websites you can visit to learn what district(s) you are in. Those sites include the following: legis.wisconsin.gov; house.gov; or myvote.wi.gov.

 Other issues discussed include recently-passed vehicle registration fee for residents of Oshkosh, the ERA, affordable housing and possible ways to get developers to include housing for low to moderate income people in their developments, etc.

Constituents can reach Rep. Palmeri by email at rep.palmeri@legis.wisconsin.gov or by phone at 608-237-9154. By way of reminder, she will be holding her monthly office hours in the district on May 17 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

Watch the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/gLjdlPiV-8k

Eye On Oshkosh - Healthy Aging - taped 4-18-2024

On the most recent episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz talks with women from the Winnebago County Health Department and the Winnebago County’s Aging & Disability Resource Center about healthy ways to age. This is great information for anyone – whether you’re 62 or older, or have parents, other relatives or friends who are in that same age bracket. Someone might be perfectly healthy and want to do whatever they can to stay that way. Or they might be feeling stiff and sore and not able to move as well as they once did. The county has exercise programs to help anyone at any ability. If someone is still in their home and wants to stay there, the county can come out – free of charge – and assess your home to make sure there aren’t trip hazards or other issues that could be problematic for someone as they’re aging. There are a lot of offerings – again, free of charge – for people who have dementia and who want to have an outlet for them and their caregiver, or other family member.

The women also discussed a new smart phone app for people in Winnebago County called Nymbl. It offers wonderful information and easy-to-do exercise to keep your body and mind active and to help prevent falls from occurring. Go to your app store and download it for free. It’s also free to register and use.

There are so many services that the county and the ADRC offer that many people have no idea about. The ADRC also publishes an absolutely wonderful Resource Directory each year of any and all services that a person 50 or older might need or want.

Here are two websites for more information: co.winnebago.wi.us/health;  co.winnebago.wi.us/adrc.

Watch the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/MBh0AU6bHy4