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10 News Events In The Fox Valley In 2004
by Bob Lowe
January 31, 2005
At the end of each year, a lot of newspapers and magazines
take a look at the previous 12 months to determine the most
significant events that occurred.
Many area publications did so at the end of December. I
decided to compile my own list. But I felt I should wait
a month or so into the new year to get a better perspective
on the events that took place.
Not
all stories that grab the headlines and get the most air
time over the local radio, TV or cable channels are necessarily
those that affect people’s lives here on a daily basis.
For
example, most of the local press went ga-ga over the frequent
visits to the area by George Bush and John Kerry the last
presidential campaign. But I don’t think those
ceremonial stops in pursuit of voters from a newly anointed
swing state merits a Top Ten selection. It is not what Bush
or Kerry do in Appleton or Green Bay that affects us in a
direct and often personal way. It is what they do in Washington,
D.C., that has a much greater impact.
Also, none of the Top 10 lists I saw published included
the Dec. 26 death of Reggie White, whose impact on the Green
Bay Packers, indeed the entire state, was huge. So my list
of the 10 most significant events in northeast Wisconsin
has a little broader frame of reference.
Let’s
establish the main criteria I used for my selection.
First, what events/personalities made the most dramatic
impact on the broadest number of Fox Valley residents in
2004?
Secondly,
my selection is based in large part on the types of articles
I wrote for this web site. Since the column is called "Out /n About," it
may be somewhat skewed to some of the issues that I have
covered in the past year. These include the entertainment
scene (the fine arts, nightclubs, restaurants and sporting
events in particular), retail projects and other municipal
and private sector development, consumer issues, pop culture
(music, plays, movies, etc), the TV-radio-cable industry
and a few political, social and economic issues.
Third, I try to stay away from crime and other negative
stories like political corruption unless they affect a good
share of the population.
Former
Winnebago County Dist. Atty. Joe Paulus’ conviction
for bribery may have been a big deal for most of the local
media. And it is, to some extent, because that type of Chicago-style
corruption of the political process at this high a level
is very unusual in the Fox Valley. But I don’t think
it had any meaningful impact on most of us living and working
here.
So keeping these guidelines in mind, I submit to you my
Top 10 List of the Biggest Stories in the Fox Valley in 2004.
1.
Development in the Fox Valley – I have lived in
this are for nearly 35 years and I don’t think I have
ever seen a year with so much development, both in the public
and private sectors. Major municipal projects include Neenah’s
Riverwalk project; Appleton’s downtown and river front
initiatives, which led to construction like J’s Restaurant,
the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame Museum and
the proposed Vulcan Heritage Park, the CopperLeaf boutique
hotel and the Richmond Terrace Condominiums.
Then
there is the Lift-Bridge Trestle Trade project spanning
Little Lake Butte Des Morts in the Town of Menasha that’s
back on track again, after an initial funding shortfall.
The
1,039,900-square-foot Fox River Mall celebrated its 20th
year last summer. This retail behemoth – the number
one attraction in the Fox Cities – continues to expand,
within its walls and in the surrounding outlots. The Valley
Fair Mall became the Youth Futures Mall and the Northland
Mall underwent a face-lift.
Wal-Mart opened a 24-hour Superstore in Neenah and Oshkosh
also got a brand new Wal-Mart Superstore to replace the old
one.
St.
Elizabeth Hospital on Appleton’s south side is
undergoing a multimillion dollar expansion. All indications
are this tremendous building boom will continue this year
with projects like The Big Picture, the six-story-tall movie
screen opening in March in downtown Appleton, Outagamie County
office expansion project, Mills’ Fleet Farm 42,000
square foot new building going up west of the present store
on Wisconsin Avenue, Springz, a family entertainment center
set to open in September west of McCarthy Road in Grand Chute,
Culver’s Frozen Custard, Arby’s, Taco Bell an
another Applebee’s near the Wal-Mart Supercenter/Kohl’s
complex in Neenah, the University of Phoenix satellite classroom
extension next to Hollywood Cinema in Grand Chute, the $1.2
million free medical clinic expansion in the Goodwill building
in Menasha and the $2.5 million Trolley Square Development
in the Industrial Flats at Olde Oneida Street in downtown
Appleton.
All you have to do is just drive around in your car and
you will see the unprecedented level of development taking
place from Green Bay to Oshkosh.
2.
The Poor State of the Economy – Ironic isn't it?
You would think that will all this new commercial, retail
and municipal development, everybody who wanted to work could
find good-paying jobs and be happy. But that isn't the case.
People over 50 have found that they are not the primary choice
of employers. Then there are the painful job layoffs in places
like New London, where companies like Norwood Promotional
Products and Simmons Juvenile Products closed local operations.
Even those that remained employed had to struggle to pay
for rising health care costs. And Republicans in the state
Legislature have been resisting raising the state minimum
wage from $5.15 to $6.50 an hour, deepening the economic
plight of the working poor.
3.
The Death and Legacy of Reggie White – Before
the legendary defensive end joined the Green Bay Packers
in 1993, Green Bay was considered to be the cold and frozen
outpost among NFL cities. White’s death, at 43, gave
us a chance to reflect on how his presence changed that mind
set. The Minister of Defense recruited many players who otherwise
would not have come to Green Bay. And his dominating performance
on the defensive line led to the Packers winning another
Super Bowl in 1997. White’s influence extended beyond
football with the establishment of the Urban Hope Entrepreneur
Center, which has helped more than 400 businesses get started.
He even got a football-theme film made, "Reggie’s
Prayer," in 1996, which included a number of other NFL
players and coaches. He was in the process of developing
a children’s television program, "Reggie’s
Railroad," aimed at motivating urban youth towards positive
pursuits when he died.
White
may also have done the most so far to generate awareness
of an ailment that contributed to his death, sleep apnea,
which has turned out to be a lot more prevalent than previously
recognized. Although White’s particular brand of religious
fervor and social activism may have alienated and disappointed
some, it is generally conceded that "his heart was in
the right place," according to Milwaukee columnist Eugene
Kane.
4.
Appleton Has Secured Its Place as Wisconsin’s " Fourth
City" – Chicago is sometimes known as the Second
City. In Wisconsin, Milwaukee comes first because it is the
state’s largest city, Madison is second because it
is the state capital and Green Bay is third because of the
Packers.
Appleton
is fourth because of the presence of the Fox River Mall,
the vitality of its central business district and the tremendous
impact that the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has had
in attracting high class entertainment and celebrities.
These have included jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, the Boston
Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Broadway shows like ”The
Producers" and "Mamma Mia," comedian Bill
Cosby, the Goo Goo Dolls, Peabo Bryson and En Vogue. The
visits of President Bush, Sen. Kerry and other politicos
who passed through town last year helped to secure this identity
for the city. Nothing to be ashamed of here. Being No. 4
means that Appleton has retained much of its small-town charm
without inheriting the big city headaches like overcrowding,
crime and traffic gridlock that plague the larger municipalities.
5)
Fox Valley A Growing Medical Center – The construction
of new hospitals and clinics and the expansion of older health
care facilities have made this area one of the premier centers
for medical treatment in the state.
6)
The War Hits Home for Local Military Personnel and Their
Families – The
increasing toll of dead and injured/disabled soldiers,
the deployment of increasing number of service men and
women to Iraq, the trauma these separations have had on
military families and the growing political divisions between
supporters and opponents of this war have all made this
a hot-button issue for area residents over the past year.
7)
Appleton’s Central Business District Evolving
Into A Major Entertainment Center – You only need to
go downtown College Avenue, particularly on a Friday and
Saturday night, to see this transformation taking place at
area nightclubs, restaurants and hotels and other places
of entertainment.
8)
The Fox Cities Is Becoming A Major Hub For Sports and Recreation – When it comes to sports and recreation,
there is a lot more to this area than Lambeau Stadium. Other
major facilities include Fox Cities Stadium, home of the
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Banta Bowl at Lawrence University,
The Menasha Marina, the Player’s Choice multi use indoor
sports complex, Wisconsin International Raceway In Kaukauna,
Sunset Park in Kimberly, Memorial Park in Appleton, the USA
Youth Sports Complex, Soccer Heaven and the Appleton Family
Ice Arena. Some recent and ongoing sports events hosted in
the area include the ISC World Softball Tournament, the NCAA
Division III Baseball World Series, WIAA Boys State Baseball
Tournament, the WIAA Girls State Volleyball Tournament and
the Amateur World Disc Golf Championship...
9)
The Proliferation of Eating Places – People here
apparently love to eat. This accounts for the explosion of
new restaurants that have shown up on the scene in the past
year. Take your pick: Confucius, Krispy Kreme, Pancheros,
Grazies Pasta Company, GingeRootz, Smokin’s J’s
BBQ, Jukebox Johnny’s, Patina at the CopperLeaf, A
Taste of India, the Golden Corral Buffet and Grill, Noodles & Company,
New York, New York the Four Seasons Family Restaurant and
several new coffee houses.
10)
The Hispanic Population Is Changing the Face of the Fox
Valley – While there was a major immigration of
Hmong to the area, it is the growing impact that the Hispanic
population that is dramatically transforming the Fox Valley.
Many signs at retail outlets, grocery stores and banks now
in English and Spanish. Phone messages are now commonly in
both languages. Elements of the Hispanic culture, like Quinceanera
parties and Spanish religious services and Mexican foods
and music, now permeate the lifestyle in northeast Wisconsin.
The total Hispanic population ranges from about 9,000 in
the Fox Cities to 15,000-20,000 from Green Bay to Oshkosh,
according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
For comments or questions,
boblowe@juno.com or by phone at (920) 731-4603.
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