Good morning, Appleton.

Construction is progressing on the new family resource center in downtown Appleton, being built in the former Trout Art Museum building with a free play area for up to 30 kids and a giant origami crane slated for a playful update in September (opening on Oct.

10).

Officials from Wisconsin Manufacturers (WMC) announce that submissions are open for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin competition, calling on companies to showcase innovative products with economic impact; entries will be accepted until Sept.

11.

Tri-County Recycling Partnership won a national award for its K-12 education book The ABC’s of Recycling Right and sent hundreds of copies to every school in Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago counties + now plans to launch Recycle Write Trunks in Winnebago County soon.

An Appleton woman survived a 13-minute ordeal after driving into the path of an EF-3 tornado near Menasha on July 27, when winds picked up unexpectedly on Plank Road; her vehicle was damaged as debris hit and roads became impassable, leaving neighborhoods scarred.

Outagamie County U will be closed from Aug.

31 through November for road rehabilitation in Kaukauna and Oneida. Drivers must follow a detour via County S to County J to County E to County EE plus back to County U while residents maintain access for essential services.

The Wisconsin Herd will open their 2026-27 season at Oshkosh Arena on Tuesday, Nov.

17 at 6 p.m. against the Windy City Bulls after starting on the road versus the Iowa Wolves on Friday, Nov. 6. Weekday games begin at 6 p.m. while weekends start at 7 p.m.