COVID-19 has affected everyone’s lives.  Work, school and socializing have given way to social distancing, work at home and online learning.  When it comes news gathering, we have the responsibility to report the newest factual information from this quickly changing landscape.  We are doing it utilizing technology and new strategies which allow our employees to follow health instructions, while also getting the latest information to you.  In this episode, hear from several WBAY employees who give you behind-the-scenes details of the adjustments here at Action 2 News.   

Get 2 the Point

WBAY News: A New Normal

David Frerking of Appleton is a new author, and you might recognize the story he is telling.  His son Jacob, a young man with autism, was granted a wish to become a law enforcement officer through the Make-A-Wish foundation.   Jacob was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, law enforcement officers from across the Fox Valley embraced Jacob and made him part of their community.    Hear more about Jacob Frerking’s journey through his father’s eyes in this episode of Get 2 the Point podcast. 

David Frerking talks about ‘What Really Matters’

Amanda Reitz had a dream, to start an animal sanctuary to give pets the best possible chance at finding a forever home.  But at the time she was still in college and people weren’t quite sold on the idea, including her own family initially. By 2006, Amanda had her parents involved transforming family property in Marion for a spacious sanctuary for animals. A couple years later, brother Marcus Reitz joined on with HEA full-time and they raised funds for a new adoption center in Ashwaubenon.  Hear the humble beginnings of HEA, from a Basset hound named Walter, to the plans to help animals across the country find forever homes.  

Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary: Finding Forever Homes

On April 7, voters in the city of Appleton will elect a new mayor, the first new one in 24 years.  When the mayor-elect is sworn in on April 21, current mayor Tim Hanna will find himself out of that job.Our Get 2 the Point podcast conversation with Mayor Hanna continues this week, as Hanna looks back at his career in government. 

Tim Hanna: What next for Appleton Mayor

This April, the city of Appleton will have its first new mayor in 24 years.  Tim Hanna made the decision to not seek re-election.  After a long career in government, Mayor Hanna has a lot of stories to tell. Hanna details the failed basketball tryout that got him interested in government, his time on the city council when he asked a question and got an answer that left him stumped, to the 1996 mayoral election that ended up before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.   Hear much more on these stories in this week’s episode.

Tim Hanna--Appleton's Mayor looks back

Susan Finco is a powerhouse business leader.  As owner of Leonard and Finco Public Relations, Inc., Finco runs a successful agency, and manages to get involved in the community, serving on different boards and committees throughout her time in Northeast Wisconsin.  Find out more about her journey from journalist to business owner in this episode.  

Susan Finco: The Journey from Journalist to Business Leader

Nearly 28 years ago, a young man from De Pere died in a swimming accident in Door County.  Brian LaViolette was just 15 years old.  Now, decades later, Brian’s legacy is helping hundreds of students afford higher education, through the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.  Today the foundation has awarded 892 scholarships totaling $785,000.   In this episode of our Get 2 the Point podcast, we speak with Brian’s father Doug LaViolette about the journey, and being able to witness what he calls “the good stuff”, the impact Brian’s foundation has on young people.  

Doug LaViolette, Honoring his Son's Life

Chances are, you’ve been in one of the 30-plus stores across Wisconsin that is part of the company Mark Skogen leads.  As president and CEO of Festival Foods, he’s in charge of not just grocery stores but a company commitment of giving back to the communities it considers home.  Grocery stores are literally in Mark Skogen’s lineage—his grandfather opened his first store almost 75 years ago. Learn more about Mark Skogen’s leadership of Festival Foods in this week’s Get 2 the Point Podcast

Mark Skogen, Festival Foods

He’s known locally as the “ice expert.”  For forty years, Don Herman has worked on the ice and on area lakes and rivers—assisting nearly 1,000 retrievals of various items.  Cars, trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles and boats are just some of the things Herman’s company ‘Sunk? Dive and Ice Rescue’ have recovered from local waters.  Hear his stories from a very unique business. 

Don Herman, The "Ice Expert"

This week the Action 2 Sports department is taking over the Get 2 the Point podcast.  Chris Roth, Dave Schroeder and Baillie Burmaster sum up their thoughts as the Green Bay Packers finish up the bye week.  What has surprised them and what do they think is making this team click?  Plus, some predictions about the final games of the season in this special episode. 

Action 2 Sports Edition: Bye Week

The gun deer hunt opens on Saturday November 23-rd.  More than a half million people will take part in the nine day season that hunters would say is "the most wonderful time of the year."    In this episode, news anchor and avid outdoorsman Jeff Alexander sits down with Jeff Pritzl, of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, to talk all things hunting.   

Deer Hunt 'Pointers' with Jeff Alexander and the WI DNR

It seems that every community that takes on major road construction is now including bike and pedestrian lanes in its final project.  People like Peter and Tracy Flucke are helping make changes like that possible.  The Ashwaubenon couple’s company “We Bike etc.” helps communities plan rec trails, educates law enforcement about bike and pedestrian laws, and encourages people enjoy the outdoors.  They've also had plenty of experience,  riding thousands of miles on a tandem bike. 

Riding tandem and taking the long way: Peter and Tracy Flucke

    According to the federal government,  the number of U-S airline passengers flying within the United States and to international locations topped one billion people in 2018.   That’s an all-time high.   According to J.D. Power, which studies customer experience, traveler satisfaction is also steadily rising in the last decade.   People are finding air travel to be a better value.   Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport director Marty Piette wants to make sure that passengers flying in and out locally—really like it, and that those who are choosing to fly elsewhere—instead give GRB a chance.   Plus, find out how passengers can have a say in airline service and cost.  

Taking Flight: GRB's manager Marty Piette

Robyn Davis, president and CEO of Brown County United Way,  has a unique perspective of families who are in need of community assistance. She grew up in New York City; facing poverty, the death of two siblings, her parents’ divorce, and becoming homeless.  Extended family helped her during those difficult times.  But Davis notes, with families living farther apart today, sometimes community is the only place to turn.  She is proud that her life and career has allowed her to help.   Davis and her team are intent on achieving a goal: Ten thousand people on the path to stability in 10 years.  This week on our Get 2 the Point podcast, we speak with Robyn Davis about her journey to Green Bay and her mission to help those in need.

Robyn Davis: Uniting a Community through Service

It seems like everyone-from school kids, to moms and dads, to professional athletes-are touting the benefits of yoga.  This practice is literally thousands of years old, but more people saying that it helps them in different ways; calming the mind, stretching the body and increasing strength. Our Get 2 the Point conversation this week is with Ryanne Cunningham, a local yoga teacher and massage therapist who wrote the book:  Yoga for Athletes.  Hear how yoga can benefit you!

Ryanne Cunningham: Yoga for everyone

Casual chats with Northeast Wisconsin's newsmakers

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