Kraus-Anderson begins $21 million renovation project for Ladysmith School District

LADYSMITH, Wis. (April 2023) – The Madison office of Kraus-Anderson (KA) has begun an extensive $21 million renovation project for the School District of Ladysmith in Ladysmith, Wis.

Designed by Bray Architects, the district-wide project at the middle school and high school features a 22,000-square-foot remodel of academic classrooms, a 10,131-square-foot gym expansion, 2,764-square-foot media center addition, building systems replacements, security upgrades, ADA improvements and a new roof.  The project also includes new parking lots, new bleachers and LED lights at the football field, and new dugouts at the softball field.  Site improvements are also being completed for better water drainage.

An addition, a new roof will be replaced at Ladysmith’s elementary school. 

“In 2021, KA completed an educational adequacy and facility study, along with facilitating a community task force to help build the district’s referendum plan,” said John Huenink, Kraus-Anderson’s vice president and director of education construction. “ KA also supported the School District of Ladysmith in its information campaign for an April 2022 referendum, which was successful.”

Construction is expected to be completed in summer of 2024.

About Kraus-Anderson

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies, including insurance, mortgage and realty operations. KA continues to lead the field of regional education construction projects and is currently ranked 20th in the nation in the construction of K-12 facilities by Building Design and Construction magazine.  Over the past five years, KA has completed over $1 billion in K-12 projects. KA’s comprehensive school construction services include facility analysis and budget approaches, leading to informed and successful referendum initiatives.  Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.

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Dane Buy Local: Soup’s On! Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2023

Available for interviews
Colin Murray, Executive Director of Dane Buy Local
2801 International Lane, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 712-3440
colin@danebuylocal.com
www.danebuylocal.com

Madison, WI – Dane Buy Local is thrilled to announce another successful Soups On! season. This community-supported program generated $89,892 November 2022 through March 2023, selling 6,095 quarts of soup and 440 packs of FEED Bakery cookies.

“Soups On! has been a staple of the Dane County community for the past three years, and we are proud to support local businesses through this initiative. We saw a fantastic turnout and are grateful for the community support which makes it a success,” states Colin Murray, executive director of Dane Buy Local.

“I’m fortunate to interact with both Soup’s On! participants and purchasers throughout the season,” says Amy Johnson, publisher of Madison Locally Sourced. “Participants appreciate the extra support during what is a usually slower sales period and purchasers get to eat delicious soup and learn about new dining opportunities. It’s a lot of fun and a real win-win experience.”

By purchasing food from local artisans, community members not only support local businesses, but they also contribute to the local economy. This program showcases incredible talent and culinary expertise, and we hope will continue for years to come.

Thank you to Soups On! volunteers Lisa Abler, Jeff Affeldt, Chris Brock, Amy Johnson, Lauri Lee, and Colin Murray, and sponsors Arcus Communication, Bunky’s Catering, The Cap Times, Communication Concepts, Dane Buy Local, FEED Kitchens, Madison Locally Sourced, and Ulla Eyewear. Another shout out to participants Ancora Cafe + Bakery‒Maple Bluff, Banzo, Beef Butter BBQ, Bunky’s Catering, Cadre, Cafe Costa Rica, Cambridge Market Cafe, The Deliciouser, FEED Bakery, Green Owl Cafe, Jolly Frog, Kingdom Restaurant, LT’s Aloha Wagon, Madame Chu Delicacies, Melly Mel’s Soul Food, Migrants, North and South Seafood & Smokehouse‒Verona, Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro, Rookie’s Food & Spirits, Rude Brew Kombucha, Soups I Did It Again, Teddywedgers, and Ugly Apple Cafe. And, most importantly, a heartfelt thanks to the supportive community members.

We look forward to seeing you again in November!

Dane Buy Local is affiliated with the Local Business Institute (LBI) and is part of a growing national movement of communities rallying to support their independent businesses and ensuring the opportunity to operate an independent business endures. Dane Buy Local creates a sustainable, vital local economy through collaboration, education, and promotion, as a non-profit member organization.

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Agrace: Hospice Volunteers Needed in Dane County

Volunteers are needed to assist customers, operate the cash register and sort donations at the Agrace Thrift Stores in Madison, pack donated merchandise in donors’ homes, or make companionship visits to local Agrace hospice patients in patients’ homes, nursing homes or assisted living centers.

Agrace will host volunteer orientation Thursday, May 18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at its Madison campus. Pre-registration is required. Call (608) 327-7163 or visit agrace.org/volunteer to fill out an application.

Grief Support Group Options in May

In May, Agrace is offering professionally led, in-person and virtual (accessible with a tablet, computer or smartphone) grief support options.

• Bridges is for adults grieving the death of any loved one. Meetings are held every other Wednesday at the Agrace Grief Support Center. In May, meetings are May 3 and 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Bridges (virtual) is for adults grieving the death of any loved one. Meetings are held every other Wednesday. In May, meetings are May 10 and 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., via Zoom.

• Young Adult is for anyone aged 18 to 30+ years who is grieving the death of a loved one, parent, child, spouse, sibling or friend. The group will meet May 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Agrace Grief Support Center.

There is no fee for these programs if a participant’s family member was in hospice care in the past 12 months; fees for others can be lowered or waived, if needed. Pre-registration is required for all groups. For details, fees or to register, email griefsupport@agrace.org or call (608) 327-7110.

Get Expert Customized Grief Support—by Text

Agrace now offers thoughtful, customized text messages from a service called Help Texts. It’s free and you can sign up even if you are also receiving grief support individually or in a group. To sign up or learn more, visit HelpTexts.com/Agrace.

In-home Support from Age at Home Can Boost Well-being

Do you care for or know an older adult who could benefit from non-medical home care services? Social interaction, like a daily visit from an Age at Home companion, can boost a senior’s well-being and also ensure that they safely shower, dress, take medications and eat well.

If you think the support of an Age at Home companion could help someone you love, call (608) 327-7456 or visit AgeatHome.org.

Old National Bank: Benefits of Opening Checking and Money Market Accounts

WPS publishes new Corporate Social Responsibility Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS publishes new Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Report highlights achievements during 2022

MADISON, Wis.—April 5, 2023—The 2022 WPS Health Solutions^® Corporate Social Responsibility Report is now available on wpshealthsolutions.com. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the major lines of business at WPS Health Solutions, with a special emphasis on the people, progress, and partnerships that helped keep the company successful over the last year.

In 2022, WPS Health Solutions worked through its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team to increase diversity across the company. During the year, new employee resource groups were created to help build communities for all employees. The groups now include options for professional development, women, veterans, and people living with disabilities and mental health concerns.

WPS Health Solutions received numerous awards in 2022, including being named a Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, making the Achievers’ 50 Most Engaged Workplaces list, winning several Top Workplaces USA awards, and being named the Disabled American Veterans Patriot Employer and Large Employer of the Year.

Despite a challenging economy, WPS gave charitable donations totaling more than $211,200 to 39 local and national organizations. The WPS Charitable Foundation donated more than $250,000 to 28 organizations.

“The report enables us to share our employees’ commitment to high ethical standards and conducting business with integrity. It helps anyone interested in WPS to get to know us a little better,” Vice President of Communications DeAnne Boegli said.

“People, Progress, and Partnerships” is the theme for the 2022 report. More than 75 years since its founding, WPS Health Solutions continues its work to protect the health and financial well-being of its customers through three lines of business: WPS Health Insurance^®, WPS Government Health Administrators^®, and WPS Military and Veterans Health^®, as well as two subsidiaries: WPS Health Plan, Inc. and The EPIC Life Insurance Company.

Employees of WPS Health Solutions aspire to do their best by exhibiting the company’s four core values: Individual Responsibility, Customer Focused, Mutual Respect, and Driven and Passionate. The mission of WPS Health Solutions is this: Together, making health care easier for the people we serve.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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