🌱 Patch AM: How one Fox Valley Tech instructor shaped generations of first responders

Good day Appleton! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How one Fox Valley Tech instructor shaped generations of first responders
• What’s next in the high-speed Appleton crash homicide case?
• What Appleton police say about the fatal West Wisconsin Avenue crash

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Appleton? Post it to Appleton photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 29 and low of 25 degrees.
• Thursday: Snow and rain in the p.m., temps: high: 38, low: 10. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Frigid with sun, then clouds, with a high of 15 and low of 14 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Technical college instructor spends 50 years on the frontlines of education (spectrumnews1.com) — Appleton readers may recognize Fox Valley Technical College’s longtime fire and EMS instructor David McFadden, who is retiring after more than 50 years shaping first responder training. Now 82, he helped grow the once-small program into a premier Midwest public safety training center, including backing a 2015 referendum that funded today’s facility and near-100% job placement.
   

• 18-year-old pleads not guilty to reckless homicide in deadly Appleton crash (nbc26.com) — An 18-year-old has pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide and OWI-related charges tied to a high-speed crash that killed a 27-year-old driver in Appleton. Prosecutors say he was traveling over 100 mph and was more than twice the legal alcohol limit; a pre-trial conference is set for February 18, 2026, at the Outagamie County courthouse.
   

• Elderly driver dies after crashing into Appleton building (nbc26.com) — An 82-year-old driver died Monday morning after his vehicle crashed into the rear of a building on West Wisconsin Avenue in Appleton, following what police suspect was a medical emergency. Appleton officers found him unresponsive with a do-not-resuscitate bracelet, and no other people or vehicles were involved as the investigation continues.
   

📸 Around Appleton

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Appleton

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Tuesday December 23

• Spirit Day - Holiday or Ugly Sweater Day
  Woodland Intermediate Appleton, WI 54915
  7:00 am

📣 Appleton Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 17

• Regular Board Meeting
  Little Chute Calendar , 108 W Main Street , Little Chute
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Court
  Little Chute Calendar , 108 W Main Street Village Board Room , Little Chute
  1:00 pm
• Hockey: Boys JV Game
  Champion Center , Grand Chute, WI
  5:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls JV Game
  Oshkosh West High School
  6:00 pm
• Wrestling: Boys Varsity Meet Time & Location Changed
  Neenah Middle School
  6:30 pm
• Hockey: Boys Varsity Game
  Champion Center , Grand Chute, WI
  7:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls Varsity Game Date Changed from 12-18-2025
  Oshkosh West High School
  7:30 pm
• Wrestling: Boys JV Meet Time & Location Changed
  Neenah Middle School
  8:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Basketball: Boys JV Game
  Neenah High School
  6:00 pm
• Rising Phoenix @ Waverly Beach in Menasha, WI
  Waverly Beach Bar & Grille , N8770 Fire Lane 1 , Menasha
  7:00 pm
• Basketball: Boys Varsity Game
  Neenah High School
  7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• RELEASE DATE: December 21st, 2025 @ 10am CST
  I just finished setting up the YouTube Premiere for my most recent short film titled: "Pretty Boy"! I'm so excited to share it with everyone! After… (Nextdoor Lawrence City Park)
• Does anybody want some blankets and a comforter?
  Please don’t say you do if you’re not gonna show up to get them lol. (Nextdoor Lawrence City Park)

• Pick 'n Save posted a job opening for Online Grocery Pick-Up Clerk in Appleton. Apply here.
• Bowlero Corporation posted a job opening for Greeter / Counter Desk Attendant in Appleton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Appleton here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kimberly

• Christian Watson injury update: Wide receiver hurt in Packers game vs Broncos (postcrescent.com)

Kaukauna

• Alumni update: Van Kauwenberg earns first minutes for UWGB men's basketball (kaukaunacommunitynews.com)
• Kaukauna Knitting Club Brings Students' Hat Designs to Life (wixx.com)
• Eunice Leemon, Kaukauna Times reporter in the 1940s, has died at age 105 (kaukaunacommunitynews.com)

Neenah

Ok Appleton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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