🌱 Patch AM: Will Appleton’s exhibition center deal change who pays the bills?

Good morning Appleton! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Will Appleton’s exhibition center deal change who pays the bills?
• Why did an Appleton committee shut down new video machines?
• Can Fox Cities cool off red-hot Portage Lake in Appleton Saturday?

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

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Windy and not as cold, with a high of 35 and low of 25 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 30, low: 27.
• Thursday: Snow and rain in the p.m., with a high of 38 and low of 6 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• Appleton, Hilton need more time to sign new deal for exhibition center (postcrescent.com) — Appleton officials and Hilton Appleton Paper Valley are still negotiating a new management deal for the city-owned Fox Cities Exhibition Center, and the current contract expires Dec. 31. Both sides expect to sign a short-term extension to keep the venue open while they finalize terms, including how to fund future maintenance without shifting extra costs onto Appleton taxpayers.
   

• MON AM News: Expert predicts ‘much less volatility' in the economy next year; Evers' PSC picks approve bigger utility rate increases, smaller profit margins than Walker's (wisbusiness.com) — Appleton residents should know a city committee has rejected new video gambling-style machines over doubts about their payouts, keeping them out of local establishments for now. The broader report also covers Wisconsin’s economic outlook, rising utility rates, regional development shifts, and new research on AI tools in health care, offering statewide context that could indirectly affect Appleton.
   

• Pioneers take two from Wolverines (mininggazette.com) — Appleton hockey fans can catch Portage Lake facing Fox Cities in town this Saturday after the Pioneers dominated the Calumet Wolverines with back-to-back wins, 6–2 and 8–1. The team’s offense exploded across both nights, with standout performances from Gaborik Carlson, Bryce Hanner, and strong goaltending from A.J. Petrulis and Camden Burggrabe.
   

📸 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!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Utility Commission
  Little Chute Calendar Little Chute, WI 54140
  5:00 pm
• Hockey: Boys JV Game Date Changed to 01-20-2026
  Champion Center , Grand Chute, WI
  5:00 pm
• Swimming: Boys Varsity Meet
  Oshkosh West High School
  5:30 pm
• Basketball: Boys JV Game
  Oshkosh North High School
  6:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls JV Game
  Neenah High School
  6:00 pm
• Winter Band Concert
  KHS Auditorium
  6:30 pm
• Hockey: Boys Varsity Game Date Changed to 01-20-2026
  Champion Center , Grand Chute, WI
  7:00 pm
• Basketball: Boys Varsity Game
  Oshkosh North High School
  7:30 pm
• Basketball: Girls Varsity Game
  Neenah High School
  7:30 pm

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

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
  Charlie was LOST on December 14, 2025 in Appleton, WI 54911 near Appvion, Huntley elementary school, Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor Nienhaus Square)
• Lost dog on Sat 12/13.
  She must be inside a house. Please talk to your neighbors to see if somebody found her and took her in. She is the one in front. Lady is her name. (Nextdoor Emons & Eisenhower)

• Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Appleton. Apply here.
• Unifi posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent 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, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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