🌱 Patch AM: Why a $5 million riverfront pavilion is now in court

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

In today's newsletter:

• Why a $5 million riverfront pavilion is now in court
• Did a community just west of Green Bay invent the doughnut?
• How did Wisconsin snag the title of biggest bacon fan?

Also on today's calendar: Improv Comedy with Fish Sticks and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cold with a few flurries, with a high of 19 and low of -5 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Mostly sunny; bitterly cold, temps: high: 10, low: 5.
• Friday: Sunshine, but very cold, with a high of 14 and low of 1 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Contractor sues city of Green Bay over contract for park project (finance-commerce.com) — A major pavilion and site upgrade planned for Leicht Memorial Park in downtown Green Bay is now tied up in court, as Miron Construction sues the city over how it awarded the nearly $5 million contract. The company argues Green Bay ignored state rules on choosing the lowest responsible bidder and wants a judge to void any deal with rival contractor 8Pine before a January 23 hearing.
   

2. 'Hoyan!' Did Oneida invent doughnut for New Year/winter solstice? (jsonline.com) — Just west of Green Bay, the Oneida community is ringing in the New Year with the traditional greeting “Hoyan!” and circular treats that may predate America’s best-known doughnut stories. A local councilman shares a family Hoyan doughnut recipe while the piece explores how Oneida winter solstice and New Year customs evolved through contact with Dutch settlers.
   

3. On National Bacon Day, Wisconsin named America's biggest bacon fan (wearegreenbay.com) — Wisconsin just ranked No. 1 in the nation for bacon enthusiasm, and the news comes straight from Green Bay. Using more than 400,000 geotagged X posts, Cookout News found our state leads the country in positive bacon chatter, edging out Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, and Wyoming for top honors.
   

4. Rep. Tony Wied sits down with Chief Political Reporter Jason Zimmerman about the 2026 Republican agenda in Congress (wbay.com) — Green Bay residents hear directly from Rep. Tony Wied about his priorities on health care, affordability, and tax policy as Congress heads into a pivotal election year. He defends GOP spending cuts, touts tax changes he says will help families, and warns Republicans could lose the House majority, while Democratic challengers criticize his lack of public town halls.
   

📸 Around Green Bay

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Green Bay

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 1

• City Hall Closed
  Green Bay, WI Calendar , 100 N Jefferson St , Green Bay
  8:00 am

Friday January 2

• Dance Team Practice
  AHS Auxiliary Gym
  1:00 pm
• Wolf Feeding
  Green Bay, WI Calendar , 1660 E Shore Drive , Green Bay
  1:30 pm
• Basketball: Girls JV-2 Game
  Ashwaubenon High School
  5:40 pm
• Basketball: Boys JV-2 Game
  Notre Dame De La Baie Academy
  5:40 pm
• Basketball: Boys JV-1 Game
  Notre Dame De La Baie Academy
  5:45 pm
• Basketball: Girls JV-1 Game
  Ashwaubenon High School
  5:45 pm
• Hockey: Boys Varsity Game
  Cornerstone Community Center
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Improv Comedy with Fish Sticks
  Cup O Joy Music Venue, 525 N Taylor St, Green Bay, WI 54303
  7:30 pm

📣 Green Bay 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 31

• Basketball Girls Varsity Pracitce
  West De Pere High School - Fieldhouse
  10:00 am
• Open Jam at The Porch
  The Porch , 365 Main Ave , De Pere
  8:00 pm
• Open Jam at The Longbranch
  The Longbranch , 334 Main Ave , De Pere
  8:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• Basketball Boys Varsity Practice
  West De Pere High School - Fieldhouse
  1:00 pm

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

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Green Bay PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Stormy is still missing...
  he escaped the 23rd as I was trying to take him on vacation with me. Hes 4 months old, black and gray and very skittish of new people. If you see him… (Nextdoor MacArthur Heights)
• One year of light and shadow—2025 has become a passing cloud, leaving us with stronger hearts and brighter eyes.
  Now, the dawn of 2026 rises on the horizon, illuminating the road ahead. May everything your heart desires come true in the coming year; may every… (Nextdoor Schmitt Park)

• Kroger Family of Companies posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Green Bay. Apply here.
• Alter Trading posted a job opening for Loader Operator in Green Bay. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Green Bay here.

Ok Green Bay! 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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook