MADISON — Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) — the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association — and Johnson Financial Group are again partnering to host a contest to determine the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.’ The popular competition highlights Wisconsin’s robust manufacturing industry, which contributes over $71 billion in total economic output to the state. This year, the contest organizers are refreshing the program with a new logo and rebranded website as a nod to the modernization of the manufacturing industry as a whole. The ninth annual contest will culminate by crowning a Wisconsin-made product as the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin is home to nearly 500,000 men and women who are employed by our thousands of manufacturers,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “This contest highlights not only the cool products made in our state, but also the entrepreneurship and work behind each product. Our manufacturers are the best in the country, and we have a great opportunity to underscore their contributions to our economy, the high-paying careers they create, and the innovative, necessary products they make.”

Any product that is manufactured in Wisconsin qualifies for the contest, and nominations will be accepted starting on Aug. 19 at the new website, www.madeinwis.com. 

WMC and Johnson Financial Group have partnered together for this contest since 2016, and Wisconsinites have cast over one million votes since its inception. Over a thousand products representing a wide array of industries have been nominated over the years, and winning products have included beverage dispensers, firetrucks, cranes, motorcycles, military vehicles, robotic carts, rifles, and even kringle.

Following the nomination period from Aug. 19 through Sept. 6, a popular vote will determine the Top 16 products that will be placed in a bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness. Products will compete against one another in head-to-head matchups, and the products that receive the highest votes in each matchup will advance to the next round. Manufacturers, consumers, employees and other Wisconsinites are encouraged to vote once per day, per device through the rounds of voting.

This year’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin will be announced at WMC’s Business Day in Madison event on Oct. 17.

Eight lakeshore Wisconsin counties are under an air quality advisory for potentially unhealthy ozone levels until 11 p.m. Saturday. Children, older adults, people working outside and those with lung or heart ailments are encouraged to take precautions for their health, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Here’s what to know:

Ozone advisory issued for eight counties, including Door, Milwaukee, Racine

The DNR issued an ozone advisory from 2 to 11 p.m. in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Door counties.

The DNR has advised that the air quality in all eight counties may reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” level before the warning subsides.

“People with lung ailments (such as asthma), heart disease, children, older adults, and people who are active outdoors (including outdoor workers) should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion,” said a news release from the DNR.

How should people in sensitive groups take precautions during the air quality advisory in Wisconsin lakeshore counties?

It’s OK for people in the groups sensitive to the air quality at this level to be active outdoors, but take more breaks, the National Weather Service advises. Be sure to watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

People with asthma are also advised to keep quick-relief medicine handy, according to the NWS.

People with heart disease should contact their health care provider if they experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue. That may indicate a serious problem, the NWS said.

More: Summer prepares for a resurgence, with Southeastern Wisconsin temperatures climbing into the 90s

What is the Air Quality Index in Southeastern Wisconsin?

The Air Quality Index is broken into six colored categories on a 0-500 scale, and when readings get above 100, air quality becomes unhealthy for certain groups, according to a previous Journal Sentinel report. AN AQI level between 101 and 150 is in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category.

Shortly after 3: 20 p.m., Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties had all reached that level. Milwaukee County was at an AQI level of 105, Racine was at 118 and Kenosha had reached 119, according to the Wisconsin Air Quality Monitoring Data map.

The other counties were at “Moderate” and “Good” levels at about the same time, according to the DNR map. However, they remain under an advisory as the potential remains for readings to rise. Ozaukee reached an AQI level of 86, and Sheboygan was at 87, the map showed.

Contact the reporter bfogarty@gannett.com.

River Falls Opens Season with Win over Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln

River Falls raced past Wisconsin Rapids in their Week 1 opener by a score of 44-21.

Tino Massa completed 15 of 18 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns for River Falls.

River Falls           7 21 3 13 – 44

Wisconsin Rapids 7  7  7  0  – 21

stats link HERE

Rapids stats not available, will be shared if submitted

Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:

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Pancakes or Waffles!  We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE

Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE

Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE