The City of Durand continues to work on finding ways to replace the Tarrant Park Pool. During last night's council meeting, the Mayor updated the council on changes to the project to help lower the cost. The new plan would remove the concession stand, and some of the shade structures and play features of the pool. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the goal was to find ways to get the project to move forward. The changes would save approximately $250,000, but the city would still need an additional $1 million in donations to get the pool built. The city council is looking at approving a construction calendar at the next council meeting and hopes to ask for bids on the project before the fall.
One person is dead, and several others are hurt after a two-vehicle crash at milepost 40 on I-94 in Dunn County on Sunday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 33yr old Benjamin Wilfer of Eau Claire was traveling eastbound on I-94 in the westbound lanes, when he struck a westbound vehicle driven by 28yr old Demarie Ward of Chicago. Wilfer was killed in the accident, while Ward, passengers 27yr old Ceirra Ellis of Maple Grove, MN and an 8yr old male juvenile were all injured in the accident. That accident remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.
One of the Chippewa Valley's Democratic lawmakers voted with Republicans yesterday to pass the share revenue package. Senator Jeff Smith joined five other Democrats in voting Yes on the plan that will share a half-billion dollars with local governments across the state. Many Republicans were unhappy with the spending in the plan, as well as the piece that will allow Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to raise their sales taxes without a vote. Seven Senate Republicans, including Rob Stafsholt, of New Richmond voted No.
Three Jackson County teens have been arrested in connection with a break-in at the Alcivia Co-Op Convenience store in Pigeon Falls on June 5th. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, two of the teens threw a rock through the front door, entered the building, and stole several thousand dollars worth of Delta 8 and nicotine cartridges. They fled in a red GMC Pickup driven by a third suspect. When confronted by authorities, the three confessed and evidence was recovered. All three have been referred for charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property.
The Olmstead County Sheriffs' Department is reporting the death of K-9 Officer Ranger. On Sunday, Ranger and his handler Corporal Heimer were training for an upcoming K9 trial when Corporal Heimer noticed Ranger was not himself. Ranger was transported to an animal hospital for a medical emergency but died at the hospital. K9 Ranger began working with the Olmstead County Sheriff's Department in 2020.
A Minneapolis man is looking at a 15 hundred dollar fine after he drunkenly called 911 and threatened to kill the family of the teenager who killed Lily Peters. Chippewa Falls Police say Herbert Badalich from St. Paul called one week after Peters' death last year and made the threats. He said he was frustrated and mad about the case. Badalich later said he was drunk when he made the call and wasn't a threat to anyone. A Chippewa County judge yesterday fined him for disorderly conduct.
A man has been arrested in connection with a multi-vehicle crash that happened near Eyota. Authorities say Joshua Wigham crashed into the back of a vehicle on College View Road East early Tuesday evening, sending the vehicle into the back of another car. The two cars had reportedly slowed due to animals on the road. Wigham was arrested on suspicion of DUI and criminal vehicular operation. He and one other person suffered minor injuries.
A temporary solution to blocked roads on the Lac du Flambeau reservation has been extended for a month. WXPR reports that the town of Lac du Flambeau has paid for another month of access to a series of roads leading to private homes on tribal lands. The Lac du Flambeau tribe blocked off those roads in January, asking for compensation to use them after easements expired over a decade ago. The township paid for three months of access back in March for around 60 thousand dollars. The town's website reported this week that they've made another payment. A federal judge recently said he won't order the tribe to open the roads.
Wisconsin's new, 80-plus billion-dollar budget may be in trouble because of 32 million-dollars for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers yesterday said he may not sign the budget if Republican lawmakers push ahead with their plan to strip 32 million from the UW System. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wants the university to spend the 32 million on something else, the governor said that's 'ridiculous.' The Republican-controlled legislature is working to finish the new state budget by the end of the month.
Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe says she may not be reappointed when her term ends July 1st. In a letter sent to local clerks on Wednesday, Wolfe told election workers and clerks not to endorse her or advocate on her behalf. That's after reports that state Senate Republicans might block her appointment if the six-member commission selects her again as administrator. Wolfe oversaw the contentious 2020 presidential election and has been the center of disproven theories of elections fraud and government interference after former President Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden. Wolfe says that if she's not selected or confirmed, Wisconsin will have a "less experienced administrator at the helm."
The “Felony Lane Gang” may be back in Wisconsin. The group has a nationwide reputation for committing “smash and grab” thefts from parked cars and taking cash, checks, and other personal ID cards from them to make fraudulent financial transactions and take on the identity of the crime victims. Washington County sheriff’s deputies arrested two men from Florida Saturday who may be associated with the “Felony Lane Gang” after they allegedly broke into numerous cars at a park in the Town of Addison. The sheriff’s office believes the two were also involved in similar thefts at a church in Dodge County earlier in the day, adding that evidence shows the two men had been around Denver, Colorado two days before possibly committing similar thefts.
Some changes are coming to Minnesota's medical cannabis program following the passage of recreational marijuana in this legislative session. Office of Medical Cannabis Director Chris Tholkes says the 200-dollar annual enrollment fee will be eliminated July 1st. Tholkes says a patient's initial certification visit with a health care provider can be done via "telemedicine" on August 1st. Recreational cannabis retailers aren't expected to open until early 2025.
The head of Wisconsin's largest teachers' union wants the governor to veto the latest school funding compromise Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen yesterday said asked Governor Evers to scuttle the deal that will send a billion-dollars to public schools across the state because it will also send millions to private and voucher schools as part of school choice in Wisconsin. She is also furious with the plan that would change how kids are taught to read in the state, and the clause in the plan that would require police officers in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Marathon County deputies say a recent scam in Germantown highlights the need for better training for retail employees. Public Information Officer Sara Severson says a store was scammed out of nearly 25-thousand dollars when crooks convinced a clerk to activate gift cards without paying for them. Severson says it's likely that this was done by an organized group of criminals staying at a nearby hotel. When police arrived to investigate, the crooks were already gone.
A Bloomington man is pleading guilty to his part in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud case. Abdulkadir Awale confessed to one count of wire fraud and agreed to pay two-point-one million dollars in restitution. Prosecutors say the defendant falsely claimed to serve three-point-six million meals to low-income children at several locations through his businesses. Awale received eleven-point-eight million dollars in federal funding for providing the reported meals between April 2020 and January 2022.
An annual tradition in Lake Geneva took place on Tuesday. Rain didn’t prevent 17 high school and college-age students from participating in the Annual Mailboat Delivery tryouts there. Each of the participants jumped off the moving mailboat onto a pier, put mail in a mailbox, grabbed outgoing mail, and jumped back onto the boat called the Walworth, which never stops moving. The four students selected from the tryouts will also serve as guides during boat tours on the mailboat this summer.
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