Local-Regional News July 25

 

The City of Durand will be selling the parking lot at 2^nd Avenue West and Madison Street. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the lot will be sold by sealed bid.  The minimum bid is $10,000 and bids are due by August 12 and will be opened on August 13.

The City of Mondovi will be removing some large Maple trees on Cottage Street. During this weeks council meeting the council approved removing the trees on the city right of way, as they have become an issue for the foundation of a home. The homeowner had received a quote of $2350 to remove the two trees, but the council is wanting other bids before moving forward.

The Mondovi Fire Department has received a donation of emergency drinking water from Anheuser-Busch to help keep its firefighters hydrated during wildfire response efforts this season. The donation, made in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), will provide critical hydration to first responders working long hours in extreme conditions. Mondovi Fire Department serves a population of approximately 3,500 residents spread across 250 square miles in the City of Mondovi and six surrounding townships in northeast Buffalo County, southwest Eau Claire County, and eastern Pepin County.

The City of Wabasha is looking at the future needs of its ambulance station and City Hall and the possibility of a future joint city hall, ambulance, police building. The current ambulance building is inadequate for the security, privacy, and operational needs of the service. City Hall has a number of deferred maintenance items. The City completed a feasibility study and it concluded that sharing facilities between the police, ambulance, and city hall was an opportunity to improve efficiency and reduce costs, enhance public services. The study also noted that the ambulance services building needs must be addressed in the near future, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the service. The City is asking residents to fill out a survey on what they would like to see built. That survey is on the city of Wabasha Website.

Wisconsin's June home sales are up for the first time in four years. The Wisconsin Realtors Association says sales rose more than eight-percent from the same time last year. In Western Wisconsin, Pepin County had 9 homes sold, Buffalo 10, Pierce 24, and Dunn County had 71 homes sold in June. Association representatives say most home sale closings take place during the month of June. The June report also shows that affordability has been on the rise over the past year.

The town of Washington's petition to incorporate into a village is now approved. The Eau Claire County Circuit Court approved the petition Wednesday. Their next step is to get an approval from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, before incorporation plans are sent to referendum. If Washington becomes a village, they'll have to provide services like police and fire. Residents showed support for the petition following annexations by neighboring towns.

A Cadott woman is pleading not guilty to accusations that she stole thousands of dollars from a pair of organizations. Nicole Ruhe was the treasurer on accounts for the Boy Scouts and for the Cadott Basketball Association. The Boy Scouts say that more than four thousand dollars is missing and Cadott Basketball is missing more than 51-hundred dollars. Ruhe is charged with two counts of theft from a business setting.

Republican lawmakers want to cap tuition increases for the Universities of Wisconsin. Representative David Murphy and senator Andre Jacque say they want raises to match the rate of inflation. The university system saw a five percent increase on tuition for all its schools except UW-Green Bay. The Board of Regents has been increasing prices after a tuition freeze ended in 2023.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says he won't seek re-election next year. In a video posted on X, Evers said he's not trying for a third term so can spend more time with family. However, the Democrat did predict he would win if he did run. Evers said for five decades, his family sacrifiied to give him the gift of service and he now owes it to them to focus on all the things they love doing together. The move will likely begin the start of a wide open race in the battleground state.

Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced two bills to help new homeowners and families. One bill wants to help first-time homeowners with a refundable tax credit. Another bill would cap childcare expenses at 15 dollars a day for a typical family. The third bill prohibits corporate price gouging. Baldwin says her bills would lower some of the biggest expenses for Wisconsinites.

Twenty-three people have died in fatal UTV and ATV crashes so far this year in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources says only five of those people were wearing seat belts, which is required by law for anyone in a UTV. Forty people total died in ATV and UTV crashes last year. More information about how to sign up for safety classes is available on the DNR website.

UnitedHealth Group officials say they're cooperating with a federal investigation into its Medicare business. The Eden Prairie-based health care giant is doing an about-face from when it called the U.S Justice Department probe irresponsible in May. UnitedHealth Group's Medicare Advantage business is being questioned about its use of Medicare diagnosis data to boost payments by billions of dollars. The company is still fighting a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2011 by an insider who made similar allegations.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is not revealing his plans for the 2026 election until after the state fair wraps up. Walz said he plans to make his announcement after Labor Day, adding that the assassination of Representative Melissa Hortman led to personal reflection. The governor has hinted he will be running again in recent months, saying in April he was raising the resources to run for re-election.

The Green Bay Packers are announcing a league-high in national revenue sharing north of 433-million-dollars. This comes a year after national revenue topped 400-million-dollars per team for the first time. The Packers saw an increase of just under ten-percent in total revenue, with operational profits rising over 39-percent. It's part of a league-wide surge, with each of the 32 NFL teams now splitting more than 13-billion-dollars from national media deals. Local revenue also increased, thanks in part to an extra home game.

Local-Regional News July 24

 

The City of Durand announced a free admission Fridays at the Tarrant Park Pool. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says an anonymous donor made the free admission possible. During the open swim in the afternoon, the first 100 people will receive free admission and the first 50 people during the evening swim from 6-9pm will also receive free admission on Fridays through the end of the swimming season.

The City of Mondovi is looking at expanding the areas allowed for the hunting of geese in the fall. During this weeks council meeting the council approved expanding the area for hunting as long as it will be safe for residents. The city will allow goose hunting during the Wisconsin early goose season. Hunters will have to register with the city before going out on the hunt. For more information contact Mondovi City Hall.

Dunn Economic Development has announced its role in a statewide initiative to secure a federal Historically Underutilized Business Zone designation for Dunn County. As part of a formal petition submitted by Governor Tony Evers to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this designation would unlock critical resources for local small businesses, helping them compete for federal contracts and bringing significant investment into the community. The SBA’s HUBZone program is designed to fuel small business growth in historically underutilized business zones by providing preferential access to federal contracting opportunities. If approved by the SBA, the designation would remain in effect through at least July 2028, providing a window for Dunn County businesses to compete in the federal marketplace.

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office is releasing the identity of a Rochester man who drowned in the Mississippi River. The body of Ronald Highet was recovered on Sunday. Witnesses say he was wading in the water with a 12-year-old girl before they were both swept away by a current. The girl was safely rescued from the river, but Highet went under the water and never surfaced.

Authorities are sharing the name of the person killed in a Saturday vehicle collision in Eau Claire. Seventy-eight-year-old Fall Creek resident Dale Soltwisch died after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 12 in Lincoln. Thirty-eight-year-old Eau Claire resident James Jones has since been charged in Soltwisch's death.

Eau Claire County is launching a new program for folks seeking help with their recovery goals. The Eau Claire County Deflection Program is a voluntary program through which eligible individuals seeking assistance are matched with peer support services. More details on the initiative can be found at eauclairecounty-dot-gov.

The Dunn County Fair is underway in Menomonie. This year's fun includes carnival rides, live music, truck and tractor pulls 4-H and FFA exhibits and more. The fair runs through Sunday with more info available at dunncountyfair-dot-org.

A missing graduate student in Wisconsin has been found dead. Officials said the body of 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz was found in the Mississippi River on Wednesday. She had been missing since Sunday when she was last seen walking in La Crosse. Her body was discovered more than 12 miles from where she was last seen. Police are still investigating her death and are waiting for the results of an autopsy. Heinz was a student at Viterbo University.

New highway signs in Lac du Flambeau won't just be in English. Signs unveiled Wednesday revealed an extra line with the tribe's name in the Ojibwe language It's a collaboration between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Tribal members tell WSAW they're really proud of the signs and hope they bring back some of the culture previously taken from them.

Despite the Dunn County Highway Department posting a load limit of 20 tons on the Hwy BB Red Cedar Bridge in Cedar Falls loaded semi trucks continue to use the bridge. According to the Highway Department the loaded semi’s pose a risk to the structural integrity of the bridge. The county is working with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department and Wisconsin State Patrol to increase enforcement of the load limit and to have alternate routes available to avoid the bridge.

Wisconsin is giving 110-million-dollars to child care providers over the next year. The funding was approved as part of the 2025-2027 biennial state budget. Providers will be able to use the money to pay their staff and keep their businesses open. Applications for the funding will open Saturday, July 26 and will remain open until Sunday, August 3. Payments to approved providers will start in mid-August.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh on Tuesday, where he said the recently passed “big beautiful bill” includes $12.5 billion for modernization of the FAA’s air traffic control system. Duffy said that will include updating the FAA's telecom system and replacing aging radar. Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman also serving as interim director of NASA, says it will take some time to complete all the work – but it will get done, or President Donald Trump "will fire me." Duffy also announced a new FAA rule that removes what he called outdated regulations that have impeded innovation and safety in the recreational Light Sport aviation sector.

The chairman of Wisconsin’s Oneida Nation is speaking out on President Donald Trump’s call for the NFL Washington Commanders and MLB Cleveland Guardians to return to their previous team names. The Commanders used to go by Redskins, a term Chairman Tehassi Hill said has connections to race wars. Hill said the former team name "harkens back to the early days of the colonists paying money for scalps," and remains a negative term for Native Americans. Trump called for the team names to revert on his Truth Social platform, and even threatened to halt a stadium deal that would bring the Commanders back to the former RFK Stadium site in Washington D.C. if they fail to revert. He’s also calling for the Guardians to revert to the Cleveland Indians.

New duties and tariffs on overseas purchases may hamper your online buying. Lisa Schiller with the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau says it is buyer beware with overseas shopping right now, and that if you need refunds or relief from a US agency, you might be out of luck. Criminals have also been sending out phony messages saying you may owe duties on a package. If you're expecting a delivery, check with the seller or delivery service directly before paying a fee.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are looking into the effectiveness of nicotine pouches. One research director says the pouches could serve as healthier option for people who smoke. The group wants to recruit 300 smokers who don't plan to quit for a four week study. They'll be asked to use pouches for four weeks and will be compensated for their time.

More turkeys were harvested during this year's spring season than last year's. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says almost 50-thousand-300 birds were registered, a 14-percent increase. The spring turkey season started with a two-day youth hunt on April 12 and ended in late May. Applications for next year's hunt are due December 10 on GoWild-dot-WI-gov.

An abandoned boat off Milwaukee's lake front will be auctioned off. Milwaukee County's Parks Department launched the auction Tuesday, and its highest bid sits at eleven-hundred dollars. It'll be sold as is, and the buyer is responsible for its transportation and removal. The boat, named "Deep Thought," sat abandoned in the lake until May when officials pulled it out. 

Local-Regional News July 23

 

The Mondovi City Council has a new member. Last night Mayor Weiss appointed Lori Larson to replace Angie Risen for Ward One. Larson was on the council for 2yrs in the past but left to take care of her husband who had medical issues at the time. Risen resigned from the council earlier this year after moving out of the city.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the street closures for Blues on The Chippewa and the open container request for Blues, appointments to the park board and reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs deer accident in the Town of Waumandee Tuesday morning. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 75yr old Jean Faber of Marshfield was traveling westbound on Hwy E when a deer ran into the road and Faber hit it. The deer went over the windshield, struck Faber, and threw her off the Trike Motorcycle. Faber suffered serious injuries and was med-flighted to the hospital.

The 36yr old Durand area man killed in a one-vehicle accident in the Town of Springbrook on Saturday night has been identified. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, Jake Wager was killed when he lost control of his Jeep due to a mechanical failure, rolled, and struck a tree. The Sheriff’s Department also says speed was a contributing factor in the accident.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim of a head-on collision on Hwy 79 in the Town of Sherman Saturday Night. According to the department, 36yr old Tonya Todd of Boyceville was killed when she crossed the center line and struck a southbound pickup truck head-on. The driver of the pickup truck was med-flighted to the hospital. That person has not been identified.

The case against an Eau Claire man charged in connection with the death of a Dunn County corrections officer is moving forward. Officer Jeff Reynolds was killed in a Christmas Eve 2024 vehicle collision on US 12 near Menomonie. Defendant Mark Sokolowski is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in relation to the incident. A judge yesterday ruled that the case against Sokolowski will continue.

Congressman Tom Tiffany is weighing a possible run for governor. The Republican lawmaker represents Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District and would be the third candidate to enter the race for his party's nomination. A spokesperson for Tiffany says the congressman will make his decision after the end of this month.

Authorities say there could be more victims of an Eau Claire man charged in a child sex abuse case. Eighty-two-year-old Robert Karstensen and his neighbor are accused of sexually assaulting several victims over the course of multiple years. Investigators in Barron County say that Karstensen may have victimized more individuals than they are currently aware of through his connections with Chetek River Campground in the 90s. Anyone who may have been one of his victims and wants to come forward is encouraged to contact the police.

The search continues for a woman missing from La Crosse. Twenty-two-year-old Eliotte Heinz was last seen walking along Front Street South just before 3:30 a.m. Sunday. She is described as a white female standing five-feet-four and weighing 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Heinz's whereabouts is asked to contact police.

Be aware of possible heat exhaustion during extreme heat this week. UW Health Dr. Jeff Pothof says early signs to look for include muscle cramping, headache, and excessive sweating. Pothof says more serious symptoms that could be signs of heatstroke include slurred speech and confusion. Pothof says the very young 5 and under and the elderly over 65 are at greater risk of suffering from heat illness. If you experience any symptoms get some fluids in you and find a cool area. Heat advisories are in effect this afternoon and evening for the entire WRDN Listening area.

Wisconsin joins another lawsuit against the Trump administration. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and twenty other attorneys general are suing the administration in an effort to stop new restrictions on who can access certain safety net programs. Earlier this month, the administration issued a new set of rules and guidance aiming to prevent states from using federal funding to provide services for immigrants who are in the country illegally. According to the state Department of Justice, the federal restrictions put more than $43 million in substance abuse and community mental health block grants at risk. That money funds services in all of Wisconsin's counties and 11 Tribal nations.

Newly obtained documents say three Wisconsin county sheriffs signed deals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin obtained documents showing deals between ICE and Ozaukee, Brown and Sauk counties. Ozaukee County signed a deal in March that ensured ICE would pay them 80 dollars a day, per detainee. The county has now clarified that the deal has been rescinded.

Police are looking for an arson suspect who targeted Oshkosh Defense. Oshkosh Police release surveillance video of an arson suspect. The individual, who was dressed in a black hoodie, a black cap, black slacks and wore a light color face mask, allegedly placed a box near the entrance of the Oshkosh Defense building on Oregon Street and lit the box on fire during the early morning hours of July 10th. The building sustained some damage before being extinguished by an Oshkosh Defense employee. No one was hurt.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is warning consumers about possible scams to watch out for. In July, scams involving Medicare, military housing and traffic violations are catching consumers at their most vulnerable. Impersonators will claim Medicare cards need to be replaced, demand payment for outstanding traffic violations, or request payment via gift cards and cryptocurrency. Incidents should be reported to the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

A 17-year-old Oneida girl has been taken into custody following a shooting at a Pulaski park. This is in addition to a 19-year-old who was also arrested in the incident. Around 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers were called to Memorial Park for a report of shots fired, a physical altercation, and a person armed with a knife. Upon arrival, officers found an 18-year-old Green Bay man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital. A handgun and a knife were recovered at the scene. Police are recommending charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, injury by negligent use of weapon and disorderly conduct against the 19-year-old. The 17-year-old faces charges of substantial battery, strangulation and suffocation and disorderly conduct. Further charges may be filed.

An unidentified man is accused of trying to enter a Wisconsin State Representative's home while shirtless. Law enforcement says the man was seen on surveillance footage at Representative Priscilla Prado's home in Milwaukee last night. He didn't make it into the home, but walked around the property before leaving. The suspect is a white man in his 40s or 50s with shoulder-length blonde hair, and is about six feet tall and 200 pounds. Anyone with information about who the man could be is asked to call the Wisconsin State Capitol Police Department.

A special birthday celebration for the Milwaukee Fire Department. The department will hold a 150th anniversary party September 13th at Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. The event will feature free admission and parking, live music, food vendors, displays of firefighting equipment throughout the department’s history, and activities for the whole family. The department has already hosted community outreach events at fire stations city-wide to observe the anniversary. 

Local-Regional News July 22

 

One person was injured when two semi trucks collided on I-94 in Dunn County yesterday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a semi traveling slowly on the shoulder of I-94 eastbound near mile marker 48 was struck from behind by another semi. One of the vehicles caught fire, and one person reported minor injuries. I-94 had to be closed in both directions while crews put out the fire and cleaned up debris from the accident.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion on the fall goose hunt and goose management, appointment of the Ward 1 Councilperson, and reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A decades old warning system for the Prairie Island Nuclear Power plant is being retired. The Pierce County Emergency Management says the outdoor warning sirens within 10 miles of the plant will no longer be used for official warnings for the plant. The decision to not use the sires for official plant warnings is because of new technology the alerts will be delivered through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

The Pierce County Sheriffs Department is announcing the release of a convicted sex offender back into the county. 34Yr old Roman Serbesku is being released today back into the county as homeless. Serbesku will be monitored with GPS and will have to comply with standard sex offender rules, have no unsupervised contact with the victim or any minors, and comply with all lifetime sex offender requirements.

The Durand Woman’s Club is holding their annual Fill a Book Bag program to help students in Pepin County whose families are in need of financial assistance. The program is now taking applications through August 8 for students in need of school supplies. The bags will be filled with the appropriate supplies for the child's grade level and will be distributed on August 21^st at Faith Lutheran Church. Applications are available on the Durand Improvement Group Facebook page or call Jan at 715-672-8448.

Mental health treatment is being ordered for a man charged in connection with an April incident at Putnam Heights Elementary School in Eau Claire. Reports say that 33-year-old Andrey Sichuga, frustrated at not having been hired for a job, showed up at the school armed with a gun. No one was hurt but Sichuga was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct. A court on Monday determined that the defendant was not competent for trial. Hopes are that he will regain competency during treatment and proceedings will be able to resume.

A Jackson County Corrections Officer is in custody following reports of a domestic incident. Christopher Loecken was arrested Sunday morning after his fiance called 911 to report a domestic incident. Trempeleau County Sheriff's Office is recommending charges of domestic-related battery, strangulation and disorderly conduct. Loecken is being held at Trempeleau County Jail until his court date.

Authorities are reporting the passing of Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Workman. The 36-year-old died while at work on Friday. Workman had been employed by the county for three years. His death is being investigated but is not believed to be suspicious.

A new law going into effect on September 1st aims to eliminate the sale of non-FDA approved vapes. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is expected to post a list naming unauthorized products in August. If stores don't comply, they'll be faced with a thousand-dollar fine per unit. For some stores still carrying unauthorized product, that could mean over a million dollars worth of fines.

The total economic impact of the largest event in Green Bay's history shattered projected numbers. Discover Green Bay CEO Brad Toll says the NFL predicted a $20 million economic impact in Brown County, but that number was actually $72.9 million. The statewide economic impact was anticipated to be $94 million, but that actually came out to $104.7 million. Packers VP of Marketing Gabrielle Dow says says the 2025 draft was the second most watched draft on TV behind 2020's draft during covid. Around 600,000 people attended the three-day event back in April.

Be careful before you buy tickets to see your favorite artist this season. Wisconsin Better Business Bureau spokeswoman Lisa Schiller says scammers have been making up entirely fake events and selling cheap tickets for them. Schiller says it's always important to research an online purchase before making it. Check your artist's schedule and see if they really are playing at that event, and check reputable online sources to see if an event is actually taking place.

Wisconsin school systems are some of the best in the country. A report by WalletHub compares schools in all 50 states and Washington DC based on metrics like student performance, safety measures, and education funding. Wisconsin school systems rank sixth best, with Massachusetts and Connecticut at the top of the list. New Mexico and Oklahoma are at the bottom.

Minnesota State Senator Eric Platt will run for Congress. The Prior Lake Republican is vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by incumbent Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate. Platt was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2012. Other congressional candidates include Republican Tyler Kistner, former DFL State Senator Matt Little, and State Senator Matt Klein of Medota Heights.

Officials are investigating after a Delta flight avoided crashing into a B-52 bomber while landing at an airport in North Dakota. The incident happened on Friday after Delta Connection Flight 3788 left Minneapolis. Sky West Airline, which operated the plane, says the pilot performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. The pilot said the tower in Minot, North Dakota, does not have a radar, and controllers rely on visuals to direct aircraft.

It's not every day you hear about a park closure... due to wasps. Police in the Manitowoc County city of Kiel put out a warning Saturday afternoon that Lions Park was closed on account of a massive number of ground wasps that were spotted by residents. A pest expert from Public Works was sent out to do a check, and it turned out the swarm was harmless sand wasps. Police gave the all clear later in the day.

Local-Regional News July 21

 

A Durand man is dead after a single vehicle accident in Springbrook Township on Saturday. According to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, the 36yr old man was traveling southbound on 960^th Street and his vehicle had a mechanical failure, causing him to lose control, enter the ditch, roll and struck a tree. The vehicle started on fire but was put out by bystanders. The Dunn County Medical Examiner pronounced the man dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

One person is dead after a head on collision on Hwy 79 in the town of Sherman on Saturday. According to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, a pickup truck was traveling southbound on Hwy 79, when a southbound car crossed the center line and struck the truck head on. The driver of the car, a 36yr old female from Boyceville was found entrapped in the vehicle and deceased. The driver of the pickup truck was med-flighted to the hospital. That accident remains under investigation and no names have been released.

The body of a 56yr old man has been located after an incident on the Mississippi River just north of Lake City on Saturday. According to the Goodhue County Sheriffs Department, a 12yr old female was wading in the water alongside the male on a sandbar near Long Point. The girl fell into a deep spot, and was seen in distress by a passing boater and was safely pulled from the water. The man also went underwater and was not found and a search was initiated.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in the Town of Mondovi on Sunday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 47yr old Chao Vang of Bloomington was traveling north on Hwy 88 when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, went into the ditch and hit a culvert. Vang was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

One person is dead and several others injured after a head on accident on Hwy 12 just east of Fall Creek. According to the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department, when deputies arrived they found two vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic. Five people were taken to the hospital where one person died later in the day. The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of family.

The new state budget includes an increase in funding for special education. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says it was one part of the budget he was happy to see passed.  Nelson says that while the increase will help the district, it won’t make any significant changes for the school district’s budget.

La Crosse Police are searching for a young woman who was reported missing on Sunday. Twenty-two-year-old Eliotte Heinz was last seen walking along Front Street South just before 3:30 a.m. yesterday. She is described as a white female standing five-feet-four and weighing 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.

A farm whose journey began around the Lincoln presidency is celebrating 150 years of operation. The Wolfe Family Farm started when Peter Steward settled on the land in 1862. Since then, the farm earned its name and generations passed it down to the younger ones. Don and Bonnie Wolfe own the land today, but his daughter is planning to sell it once she assumes control of the land.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to teach hunter education. Outdoor Skills Trainer Kayla Sasse says instructors are needed for both basic and advanced education courses. Since the creation of the hunter ed program in 1967, more than 20,000 volunteers have educated hunters in the state, certifying more than 1 million hunters. More information on volunteering can be found on the DNR's website.

A fifth tornado is confirmed by the National Weather Service. The EF0 tornado traveled on I-90 south of Mauston for a minute with minimal damages reported. It happened during Wednesday's storm through Juneau County. The agency is also tracking a funnel cloud sighting yesterday near Manitowoc. Officials say reports of property and tree damages suggest the funnel may have touched ground -- making it a tornado. It happened at Stone Road, near HWY 10 and I-43.

Starting this week, Wisconsin people getting Social Security Disability Income will also be eligible for unemployment if they qualify. Previously a state law denied unemployment to someone receiving SSDI. A judge ruled against the ban and ordered the state to stop denying the unemployment claims, effective July 20th. The question of whether people can collect back unemployment pay is not decided yet.

The body of a woman found in a crashed vehicle in Nebraska has been identified as a missing Dodgeville woman. The Iowa County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that 67-year-old Dorinda Segebrecht was found dead in the back seat of a car spotted in Lincoln, Nebraska on Wednesday. After Nebraska State Patrol trooper spotted a vehicle connected to Segebrecht that wasn’t being driven by her, a brief pursuit of the vehicle ended with the driver crashing into a creek. The driver, a 23-year-old Dodgeville man, was arrested and jailed. The man faces several charges in Iowa County, including first-degree intentional homicide, burglary while armed and hiding a corpse. Authorities believe the crimes were random.

The second of two girls who nearly killed a classmate to please a fictional character will be released. Waukesha County Judge Scott Wagner has approved a release plan for 22-year-old Morgan Geyser. Then 12-year-old Geyser, along with then 12-year-old Anissa Weier repeatedly stabbed a classmate in 20-14 to please the Slenderman, an internet urban legend. Both were found not competent and sentenced to mental health treatment. Weier previously was allowed release, but Geyser's original release plan was shelved because she would live too close to the victim. The exact details of the new plan have not been released.

Minnesota lawmaker Nicole Mitchell has been convicted of first-degree burglary. The Democratic State Senator was accused of breaking into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home last year. Defense attorneys argued their client went to the residence only to check on her stepmother because of concerns about her Alzheimer's. Mitchell faces up to 20 years in prison. It's unclear if she will continue to serve in the state Senate, where her party holds a one seat majority.

The Minnesota State Fair is announcing 70 new drink options. Some of the new drink options coming include a pineapple upside-down cake slushy, a frozen espresso martini hard seltzer, a scooby slush, and a caramel corn cream ale brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company. The fair takes place August 21st to September 1st at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights. Admission is 20 dollars for adults, and 18 for seniors and kids five to 12.

Local-Regional News July 18

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School District has been awarded a $56,000 grant to help staff in instruction of students with disabilities. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the grant will allow the district to provide specific training for staff.  The grant will be paid over the next three years.

Additional charges are being filed against a Menomonie teen already charged in connection with a deadly Dunn County hit and run. The body of 54-year-old Ann Seidl was found lying in a ditch along County Highway Y on March 29th of this year. Authorities say that 17-year-old Addison Bowell was the driver of the vehicle that hit Seidl and failed to stop. Bowell had already been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of hit and run resulting in death with new charges including homicide by vehicle use - control substance now added.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court have unanimously reinstated a Dunn County 2017 child sexual assault conviction. A Dunn County jury convicted Jobert Molde of two child sexual assault charges in 2017, but the charges were set aside by the 3^rd District Court of Appeals after Molde claimed his attorney was ineffective for not challenging expert testimony. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected that argument saying the testimony of the victim was “crucial evidence” in convicting Molde.

The Friends of the Durand Public Library are hosting a month-long creative contest and silent auction to raise funds for digitizing the library's newspapers. Friends of the Library member Rosie Reckin says the library has newspapers from as far back as 1865.  The creative contest and silent auction continue through July 31^st at the Durand Public Library.

The Eleva-Strum School District is celebrating its new solar panel array. There is a total of 184 panels that will generate 100 kilowatts of power. It will produce about one-fifth of the high school's power usage. This will save the saving the district about $20,000 per year. The idea to install solar panels at the high school started two years ago. It was funded through the district's capital improvement budget.

Eau Claire Police are advising folks of heavy traffic expected in the area near Clairemont Avenue and Highway T today and tomorrow. County Jam is continuing with headliners including Cole Swindell tonight and Sam Hunt tomorrow night. Countryjamwi-dot-com has more details.

A program aimed at eliminating homelessness in La Crosse is receiving a financial boost. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is approving a 350-thousand dollar grant for the Pathways Home initiative. The initiative's goal is to achieve Functional Zero homelessness in La Crosse by 2029. The grant funding would be used in part to cover the cost of additional staffing.

At least two tornados touched down during severe weather in Wisconsin on Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Sullivan confirmed tornados in Beaver Dam and Hustisford. The Hustisford tornado was an EF-0, as was the one in Beaver Dam. Both only did minor damage to fields and no structures were affected. Meteorologists are still investigating other reports from around the state.

Former VP candidate Tim Walz says he's not running for President in 2028. Speaking on a podcast, the Minnesota Governor said even though he's not running, he will do everything he can to help the Democratic party. Walz was the running mate of former Vice President Kamala Harris when they lost to President Trump this past November. The governor likely had an outside shot of gaining his party's nomination based on recent polls.

Wisconsinites will be paying more for title transfers and driver's license renewals in the fall. The state's biennial budget will add fifty dollars more to vehicle title fees, anytime a car is sold or transferred. License renewal fees will increase from 24 dollars to 32 dollars and fifty cents. The Department of Public Works says each ten dollar increase in registration fees can generate three-point-one-million dollars annually. Wisconsin law allows counties to collect registration fees for transportation-related purposes.

Fundraising numbers fuel speculation that Governor Tony Evers might not run for a third term next year. Recently released campaign finance records show Wisconsin’s Democrat governor raised just over $750,000 in the first half of this year. That’s compared to the $5 million Evers had in his campaign coffers a month after he announced his candidacy for a second term in 2021. Evers has repeatedly said he'd announce his plans on whether or not he’d run in 2026 after the latest state budget was in place. Two Republican candidates have already announced they’re running in next year’s gubernatorial contest.

David Brom, the man convicted of killing his parents and younger siblings in Rochester back in 1988, is set to be released from prison. Brom committed the crimes at the age of 16. receiving a sentence of life in prison. A state law put in place in 2024 removes life sentences for juvenile offenders, with Brom set for release from prison in Lino Lakes on July 29th.

Grant applications for projects that will improve resources for hunters are now open. The Department of Natural Resources says the Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Grant Program will distribute 75-thousand-dollars to this round of applicants. Past grant recipients have used the money for archery range upgrades, 4-H sports programs, hunting expos, and hunting education programs. Applications will be open on the DNR website through September 15.

Former Minnesota State Senator Scott Jensen will be running for governor once again. The Chaska doctor announced today that he will join the race after losing to Tim Walz in 2022 by less than eight percentage points. Jensen told the Star Tribune that he wants to bring Minnesota back to the days when communities were safe and schools were strong. The Republican joins candidate Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and former health care executive. Meanwhile, Walz has yet to announce whether he'll seek a third term.

A popular cheese brand is bringing its production to Little Chute. Bel Brands USA is announcing the arrival of the Laughing Cow Brand to its Little Chute factory. The move will create 50 more skilled-worker jobs to its operations. The facility will see three million more pounds of cheese product upon the brand's arrival. About 20 million pounds of product are already produced per year, coming from fellow cheese brands like Kaukauna and Merkt's.