Monday, March 23, 2020

Local-Regional News March 23


One person is dead and five injured after a house fire in Spring Brook Township Sunday Afternoon. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, firefighters from Elk Mound and Menomonie, and Mayo 1 and Lifelink 3 responded to the fire. There were six occupants of the house at the time the fire started. Five of the occupants of the house, one female adult and four children, are being treated at different hospitals for thermal injuries and lacerations. One adult male from the house was unable to make it out of the house and perished. Two other adult residence of the house were not home at the time that the fire started. This fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office


Advent Hospital in Durand is asking residents that believe they need a Covid-19 test to call the hospital first. Angela Jacobson, Director of Nursing and Emergency Management says the hospital can order a test right over the phone if one is needed.  If a test is ordered, an appointment would be set up, you would then go to the Hospital and use the ambulance bay and a staff member will come out to your vehicle to conduct the test. Please do not just show up to the hospital requesting a test.


Last week, the Pepin County Board passed an emergency administrative flexibility resolution in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Pepin County Board Chairman Steve Anderson says the resolution was needed in case the spring election is postponed or canceled.  If the election is cancelled, administrative decisions would be handled by the Administrative Coordinator in consulltation with the Pepin County Sheriff and the Pepin County Health Officer.


The Durand High School Academic Decathlon Team took 2nd place at state. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says members of the team work very hard to prepare for the competetion.  This year's state competetion was even more of a challenge as the teams were in separate rooms due to the social distancing guidelines.


One person was injured in a one vehicle rollover accident south of Arcadia on Friday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department, 24yr old Juan Antony Rodriguez of Arcadia was traveling southbound on Hwy 93 when he lost control of his vehicle , crossed the northbound lane and went off the road. Rodriquez was ejected from the vehicle. He left the accident scene and was located by deputies at his residence. Rodriquez suffered serious injuries and was taken to Whitehall where he was air-lifted by Mayo Helicopter to the hospital.


 Mayo Clinic Health System is receiving donations of personal protective equipment after the federal government requested businesses to help with medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic. Physician Chair Paul Molling says the community always responds with tremendous support whenever a request is made. One organization donated around one-thousand N-95 masks to the hospital. Molling also said the hospital is grateful for the donations and support they have received during the pandemic.


The cost for regular gas in Wisconsin is down 25-cents-a-gallon compared to a week ago. Triple-A says the average price statewide is a-dollar-90 today, while the national average is two-17. Drivers are paying a-dollar-61 a gallon in La Crosse, one-72 in Eau Claire, one-81 in Kenosha County, a-dollar-86 in Milwaukee and a-dollar-89 in Madison.


A fugitive from a Racine gang-related shooting has been arrested in La Crosse County. Twenty-six-year-old Gregory L. Wells was taken into custody in the Town of Campbell Wednesday at about 6:45 p-m. Included in the more than 20 charges filed against Wells are attempted homicide and six counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Racine police say the shooting happened last week. The name of the victim hasn’t been released.


The state of Wisconsin is asking FEMA for help getting protective medical supplies for law enforcement officers and firefighters.  The governor’s office says the request was made for help obtaining 50 thousand non-surgical masks, 10 thousand face shields, 11 thousand coverall, three thousand N-95 face masks and 35 thousand pairs of protective gloves.  Governor Evers says the hope is that the federal government can identify a source for the supplies “as quickly as possible.”  The state has already accessed thousands of items from the strategic national stockpile.


Minnesota-based 3M has doubled its production of N-95 respirators in an effort to provide much-needed protective equipment to health care workers worldwide. The company reports they reached maximum production levels for the respirators and doubled its global output to nearly 100-million per month. In the U-S alone 3-M reported they are manufacturing 35-million respirators each month. Ninety percent of those are earmarked for health care workers.
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The Wisconsin National Guard is calling-up 300 citizen-soldiers to help with the coronavirus. Commanders yesterday mobilized the troops. Colonel Eric Leckel says the troops will provide support to the state's virus response, which could include transporting virus samples, helping with logistics, and even providing doctors or nurses to local hospitals.


Wisconsin residents worried about the growing coronavirus outbreak can find somebody to talk to. The state has set up a distress line for those who want to discuss the fears about COVID-19. Governor Tony Evers says it is important to stay informed with the latest news about the virus, but sometimes that causes a lot of stress and anxiety. The Distress Line phone number is 1-800-985-5990.


Three Fox Valley mayors, including Eric Genrich of Green Bay, asked Governor Evers on Friday to move the April 7 Election. Evers said he doesn't have that authority.  Also Friday, the state Elections Commission asked Evers for assistance in procuring hand sanitizer and other supplies, in recruiting poll workers, and access to public health officials for guidance.


The University of Wisconsin System is telling students who were ousted from their dorm rooms they will get a refund of a pro-rated amount of the charges they paid for housing and dining.  System President Ray Cross announced the decision Thursday, saying it was made because classes are now being delivered through alternative methods – like online – and not in person.  The students affected won’t be able to credit the refund amount toward future housing and dining charges.


The University of Minnesota is seeking participants to take part in clinical trials for a remedy for coronavirus. Doctor Tim Schacker is a infectious doctor and Vice Dean for Research at the university's Medical School. He and his team are conducting three anti-viral COVID-19 trials. To be eligible for the study, you must have had high-risk exposure to someone with coronavirus within the past three days. To sign up for the trial or learn more email covid19@umn.edu


 Summerfest is still on – for now.  The fact that the annual event is three months away gives organizers some time.  Summerfest C-E-O Don Smiley says they are looking at all options before deciding about the festival.  Smiley says all preparations for the celebration starting June 24th are full steam ahead, but he adds that could change if the coronavirus pandemic continues.


A Minnesota bar is offering a special you can’t pass up while store shelves are emptied of paper products.  Cambridge Bar and Grill is offering a free roll of toilet paper if you spend 25 dollars on a takeout order.  The owner says he gets the T-P from a commercial supplier and he hopes the special offer makes people smile.  There were smiles in the bar earlier this month when an anonymous customer left a 500-dollar tip for the staff on a tab for just over six dollars.

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