Thursday, March 26, 2020

Local-Regional News March 26


As people shelter at home during the Covid-19 outbreak it is a good idea to check on your friends and neighbors. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says while you should not go into a neighbors home, a simple phone call would help both yourself and your neighbor. Stewart says a mental health hotline has been set up to help those need some help during these challenging times.  You can also call 211 for assistance ranging from mental health, to needing food and other services.


The Mirror Lake project is continuing in Mondovi. Mondovi City Administrator Bradly Hanson says the lake is getting a complete face lift..  The lake was drained over the winter for the dredging part of the project and its hoped that will be completed before summer.


The Village of Elmwood is asking for the public's help after someone did some significant damage to the Poplar Hill Cemetery between Sunday morning 3/22 and Monday evening 3/23. There is a $1000 reward for information that leads to the responsible person/persons from an anonymous donor. Anyone with information should call Doug Claflin at 715-317-0024. 


The Pierce County Sheriffs is reporting scammers are contacting residents in regard to covid-19. According to the Sheriffs Department, residents are receiving phone calls and text messages, claiming to have checks from the government. Please be advised the coronavirus stimulus package is still being worked out. Anyone who tells you money is available now is a scammer.


A Wisconsin man faces drug charges after a package containing six pounds of T-H-C products was intercepted at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.  Thirty-six-year-old Edgar Hernandez was charged with possession with intent to deliver.  Airport authorities contacted the Barron County Sheriff’s Office last weekend when a package holding 250 vaporizer pen cartridges was detected at a U-P-S sorting facility.  When a search warrant was executed, more T-H-C products were found in his home.


 Eau Claire voters can cast their ballots while still maintaining social distancing.  City Clerk Carrie Riepl opened a drive-thru polling location Tuesday at the City Hall parking lot.  No change in the rules.  You need to have a voter I-D and must be registered.  Riepl says about 175 people used the drive-thru on its first day.  She expects greater numbers as we get closer to the April 7th election.


The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a woman found dead puppies in a shoebox in a ditch.  The woman and her daughter discovered the box of five newborn dogs wrapped in a towel Tuesday night near Chatfield.  Deputies say it isn't clear what breed the puppies were or how long they had been there.  They were taken to an animal hospital for proper disposal.  Investigators say they're treating it as a possible criminal case.


Forget the rumors you've heard about the National Guard's role during the coronavirus outbreak. Wisconsin National Guard Adjutant General Paul Knapp, in charge of state Emergency Management, posted a brief video to Twitter on Wednesday, to reassure residents of the Guard's role in assisting the state's efforts  Rumors that the Guard is enforcing Governor Evers' "Safer at Home" order or doing things like blocking entrances to grocery stores are just that -- rumors.


It is a big job getting ready for next summer’s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee – and it’s on hold right now.  The coronavirus pandemic has put stress on the groups working to get ready for the July event.  It’s just hard to prepare while everyone is told to stay home.  Republicans have a little more breathing room because their convention in Charlotte doesn’t start until late August.  The host committee has to raise 70 million dollars for the Milwaukee gathering.  It had 25 million as of the end of last year.
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A Rochester teen is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder in a January shooting near the Rochester Community and Technical College campus.  Eighteen-year-old Robert Salley demanded a jury trial for the deadly shooting of 24-year-old Trevor Boysen.  Police say surveillance video shows Salley getting into a car and then after exiting the vehicle, firing a gun at the car.  The recording then shows Boysen getting out of the vehicle and collapsing on the ground.  Investigators said the shooting was apparently the result of a "drug deal gone bad."  Salley remains jailed on two-million dollars bail.


Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is ordering Minnesotans to stay at home for two weeks to help stop the spread of coronavirus.  The governor's latest executive order is asking people to limit their movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs from this Friday at 11:59 p-m through April 10th.  Bars and restaurants will remain closed until May 1st.  Schools will be closed until May 4th.  Walz says the move has come after an exhausting look at modeling for the state of Minnesota and trying to spread out the period of time when infection rates are at its peak. Walz said, "we must take bold action to save the lives of Minnesotans."  The Minnesota Department of Health and U of M predict more than 70-thousand Minnesotans could die from COVID-19 if we take no action.  Senate Republican Leader Paul Gazelka said he has "grave concerns" about the Stay-at-Home order, "and the consequences for the families of Minnesota when their jobs and businesses that provide their livelihood are lost."


 Officials with Husky Energy say they have suspended rebuilding work on the refinery in Superior due to the coronavirus pandemic.  A company spokesperson pointed to the current safety and public health risks.  The 400-million-dollar project was expected to be complete early next year.  Some construction workers are staying on the sight to keep essential functions like the wastewater treatment plant and gas and diesel terminals operating.  Normally, 200 people would be working at the refinery.


There’s a new look coming to some Wisconsin Pick ‘N Save stores.  The California-based grocer is installing plexiglass barriers to protect cashiers.  The barriers will provide a little more separation during the coronavirus pandemic.  Many Wisconsin stores already have social distancing spacers on the floor and customers are being encouraged to order their groceries online to limit the number of shoppers inside.


Wisconsin’s spring election is less than two weeks off and state leaders are encouraging voters to request an absentee ballot again.  Election Day is Tuesday April 7th.  The focus is to keep in-person voting to a minimum due to worries about the coronavirus pandemic.  Requests for absentee ballots are said to be on a record pace.  The Wisconsin Elections Committee says more than 554-thousand applications have been received by municipal clerks as of Tuesday.  Voters need to be registered to before they can request an absentee ballot.  You can register online until March 30th at MyVote-dot-WI-dot-gov.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot is April 2nd.


Managers of Wisconsin’s state parks are suggesting that people get their social distance in the great outdoors. The Department of Natural Resources is dropping all fees at any state park that's still open. Most parks, lakes, and hiking trails are still open under Governor Evers' "Safer at Home" order. Park offices and campgrounds, however, are closed.

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