Gas
prices continue to drop. Here in Western Wisconsin, the average
price for gas according to AAA was 1.42, that is approximately $1.40
a gallon cheaper than one year ago. Across the state of Wisconsin
the average price was $1.43 a gallon and nationwide the average was
$1.92. A lack of demand due to the Covid-19 outbreak along with a
price and production war between Saudi Arabia and Russia continue to
drive down prices.
Ellsworth
Cooperative Creamery is the latest dairy processor looking for ways
to decrease milk production. Paul Bauer, General Manager of the
Co-Op says instead of having farmers dump their milk, the Co-Op
decided to give an incentive to those members that might have been
thinking of exiting the business in the next year or two to sell
their cows now. Bauer
says the co-op needs to reduce its milk intake by 100,000lbs of milk
per day. If they cannot get to that level through the early
retirement plan, they may force farmers to dump milk.
With
schools closed due to the covid-19 outbreak, many special events like
prom and graduation are in question. In the Durand-Arkansaw School
District, it was decided to move prom to June 20th.
As for the Graduation Ceremony, according to Durand-Arkansaw
Superintendent Greg Doverspike there has been no change yet for
graduation.
Due
to the current shortage of Personal Protective Equipment, the Pepin
County Health Department and the Pepin County Sheriffs Department are
asking the public's help to consider making and donating homemade
cloth face coverings for local law enforcement. If you have some
already made or have a sewing machine and are able to make some,
please consider doing so. To schedule a time to drop off your
donation, please call the Health Department at 672-5961
Pepin
County Dairy Promotion and Eau Galle Cheese Factory have donated 100
gallons of 2% milk and 50 pounds of cheese curds to the Durand Area
Food Pantry. The cheese curds will be included in the regular food
distribution on Wednesdays from 9-Noon and Thursdays from 1-4pm.
There will be a special milk only giveaway on Thursday from 4-6pm or
until the milk is gone at the Durand Food Pantry. The milk will be
given by curbside delivery at the Durand Food Pantry.
A
judge in La Crosse County has dismissed sexual assault charges which
had been filed against a retired priest. Monsignor Bernard
McGarty had been accused of touching a woman inappropriately outside
the La Crosse Library last May. Video surveillance cameras
captured what actually happened. The woman told investigators
McGarty gave her 20 dollars after she told him she’s homeless.
Then she claimed he asked to see some of her tattoos and placed her
arm in his lap with what were called clear sexual intentions.
The
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now says Wisconsin’s
peak date for its battle with COVID-19 will be April 17th instead
of the 27th. The I-H-M-E is also predicting fewer deaths from
the virus in this state. The latest numbers suggest Wisconsin
will see 644 deaths by June 1st – less than half the original
prediction of one-thousand-309. By predicting the peak date
will be on the 17th, the scientists are saying that is when Wisconsin
will see the highest death rate and the greatest usage of hospital
resources. The I-H-M-E has also dialed back its estimated
national death toll, from 93 thousand to fewer than 82 thousand.
The
Wisconsin Elections Commission reports more than one million requests
for absentee ballots have been received leading up to Tuesday’s
primaries. Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson told W-K-O-W
television her office has issued as many absentee ballots this year
as the total of all votes in the 2012 elections – including
in-person voting.
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Workers'
compensation will be discussed when members of the Minnesota
Legislature reconvene Tuesday. Workers’ compensation claims
for first responders, police officers, firefighters, and health care
workers, including home health care workers, who contract COVID-19,
will be on the table. The joint announcement was made over the
weekend by House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader
Paul Gazelka, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, and Senate Minority
Leader Susan Kent.
Top
Wisconsin Republican leaders have been turned down in their request
for in-person Easter and Passover services to be allowed.
Governor Tony Evers denied the request Monday after a waiver of the
Safer at Home order had been sought. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos
issued a statement saying “it is more important than ever that we
allow Wisconsinites to observe their individual faiths.” He
suggested the services could be held outside. A spokesperson
for the governor said his decision was based on protecting the health
and safety of all Wisconsinites.
The
state of Minnesota is experiencing a shortage of some key personal
protective equipment. The Healthcare system is running out of medical
gowns. There are about 15 thousand remaining in the state warehouse,
while other critical PPE supplies could last another two-to-six
weeks. The shortage has prompted the State Emergency Operations
Center to make it clear on the homepage of its website that donations
of unused PPE are welcome.
Heavy
rain and snow melt caused more than 7 million gallons of sewage to
overflow into Lake Superior from Ashland's waste water treatment
plant last month. According to city press release, the overflow
occurred March 29 and 30. The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources has been notified. Residents are being ask to avoid contact
with any sanitary sewer overflow due to "the potential for
exposure to disease-causing organisms." Ashland city leaders
told KBJR TV in Duluth last year that the city's sewer system is
outdated.
Authorities
in Houston County say a 66-year-old farmer died of the injuries he
suffered Sunday while trying to help a cow deliver her calf.
Emergency responders were called shortly before midnight on a report
of a livestock accident. Richard Wagner was taken to a hospital
in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but he died before doctors could save him.
Authorities in Houston County are investigating the apparent
accident.
Divorced
parents in Wisconsin who share child custody still have to work out a
custody exchange during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family Law Attorney
Lauren Otto says some parents don't want to exchange children for
fear of the risk to spread coronavirus from home to home. Otto says
Governor Evers "Safer at Home" order provides a specific
exemption for child exchanges, and parents must still exchange
custody of their children as required by the courts.
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