Monday, May 25, 2020

Local-Regional News May 25


One person was injured in an ATV accident last Tuesday in Pepin County. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department 74yr old Jackie Patraw of rural Pepin was traveling on Hwy N and crossed the highway going from the northbound ditch to the southbound ditch just north of Jahnke Lane. Patraw starting going up an embankment when the ATV rolled and landed on him. He was flown to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester with undetermined injuries. That accident remains under investigation.


No one was injured in a car fire on Frday in the Town of Pepin. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, firefighters responded to a car on fire at Hwy CC and Lost Creek Road. When authorities arrived on scene, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames and the driver, 79yr old Robert Ramseth of Stockholm was safely out of the vehicle. Lund and Pepin Fire Fighters put out the blaze.


A Dunn County man is pleading not guilty by mental disease or defect in the January murder of his father.  Fifty-one-year-old Gary Styer of Colfax is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the murder of 78-year-old Edward Styer.  He told investigators he killed his dad because of years of physical and emotional abuse he suffered as a child.  The complaint says Styer killed him with a two-by-four piece of wood while he was sleeping.  Styer's next court hearing is July 24th.


One of two men charged with child sex trafficking in Eau Claire County Circuit Court has been handed a 10-year prison sentence.  Richard Bye and William Hargrove were both accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.  A judge handed down the sentence for Hargrove Thursday.  Both men denied having sex with the underage girl, but D-N-A evidence tied them to the crime.


A 50-year-old man accused of killing an elderly victim in a parking lot altercation has been freed on bond in La Crosse County.  Matthew Kinstler entered a plea of not guilty to reckless homicide charges.  Kinstler and 79-year-old Russell W. Paulson got into an argument outside a Menard’s store May 1st when Kinstler thought the older man had parked too close to his vehicle.  Paulson was injured and died later.  Kinstler had been in jail for more than two weeks when he bonded out Thursday.


One man is in custody after a killing in Sawyer County over the weekend. According to the Sawyer County Sheriffs Department, deputies, and other local law enforcement responded to a domestic incident in the Town of Hayward on Saturday and found an older man dead from an apparent stab would and an older woman still alive but with severe lacerations and injuries to her face. Authorities arrested 34yr old Peter D. Farnsworth of Rocky Ford, Colorado on charges of first degree intentional homicide, attempted first degree intentional homicide and substantial battery. That incident is still under investigation.


SFB, Security Financial Bank has announced that lobbies at all SFB Branches will re-open to the public staring on June 1st. Only one entrance at each location will be open, and customers will notice Plexiglas guards installed at all teller windows, and customers will be allowed to wear masks, but you may be asked to temporarily remove it to identify yourself.


Organizers with the Wisconsin State Fair are waiting until the end of May to make a decision on whether move forward with the 2020 fair in August.  Officials said in an email, "as the State Fair Park Board of Directors continue to work with staff and government officials on the safety of mass gatherings related to COVID-19, we have decided to put a hold on sending agreements until a decision has been made regarding the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair."  Board member John Yingling of said earlier this month that the sticking point is crowd size.  The fair can draw 140-thousand people on a good weekend, which would make social distancing impossible.  The Minnesota State Fair cancelled its event Friday which draws more than two-million visitors.


Only South Dakota has fewer coronavirus restrictions in effect than Wisconsin.  The personal finance website WalletHub released the results this week, analyzing 11 key metrics to determine the rankings.  Researchers found the Badger State had the loosest restrictions on requiring people to wear a mask in public and reopening child care programs.  It had the second-fewest restrictions on large gatherings and letting restaurants and bars resume serving customers.


Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett expects many Democrats will decide about coming to their national convention at the last minute. Tom Barrett says a number of delegates will wait until August to decide if they want to attend the Democratic National Convention at Fiserv Forum in-person. Presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden told Channel 12 this week that he may not not attend in-person. He say it depends on the advice that his doctors give him.


Wisconsin state parks have returned to regular operating hours. That is, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, and parks will no longer be closed Wednesdays. The sole exception, Rock Island State Park will remain closed until July. A limited number of day-use area restrooms will reopen for public use beginning Wednesday, June 3, according to the Wisconsin DNR. Park visitors are advised to bring hand sanitizer. All group, family and indoor group campsites will remain closed, and all events and shelter reservations will be canceled, through June 7. The status of events, reservations and camping after June 7 is under review.


It’s back to work at Harley-Davidson. The company says 125 workers are already back at the motorcycle factory in Menomonee Falls. The plan is to bring everyone else back after Memorial Day. Almost a-thousand people work at the plant. Harley-Davidson has been shut down since mid-March because of the coronavirus.


Two Minnesota students are being recognized in the 56th class of U-S Presidential Scholars.  Aunika Zheng of Mounds View High School and Benjamin Bin Yan from Century High School in Rochester are among this year's 161 recipients. The program honors high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and career, and technical education fields.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scholars will not be able to travel to Washington, D-C  for the national recognition program this summer. Plans are underway for an online ceremony.

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