Local-Regional News June 16

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs deer accident in Cross Township last Friday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 35yr old Alan Keeler of Alma was traveling eastbound on Hwy 95 between Fountain City and Arcadia when a deer entered the roadway. Keeler attempted to stop, however was unable to in time and struck the deer causing him to be ejected from the motorcycle. Keeler was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs truck accident in the Village of Cochrane on Friday afternoon. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 20yr old Andrew Rothering of Buffalo City was turning southbound from Hwy O to north Main Street and took the corner too wide striking a pickup truck head on driven by 33yr old Andrew Zeller of Buffalo City. Rothering was evaluated and released on scene by EMS, while Zeller was not injured.

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Nelson Township on Saturday morning. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 27yr old Adam Ridgeway-Baader was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when his vehicle veered off the roadway when it approached a curve. When the vehicle traveled off the roadway, Ridgeway-Baader tried to regain control of the vehicle but was unsuccessful. The vehicle continued off the roadway, over a driveway then striking a large tree. Ridgeway-Baader was air lifted by Mayo 1 to an area hospital.

An Altoon man, out on bond from Eau Claire County for a burglary charge was arrested in Dunn County on Friday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, Deputies responded to a complaint of a burglary to an occupied residents on Hwy BB in the Township of Menomonie. The Homeowner was able to provide a video from the Ring doorbell of the suspect entering their home. Arrested was 32yr old Steven Lorentz and he was charged with two counts of burglary, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, bail jumping, possession of drug paraphernalia and other traffic charges. If anyone believes their home was entered into last week you are to contact the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

A group of protesters in Menomonie engaged in a stare-down with people flying the American flag Sunday.  The two crowds were on opposite sides of the street.  The protesters said they were bothered that some members of the other group were carrying rifles.  The armed participants said they just wanted to protect their businesses from violence as they saw in Minneapolis.  Menomonie police were called and they stayed and watched the two groups, but they say there were no problems to report.

 A Rochester man makes his initial court appearance today on federal arson charges.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 25-year-old Montez Lee was caught on video footage starting a fire at a Minneapolis pawn shop during the riots and looting on May 28th. The A-T-F says Lee can be seen pouring liquid from a metal container throughout the pawnshop and later standing in front of the burning building.   Lee was arrested Monday in Rochester.

Americans are filling up at the pump more and more. Since mid-May, gasoline demand has increased 18% , according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report. The slow, but steady rise in demand has pushed the national pump price more expensive by 13% in the same timeframe. Today’s national average is $2.10. That is seven cents more on the week, 24 cents more on the month, but 59 cents cheaper on the year. Here in Western Wisconsin, gas was averaging 1.99 which was about 66 cent a gallon cheaper than one year ago.

The member of Governor Tony Evers’ staff who recorded a May 14th telephone conference call with Republican leaders may have committed a felony.  That’s the opinion of the chief attorney for the Wisconsin Legislature’s Reference Bureau, Rick Champagne.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the governor needs to name the person who recorded the call, say who authorized it, and what disciplinary action the person faces.  Members of both parties have criticized the clandestine recording.  The person who recorded the conversation hasn’t been named.

The search for a new president of the University of Wisconsin System will have to start all over.  Just hours before the search committee was scheduled to discuss whether to hire University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen, he decided he doesn’t want the job.  Johnsen had gone through a series of interviews in Madison when he reversed field.  Although Board of Regents President Andrew Peterson called that decision “disappointing,” he called Johnsen “a fine person who conducted himself with professionalism and honor.”  Johnson had emerged as the only candidate for the position after others withdrew due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Minneapolis-based business is moving forward with sales of a controversial test for COVID-19.  The tests were removed from the market due to questions about their accuracy.  When an assessment determined the Chinese-made tests performed well, Premier Biotech started selling them again.  The company got emergency permission from the U-S Food and Drug Administration.  The National Cancer Institute posted the results of a performance assessment last week.

 Minneapolis police officers say they are getting no support from department and city leaders.  At least seven have quit and another seven are said to be in the process of resigning.  Officers say they don’t feel appreciated.  High-ranking police officials say some officers simply walked off the job without completing the paperwork.  That creates confusion about who is still on the job and who isn’t.  A majority of the Minneapolis City Council members have already said they support dismantling or defunding the police department.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is backing a sweeping bill to overhaul how police departments are run in the United States. Baldwin says too often police have to deal with issues that they've never been trained for. She says investing in improving the public safety response to issues of mental health, social work and addiction could result in improved safety for everyone. The bill also aims to change qualified immunity laws that protect police from being sued and requiring more use of force reporting by police departments.

Congress is working on legislation to help support struggling farmers during the coronavirus pandemic.  U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced a bill to have the Small Business Administration step up.  The Wisconsin Democrat teamed with South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune.  The bill is aimed at farmers who have been denied by the federal payment protection program – or who have had smaller returns on their crops so far.

The familiar sound of the S.S. Badger Car Ferry pulling into Manitowoc from Ludington, Michigan on Friday, for the start of the pandemic delayed sailing season. Crowds were lined up to see an old friend come home. The season normally begins the Friday before Memorial Day but was pushed back twice to adhere to public health protocols surrounding COVID-19.