Local-Regional News June 30

 A nine-inch downpour has washed out roads and streets and caused extensive damage in western Wisconsin.  The death of a 70-year-old driver is blamed on the flooding.  Gary Parent’s car was washed off a county road and fully submerged.  He died at a nearby hospital.  Eight families were forced to evacuate their homes near a flooding creek and St. Croix County deputies had to perform at least five water rescues. Flooding was reported in El Paso and Spring Valley as well, and due to water over the roadway, all east and westbound lanes on US 10 from County A to 390th St are closed in Pierce County as of early this morning.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs car accident near Durand on Sunday. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, 19yr old Conrad Klem of Menomonie was traveling westbound on Hwy 10 when he braked rapidly and started to make a left hand turn into a private driveway near the intersection of Hwy 10 abd 25, Klem's vehicle was struck from behind by a westbound motorcycle driven by 49yr old Alan Dickinson of Ellsworth. Dickinson was taken to Advent Health Hospital in Durand with unknown injuries.

Two people were injured in a one vehicle accident in the town of Buffalo on Sunday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 51yr old Scott Johnson of Madison was traveling westbound on Hwy P when he lost control of the vehicle while attempting to negotiate a curve. Johnson's vehicle went off the roadway and down an embankment and rolled. Both Johnson and passenger 30yr old Payne Kramer of Rochester, MN were treated at the scene for injuries. Johnson was arrested for operating while under the influence.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident Friday in Hager City. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 28yr old Samuel Brady of Red Wing was traveling northbound on Hwy 63 when he struck some construction barrels on the east shoulder and lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected. Brady was transported to Red Wing Mayo with undetermined injuries.

Three people were injured in two separate motorcycle accidents in Pierce County on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, the first accident occurred on Hwy 35 near 1180^th Street in Prescott when 68yr old Patricia Benner lost control of her motorcycle and ended up in the north ditch of Hwy 35. She was taken to Regina Hospital in Hastings. The second accident occurred on Hwy 35 in Oak Grove Township, when 58yr old Troy Raverty of Lakeville, MN failed to negotiate a curve, and lost control of the motorcycle. Raverty and his passenger, 37yr old Phoenixx Herz of Lakeville, MN were ejected from the motorcycle. Raverty was med-flighted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul while Herz was taken to Regions Hospital via ambulance.

One person was injured after they jumped out of a vehicle on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 28yr old Cory Thury-Birttnen of Rosemont, MN was traveling westbound on Hwy 10 near 570^th avenue, when 32yr old Rebecca Kaufman of Rosemount jumped out of the vehicle and into the north ditch. Kaufman was med-flighted to Regions Hospital, and that incident remains under investigation.

The Pierce County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approving the 2021 budget guidelines, designate a new Emergency Managment Director and discuss and possible action on whether or not to hold the Pierce County Fair this year. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in Ellsworth.

 A panel of federal judges from the 7th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals has given Republicans most of what they wanted in a ruling issued Monday.  The vote was unanimous to reinstate limits on early voting and ban most voters from having absentee ballots emailed or faxed to them.  Many of Wisconsin’s election laws were struck down by a lower court judge four years ago when he found they affected the ability of minorities to vote disproportionately.  The court heard arguments on the case more than three years ago and hasn’t said why the ruling took so long.

A Durand man has been charged with felony sexual assault of a child. Michael Scott was charged in Dunn County on Friday and according to authorities, Scott raped the child numerous times when the child was 5 and 6yrs old. If convicted, Scott faces 60yrs in prison. His next court appearance is July 14.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says Minnesota has now reached his "moon shot" goal of being able to perform 20 thousand COVID tests per day -- although about a month later than he originally envisioned. Walz says that testing volume gives the state an accurate representation of where the COVID virus is in Minnesota. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the number of COVID hospitalizations remains stable in Minnesota, and I-C-U usage is at the lowest level since May 1st. The state has done more than a half-million tests.

Twins President Dave Saint Peter says fans will not be allowed in the Target Field stands at the start of Major League Baseball's abbreviated 2020 season. But what happens after that is up to Governor Tim Walz and the state Health Department. Saint Peter says the Twins are developing two plans -- one with no fans, but also one where fans would be re-introduced. He says that protocol will be shared at the appropriate time with the governor's office for their review. St. Peter added, "I wouldn't put a timeline on it -- I'm not sure it will happen -- but it's something we're monitoring around the league." Players report to summer camp Wednesday.

The death of a 19-year-old shooting victim in La Crosse means the filing of homicide charges against the suspected shooter.  Police were called to the La Crosse Bierhaus shortly after midnight Saturday morning.  The victim was taken to a local hospital and he died Sunday.  Anthony Fimple was working at the business when he was wounded.  Thirty-one-year-old Timothy Neal Young of Spring Grove, Minnesota is being held without bond in the La Crosse County Jail.

Some state prisoners who are being held in county jails are taking part in a hunger strike to protest.  They were placed there because prisons are overcrowded.  They’re not supposed to be held in the county facilities for more than 120 days, but the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the process.  Some have been in a county jail for up to eight months.

Milwaukee-based Briggs and Stratton is moving several production lines from its factory in Wauwatosa to New York.  It’s not clear how many workers might be affected.  The Wauwatosa facility will continue to build standby generators and engine components.  Production of lawn tractor, residential zero-turn mower, snow thrower and pressure washer products will be moved at the end of August.  Briggs and Stratton reported a 145-million-dollar loss in the fiscal quarter that ended in March.

 The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports it has seen an almost 150-percent increase in drivers going 100 miles-an-hour or more.  Even though there have been fewer cars on the road during the coronavirus pandemic, speeding has caused 36 traffic deaths so far in 2020 – compared to 27 at this time last year.  That’s a 33 percent increase.  The absence of heavy traffic may be a factor in drivers deciding they can go faster.  Minnesota currently ranks 35th among the 50 states for the number of traffic deaths caused by speeding.

The U.S. Department of Justice says cards exempting folks from wearing facemasks are not legit. The D-O-J says cards claiming the holder is exempt from wearing a mask in public are fake. Many cities have made wearing masks mandatory in public as COVID-19 cases spike. The bogus cards are purportedly issued by the "Freedom to Breathe Agency."

The Dunn County Sheriffs Department is asking for the public's help in locating a stolen phone booth. The phone booth was taken from just outside of Ridgland during the night/morning hours of Saturday, June 27th, 2020 and Sunday, June 28th, 2020. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office or if you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Dunn County Crimestoppers.