Local-Regional News August 10

The final details of the sale of the Tarrant Park Softball Fields from the City of Durand to the Durand-Arkansaw School District should be completed this month. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city council should vote on those details this week.  Milliren believes the sale will be finalized by the middle of this month.

The Plum City School District is looking for volunteers to be apart of a strategic planning committee. Plum City School Superintendent Amy Vesperman told board members that she has some teacher volunteers and is looking for volunteers from the community. For those that would like to volunteer or for more information on the committee you can call Superintendent Vesperman at 262-751-11-34. The School Board hopes to approve committee members at the August Board meeting.

St. Croix Falls police say they shot and killed a person at a motel Saturday night. Police were called to the Dalles House Motel around 9:45 pm on Saturday by a woman who said she was in trouble. When officers arrived, a man with a knife left the hotel room and got into a confrontation with police. Officers say the man did not follow instructions, and charged at them with the knife, when they shot him. A woman with multiple stab wounds was found inside the hotel room. She was airlifted to a hospital for treatment, and her condition is not known at this time.

Wisconsin voters who haven't already voted absentee will head to the polls for the state's partisan primary election tomorrow. Reid Magney with the Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds us what that "partisan" means"There's a section on the ballot, where you fill out what your party preference is. You don't absolutely have to do that, but if for example you vote for somebody in the Democratic column and somebody in the Republican column, if you've made that part preference, it will ignore the other party." There are no statewide races or initiatives on the ballot, but a host of local and legislative primary races.

The battle between Wisconsin and COVID-19 reached a milestone and set a new record over the weekend.  Health officials recorded the 50 thousandth recovery from the virus.  The record that was set was Saturday’s one-thousand-165 positive test results.  Sunday’s positive results were about half of that, 621.  As of Sunday morning, there were 355 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 – 94 of them in intensive care units.  The addition of two deaths brings the Wisconsin total to 998.

Police say suspended Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah was assaulted Saturday when he tried to stop protesters from vandalizing his girlfriend’s home.  Mensah was trying to talk to the 50-to-60 people gathered outside when he was attacked.  As he went back into the home one of the protesters fired a single round from a shotgun in his direction, but Mensah wasn’t injured.  Four law enforcement agencies responded and dispersed the crowd.  The protesters want Mensah fired after he fatally shot three men in the last five years.

Operation Legend is credited for 32 arrests and the recovery of 27 firearms so far in Milwaukee.  Federal agents arrived in southeast Wisconsin in mid-July to help combat violent crimes.  Some of those arrested were wanted for homicide, armed robbery and recklessly endangering safety.  U-S Attorney Matthew Krueger says the effort has also contributed to federal charges against eight defendants for firearm-related crimes in Milwaukee.  Krueger said, "by bringing to justice the shooters, the drug traffickers, and those who carry illegal firearms, we will reduce the levels of violence in our neighborhoods.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling state lawmakers back to the Capitol Wednesday for a third special legislative session.  The governor plans to extend the coronavirus peacetime emergency for another 30 days.  Walz said, "as long as the COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to Minnesota, it is my duty to work to provide our state with the tools we need to fight this."  Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the Senate will vote again to cancel the governor's emergency authority.  The D-F-L-controlled Minnesota House is not expected to strip the governor of his powers.

Three men accused of looting a Madison clothing store during riots in the city’s downtown area last May are now facing burglary charges.  The felonies were filed Thursday against Martin J. Engelhart, Noa Q-P Reick and Matthew J. Wagner.  A security guard at the store they allegedly hit says at least 10 thousand dollars in damage was done by rioters.  Surveillance cameras caught Wagner and Engelhart entering the store, although Wagner apparently didn’t take anything.  A witness recording Facebook Live appears to have captured Reick breaking in and stealing clothing.  All three men have Dane County Circuit Court dates later this month.

Two women charged with beating a state lawmaker in Madison in June are heading for trial. A judge Thursday found enough evidence against Samantha Hamer and Kerida O'Reilly to go to trial. Prosecutors say the pair led a mob against Milwaukee state senator Tim Carpenter, who was taking photos of protests and riots outside the state capitol building one night in June.

About 150 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are deploying to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide base security.  Members of the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company leave this weekend for additional training at Fort Bliss, Texas . Company Commander Captain Troy Davidson said our soldiers are trained and motivated for this important mission.  Due to COVID restrictions, the send-off ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook Sunday at 1 p-m.  Many of these soldiers responded to the civil unrest and rioting in the Twin Cites following the George Floyd protests.

The University of Minnesota is conducting a clinical trial to combat COVID-19.  U of M researchers say an experimental therapy using N-K or natural killer cells is being used to treat COVID-19.  Up until now, natural killer cells have been used in the development of therapies for leukemia and other types of cancers.  A female COVID-19 patient in her fifties received an infusion of the experimental therapy this week.

 A new survey of Minnesota realtors shows the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the demand for what homebuyers are looking for.  Minnesota Realtors Association president Chris Galler says people want more outdoor living space, more space within the home, especially so that they can work from home, and have appropriate space if they have children to teach them from home."  Galler says there is also a high demand for people looking for a second property such as a cabin -- to serve as a getaway home.

 The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs says there will be aircraft training this week at Volk Field.  Around 50 aircraft and nearly one-thousand personnel from the National Guard, Air Force, Army and Navy are taking part in the annual Northern Lightning Counterland exercise.  There will be a lot more planes around Camp Douglas area August 10th through 21st.  Officials say the public in nearly two dozen central Wisconsin counties will hear increased noise and sonic booms between 10 a-m and 4 p-m on weekdays.  The exercise is a necessary part of training for actual combat.

A venerable Wisconsin bar is closing after 93 years. Dean and Sue's in Menomonie started as a grocery store and three-stool bar, though it's now run by the original owners' grandchildren. Owner Micky Rugland tells Channel 18 in Eau Claire that selling the bar will allow his family to start a new chapter.