Some answers on why some did not receive a Nixel message about a snow emergency in Durand on January 15th-16. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there have been some changes to the Nixel System. The mayor says authorities are trying to clarify what changes are now in place. The city's safety committee will meet to discuss the snow emergency ordinance on February 24th at 5pm.
With the bitterly cold temperatures, you might believe that the city of Durand Public Works Department would have a freeze warning in effect to allow residents to have a small stream of water running to keep the water mains from freezing. However according to Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gills, the ambient temperature has nothing to do with freezing the water mains, it's the frost depth. According to Gillis last year the deepest frost depth was 3 feet six inches and no freeze warning was ever issued. As of Thursday morning, the frost depth was 3 foot one inch.
Congressman Ron Kind says he's introducing legislation that will protect nursing home residents against COVID and future outbreaks. The Infection Control Training and Support Act would provide an additional 200-million dollars for quality and infection control support for skilled nursing facilities. Kind said, "nursing home staff across Wisconsin are working tirelessly to provide high-quality care and keep their residents safe. However, many long-term care facilities, particularly in our rural areas, have limited access to resources.” The goal is to keep nursing home residents and long-term care workers safe.
A western Wisconsin man is the winner of a one-million-dollar Mega Millions prize. The Wisconsin Lottery says Anthony Romanowski of Eau Claire purchased the winning ticket for the January 15th drawing Mega Holiday in Chippewa Falls. Romanowski claimed his prize last week and plans to use the winnings to pay off his mortgage and car and do more hunting and fishing. He told lottery officials, "it only took one ticket to win." Two ten-thousand-dollar tickets were sold in the same drawing last month.
The Barron County Sheriff's Department says the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources flew around Barron County on Thursday looking for Ben Jacobson's truck but it wasn't found. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said his department is following up with those who last saw Jacobson and have received a couple of tips but nothing her been successful at this point. Jacobson is described as being 5 foot 9 inches tall, 170 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. The 22yr old Cumberland man was last seen on Monday. If anyone has information on Jacobson's whereabouts, they are to call the Barron County Sheriffs Department.
A Long Lake, MN man will spend five years in federal prison for setting fire to a Dakota County government building last May. Twenty-five-year-old Garrett Ziegler was sentenced after pleading to guilty to aiding and abetting arson. The U-S Attorney's Office says Ziegler and a Savage man broke windows on the Western Service Center in Apple Valley, threw Molotov cocktails inside which ignited a fire, and then poured liquids on the flames. Ziegler said he targeted the building because of past court appearances and was angry at law enforcement over the death of George Floyd.
Republicans are launching an audit of Wisconsin's election administration. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved the move on a party-line vote Thursday. G-O-P Representative Samantha Kerkman of Salem Lakes says constituents are "gravely concerned that our elections are being compromised and there are no repercussions for those who bend or break those laws." Democratic Senator Melissa Agard of Madison said, "my fear is, and I hope it's just a fear, that this audit will provide a vehicle for more distrust and more disinformation." The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau will review whether the Wisconsin Elections Commission and municipal clerks follow all election laws, how they use electronic voting machines, and how they handle complaints.
Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order on Thursday declaring an energy emergency in Wisconsin. Due to the below-average temperatures, snow, and ice storms throughout the state leading up to February, deliveries of petroleum and propane products shipped by truck, barge, and particularly rail are limited. The executive order will allow for the swift and efficient delivery of these products throughout the state, according to a news release from the governor's office. The order will provide a 30-day waiver allowing suppliers to get caught up from the delays associated with rail traffic slowed by nearly 50%.
A new study shows canceling high school sports led to a spike in depression among Wisconsin’s student-athletes. The University of Wisconsin study finds girls suffered more than boys, and depression rates were highest among athletes in team sports, as opposed to individual sports. Most schools canceled high school sports last spring and fall because of COVID-19. Researchers said they never found a link to high school sports and the coronavirus.
A federal grand jury is indicting a Columbus woman for trying to hire a hitman and promising to pay him with bitcoin. Thirty-seven-year-old Kelly Harper was taken into custody last Friday and charged by complaint. Investigators say Harper visited a murder-for-hire website on the dark web between October and December last year. The name of the Sun Prairie man she was targeting hasn’t been released. Harper will be arraigned next Tuesday. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.
"The New York Times" reports that three days after George Floyd died, Derek Chauvin believed the case against him was so devastating that he agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder. But the Times reports then-U-S Attorney General William Barr rejected the deal just before local officials were to announce it. An official said Barr was worried a plea deal would be perceived as too lenient by a growing number of protesters across the nation -- and wanted state officials who were about to take over the case from Hennepin County to be able to make their own decisions on how to proceed. The plea deal, which would have had Chauvin go to prison for more than 10 years, required then-Attorney General Barr's approval because Chauvin wanted assurance he would not face federal civil rights charges.
A Jefferson County judge has ruled that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources must schedule a gray wolf hunt this month. Circuit Court Judge Bennett J. Brantmeier issued the ruling Thursday. Wisconsin's Natural Resources Board had originally voted 4-3 not to hold the hunt. The conservative Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty brought a lawsuit. They based their case on a state statute that said if the gray wolf ever was taken off the endangered species list, the state would allow for the animal to be hunted. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list on Jan. 4.
Wisconsin's two federal prosecutors are stepping down later this month. U-S Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Scott Blader says his resignation is effective February 26th. U-S Attorney for the Eastern District Matthew D. Krueger will resign his position on February 20th. The Biden Administration is asking federal prosecutors appointed by former President Trump to step down. Blader says serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin has been the most rewarding experience of his professional career. Krueger called serving as U-S attorney the greatest privilege of his professional life. He plans to join a private law firm.
Minnesota-based Hormel is buying the Planters nut business from Kraft Heinz. The deal is reportedly worth three-point-35-billion dollars. Hormel called it the largest acquisition in company history. Hormel Foods said the acquisition significantly expands its presence in the growing snacking space. Hormel C-E-O Jim Snee said, "our competencies in brand stewardship, revenue growth management, e-commerce, innovation, and consumer insights will be key to driving growth for the Planters brand and for our customers." The deal is expected to close later this year.
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