The Pepin County Land Conservation Department is continuing with improvements at Holden Park. Using CBDG funds, a new ADA compliant dock with a kayak slip, ADA picnic tables, and ADA compliant fire rings have been installed. Pepin County is also cutting out lake viewing lanes for campers along with over a mile of new hiking trails. As of June 1st online reservations are now being accepted and those who want to reserve a campsite can do so at the Pepin County Website.
The Durand-Arkansaw School District is currently showing a deficit for the upcoming school year. While the state announces the funding for districts in October, districts must start operating under the new budget by July 1st. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says while the budget is coming out before funding, the district should have a balanced budget again this year. The district is currently showing a $70,000 deficit for the 2022-23 school year.
Next Tuesday, convicted sex offender Allan Owens will have completed his prison term and will be released back to Pepin County. Owens will be under GPS monitoring, and will not be allowed near schools, daycares, and other locations. Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says convicted sex offenders have lived in the community for years. Currently, Owens will be released homeless, and Wener says if living arrangements can be found, the Sheriff's Department will notify the public.
A major merger is in the works involving two Wisconsin health care systems Green Bay based Bellin Health and La Crosse based Gundersen Health System intends to merge in order to offer a broader range of services and a wider network. The merger between the two not-for-profit health systems is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The systems will retain their names, at least initially and no layoffs are anticipated, according to a joint press release.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found in the La Crosse River last week. A person in a canoe reported seeing the body in the Township of Sparta at about 12:30 p-m Friday. W-M-T-V reports that authorities have not said how 26-year-old Fredi Ruiz officially died. The sheriff’s office is still investigating the death and is encouraging anyone with information to call.
A southern Minnesota man will serve four months in jail for his role in the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U-S Capitol. The U-S Justice Department says Daniel Johnson of Austin was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to civil disorder. Johnson and his father, Daryl Johnson of Iowa, were seen in photos and videos inside the Capitol building after entering through a broken window. Prosecutors say they also rushed Capitol police to let more rioters into the building. Daryl Johnson was sentenced to 30 days in prison.
A team of Ukrainian farmers is spending the week touring Minnesota. The farmers say about 30-percent of Ukrainian agriculture equipment has been destroyed since the beginning of the Russian invasion. That includes everything from crops to tractors, silos, and fencing. The farmers will be in Minnesota through Friday at farms and businesses learning how to possibly rebuild their industry while sharing their experiences.
A Dane County judge rules claims made against the Center for Tech and Civic Life had no basis in state or federal law. Judge Stephen Ehlke has tossed out the lawsuit alleging private grants used for the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin were bribes. The judge says Erick Kaardal and the Thomas More Society failed to say what part of Wisconsin laws had been violated. The grant money came from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Judge Ehkle said the Wisconsin Elections Commission “correctly concluded that there was no probable cause to believe any Wisconsin law had been violated.”
A Shawano County campground owner has been bound over for trial. Fifty-three-year-old Ann Retzlaff faces charges of eluding an officer, recklessly endangering safety, and resisting or obstruction. She led authorities on a six-mile chase across two counties last year. Retzlaff is acting as her own attorney. She appeared in Shawano County Court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. During the hearing, she cross-examined two witnesses who were giving testimony as the judge was deciding whether there was enough evidence to take the case to trial.
After two years of challenges, closed storefronts along Madison’s historic State Street shopping district are starting to open up. Many stores boarded up their windows after rioting in May 2020. Madison Central Business Improvement District Director Tiffany Kenney says the area is in the middle of a rebirth period now – lots of new businesses opening their doors. Five empty buildings along State Street’s 100 block have been purchased. More than 50 shops were closed there last year. At least 10 new businesses have arrived.
Classes have resumed at Slinger Middle School for the first time since last week’s lockdown in response to a gun threat. Police and SWAT team responded Friday and a student was arrested after allegedly saying he had a gun. W-E-A-U/T-V reports the threat was determined to be a hoax and no weapon was found. Although no one was hurt, the incident left parents and students shaken. Slinger police have referred juvenile charges of disorderly conduct and making terrorist threats to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. The student will be expelled. No names have been released.
Minnesota State health officials are warning consumers to avoid eating fresh, organic strawberries from the FreshKampo or H-E-B brands after linking hepatitis A to these products. One person in Minnesota became ill after eating strawberries purchased from Mississippi Market on March 21st. The strawberries were labeled under the FreshKampo name. The berries in question would have been purchased between March 5th and April 25th. Though the fresh strawberries in focus are no longer in stores, it is possible that consumers have frozen them. Officials are urging consumers to check their freezers and discard strawberries from these brands.
Milwaukee takes another step towards hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention. The Common Council passed the framework for a contract with the Republican National Committee on Wednesday, which was quickly signed by mayor Cavalier Johnson. A Common Council committee had tabled the contract after progressive groups raised concerns about Republican policy positions. Milwaukee and Nashville are competing to host the convention. Convention organizers have said they want to make a final decision by mid-June. According to estimates, the 2024 R-N-C might bring as 200-million dollars to the city.
Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek will NOT be challenging Republican-endorsed candidate for governor Scott Jensen in the August primary election. Stanek, in a written statement, did not give a reason. He jumped into the race late, and in April he was injured in a car crash in Buffalo. Two days later Stanek announced he was returning to the campaign trail, but shortly after said his doctors advised him to limit physical activity and travel while recovering. Stanek was not at the state G-O-P convention in Rochester and his name was not put into nomination.
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