A Puppy Mill in Pepin County has been broken up. Yesterday the ASPCA along with the Pepin County Sheriff's Department raided the mill at a residence on Hwy G near Pepin. When authorities arrived, they found 90 dogs of varying breeds and sizes, including puppies and pregnant dogs living in unsanitary conditions. Two horses and five donkeys were also found on the scene. Some of the animals had dirty hair coats and appeared to be suffering from untreated medical issues requiring immediate veterinary treatment. The ASPCA is assisting with operational planning and animal removal and transport, evidence collection and crime scene processing, investigative and legal support, forensics exams and behavior evaluations, and providing the dogs with sheltering, medical and behavioral care, and enrichment. The dogs removed from the property today are being relocated to a recovery center operated by the ASPCA.
The Dunn County Sheriff says a home invasion yesterday was random but violent. Deputies were called to a home in the township of Dunn at about 3:30 yesterday morning. The people who live there say a woman forced her way into the house, and when the homeowners stopped her, she allegedly hit them with what the sheriff's office is calling a blunt object. Everyone is okay, and the woman was arrested. The sheriff's office is not naming the woman.
Preparations for Durand Fun Fest continue. The carnival arrived in town and the roads around Memorial Park are now closed for the weekend. The set up of the carnival and fest grounds at the park will continue today and tomorrow with Fun Fest starting on Friday afternoon.
Folks in Chippewa Falls are going to have to wait a bit longer to take a dip. Managers at the Bernard Willi Pool say a pipe burst, and that means the pool won't open on Friday. Parks boss John Jimenez says they hope to be able to open-up next week, though he's not sure about when.
The Chippewa Valley saw a record-breaking year for tourism last year. According to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, last year visitors spent $8.9 million in Pepin County, $18.8 million in Buffalo, $33.7 million in Pierce and $56 million in Dunn County. That's part of a record-breaking 24-billion-dollar tourism impact across the entire state of Wisconsin. Chippewa Falls also saw more visitors last year. Tourism folks there say the economic impact of visitors grew by nearly 10-percent in 2022.
The children of a Winona woman who has been missing for months will remain in her parent's custody for now. The county took custody of Madeline Kingsbury's two kids because her ex-boyfriend Adam Fravel isn't their legal guardian. Fravel is taking the matter to family court, where he has filed for custody. The Kingsbury's are expected to file for custody as well. KARE11 reports police suspect Fravel may have been involved in Kingsbury's disappearance, although he hasn't been charged.
A Georgia man, who led state troopers on a high-speed chase in Dunn County in December has reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Martise Craig was accused of stealing an SUV at knifepoint in Minnesota and then leading troopers on a high-speed chase while driving the wrong way on the interstate without headlights. He was stopped near Menomonie. Craig pleaded no contest to recklessly endangering safety and was sentenced to 4 months in jail and must pay restitution and court costs of nearly $8000.
Wisconsin's attorney general and the man who ran against him last fall both say lawmakers need to spend more money on the state's crime lab. A-G Josh Kaul, along with Fond du Lac County D.A. and former Republican A-G candidate Eric Toney, told reporters yesterday that the crime lab needs more people to keep up with a flood of new cases. Kaul says his two-million-dollar Crime Fighting Budget is a 'critical investment' in public safety in the state. Wisconsin's crime labs were a key issue in last fall's election, with Toney calling Kaul's management there an abysmal failure. Yesterday, Toney said investigators and prosecutors need more resources at the crime lab to better close cases.
It was a 17-year-old who drove the truck that ran down a Sauk County middle schooler last month. Investigators say the truck hit and killed 13-year-old Evelyn Gurney back on May 12th. The NTSB made the announcement but didn't name the 17-year-old driver. Sauk County deputies say the pickup drove through a lawn to avoid hitting a stopped school bus and instead hit Gurney. She died at the scene. There's no word yet on formal charges in the case. The NTSB says its investigation remains ongoing.
The plan to make state parks free for fourth graders is moving ahead at the Wisconsin Capitol. State Senator Melissa Agard yesterday said an Assembly panel approved the plan yesterday. Agard says the idea is to encourage more Wisconsin families to visit our state parks by making them free for fourth graders, their parents and siblings. Governor Evers is expected to sign the plan if it makes it to his desk.
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International buyers got to see Wisconsin lumber products firsthand last week on a tour around the state. It was part of an inbound buyer tour hosted by the state ag department. The tour was a partnership between DATCP and the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports. State officials say Wisconsin exported almost 1 point 3 billion dollars in lumber in 2019.
Bankers are optimistic about Wisconsin's economy. Nearly three-quarters of respondents rated Wisconsin’s current economic health as “excellent” or “good,” in the Wisconsin Bankers Association's biannual Economic Conditions Survey. The most recent survey results show some easing of inflation and recession concerns. Among the economic bright spots cited by CEOs were high employment and wages, demand for goods and services, strong industries, and in-migration from the Twin Cities and Chicago. Top economic concerns inflation and labor — particularly in service-related industries, deposit growth, and compressing interest rate margins.
The Wisconsin DNR is requesting more staffing and funding to implement a Republican bill to combat PFAS. The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has set aside $125 million to combat PFAs through the legislation. That's $18 million more than what Democratic governor Tony Evers proposed. Legislative Democrats criticized that Republican plan, noting a trailer bill would need to be passed and signed into law before any of the money can be spent. And on Monday DNR environmental management division administrator Jim Zellmer told the Senate Natural Resources Committee, the DNR would need more than the 11 employees Evers had recommended for sampling and research, and a bigger investment from the legislature
A new report highlights Wisconsin's aging workforce. The state’s median age is 40.1 years. Wisconsin is one of only 14 states where the median age is over 40 – the national median is 38.8. The report is from the WMC Foundation, an arm of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce – the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association. WMC is calling on lawmakers to make the state more economically competitive and attractive to workers, including reducing and flattening the state’s income tax, investing more in choice and charter schools, and reforming welfare and unemployment programs to incentivize work. The report says Wisconsin must attract more people because the state is not naturally growing the population needed to match economic growth.
A Minnesota cat is close winning Nationwide's "Wacky Pet Names" contest. Every year, the insurance company asks the public to vote on the most creative names among cats, dogs, and exotic pets recently enrolled in their pet insurance. Minnesota cat "Prison Mike" is among this year's finalists. The name is a reference to The Office. Other feline finalists include Homeboy Thumbs, Sir Catrick Stewart, and Spicy Beef Purrito. The winner will be announced next week.
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