The future of Durand Fun Fest will be discussed at a meeting tonight at Durand City Hall. Mike Norby of Fun Fest says the committee is running out of volunteers and more people are needed to keep Fun Fest Going. The upcoming reconstruction of Madison Street is another issue that needs to be discussed. Tonight's meeting begins at 5:45pm in the Community Room at Durand City Hall and the public is encouraged to attend.
The City of Durand is looking at a 15% increase in health insurance costs for employees. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the health insurance costs are the last thing the city needs to complete the budget. The increase is approximately $11000.
The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the appointment of two commissioners to the Canvas Board, approval fo the MN CCC maintenance and support agreement for CamaUSA and authorization to purchase a new snow plow truck. Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am in the board room at the Wabasha County Government Center.
Wabasha-Kellogg school leaders are asking for an additional $16.2 million from district taxpayers. That question includes proposed projects in six areas: updates and replacements to current building infrastructure and systems, improvements to the present career and technical education labs, renovations to the existing high school science rooms, construction of a secure main building entrance, updates to restrooms, and renovations to high school classrooms and the school’s media center. These projects would result in an additional $94 on the tax roll for the owner of a $150,000 home. Voters will find a single referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot.
Police in Altoona continue to look for a white van suspected of being part of a theft ring. Officers yesterday put out an APB for both a black Range Rover and a white Chrysler minivan. Both were suspected of being tied to a series of thefts in the Chippewa Valley. Police found the Range Rover, and arrested the people inside. As of yesterday afternoon, police were still looking for the white van.
The City of Zumbrota is implementing a pay increase for police officers. The City Council approved an agreement with the police union that bumps hourly pay for patrol officers to a minimum of 29-dollars an hour on November 12th. That will grow to more than 30-dollars an hour in January. The mayor says the increases will not affect the city's budget because one position has been cut from the police force to free money for the raises.
Most of Wisconsin's private wells have some PFAS chemicals in them, but only a few have enough to worry about. The state's Department of Natural Resources on Friday released the report on private well testing. The DNR says while seven in ten wells have some PFAS contamination, only one-in-100 has contamination above the state's current health guidelines. The DNR also says PFAS contamination is limited to certain areas, meaning a lot of people in Wisconsin don't have to worry about their drinking water. You can find the full report at the DNR's website
A number of Democratic lawmakers are going to push for free lunch for all at the Wisconsin Capitol. The Healthy School Meals for All Wisconsin Coalition will hold a news conference today to introduce a plan that would expand Wisconsin's free lunch program. Right now, qualifying kids get either free or reduced-price lunches. The coalition wants to expand that so that all kids in the state can get a free lunch at school. The federal government provided free lunches for all kids during the coronavirus emergency, but the end of that order meant the end of the free lunch-for-all all program.
Wisconsin lawmakers are introducing a new bill to expand the state's safe haven law. The proposed bill says a parent can remain anonymous when surrendering their newborn. Baby boxes would be used to keep the parent's identity a secret - these boxes are electronically monitored and call 9-1-1 when a baby is placed inside. A fire station or hospital will have the child within minutes. Currently, law says a parent must give their newborn to a 'safe haven' official in person. The new bill hasn't passed yet, but has gotten bipartisan support from Wisconsin lawmakers
There is movement in the push to impeach Wisconsin's elections chief. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos yesterday assigned the articles of impeachment against Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe to a statehouse committee. Some Republicans want to impeach Wolfe for how she handled the 2020 election, and how she has responded to questions from lawmakers ever since. A handful of state representatives introduced the articles back in September, but that sat untouched. Vos' decision to move them forward comes just days after a Republican-backed group launched a series of ads threatening to recall Vos if he didn't act. Vos' spokesperson said the impeachment articles will get a hearing, just like any other bill.
Republican lawmakers are quick to jump on Governor Evers latest round of coronavirus spending. The governor yesterday said he is spending 36 million-dollars in leftover stimulus cash on five projects, including a new soccer stadium in Milwaukee, a new sports complex in Janesville, and an expansion at Green Bay's National Railroad Museum. Republican state Rep. Gae Magnafici said the governor sat on those coronavirus dollars for three years while families struggled, and is now spending them on a wishlist of sports stadiums. She says the governor's priorities are 'misplaced.'
New legislation is aimed at addressing prison conditions in the state. The State Department of Corrections says there is a just over 32-percent vacancy rate for employees at state prisons, leading to months-long lockdowns. Introduced laws include requirements that inmates get hot showers, weekly in-person visits and opportunities for recreation. Temperature control and accessible views of the outside for several hours daily are other proposed requirements. The proposal doesn't say how requirements will be met without more guards or staff.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is looking for people to staff its free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. The Revenue Department is looking specifically for reception greeters, people to help with document intake, and income tax preparers, although everyone is welcome to volunteer. No prior experience in accounting or finance is needed and volunteers will receive formal training to help people with tax preparation services. Applications are online at revenue.wi.gov.
A Sauk County veteran received the U.S. military's oldest award Friday. Almost 20 years after she was injured in combat during the Iraq War, Rebecca Letscher was presented with the Purple Heart. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Letscher's family presented the award to her. She has been out of the military for 13 years and said Friday morning's recognition bought a lot of emotion for her family and veterans. Letscher also will be honored at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York.
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