Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Local-Regional News Nov 19

 The Mondovi City Council is holding a special meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the 2025 Budget and tax levy.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center.


The public review and comment period for the Wabasha County Hazard Mitigation Plan is now open.  The plan covers all cities and townships in Wabasha County and also incorporates the concerns and needs of other key stakeholders like school districts, organizations, and businesses participating in the planning process.   The public review period will run from November 18 to December 2,  prior to submission of the plan to FEMA.   Those interested in reviewing the plan can contact the Wabasha County Emergency Management Office.


Area farmers wanting to participate in the Farmers 4 Health Cover Crop Incentive Program are encouraged to apply.  FARMERS 4 HEALTH was established to reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Bear Creek/Chippewa River watershed. The group offers financial incentives for soil and water protection practices that can reduce the loss of nitrates from farm fields.  The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 19th at 5pm.   Visit the Farmers 4 Health Facebook Page for more information.


Pepin County Land Conservation is holding their annual native tree sale.    The sale program provides landowners with the opportunity to plant native trees on their land. Native trees are important because they help return the area to a healthy ecosystem. Native plants help provide a natural habitat for wildlife, and encourage pollinator growth.  All trees come in bundles of 25 trees, and will be available for pickup in April or May of 2025.  For more information on the sale contact the Pepin County Land Conservation Office.


President-elect Trump is choosing former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy to serve as transportation secretary.  Duffy represented the state's Seventh Congressional District from 2011 to 2019 and was a member of the Financial Services Committee.  He left the House in 2019 after one of his children had a heart condition and he currently hosts a show on Fox Business.  Trump said in a statement that the Wisconsin native was "a tremendous and well-liked public servant."


Hours at the Eau Claire City Hall could be shortened. The City says they don't have the staff to cover the 45 hours the building is currently open every week. This is partially due to budget cuts over the past few years. Currently, City Hall is open from eight A-M until five P-M on weekdays. Community feedback on future hours will be taken on the City's website. 


The Altoona Police Department has achieved national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The two-year process involved aligning policies with industry best practices and an external assessment. Altoona joins just three other departments in Wisconsin with this designation, which highlights accountability and commitment to community safety. Accredited agencies often see reduced legal actions and lower liability insurance costs, according to CALEA.  


 A 17-year-old online student from the Auburndale School District was arrested for possessing a firearm in a school zone. Authorities say Alden Jensen brought an AR-style .22 caliber rifle onto school property but later moved it to a nearby residence. Deputies found ammunition in Jensen's vehicle and the firearm at the residence. No threats were made, and Jensen claimed the rifle was in his car after teaching firearm safety over the weekend. He remains in custody at the Wood County Jail.  


There is a record number of registered apprentices in Wisconsin this year. The Wisconsin Registered Apprentice Program allows students to receive paid on-the-job training while completing their education. The state Department of Workforce Development says more than 17,000 people are enrolled in the program this year, almost a thousand more than last year's record-breaking number.  


A research team at UW-Madison is using a driving simulator to study the effects hemp-derived products have on drivers.  The research is targeting Delta Eight and Delta Nine, which reportedly can make users feel "high."  The 2018 Farm Bill made the two products legal.  The driving simulator that will be used is one of the few "full care" simulators in the country, according to the director of the University's simulator lab.  In addition to University researchers, the DEA and FDA will be involved in the study.


Republican US Senate candidate Eric Hovde has conceded his loss to Democrat Tammy Baldwin. In a statement posted to ‘X’ on Monday, Hovde continued to question the integrity of election results from Milwaukee.  Hovde had previously claimed to be “shocked” by Milwaukee’s reporting of its absentee ballot results early Wednesday morning, although the city’s central count location has routinely announced absentee ballots all at once. Clerks around Wisconsin are prohibited from processing absentee ballots until Election Day. Hovde also accused “Democrat operatives” of supporting independent and Liberation candidates in the Senate race.


Donating deer to feed the hungry.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to donate state-harvested deer through the Deer Donation Program. The initiative helps to stock food pantries throughout the state. Nearly four million pounds of ground venison has been processed from over 94,000 donated deer since the program began. More information is available on the DNR website. The state’s gun deer season begins this coming weekend.


The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is unveiling a new tool to help local organizations track and respond to overdoses. Director of Substance Use Initiatives Michelle Haese says the Suspected Overdose Alerts for Rapid Response system will include data from multiple sources. The program will send out automated messages and emails to users when a certain number of incidents take place. Access to the system is available to professionals at approved organizations, and more info is available on the DHS website.


Wisconsin is the nation's leader in collecting unused prescription medication. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says Wisconsin brought in a best-in-the-nation 55 thousand pounds of medication during the Fall 2024 Drug Take Back Collection. The DOJ says it's a continuation of Wisconsin's trend of being one of the nation's leaders in collecting old and expired medicine. Since 2010, Wisconsin has collected over one point-three million pounds of unwanted medicine. That's good enough to be third in the country. 


The Chippewa Valley's Christmas tree farmers say the weather has been good so far. This year's rainy spring and dry summer are the perfect conditions to grow pine trees, at least according to Brittney Malone who is the owner of Curvue Tree Farm and Garden in Eau Claire. It's about the time that many families will start to shop for Christmas trees, and Malone says there are plenty to choose from this year. Malone's best tip for picking trees is to do it while it's warm enough to be outside. She said it's best to get your tree before it's too cold to cut it down. 


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