City fees are on the rise. The Durand City Council approved the new fee schedule this week. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says 12 fees will be increased for a new online payment system. New fees include a $250 application fee for a new building project that has to go before the planning commission.
Last week, before Fun Fest, the city of Durand sprayed for mosquitoes. Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gillis says the product the city uses lasts for about 24-48 hours. Gillis says to use something that lasts longer would require pesticide applicator licensing, and there are other health and environmental concerns that would have to be considered. The cost of each application is approximately $1500 and the city budgets for 4 applications each summer around major events like Fun Fest and Blues on the Chippewa.
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in Martell Township on June 4th. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 81yr old Patricia Schmoller of River Falls was traveling westbound on Hwy 29 when she lost control of the vehicle and entered the ditch. Schmoller was transported to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin with undetermined injuries.
The BNSF Railroad will be working on the railroad crossing in Bay City starting on Monday. Pierce County Emergency Management says the railroad crossing will be closed to the public all week for planned maintenance work. During daytime hours, a temporary single lane crossing with flaggers will be used, while a single lane will be open at the normal crossing after hours. That work is expected to be completed by June 20th.
The Buffalo County Highway Department will be closing part of Hwy J next week for paving operations. Hwy J will be closed between Hwy JJ and Johnson Road in the Town of Canton on June 17th and 18th from 7-5pm. Crews are repaving Hwy J both days.
Residents in Dunn and Buffalo counties will soon notice low-flying planes as the state works to prevent the spread of the spongy moth. Small Yellow planes will be spraying a mating disruptor into the tress to stop the spread of the spongy moth. The disruptor is organic and will not hurt people or pets. The spraying will start in the early mornings weather permitting. For more information on the program call the Wisconsin Department of Ag at 800-642-MOTH.
The UWEC faculty member who flipped over the College Republicans' table is pleading no contest to disorderly conduct. Jose Alvergue entered the plea in court Wednesday and paid a 295-dollar fine. The College Republicans had a table set up on campus to support Supreme Court Justice Nominee Brad Schimel. The group's chair says on April 1st, Alvergue flipped the table over as he walked past it. The Republican Party of Eau Claire County is calling for him to be fired.
Governor Tony Evers is ordering the U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to be flown at half-staff today. It's to honor former Major General Jerome Bernard, who died in January at age 87. Bernard served more than four decades in the Wisconsin National Guard. Services for Bernard will be held today in Hayward and at the North Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner.
Legislation to require Wisconsin sheriff’s departments to cooperate with federal immigration officials or risk state funding cuts moves out of a state Senate committee. Delafield Republican Senator Chris Kapenga says the law needs to be put in place to make sure that there is compliance with the law. Milwaukee Democratic Senator Chris Larson says local law enforcement agencies already have limited resources, and shouldn't be forced to partner with ICE. Democratic Governor Tony Evers has said he'd likely veto the bill, which passed the Assembly in March.
A Wisconsin congressman wants to restrict federal funding from communities the U.S. Department of Justice deems “anarchist jurisdictions.” Eighth District Republican Tony Wied’s proposed bill – which he dubs the “Stop Anarchists From Endangering Cities” or SAFE Act is a response to immigration enforcement protests in cities like Los Angeles and New York. It would codify a 2020 memorandum issued by President Donald Trump following riots in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. The memorandum restricts federal funding for any state or local jurisdiction the Department of Justice identifies to be permitting “anarchy, violence, or destruction.” Seventh District Republican Tom Tiffany is a co-sponsor.
A 6th-grade student at a southeast Wisconsin school admits to threatening teachers in an email. Germantown Police say the 12-year-old Kennedy Middle School student was identified as the sender of the June 2nd message signed “Anonymous”. The email read, “…we will show up to Kennedy Middle School with an AK-47 and kill all of the teachers.” A review of electronic devices seized during a search by investigators led to discovery of a Google account used to send the email. The student told police he didn’t intend to act on the threat and his parents confirmed he had no access to firearms at home. Police have referred a charge of "terroristic threats" against the boy to Washington County Juvenile Intake.
A Pine Island man is accused of robbing ATMs at restaurants in the Olmsted County area. Jason Krukow has been charged with several offenses, including damage to property and burglary. The defendant was arrested after several search warrants were executed at his residence. Rochester police officials say Krukow robbed six businesses. The investigation is ongoing.
June is PTSD Awareness Month, and there’s help for Wisconsin veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Lexy Duvall is a clinical coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Outreach and Recovery Program. Resources available to assist veterans’ families include QPR training – which stands for Question, Pursuade, Refer. More information is available through County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers and online at DVA.WI.GOV.
Minnesota residents are continuing to show support for Governor Tim Walz. A poll conducted by KSTP/ SurveyUSA shows 58 percent of registered voters in the state approved of his job performance. Thirty-nine percent disapprove of his job. Meanwhile, 43 percent of the participants say he should run for reelection, while another 43 percent say he should not.