Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Local-Regional News May 6


The Durand-Arkansaw School District has hired Archie Sherbinow as the new Director of Athletics and Community Partnerships. Sherbinow has served as the Athletics and Aquatics Director at the Augusta School District and is the former athletic director at Chippewa Falls McDonell and was the boys basketball coach for 15yr at McDonell. Sherbinow will oversee all middle and high school athletic programming, coordinate youth recreation activities and work to expand community partnerships to benefit students and offer community education for the entire district. Sherbinow will begin in the district on July 1st.


Spongy moth aerial spraying is set to begin this month in Pepin and Buffalo Counties. The Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer protection says residents in affected areas can expect loud, low-flying planes as early as sunrise on select mornings . During its caterpillar stage, spongy moth can defoliate many kinds of trees and shrubs. Spongy moth can also have a financial impact by forcing removal of dead trees and resultant loss of property values. More information, including a schedule of when treatment will take place, can be found on DATCP's website.


Buffalo County is again offering an Ag & Household Hazardous Clean Sweep collection program to residents, businesses and farms.   Residents and farmers may bring their materials to the Clean Sweep collection site in Mondovi this Saturday from 8-1 at no cost.  Proof of residency will be required. Contact Buffalo County Recycling for more information.


The City of Wabasha will hold an open house to discuss the results of a Feasibility Study of the scope of a new Ambulance, Police Station, and City Hall on May 14th from 5-7pm at the Ambulance Station in Wabasha. The city had asked Brunton Architects to conduct the study, and the open house will give residents the chance to hear the results and provide input to city officials.


The entire Arcadia Police Department has resigned. WEAU reports that some of the officers took jobs outside of law enforcement and others went to other departments. Because of the departures, the city has had to rely on the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department to handle calls in the city. Arcadia is working to rebuild the force and has hired Nic School as the new chief of police.


The Barron County Sheriff is retiring. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said he notified the Governor of his retirement on Friday, effective June 1st. Fitzgerald says he's leaving for a public relations role at Mosaic Technologies. The appointment process to fill the Sheriff position is expected to start today.


Wisconsin is suing the US Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wisconsin is joining 19 other states in the suit, which concerns the firing of federal health workers and termination of several programs. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says in the lawsuit the changes are leading to a lack of oversight over lead poisoning risks in Milwaukee schools and tobacco use in young people. The Attorneys General of Minnesota and Illinois are also joining the suit.


Congressman Derrick Van Orden urged House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson to reconsider an adjustment proposal to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To adhere to the reconciliation budget instructions agreed to by the House and Senate, the House Agriculture Committee proposed shifting a blanket 25% of SNAP costs on state governments. Congressman Van Orden proposed an alternative that would tie each state’s cost-sharing responsibility to its SNAP error rate. For instance, Wisconsin had a 4.74% overpayment error rate in 2023, so the state would be responsible for 4.74% of the cost. In addition to the letter, Rep. Van Orden signed on to a resolution that would prevent budget reconciliation from cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits for the most vulnerable populations.


A cold case out of Wisconsin spanning six decades has been solved. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office said, Audrey Backeberg who disappeared at the age of 20 in 1962 has been found alive and well. An investigation by the sheriff's office determined she chose to disappear and no criminal activity or foul play was involved. Backeberg disappeared from her home on July 7th, 1962.


Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann  is officially running for governor. The 43-year-old Republican made the announcement at Sunday rally near West Bend after filing paperwork last week. The Army National Guard veteran has served as Washington County executive since 2020 and is the first candidate to enter the 2026 governor’s race. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers has said he will wait until after the state budget is completed to make his decision on whether to run for a third term.


Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says he's surprised at the pushback against a memo from Governor Tony Evers on how to handle requests from federal immigration agents. Speaking to W I S N's UPFRONT, Kaul says state employees shouldn't be simply handing over documents to federal agents. The memo from the Evers administration drew criticism from Republicans at the state and federal level, with Trump Administration official Tom Homan hinting at arresting state employees who question ICE agents.


U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins last week announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) State Director roles. Kurt Blomgren was selected as State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Minnesota. He is a fourth-generation family farmer from Butterfield, Minnesota, currently operating a diversified crop and livestock farm with his son Vance and family. Sandy Chalmers was selected as State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin. Sandy has served in a number of leadership roles advocating for farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans, and she returns to direct Farm Service Agency operations in Wisconsin. Sandy previously served in executive positions at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.


There’s a newborn zebra at the Racine Zoo. The Friday morning birth is the second for a Hartmann’s Mountain zebra at the zoo and is a part of a survival plan for the species. The baby zebra’s mother named Promise and father named Obi are zoo residents. Both mother and baby will be off exhibit to bond until warmer weather arrives. The zoo will conduct a name-the-baby contest and will also sell zebra-themed apparel to support the care of the new arrival. More information is at the Racine Zoo website.



 

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