Local-Regional News June 20

 

One person is dead and another is arrested after an incident in Wabasha County on Wednesday. According to the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the West Newton area for a woman severely injured. Deputies found 36yr old Melissa Hunt injured but she later died at St. Elizabeth’s Heath Care. The suspect, 44yr old Craig Hameister of Rochester was later arrested by Olmsted County Sheriff’s Deputies in the Chester Woods Area and Is being held in the Wabasha County Jail while the investigation into Hunt’s death continues.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved a preliminary budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The budget is expected to be balanced due to savings from new hires, and expenses are expected to be the same. The district is also expecting a slight increase in state funding, specifically for special education. The final budget will be approved in October during the annual meeting.

Severe storms moved through Western Wisconsin last night. There were reports of golf ball-sized hail near Exile in Pepin County. Other reports of damage to crops and trees due to the hail were also reported. The weekend is expected to bring heat with temperatures in the 90’s and heat indices above 100. An excessive heat warning is in effect for the entire WRDN listening area for the weekend.

The Pepin County Board has approved camping rates at the Holden Park Campground. Supervisors approved the rates this week. The nightly rate for the standard campsites will be $20 a night, the 4 premium sites $25 a night. A new monthly rate was established at $500 a month, and for special events, the entire campground can be rented for $300 a night. Supervisors also approved a $25 cleaning fee if a campsite is left and is not cleaned up.

Menomonie is celebrating the opening of a new overlook near downtown. A ribbon cutting was held Thursday at the Hydro Dam and Tainter Gate Historic Overlook Plaza. Xcel Energy began the project in 2023 to stabilize the dam and protect the embankment from erosion. The new overlook offers views of the dam, the lake and the river.

Internet provider CenturyLink will be paying Wisconsin 450-thousand dollars to settle allegations of price misrepresentation. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection alleges the internet provider committed 240 violations of a Wisconsin law. CenturyLink didn't admit to misrepresenting prices but agreed to pay the civil forfeiture and investigative costs. Customers in Wisconsin were notified of their eligibility to file a claim following a 2020 class-action lawsuit in Minnesota.

New child sexual assault charges are filed for a Trempealeau County man already on the sex offender registry. Prosecutors say 57-year-old James Devenport was charged earlier this week, facing ten counts of sexual assault of a child. Police say a now 36-year-old victim told them Devenport assaulted her hundreds of times before she turned 13, causing permanent physical damage. The victim says the assaults only stopped when he was in prison for another sexual assault case. Devenport is currently incarcerated and is due in court for the new charges in September.

While home sales fell across WI in May they were up here in Western Wisconsin by 2.4%.  According to the WI Realtors Association, Pepin County had 15 homes sold in May, Buffalo 17, Trempealeau 22, Pierce 33 and Dunn County had 54 homes sold. The median price of a home sold in Western Wisconsin was $310,000. Statewide, home sales fell 2.1%.

A LaCrosse man is accused of possessing child pornography. Arresting documents says Daniel Oyer was taken into custody Wednesday during a traffic stop. This is after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip earlier this month. The 35-year-old is facing two counts of possession of child pornography. He's been released on bond and has a pre-trial hearing set for next Wednesday.

Wisconsin DOT is advising drivers to stay alert for cracks in the pavement. Temperatures in the state are expected to hit the 90s which the department says can cause pavement to buckle. Drivers are asked to drive carefully around highway crews. Serious pavement issues should be reported by calling 911.

Minnesota's battle against the spongy moth will hit southeastern parts of the state next month. The Department of Agriculture says it will spray seven sites from July 1st through 3rd. The affected counties include Fillmore, Winona and Houston. Low-flying planes will spray a non-toxic waxy substance that contains pheromones. These are supposed to confuse the male moths and reduce mating.

A Rochester prison worker is pleading guilty to using a co-worker's photo in a child solicitation case. Joseph Solak was arrested in an undercover sting late last year. He is still listed as a human resources employee at the Rochester Federal Medical Center. Solak pleaded guilty yesterday to stalking by false impersonation after using a co-worker's photo to conduct sexual photos with children online. He has agreed to serve 15 days in the Olmsted County Jail on work release and spend five years on probation. Solak's sentencing date is set for September 8th.

Governor Tony Evers is awarding the city of Green Bay grant funding that will offset costs from hosting the NFL Draft this year. Evers says the nearly two-million-dollar grant will support Green Bay, Brown County and the Ashwaubenon village in covering security costs incurred from hosting. The event brought in 600-thousand attendees for the three-day event. Last week lawmakers voted against reimbursing the city for public safety spending ahead of the draft.

The trial of a Milwaukee County judge accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE agents is delayed. A Federal District Court Judge pushed Hannah Dugan's trial back since the court still needs to consider Dugan's motion to dismiss. Her lawyers are arguing she should have judicial immunity. Prosecutors say Dugan was overseeing the case of a man in the US illegally, learned that ICE agents were in the courthouse, and led the men out of the building through a private exit. Dugan's trial was initially scheduled to start July 21. A new date hasn't been announced.

Republicans propose an $87 million cut to the Universities of Wisconsin. Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer of Racine calls that “completely unacceptable,” and said Wednesday "that would have serious consequences for economies across Wisconsin. A cut like that could mean closed campuses.” That propsed cut is a far cry from the UW System’s requested $856 million budget increase, but something Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says his Republican caucus supports . Vos said "it's not about cutting money. What it is about getting some kind of reforms to the broken process that we currently have.” Vos referenced “too much political correctness on campus,” and hate directed at Jewish students, without explaining how cutting the budget would address those issues. Any budget containing that large a cut to the system could face a veto from Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

Authorities are charging two people in connection with an attempted cyanide poisoning in Wisconsin. Paul Van Duyne and Andrea Whitaker are accused of plotting to poison Van Duyne's ex-girlfriends. A month ago, one woman told authorities someone had broken into her car, and her water tasted strange after she returned to the vehicle. The water bottle was submitted to a lab and investigators found cyanide in the water. Authorities exercised search warrants at the suspects' homes earlier this week in raids that required hazmat teams. Van Duyne is now charged with attempted homicide and Whitaker is accused of aiding a felon.

Two Minnesota campgrounds are rated among the best in the Midwest. The camping app The Dyrt ranks Split Rock Lighthouse State Park number two in the region, while Superior National Forest Fall Lake is ranked fourth. Ohio's Sandy Springs Campground gets the number-one ranking in the Midwest. Wisconsin's Copper Falls State Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites in Michigan round out the top five.

The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging you to help out pollinators. It's Pollinator Week and the DNR says you can help year-round with a few simple lawn care habits, volunteering and supporting the Endangered Resources Fund. Most of Wisconsin's pollinators are bees, butterflies, and moths; but pollinators also include hummingbirds and some beetles and flies. You can help them by planting native plants and trees, adding host plants for butterfly larvae, and maintaining a yard free from pesticides and herbicides. More pollinator tips can be found on the DNR's website.

Local-Regional News June 19

 

This year’s outdoor graduation ceremony for the Durand-Arkansaw School District will be the last. During last nights school board meeting the board voted to rescind the policy approved last month that set minimum weather guidelines for outdoor graduation and approve a policy that has graduation held inside at the gym. School Board President Bill Yingst asked for the change after learning that the district has to pay $1500 for a stage for outdoor graduation and the district would not be refunded the money if graduation had to be moved indoors due to the weather. Board members also felt that the outdoor graduations started during the pandemic and it was time to revert back to pre-covid graduation ceremonies inside.

The Pepin County Board has approved a resolution supporting the continued funding for FEMA. During last nights meeting the board vote for the resolution as there is concern that funding for FEMA would be eliminated in 2026. The Wisconsin Emergency Management Association is asking Wisconsin Counties to pass a resolution in support of continued funding for FEMA.

Dunn County has earned a gold-level certification as a Family Friendly Workplace, recognizing its commitment to supporting employees' well-being and work-life balance.  Dunn County earned this certification after a comprehensive evaluation of its workplace policies, including flexible work options, parental leave, healthcare benefits, and family-centric support programs. As a certified employer, Dunn County is now entitled to use the Family Friendly Workplaces logo in their talent attraction and retention work, as well as access a range of other benefits.  

The City of Wabasha, in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, has applied for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for upgrades to the Lawrence Boulevard Lift Station. The Lift station is located adjacent to the Mississippi River and is the single most critical piece of infrastructure in the City’s sewer system, as it collects wastewater from over 90 percent of the users in the system. The project will include installing a new generator on the lift station and make some safety improvements to the existing manhole structure, and replace the existing manual bypass pump.

\The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition has released the findings of a recent survey showing strong support for a proposed rail line connecting Eau Claire to the Twin Cities. The coalition gathered more than 1,100 responses, with 97 percent of participants indicating they would use the service. Respondents said they would use the train to commute and attend events in the Twin Cities. Others were concerned about the cost of the passenger route. The Coalition is now working on securing funding for the project.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is calling the installation of a Narcan-dispensing vending machine a success. The machine, which also dispenses fentanyl testing strips, has sat in the lobby of the Eau Claire County Jail for about two years. Department officials say that an estimated 37-hundred doses of Narcan have been dispensed in that time and have resulted in the saving of lives. Grant dollars from the state cover the cost of maintaining the machine.

A teenager is in custody following a recent incident that had the potential for violence in Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff's Office says the 16-year-old suspect showed up outside of an Osceola home last week dressed in black, peering through windows and armed with a gun and a knife. Police say the teen had wanted to make someone who had been bullying them suffer. Charges against the suspect include attempted first-degree intentional homicide and attempted kidnapping.

The state Senate is running the risk of not passing the next fiscal year budget on time as there is at least one Republican senator who doesn't like either Governor Evers' proposal or what's before the Joint Finance Committee. The GOP has an 18-to-15 majority, but Senator Chris Kapenga of Delafield says he would rather allow the existing budget to continue. Republican Senator Steve Nass is also unhappy with the budget proposals and has said it "might be the worst process used" in his 35 years in the legislature. If they join all Democrats in voting no, the budget won't pass.

The state supreme court is siding with Attorney General Josh Kaul in a battle over a law signed more than six years ago. In 2018 Republican Gov. Scott Walker passed a law weakening the powers of the incoming governor and attorney general. The law requires the attorney general to get approval from the legislature's finance committee before settling some civil cases. This resulted in a backlog of unresolved lawsuits. The supreme court ruled unanimously that the finance committee doesn't have the authority to approve settlement agreements, adding that the law violates the separation of powers clause.

Governor Tony Evers urges Republicans in the legislature to approve investments in broadband. The Democratic governor requested $400 million in his executive budget for the Broadband Expansion Grant program to provide or improve broadband internet in underserved areas. The governor's request comes as the Trump administration has made sweeping changes to the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. Evers’ office says that will further delay bringing affordable, high-speed internet to more Wisconsin homes and businesses. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin estimates that 39 percent of Wisconsinites lack access to affordable internet.

Harley-Davidson is recalling thousands of its motorcycles. The Milwaukee-based company says over 82,000 Softail motorcycles built between 2018 and 2024 are affected. A recall report filed earlier this month with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that a rear shock adjuster mounting tab could fracture and possibly touch and dig a groove into the rear tire. That could cause the tire to quickly lose pressure. Owners of the motorcycles can expect a letter later this month from Harley-Davidson informing them of the recall.

The founder of Chaska-based MyPillow, Mike Lindell, will have to pay more than two million dollars for defaming a voting machine employee. A federal jury in Colorado ruled that the business owner spoke out against Eric Coomer with unproven claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The former Dominion Voting Systems worker sued for defamation in 2022, claiming he received death threats after Lindell called him a traitor and a criminal. MyPillow, which was not named in the suit, was not found liable for defamation. But the jury did find FrankSpeech, now known as LindellTV, liable.

Minnesota school leaders appear to be seeking voters for more money by way of property tax increases. The state teachers union, Education Minnesota, says 45 local chapters have reached out for its support with possible Vote Yes campaigns. School districts still have until August to create funding requests to appear on ballots in the fall elections. Last year, 435 school districts sought additional taxpayer funding, and just eleven of 28 operating levies on that list won voter approval. This fall, a more intense get-out-the-vote campaign could have a bigger result.

A kayaking trail in north central Wisconsin is getting federal recognition. About 20 miles of the Great Pinery Heritage Waterway were recently designated as a National Recreation Trail by the Department of Interior. Visit Wausau Executive Director Tim White says the national recognition helps bring people to the area and highlights how significant the Wisconsin River is. White says signage with the National Parks logo will be going up soon. The Great Pinery Heritage Waterway stretches more than 100 miles between Oneida and Portage Counties.

Local-Regional News June 18

 

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a resolution calling for support of local and state emergency management programs, a resolution to establish camping fees at the Holden Park Campground, and establish quiet hours of 10pm-7am at the Holden Park Campground. Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room of the Government Center in Durand.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of the 2025-26 preliminary budget, renewal of property, casualty, and workers compensation insurance, and CFC for Cyber Security, and reports from district and building administration. The board will also go into closed session to discuss the early learning center project and consider bids to replace the kitchen cooling unit. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday to celebrate the upgrades to the Holden Park Campground. The upgrades were paid for with ARPA money and grants. Pepin County Board Chairman Tom Milliren says it was a goal of the administrative committee to use the ARPA money with organizations that offered matching grants.  The campground has new picnic tables, fire rings, showers, and new campsites.

A Buffalo County man has been arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 and other charges. 22Yr old Austin McGee was in Buffalo County Court to face the charges this week in connection with an incident in 2024 when the victim was 15. McGee was released on a $25,000 signature bond on Tuesday and ordered not to use or possess firearms or have any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

A trial got underway Tuesday in an appeal case involving the salary of Wabasha County’s elected attorney. The legal proceedings are from a November 2024 decision when the Wabasha County Board voted to cut Matthew Stinson’s 2025 pay by $20,000. According to Stinson, the board’s action violates a state statute, which he says, indicates his salary can’t be reduced during his current term. The board reconsidered the reduction and adjusted it to $11,000, which the board claims is in line with Stinson’s term guidelines. That trial is set to wrap in July.

The historic Zorn Arena on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus will be demolished next week. The venue opened in 1952 and was renamed to honor basketball player Bill Zorn in 1987. It's been vacant since last year, when basketball programs moved to the Sonnentag. Demolition will start next Monday, June 23rd, and is expected to be complete by September.

Charges are being filed against a Holcombe man accused of leading officers in a Sunday pursuit through parts of Rusk and Chippewa Counties. Reports say that 50-year-old Patrick Buswell failed to pull over for a traffic stop on Highway 27, and instead led officers in a chase on his motorcycle that spanned about 25 miles. Buswell was eventually apprehended and is looking at a list of charges that include attempted to flee, drug possession, and resisting arrest.

A Wisconsin congressman ridiculed Minnesota’s governor following the weekend political violence there. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz praised murdered state Representative Melissa Hortman in a Sunday morning post to ‘X.’ In a response directed at Walz on the same platform, Wisconsin 3rd District Representative Derrick Van Orden wrote "You appointed the crazy zealot that murdered her to one of your boards, you clown," and later that Walz is a “horrible governor that appoints political assassins to boards. Good job, stupid." That was a reference to Walz’ reappointment of accused assassin Vance Boelter to a nonpartisan workforce commission. A source in Walz's office told The Minnesota Star Tribune that the commission has about 60 members and that Walz did not know Boelter. Van Orden also criticized the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for reporting on his posts, accusing the paper of not telling “the whole story,” because Walz called on Democrats to be “meaner” in a recent speech.

Authorities say there was no forced entry during the break-in of the Eyota Food Pantry. The Olmstead County Sheriff's Office says the crime happened either Sunday night or Monday morning. Pantry officials report that one thousand pounds of food was stolen, including the freezer being emptied. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the break-in to contact the sheriff's office tip line at 507-328-6760.

Rusk County man who authorities say stole more than 100-thousand dollars from his workplace is learning his fate. According to reports, 27-year-old Lucus Jones was employed by the Marketplace in Ladysmith when the money went missing. He was charged with business setting and yesterday was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay back more than 75-thousand dollars.

There are well over one-billion dollars in tax cuts included in the state budget proposal issued by Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee. This includes a break for retirees age 67 and older who would not have to pay any tax on retirement income up to 24 thousand dollars. The plan also includes an expansion of the second tax bracket for the state's earners, with top limits going from about 38-thousand annually for married couples to over 67 thousand and from roughly 28 thousand for single filers up to more than 50 thousand. Officials say that expansion would result in a total tax collection reduction of almost 650 million over the next two years.

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is placing some new guidelines on the operators of cryptocurrency ATM's. State officials say the machines are still new and have been largely unregulated, leaving them open for scammers to use to get anonymous payments from victims. Now, Bitcoin and other crypto ATM's will need to be set up to limit transactions to two thousand dollars per day for each user and they will be required to have scam warnings posted. DFI says the owners of the machines will also have to disclose their locations and keep up on all relevant anti-fraud policies and procedures.

Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, plus U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore are among the names on lists drafted by the gunman suspected in the shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. A spokesperson for Baldwin says she was informed by law enforcement that she was on the shooter's list. Pocan and Moore also were notified by law enforcement they appeared on the shooter's lists. Suspect Vance Boelter is facing a litany of charges from Monday’s federal court appearance.

A nationwide opioid settlement is moving forward. Attorneys general from all 54 U.S. states and territories have reached a sweeping, multibillion-dollar settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over marketing and distribution of opioids, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Monday. The $7.4 billion agreement with the makers of oxycontin has not been finalized, and Kaul said the next step in the process is that local governments will be asked to join the settlement contingent on bankruptcy court proceedings. Under this settlement, Wisconsin’s state and local governments would receive as much as $80 million over the next 15 years.

The family of an Eau Claire middle school student is celebrating after they were recently named the winner of the statewide finals for the National Civics Bee competition. The National Civics Bee is an annual competition aimed at inspiring young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. A South Middle School student named Leila won the state competition on Friday which means she collects a one-thousand dollar prize and will represent Wisconsin at the national finals in D.C. 

Local-Regional News June 17

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday to celebrate the improvements at the Holden Park Campground. The improvements include new picnic tables, fire rings, showers, new campsites and trails. Jess McMahon, Director of Land Conservation and Planning with Pepin County, says ARPA Funds and DNR Grants helps get the project done.  The county has also implemented an online reservation form to reserve campsites. Visit the Pepin County website for more information.

The Buffalo County Highway Department is reporting that a road construction project on Baertsch Valley Road will require the road to be closed from the intersection of Hwy 95 to the Rod and Gun Club for the next month. The road may be opened up intermittently during the project. The road is also used for the ATV trail, and the road may be open at times on weekends for ATV-UTV Traffic.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting today. Items on the agenda include approval of a donation to purchase a drone for the sheriff’s department, approval of the Southeast Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Joint Powers Agreement and reports from committee chairs and department heads. Todays meeting begins at 4pm in the board room at the Old Courthouse Annex in Wabasha.

Lake City Police are reminding parents to be extra careful when their children have realistic-looking toy guns in public after an incident this weekend. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of a child with a gun at a playground on West Chestnut Street. When Officers arrived, they found a 9-year-old  with a toy airsoft gun, not a real firearm. The department is reminding parents that realistic toy guns can cause unnecessary alarm and carry risks when mistaken for firearms.

The Northern Wisconsin State Fair is hiring a new executive director. The fair association's board of directors on Monday announced the hiring of Brian Maki. Maki will take the place of outgoing director Rusty Volk who is stepping down at the end of this year. This year's fair will take place July 9th through 13th in Chippewa Falls.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers visited the western part of the state Monday to talk home ownership and affordable housing. In comments made after Evers toured a new affordable housing project in La Crosse, the governor said that the key to affordable housing is bringing partnerships together including the state, organizations and nonprofits. Evers says that housing is something that everyone has to have and that it is critical to having a good life here in Wisconsin.

Enhanced security is in place at the Wisconsin Capitol this week following the politically-motivated killings in Minnesota this past weekend. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos asked that additional safety measures be established as lawmakers prepare to meet tomorrow. Investigators say the names of roughly a dozen Democrat officials from Wisconsin are included in the documents left behind in a vehicle used by alleged shooter Vance Boelter. He is in custody and accused of killing Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband. Boelter also shot and seriously injured Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and is wife.

Vance Boelter is being charged with multiple state and federal counts in connection with the murder of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Boelter appeared in federal court on Monday, charged with multiple crimes, including stalking, murder with a firearm and firearms offenses. He also faces multiple counts of second-degree intentional murder and attempted murder in state court, where a Minnesota judge ordered Boelter's bail be set at five-million dollars. State lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in the attacks, while Boelter is also charged with shooting Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife. Over 45 state and federal officials were listed in Boelter's notebook as potential targets.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin elects Devin Remiker as its chair. Remiker won out over Third Congressional District Chair William Garcia and Joe Zepecki from Milwaukee. Remicker was the party's executive director, and he takes over for Ben Wikler effective July first. Remiker says Dems needs to work on messaging to connect with voters, plus win back union organizers and the working class.

Seven dairy companies across Wisconsin are receiving grant funding. June is Dairy Month and Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection awarded grants to assist local dairy processors to modernize and grow their businesses. The funding can also help produce new products, expand markets, improve profitability and sustain long-term viability. Evers is proposing to increase funding for the Dairy Processor Grant Program by an additional $1.2 million in his 2025-27 executive budget.

A Jewish temple in Milwaukee is vandalized over the weekend. The Milwaukee Jewish Federation said in a statement a suspect is in custody for the Sunday morning vandalism at Temple Menorah on the city’s northwest side. Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer called the incident "an act of hatred.” Damage to the building was extensive, with windows and doors broken. The temple’s Israeli flag was also stolen, and signs supporting Israel were torn up. Officials say the perpetrator acted alone, and the Jewish Federation calls it an isolated incident.

Milwaukee is among the top 30 cities in the U.S. for dogs biting postal workers. Twenty bitten mail carriers last year ties Milwaukee with San Francisco, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque for 17th place nationwide. Los Angeles came in first with 77 bites, followed by Houston and Chicago. The U.S. Postal Service began its National Dog Bite Awareness campaign earlier this month to inform dog owners on how to be good stewards for safe mail delivery. An injury of a postal worker from a dog attack could leave the dog owner responsible for medical bills, lost wages and other costs amounting to thousands of dollars.

Minnesota's two-year state budget is official. Governor Tim Walz's office says the governor signed off on the bills linked to the spending plan on Saturday. Among the legislation Walz signed off on legislation includes a measure that denies adult undocumented immigrants access to the state's public health insurance program. The bill will also phase out immigrants enrolled in the program by the end of the calendar year. Also signed was a 700 million dollar bonding bill, which addresses infrastructure projects.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking landowners to host the Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities this fall. Assistant Deer and Elk Specialist Brooke VanHandel says the program helps remove barriers. Interested landowners must have at least sixty acres of land available and be able to host at least three hunters. Landowners have through July 3rd to submit an application. The hunt runs October 4th through the 12th. More information is available on the DNR's website. 

Local-Regional News June 16

 

The Tarrant Park Pool is nearing completion. Last week, the pool was filled, and according to Durand Mayor Patrick Millien, some final things need to be done before the state inspector arrives. Sign ups for July Swimming Lessons are expected soon. Contact Durand City Hall for more information.

Durand residents are facing a rate increase for the water rate. Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gills reminds residents its just the water portion of the utility bill that is going up. A Public Hearing on the water rate increase is scheduled for June 30^th.

A grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held today at the Holden Park Campground. The Pepin County Land Conservation Department has completed many improvements to the campground including flush toilets and showers, drinking water stations, new camping pads, fire rings and more. The events begin today at 4pm at the Holden Park Campground.

An Eau Claire man is facing charges that he was driving under the influence with an unrestrained infant in his vehicle. Travinski Stephen was pulled over Saturday night by a state trooper in Eau Claire after the officer reportedly observed the suspect driving at a high rate of speed. State Police say Stephen failed a field sobriety test and was arrested on charges including OWI and child endangerment.

The former Eau Claire County Treasure convicted of stealing more than $1 million has been released from prison. 78Yr old Larry Lokken was released last Tuesday from the Thompson Correction Center and is living at a temporary residence in Eau Claire. Lokken served a 9.5yr sentence after being convicted in March of 2016.

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 20^th.

It appears that the names of some Wisconsin lawmakers are included in writings put together by politically-motivated murder suspect Vance Boelter. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that eleven Badger State Democrats are mentioned in the manifesto that was found in a vehicle used by Boelter outside the Minneapolis-area of home of State Representative Melissa Hortman early Saturday morning. Hortman and her husband were found fatally shot inside the house shortly after State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot at their home roughly ten miles away. The Hoffmans survived. Authorities have confirmed that Boelter was found last night in a wooded area near his property in Green Isle, Minnesota and was arrested without further incident.

More than 200-thousand registered voters in the state are receiving notices to maintain their voting rights. The announcement comes from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, who said yesterday that they are sending postcards to anyone who hasn't voted in the past four years. The cards are titled "Official Voter Registration Notice" and have an "Official Election Mail" logo near the postage mark. To stay registered, the postcard must be signed and returned to their municipal clerk. Postcards must be submitted by July 15th for voters to stay registered.

A mining company says it plans to start drilling for gold and copper near Medford this week. The company -- Green Light Wisconsin -- plans to drill on the so-called Bend deposit on U.S. Forest Service land. The deposit reportedly contains more than four million tons of copper and gold. The action comes after a judge denied a request by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to halt state approval of the drilling. The tribe says it's concerned over the impact of the drilling on environmental and historic sites.

A Twin Cities couple is accused of submitting hundreds of voter registration forms they completed with fake identities. Lorraine Combs and Ronnie Williams are charged with conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud. The scam was reportedly done in 2021 and 2022. Minnesota Secretary of State Cassondra Knudson says there were no ballots cast in connection with the crime. An unnamed foundation reportedly paid both defendants for filling out close to 500 voter registration applications.

Several University of Minnesota students aren't too happy with a proposed budget that calls for significant tuition increases. President Rebecca Cuningham announced yesterday that the university had to make some tough financial decisions brought on by federal research funding cuts. The planned hike would be six-point-five percent and seven-point-five percent for out-of-state students. The spending plan also includes reductions to academic programs. The Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the budget proposal on June 18th.

Local-Regional News June 13

 

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 4^th. 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 20^th.

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 17^th and 18^th 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.