Local-Regional News Aug 29

 

City of Durand property owners will have their property reassessed over the next year. The city is being required to have a citywide reassessment by the state of Wisconsin. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city assessor may start work on the project this fall.  Chimney Rock Assessment was hired to do the city-wide reassessment at a cost of $58,000.

The Buffalo County Highway Department will be chip sealing Hwy 35 from the intersection of Hwy O to the southern end of Alma next Wednesday and Thursday. Along with the chip sealing, the road will be repainted. Motorists should expect delays while traveling that section of roadway as Hwy 35 will be reduced to one lane of traffic.

Local health officials are warning residents about a rise in Hand, Foot and Mouth disease in the Chippewa Valley. The Eau Claire County Health Department says it's been receiving reports of the virus going around. A public health nurse told 18 News that schools and daycares should be implementing thorough sanitation policies as the virus is common in those spaces. Symptoms for Hand, Foot and Mouth disease include fatigue, fever, blisters and rashes.

Wabasha youth and families, City staff, Council Members, Park Board members, celebrated the grand opening of the Wabasha Athletic Complex Skate Park yesterday with more than 30 youth and children in attendence, on their bikes, scooters, and skateboards.  The new skatepark is made of metal frames and will be durable to last for many generations. Another highlight of the new facility is that it was completely funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program. The skatepark was part of the original new athletic field plans but could not be completed due to lack of city funding. Floods in 2023-2024 made the old skatepark unusable.

Vice President Vance is welcoming other cities to seek the Trump administration's help in reducing crime. The vice president is on the road touting President Trump's agenda, and he urged other cities like Chicago and Milwaukee to get the administration involved in efforts against crime during a speech in Wisconsin. Vance defended the administration's takeover of Washington, D.C.'s police department and other institutions including Union Station. According to the vice president, the administration "would love to come in and lock up" violent criminals, but noted that President Trump wants to be asked to come to the cities.

The CDC has issued a food safety alert over Salmonella infections linked to recalled eggs. The federal health agency says 95 people from 14 states have gotten sick from the same strain of Salmonella. Eighteen people have been hospitalized but the CDC says no deaths have been reported. Country Eggs, based in California, recalled its Large Brown Cage Free "Sunshine Yolks" eggs on Wednesday. More than 70 of the Salmonella cases reported are from California with three each in Nevada, Washington and Minnesota. The CDC is warning people not to eat, sell or serve recalled eggs.

The Department of Natural Resources is restocking its pine seed inventories and wants your help. The D N R announced Thursday its forestry programs are buying white and red pine cones by the bushel. They're looking for cones that have turned brown, but not yet opened to let out the seeds. The asking price is 125 dollars a bushel for red pine cones and 75 dollars a bushel for white pine. Just be sure to wear gloves when collecting, and be sure you're not on someone else's property when you're out gathering. Find out more online at D N R dot W I dot Gov.

Westby Cooperative Creamery in Vernon County is announcing plans for a 14-million-dollar expansion. New refrigeration systems, ten-thousand-gallon tanks and a 30-thousand-gallon milk silo are to be brought in to the state's only cottage cheese manufacturing facility. The updates are expected to allow for an increase in production volume at the creamery and a reduction in production time.

Democratic state lawmakers want to prohibit concealed carry of firearms on Wisconsin’s college and university campuses. Madison Senator Kelda Roys says nobody should be living with the fear of gun violence, but certainly not young people on college campuses across the state. UW - Madison sophomore Nessa Bleill is a survivor of the Highland Park, Illinois mass shooting that killed seven people and says one should ever fear for their life in a space of growth and learning. The proposal came the same day as a shooting at Minneapolis Catholic school that killed at least two children and injured several others. The bill is unlikely to even receive a committee hearing in the Republican controlled legislature.

Triple-A is offering free rides and a tow for anyone who has too much to drink over the holiday weekend. The Tow To Go program will be available in Wisconsin as a way to prevent intoxicated driving. Since the program launched more than 25 years ago, almost 30-thousand would-be impaired drivers have been kept off the road. AAA says service over Labor Day weekend will start at 6 p.m. Friday and continue until 6 a.m. next Tuesday morning. The program is available for AAA members and non-members.

The Diocese of Madison has acknowledged a previous complaint about the priest charged with attempted child enticement. The previous complaint against 37-year-old Andrew Showers was investigated by police after a parent contacted the diocese in 2021, but was found to not be criminal. Law enforcement in Waupaca County says Showers was trying to meet with a 14-year-old girl, but it was actually an undercover cop. Showers is currently out on bail, but is barred from public ministry and having contact with minors while the case is ongoing. He'll be back in court next month.

Governor Tony Evers requests a presidential disaster declaration after storms and flooding caused substantial damage across Wisconsin. The request filed Wednesday includes Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program; and Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties for the federal agency’s Public Assistance program. A preliminary assessment by Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA conducted over the weekend found more than 1,500 damaged homes with costs surpassing $33 million. Public sector damage came in at over $43 million.

The Green Bay Packers are awarding grants to twenty youth football programs in Wisconsin. Each team will receive one-thousand dollars supporting equipment purchases, new uniforms and facility improvements. It's coming from the Packers Youth Football Matching Grant. All programs were invited to apply, but were required to raise a thousand dollars to secure the matching grant.

Local-Regional News Aug 28

 

Two people were injured in a motorcycle vs deer accident in Union Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 43yr old Evan Mercer of Arkansaw was traveling northbound on Hwy S when he struck a deer. Mercer was med flighted to Regions Hospital, while passenger 36yr old Beth Wojcik of Arkansaw was taken by personal vehicle to the hospital.

In the wake of the school shooting in Minneapolis yesterday, Durand Police will have extra patrols around schools. During last nights council meeting, Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway told the council he had met with administrators at Assumption School to review safety procedures and ordered the extra patrols around area schools. He reiterated there is no threat to the public. Two children, ages eight and ten, are dead and 17 others are wounded after a Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. Fourteen of the wounded are children, three adults, and all of them are expected to survive. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who shot through the church stained-glass windows of the Annunciation Church before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. O'Hara says they have discovered a manifesto left behind by Westman. The FBI is investigating the shooting as "act of domestic terrorism" and a "hate crime targeting Catholics"

A defendant charged in the killing of ten-year-old Lily Peters is being granted a change of venue for his upcoming trial. Investigators say that Peters was killed in Chippewa Falls on April 24th of 2022 with her body found the next day. Seventeen-year-old defendant Carson Peters-Berger was just 14 when prosecutors say he took the young girl's life. A defense motion for a change of venue was granted yesterday. The court has not decided if the trial itself will be moved to another geographic location or if outside jurors will be brought in to hear the case.

Eau Claire Police report that -- twice this week -- they stopped elderly people from losing thousands of dollars to bitcoin scammers. Police stopped one individual on Monday just as they were about to lose ten thousand dollars to a telephone scammer and -- on Tuesday -- they caught up with another victim and were able to help them two recover about nine-thousand dollars of the twelve-thousand that they had sent through. Police say they will be posting messages at area bitcoin machines this week to warn folks of possible scams.

A man charged in connection with a fatal stabbing in Eau Claire County has been found competent to stand trial. That decision came yesterday regarding defendant Anthony Jackson who is charged with intentional homicide following a December 2014 stabbing at the Do Dodge Inn. That incident resulted in the death of 31-year-old Alex Graff. Jackson's next court appearance is scheduled for September.

A Federal Grand Jury has indited 41-year-old Jason Bloedow of Eau Claire, with distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution and maintaining a drug involved premises. The indictment alleges that Bloedow sold methamphetamine on March 19 and April 15, 2025, the second buy involving 50 grams or more. The indictment also alleges that Bloedow possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution on April 25, 2025 and used his residence as a drug involved premises. If convicted, Bloedow faces a maximum of life in prison.

The clean-up continues after a driver crashed Wednesday morning into a Flying J Travel Center in Jackson County. Officers with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene in Black River Falls a little after 3 a.m. and found a vehicle inside the building. No injuries were reported. The vehicle's driver -- 38-year-old Jordan Gajewski of Edgar -- is facing an OWI charge.

It will likely be another poor wild rice harvest in Wisconsin. Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission wild rice coordinator Kathy Smith says a combination of events contributed to the low yield on Wisconsin lakes. Everything from storms to climate change, to too many swans eating the growing rice all add up to an 18% decrease in rice growing across northern Wisconsin. There have been ongoing efforts by both the Department of Natural Resources and Great Lakes tribes to restore rice habitats over the past decade. Wild rice, also called manoomin by the Ojibwe, is a native food source unique to the Upper Midwest.

A man accused of faking his own death on a Wisconsin lake last year was sentenced Tuesday. Ryan Borgwardt was sentenced to pay $30,000 restitution and spend 89 days in the Green Lake County Jail. A judge said the jail sentence was the same number of days Borgwardt "allowed his deception to continue," after faking his kayaking death on Big Green Lake and deserting his family for a woman in the eastern European nation of Georgia. Borgwardt and his wife divorced earlier this year. He made a brief apology in court Tuesday.

A federal judge is allowing Hannah Dugan's case to go to trial. Dugan's case was set to go to trial in July but the judge pushed it back to consider her motion to dismiss. Judge Lynn Adelman sided with the federal government in Tuesday's hearing, which means the case will go to trial. Dugan is accused of helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid federal agents looking to arrest him. She has been suspended from her position as judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court while she faces federal charges.

A Boy Scout troop from Plymouth is back in Wisconsin after being stranded in the Virgin Islands. The troop was visiting St. Thomas to learn about sailing but the effects of Hurricane Erin grounded all flights off the islands. Scout leader Joshua Kilian told NBC 26 that families put together a fundraising campaign to cover unexpected costs for the troop. He says the group faced high costs when it came to getting food and finding a way off the islands. The troop made it back to Wisconsin over the weekend just in time for school to start.

UW Health is launching a first of its kind apprenticeship program. The surgical technology apprenticeship offers all the coursework leading to an associate degree and makes it easier for someone to become a surgical technologist. Surgical techs prepare the operating room before surgery and assist a surgeon in caring for tools used during surgery. UW Health says the program, the first of its kind in the country, helps address the healthcare workforce shortage, meet patient needs and reduce barriers to beginning a career as a surgical tech. Tuition, books, and supplies for the first two years of the program will be covered by a grant that has been secured by the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin.

Charges against a Milwaukee man accused of throwing a toddler off a balcony are dismissed. Jaimann Eiland was accused of tossing his step-granddaughter from a second-story balcony of a home on Milwaukee’s northwest side in March while he was arguing with the child’s mother. Fox 6 Milwaukee reports a felony child abuse charge was dismissed this week, with prosecutors saying it could not be proven. Eiland’s attorney said the accusations ruined his client’s reputation and were not credible. Eiland did plead guilty to misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct in connection to an alleged assault of the child’s mother. He’ll serve no jail time outside of time already served.

A strong turnout for a Milwaukee-based diner chain’s burger giveaway. Following the Milwaukee Brewers 12 game winning streak earlier this month, George Webb restaurants gave away free hamburgers to all comers during a four-hour window last Wednesday, totaling between 80-thousand and 90-thousand burgers. Webb also awarded vouchers for free burgers to those who couldn’t attend the Wednesday giveaway. If all those vouchers are redeemed by this Friday, Webb estimates the total number of burgers at nearly 200,000, approaching the totals from the last “12-in-a-row” promotion in 2018.

Local-Regional News Aug 27

 

The Village of Plum City has received a $442,000 grant from the state of Wisconsin for street and utilities infrastructure improvements. Governor Evers announced the grant yesterday as part of over $18 million in grants to support community improvement projects in 21 communities, including projects improving or repairing local roads, drainage systems, water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and other public facilities.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a contract with Chimney Rock Appraisal for reassessment and maintenance of tax assessments, proposal for the long-range comprehensive plan and reports from the mayor and city department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN website.

Motorists in Western Wisconsin are reminded to slow down and be on the lookout for children as schools re-open. Motorists should be prepared to stop for school busses picking up and dropping off children during the mornings and afternoons, and be prepared to stop for children crossing the streets walking to and from school. Today is the first day of school for the Durand-Arkansaw School District.

One man is dead after a semi accident in Wabasha County on Tuesday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 52yr old Craig Goring of North Branch, MI was traveling northbound on Hwy 42, when he lost control, drove off the road and rolled the semi. Hwy 42 was closed for most of the day while emergency crews responded to the accident.

Eau Claire City Council is giving its okay to a pair of proposed ordinances. Council on Tuesday approved the return of paid parking to the city's downtown area with a one dollar fee for the Barstow corridor between Lake and Madison Streets between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Parking spaces in the surrounding area will be fifty cents. Council has also approved a speed limit of 15 miles per hour for e-bikes and scooters on city trails and sidewalks.

A Wisconsin man is in custody in connection with a child solicitation investigation. An undercover detective exchanged texts with Jamey Scott Ralph Strand of River Falls, who thought he was texting a 14-year-old girl. Authorities learned that Strand would be driving through Minnesota on August 24th. Mankato police arrested him after identifying his car. Strand could face up to five years in prison and a ten-thousand dollar fine if convicted.

A Barron County ice cream shop won big at the 2025 World Dairy Expo. Judges named Kurschner's Premium Ice Cream out of Chetek, Wisconsin, the grand champion in this year's ice cream competition for it's peanut butter chocolate. The ice cream shop also took second place for it's lemon poppy seed ice cream in the flavored category. Kurschner's also earned first place in the regular vanilla ice cream competition.

Funeral services are being held this week for Barron Police Department Officer Ben Smith. Smith died unexpectedly while off-duty last week at the age of 26, and had just joined the department last year. Visitation hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Red Cedar Church in Rice Lake with a Celebration of Life and Honors tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m.

Vice President JD Vance will be in Wisconsin this week. The vice president is scheduled to visit a steel fabrication facility in La Crosse on Thursday According to a White House press release, Vance will promote President Donald Trump's tax cuts and their impact on working families and businesses. The release did not provide a specific location. The tax cuts passed the U.S. House and Senate earlier this year without the support of any Wisconsin Democrats.

A lottery ticket sold in Chippewa County for Monday night's Powerball drawing has hit for big money. The ticket sold at a Cornell BP matched four of the five numbers drawn plus the Powerball. The ticket also included a three-X multiplier meaning a 150-thousand-dollar win for its holder.

More law enforcement will patrol Wisconsin trails this Labor Day weekend to look for unsafe ATV and UTV driving. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says more wardens and county recreation deputies will be on trails starting Friday. The campaign will end on Sunday, August 31st. So far this year almost 30 people have died on ATVs and UTVs. The DNR says alcohol use, speeding, and lack of seatbelt or helmet use contributed to most of the fatalities.

The National Transportation Safety Board says pilot error is to blame for a fatal 2023 crash at E A A Airventure. The plane crashed into Lake Winnebago and killed 30 year old Devyn Reiley and 20 year old Zach Colliemoreno. They were in a North American AT-6D airplane. The report says "the pilot likely failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering and exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin." The airplane broke into pieces and came to rest at the bottom of the lake in about 20 ft of water.

The Alice in Dairyland Finals are coming to Marathon County next year. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced Friday that the 79th edition of the annual event would take place from May 14th to the 16th. The position of "Alice in Dairyland" involves educating the public about agriculture in Wisconsin. Marathon County was chosen to host because of its rich history and rolling hills.

A Madison priest is accused of child enticement after being arrested over the weekend. Police allege 37-year-old Andrew Showers drove to Clintonville to meet up with a 14-year-old girl for sex on Sunday. Authorities say they received information about Showers' plans and arrested him around 7:32 p.m. Showers was booked into Waupaca County Jail on charges of child enticement and attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child. The District Attorney's Office will make a decision on charges soon.

Applications are being accepted for Wisconsin's Driver Education Grant Program. The initiative provides tuition compensation to income-eligible students for 30 hours of classroom coursework, six hours of observation, and six hours of behind-the-wheel training. Requirements include qualification for free or reduced school lunch for students between the ages of 14-and-a-half and 19. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will reimburse the costs of the training, with the students having their choice of driver training school. $6 million in grants have been given to over 10,000 students since the program began in 2023.

A woman seen in a viral video calling a Black child a racial slur is now facing criminal charges. The incident happened April 28th at Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Park in Rochester. Shiloh Hendrix can be heard calling the boy the n-word after he reportedly took an applesauce pouch from her bag. Authorities in Olmsted County today announced that she's been charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct in connection with the case.

Nominations are now open for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. Since its inception in 2016, over 1.5 million votes have been cast for over one thousand products. Winning products have included iconic soda, high-tech beverage dispensers, firetrucks, cranes, motorcycles, military vehicles, robotic carts, rifles, and even kringle. The competition, which is sponsored by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, enters its tenth year and highlights the importance of manufacturing in Wisconsin’s economy. Following the nomination period from now until September 12, a popular vote will determine the top sixteen products that will be placed in a bracket-style tournament. More info can be found at MadeInWis.com. 

Local-Regional News August 26

 

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident in the Town of Durand yesterday morning. According to the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department, 36yr old Castro Rivera of Durand was stopped in the westbound lane of Hwy 85 waiting to turn left onto Marsh Road, when he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by a 17yr old male from Eau Claire who failed to see Rivera stopped in the roadway. Rivera was taken to an Eau Claire Hospital, while the 17yr old was ticketed for the crash.

Buffalo and Pepin Counties are conducting Crisis Intervention Team training this week. The program, paid for by the State of Wisconsin is designed specifically for law enforcement officers from both counties, with a second week-long session scheduled for September to ensure all officers have the opportunity to participate. The CIT program trains participants in de-escalation techniques, mental health awareness, and resource coordination to better support individuals in crisis and connect them with appropriate services. Much of the training is facilitated by mental health experts and people with lived experience from right here in our community.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of allowing open containers in the downtown area during Octoberfest on October 4^th, reports from the Mayor and Department heads, and the council will go into closed session to meet with legal counsel on possible litigation the city could become involved in. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

Dairy farmers, community leaders and members met last night at Lindstrom Valley Farms to discuss issues during the PDPW Ace Twilight Meeting. After a tour of the dairy farm, issues such as town and county roads, spring weight restrictions, education and other issues were discussed. Representatives from the Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Towns Association, WI DNR and WI Department of Agriculture were also in attendance.

Representative Derrick Van Orden was in Eau Claire Monday to host a roundtable with local veterans. He gave an update on his VA Home Loan Program Reform bill, which was signed into law by President Trump. He also mentioned the closure of Klein Hall in Chippewa Falls and called for Governor Evers to find a solution to keep it open. Evers has claimed that GOP lawmakers on the joint finance committee didn't approve money for the veteran housing and recovery program in the state budget.

A Judge will decide tomorrow on whether the trial in the Lily Peters murder case will remain in Chippewa County. The attorneys for 17yr old Carson Peters-Berger is asking the judge to move the trail out of Chippewa County due to media coverage and the inability to find an impartial jury.

A man convicted in a 2019 La Crosse homicide is headed to prison. A La Crosse County jury in June found 45- year-old Anquin St. Junious guilty of reckless homicide, battery, strangulation and threats to injure in the stabbing death of Virgil Stewart. St. Junious attacked Stewart in the back of a cab during an argument in 2019. Online court records show a judge sentenced St. Junious on Monday to 20 years in prison and eight years on extended supervision.

La Crosse leaders say they're expecting a massive economic boost this week. It comes as students return to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for the new school year. Officials say the economic surge comes from many sources, including apartment rentals, restaurant meals and supply shopping. They add that tuition alone funds jobs for faculty, staff and service workers.

Xcel Energy is working on making repairs to the Wissota Hydro Electric Plant this week. According to the company, crews will be repairing the upstream face of the middle embankment of the plant as it has deteriorated over the years due to wave action. The project should be completed in two weeks and the impact to the plant and public should be minimal.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he has not yet decided whether to seek a third term, telling voters at the Minnesota State Fair his choice will come soon. Walz currently sits at a 49-percent approval rating, with polls showing stronger support among women than men. If he runs, his campaign would likely center on the progressive agenda passed under his leadership, including a paid family and medical leave program launching in 2026. But opponents are expected to focus on the estimated billion dollars in fraud uncovered during his time in office, an issue Republicans say undercuts his record on oversight.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is saying goodbye to its tutoring program. A statement from the university says services unique to the Academic Coaching to Thrive and Succeed program were being offered elsewhere on campus. The ACTS program started about 30 years ago when the college didn't have enough tutoring resources. Staff involved with the program say this move leaves at least 40 tutors out of a job. The university clarified that their decision to end the program was made months ago.

Scammers are sending messages claiming to be from online retailers offering refunds for defective products. Wisconsin Consumer protection administrator Michelle Reinen says you don't need to click a link to give your banking information to Amazon or other businesses, because they probably already have it. If you think you have a legitimately recalled product or are unsure, log into your account with that retailer. Reinen reminds you to only log in to your account directly through a website, and never use a link you get in a random message or email.

It's important for Wisconsin kids to start the new school year strong with good nutrition. UW Health Kids pediatric clinical nutritionist Camila Martin says breakfast remains the most important meal of the day and studies show a good breakfast can lead to enhanced academic performance. Martin says oatmeal with nuts and frozen fruit, eggs with avocado and toast, and low-fat yogurt are all good breakfast ideas. Martin says 90% of kids ages 4 to 18 don't meet recommendations for vegetable intake, while 75% don't meet guidelines for fruit intake. You can also find ways to involve kids in the meal making process to encourage them to add fruits and vegetables in their meals.

A federal judge has struck down a Minnesota law that prohibits religious colleges from making students sign a statement of faith from a program allowing high schoolers to earn college credit. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel issued the decision late Friday, ruling the law violated religious freedom protections. Brasel siding with two conservative Christian institutions - Crown College in St. Bonifacius and the University of Northwestern in Roseville, which mandate that students adhere to faith-based values and conduct standards. The now-overturned 2023 law had been backed by the Minnesota Department of Education and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. During a December hearing, the state defended the measure as a way to protect high school students who are not Christian, straight, or cisgender.

A case of extremely reckless speeding on a Fox Valley freeway. Winnebago County deputies stopped the driver of a Ford Mustang clocked at 143 miles an hour on I-43 between Oshkosh and Neenah Friday night. The driver was issued citations for reckless driving and speeding totaling over $1,500. The sheriff’s office described the driver's actions as "Dangerous. Dumb. Just plain ridiculous."

The Eau Claire Health Department will be hosting an overdose prevention workshop this coming Thursday. Residents will learn how to identify potential overdoses as well as how to respond quickly with Narcan. It'll take place at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in the Riverview room at 5:30 p.m. The event is free but registration is required by August 27th.  

Local-Regional News Aug 25

 

No one is injured after crews put out a structure fire Sunday afternoon. Firefighters from Strum and 8 other departments responded to the fire on Sunday and found flames coming from the building. Officials say it took place at Koxlien Brothers Wood Products in Strum. A majority of the sawmill structure is considered a complete loss. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The Buffalo-Pepin County ADRC Programs is reminding Medicare beneficiaries that your will NOT be receiving a new Medicare card, but scammers may try to convince you otherwise. Scammers are trying to get your Medicare information by telling you cards have expired, will be plastic or have a chip in them, that is false. Do not give out your Medicare or personal information over the phone. If you have any questions call the Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol at 888-818-2611.

Mayo Clinic of Menomonie and Menomonie Lions Club are partnering up for a sharps needle collection program in Dunn County. New empty sharps containers and Full or used container disposal is now available for free for Dunn County Residents. Containers can be picked up or dropped off at the Mayo Clinic Pharmacy or at local rural waste collection sites.

The City of Wabasha will celebrate the grand opening of the Wabasha Athletic Complex Skate Park on Tuesday, at 11am. The new skatepark is at the athletic field, along Pierce Avenue, behind the softball fields. The flooding at the old athletic field damaged the old skatepark and meant that there needed to be a new location. The new skatepark was funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant program. City staff will be serving ice cream sandwiches and extends a special invitation to any skateboarders.

A Chippewa Valley contractor is facing charges after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from his clients. Anthony Brooks is being charged with 14 counts of theft by contractor. Court records say Brooks' company did an incomplete job after clients paid him anywhere between 18 thousand and 130 thousand dollars for work. He would then use that money to buy vacations and cars for him and his wife. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. Brooks is the owner of Brooks Home Renovation.

A winning Powerball ticket worth 100-thousand-dollars was sold in River Falls. The Wisconsin Lottery says the winner purchased the ticket at the Family Fresh Market on Main Street. The ticket matched four out of five numbers as well as the Powerball. Eight Powerball players have won at least 50-thousand-dollars this summer in Wisconsin.

Avoid ash trees when placing your deer stand this year. Most ash trees in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin are dead or dying due to emerald ash borer, and infestations in the northern part of the state are rapidly expanding. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters it's important to place and maintain tree stands carefully as trees with emerald ash borer may unexpectedly snap or drop large branches. Ash trees will have two branches coming off the main stem directly across from one another, along with compound leaves with 5-11 leaflets. Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Five more cases of measles have been detected in Wisconsin. Octonto County Health says the cases are linked to nine other cases that were confirmed on August 2. The total number of measles cases in Wisconsin this year is now at 14. The Department of Health Services is working with the County to contact people who may have been exposed.

Wisconsin's GOP legislators are pushing a bill that would end the state's income tax on tips. A bill authored by Representative Ron Tusler would allow up to 25 thousand dollars in tips to be deducted from state income tax returns. This would affect individuals earning less than 150 thousand dollars. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue says the state would lose more than 33 million dollars in annual tax revenue if the bill is enacted. No Democrats have signed onto the bill.

Alcohol sales at Camp Randall Stadium are producing big bucks. In its first year of selling alcohol, the venue brought in more than three million dollars worth of sales. University officials say the initiative to sell alcohol was aimed at improving fan experience and safety. The Morgan Wallen Concert last June is credited with setting a sales record. That concert was the first one Camp Randall Stadium hosted since The Rolling Stones performed in 1997.

An employee with the Wausau Fire Department is set to appear in court today for misconduct charges. Jared Thompson is accused of ordering fentanyl and other controlled substances on behalf of the Fire Department. The crimes are alleged to have happened between January 2024 and June 2025. The Department of Justice said Thursday he's being charged with misconduct in public office and theft. Thompson is the division chief in charge of the Wausau Fire Department's emergency medical program.

A corpse found at High Cliff State Park in Calumet County in 2021 may lead to a change in Wisconsin law. The body of Starkie Swenson was found 38 years after he was murdered by John Andrews in 1983. Andrews was charged with hiding a corpse but charges were dropped due to the statute of limitations, which requires felony charges to be filed within six years of the crime. Republican Representative Ron Tusler and Republican Senator André Jacque have introduced legislation where the statute of limitations would start when the body is found.

A man accused in the murders of a woman and two young girls is ordered to stand trial. According to online court records, Virgil Thew waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday and will stand trial in Juneau County on multiple charges including three of first-degree intentional homicide. New Lisbon police reported that a 33-year-old woman and girls ages 12 and 13 were found dead in a home in December of last year. A two-week statewide manhunt eventually had Thew taken into custody in Elroy, about 12 miles south of the crime scene. He's currently being held on a $5 million cash bond with an arraignment hearing scheduled for October 29th.

The Wisconsin Badgers football team will sport throwback uniforms in the coming season. The alternate gear designed by Under Armour will recreate the uniform the team wore in 1980, with a red block “W” on a white helmet and red jerseys with a block “W” and Bucky Badger logo on the sleeve. The Badgers will debut the throwbacks when they face Iowa for their homecoming game October 11th. 

Local-Regional News Aug 22

 

The resurfacing project on Hwy 35 from Stockholm to the Pierce County Line will begin on Monday. Crews will be milling down and replacing the top layer of pavement, install rumble strips on the center line, cleaning culverts and resetting the end walls, and replace guard rails. During the project Hwy 35 will be reduced to one lane so motorists should expect traffic delays. That project is expected to be completed in November.

The Buffalo County Highway Department has announced that Hwy E between Hwy 35 and Second Street in the City of Alma is now open. The Highway had been closed earlier this month after a failure of the retaining wall. The Highway Department also announced that Hwy C will be closed between Hwy 95 and Konkel Valley Road Monday through Wednesday of next week for a repaving project.

Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart has been appointed to the State Interoperability Council. The council works to develop strategies and guidelines for statewide communication interoperability between public safety departments. Stewart was appointed by Governor Evers.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved joining an organization made up of other districts in Western Wisconsin for area school board members. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the group will help train new leaders for the school boards.  There is no cost to the district and members will include those districts part of the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and other local districts.

Red Wing Firefighters responded to an incident of multiple individuals needing medical attention on Wednesday. According to Red Wing Fire, crews were called to the 400 block of Learning lane and found an office building had been evacuated and that nine people needed medical attention. Firefighters conducted a search of the building and requested the regional hazardous materials team to search for any hazardous materials. No materials were found and the building was deemed safe. Of the nine needing medical attention, three were transported to Mayo Red Wing and six others were treated at the scene.

Eau Claire County Board members are approving the hiring of a new staff member for the Eau Claire Department of Human Services' 180 Program. The effort operates inside the Juvenile Detention Center and provides treatment services for teenagers. The cost of the additional staffer is being covered by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

The Barron Police Chief is asking for help after the off-duty death of one of his officers. Chief Joseph Vierkandt announced the death of Officer Ben Smith this morning. Smith started with the department in January 2024, and had previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The Chief is asking for help from the County Sheriff's Office to make sure there aren't any law enforcement disruptions as his department mourns Smith. Smith's death is still under investigation.

An Elba woman who's accused of trying to kill her neighbor will have her next court date in October. Sixty-four-year-old Ava Kock is charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault. She appeared in a Winona courtroom yesterday where she was informed of her rights. Court documents show Kock allegedly shot at her neighbor who was sitting in a car. The victim was not seriously injured.

Kwik Trip has settled a worker's disability complaint for $35,000. A former employee filed the complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2022. According to the EEOC's investigation, the employee was hired full-time in 2021, and in 2022 submitted a "reasonable accommodation request" to modify her work schedule and duties. EEOC concluded that Kwik Trip intended to accommodate the employee's medical restrictions but misinterpreted the request and reduced her full-time schedule to nine hours a week, forcing her to resign. Under the agreement, the employee will receive $35,000 in back pay and compensatory damages.

A former Minnesota state trooper's criminal vehicular homicide trial could still be moved out of Olmsted County. A judge denied Shane Roper's motion to dismiss eight of nine charges filed against him in May. The defendant faces several serious charges, including manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide. Roper was involved in a crash outside the Apache Mall in 2024 that took the life of 18-year-old Olivia Flores. The defense team is requesting a new hearing date in October. The current date is set for August 27th.

Another candidate has entered the race for the governor's seat. Ryan Strnad is factory worker and former beer vendor at American Family Field. He's also the founder of lobbying group Drinks in the Seats. He told Channel 12 he'll be different compared to other elected officials in the state. Strnad is the second democrat to join the race for governor. It comes as Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski launched her run for lieutenant governor Wednesday.

Dane County officials are seeking to remove dogs from Ridglan Farms with a new resolution. County supervisors introduced resolution 119 to urge the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to remove animals from the breeding facility as Ridglan Farms deals with state investigations. Earlier this year a Dane County judge appointed a special prosecutor to look into claims of animal cruelty at the facility. Ridglan Farms breeds beagles and other animals for medical research. The University of Wisconsin-Madison was recently named as one of their customers.

Milwaukee Public Schools receive some long-withheld state funding. MPS announced Wednesday that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released $16 million in state aid to the district tied to the 2022-23 school year. DPI held back the funds after MPS failed to meet a series of deadlines for required financial reporting to the state. MPS expects DPI to release another $25 million in state aid dating back to the 2023-24 school year in the coming weeks. MPS says it has taken steps to meet all future financial reporting deadlines.

Western Wisconsin may be home to an underrated city according to one publication. USA Today is ranking Eau Claire at number two in their list of hidden gems that should be explored. The article says the city is vibrant, especially for music lovers. Cities were judged based on the number of restaurants, museums, landmarks, safety and cleanliness.

Local-Regional News Aug 21

 

A Durand man has been arrested after a vehicle vr pedestrian accident in the city on Tuesday. According to Durand Police, the accident happened at 4^th Ave East and East Wells Street on Tuesday evening. After an investigation, officers arrested 45yr old William Albertson of Durand and charged him with Operating While Intoxicated Causing Injury, 2^nd offense. The pedestrian that was injured is a minor and was not identified.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved borrowing up to $1.3 million for the new early learning center. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the borrowing is part of the overall funding package for the learning center.  Groundbreaking for the new center is expected in early October.

A Chippewa Falls educator is being recognized as the 2025 Wisconsin History Teacher of the Year. Alisha Neinfeldt teaches at Chippewa Falls Middle School and will receive a one-thousand dollar honorarium along with the distinction announced by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Neinfeldt is now in the running to be named National History Teacher of the Year. That winner will be announced later this year.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has hired Braun Intertec, with assistance from Traut Companies, to drill and test various sites throughout the City of Wabasha. The samples collected from these locations will help determine if the city can identify the source of PFAS that were detected in well #3. Funding for this testing is being provided by the state. Once the city receives the test results, they will be able to look at ensuring they continue to meet all water standards. The City was notified of the PFAS in well #3 in April and the well has not been used since then.

Charges have been filed against two La Crosse men accused of torturing a 3-year-old boy in Minnesota. Jalil Wilson and Atzavesta Raymon Williams each face a child torture charge in Winona County Minnesota. Prosecutors say both men were seen in videos of a child being tortured. 20-year-old Winona resident Joseline Puente Gundersen was arrested for the same incident, which police became aware of after Gundersen's coworkers reported she had shown them the videos. In the videos, the child's wrists and ankles were bound together and his mouth was covered by duct tape. It's alleged that Williams put the duct tape on the child and Wilson scared the child while wearing a blanket and clown mask.

A Wisconsin congressman wants to force the Lac du Flambeau tribe to pay back money collected during a standoff over road access. 7th District Republican Tom Tiffany sent a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi this week calling for the Department of Justice to secure reimbursement for the Town of Lac Du Flambeau. The tribe cut off access to a group of private properties on tribal land in 2023 by blockading roads and demanding restitution after an easement for the roads expired. This month a federal judge sided with the Town in the dispute, saying the tribal roads were listed as public in the federal register. Tiffany calls the 600-thousand dollars the tribe collected an "illegal shakedown." Lac du Flambeau leaders say they're considering their option to defend their treaty rights.

Governor Tony Evers is moving to implement new state rules without having to deal with a Republican controlled legislative committee. Wispolitics reports Evers sent a letter to his cabinet secretaries last week citing a ruling from the state Supreme Court that the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules could no longer put a hold on any proposed regulations from the Governor. J C R A R had long stopped any rulesmaking process on proposals from state agencies, indefinitely putting any discussion of the rules on hold. Now, the committee will have 60 days to review and take action on a proposed rule. The Legislative Reference Bureau is looking over 28 rules that have been delayed to see if they are ready to be implemented.

Homeowners affected by recent severe storms and flooding need to be careful of phony contractors. Wisconsin Consumer Protection administrator Michelle Reinen says this is a common scam following severe weather. Any contractors working in Wisconsin have to be vetted and licensed by the state, so be sure to verify and investigate anyone who is offering services. Reinen says the best contact for getting your home inspected and repaired is your insurance agency, and that you should go through them to make sure you won't lose your coverage.

Attorneys for the father of a Madison school shooter want the charges against him dropped. Jeffery Rupnow is accused of providing a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 resulting in death. Rupnow's teenage daughter fatally shot a student and a teacher at Abundant Life Christian School last December before taking her own life. The father's lawyers argue he did not give his daughter access to his gun and that there's no probable cause he committed felonies. Rupnow's attorney's have filed a motion to have the criminal complaint against him dismissed.

The current Wisconsin Secretary of State is announcing her run for lieutenant governor. Sarah Godlewski, a Democrat, announced her campaign today at the Madison Labor Temple. She previously served as the State treasurer. Current Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez is running for Governor.

A Wisconsin man accused of faking his own death and fleeing the country is set to enter a plea next week. Prosecutors say Ryan Borgwardt staged his own disappearance using an overturned kayak on Big Green Lake in Green Lake County, made his way to Canada, flew to Asia, and eventually started living in the Republic of Georgia. Investigators say he moved to be with a woman he met on a dating app, leaving his wife and children behind in Wisconsin. Borgwardt willingly turned himself in almost a year ago. He'll be in court next Tuesday, August 26.

Safety measures at the Minnesota State Capitol continue to be a hot topic. The Advisory Committee on Capitol Security met this morning to discuss the matter. It was the first session since the June attacks that killed Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and injured Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The panel is considering whether to implement security upgrades to protect lawmakers, Capitol staff, and the public. Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger says that 88 troopers and security guards are assigned to protect the Capitol, and 19 more security officers can be added. The committee is expected to continue to meet over the coming months.

The newest class of recruits of the Rochester Police Department mostly consists of women. Six of the group of eight are female. All of the recruits went through an interview, psychological and physical exams, before they went through 12 weeks of training in the academy. Up next, they will train one-on-one with veteran officers out in the field for 12 weeks.

A 200-pound fiberglass cow is back where it should be. WDJT-TV in Milwaukee reports that Jefferson County Fair events manager Abby Schopen noticed that Clarabelle Dee Bovine was missing last week after standing near one of the fairgrounds’ gates since the 1960’s. Schopen says the cow was unbolted from the base of a trailer she was attached to. Jefferson Police investigate the matter as a felony theft, with the estimated cost of the cow at $2600. Tuesday morning, fairgrounds officials said the mayor of Jefferson found Clarabelle leaning against a fence there with a few scratches on one side.