Local-Regional News Oct 8

 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a presentation on the city's Forest Management Plan, discussion and possible action on approval of the Durand-Arkansaw School District Early Learning Center plans, and the council will go into closed session to discuss the formation of the Durand Fire District. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN Website.

A change to state law that would allow ATV’s/UTV’s to use the Chippewa River Bridge in Durand received a state senate hearing in September. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says if the law is changed, it would be good for tourism in Durand.  The Pepin County ATV/UTV Club testified in support of that change during the hearing in Madison in September.

The Dunn County Health Department has released its 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The action teams will work to accomplish the following goals in the next 3 years: Improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of childcare for Dunn County families, Provide Dunn County residents with information and resources to make environmentally conscious decisions, Improve the overall mental health, well-being, and access to mental health care for Dunn County residents and Form and advance local partnerships, initiatives, and programs to develop safe, affordable, quality housing options for all Dunn County residents. Every three years, Health Departments are required to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to identify the top health priorities. After this assessment, departments are required to create a Community Health Improvement Plan to address those priorities before the next one.

Rochester Sand & Gravel is planning to start on the 2025 Street Improvement project this week in Wabasha.  Initial work will include asphalt reclamation (grinding up the existing asphalt, leaving it in place) along Skyline Drive, Buena Vista Drive, and the alley between Main Street E and Lawrence Blvd E. They will also be milling and removing the top layer of asphalt on the remainder of the streets in the project. Access along these streets will be maintained during these operations, with only minor interruptions. Next week, Fitzgerald Excavating, plans to begin replacing the culverts along Skyline Drive and Buena Vista Drive. The contractor plans to construct temporary bypass roads to maintain traffic along these streets during culvert replacement.

Officials have set a half-a-million-dollar bond on the suspect involved in a fatal police chase crash. This stems from a pursuit last week in Eau Claire involving 27-year-old Anthony Reyes. Reyes was driving at high speed and into oncoming traffic before crashing into another vehicle at an intersection. The victim, 35-year-old Jack Ritchie, was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle became engulfed in flames. Reyes was arrested and later transported to a local hospital, where he exhibited combative behavior. The crash remains under investigation by local and state authorities.

Child porn charges are being filed against an Eau Claire man. Investigators say they found multiple videos featuring elementary- and middle school-age children engaged in sexual acts on the cell phone of 33-year-old Abdul Bakhtyaar. Bakhtyaar is charged with multiple counts of child porn possession and was released from custody yesterday after posting bond.

Contract work at a software company in Chippewa Falls led to a small flash fire Tuesday morning. One person was hurt in the incident that resulted from ductwork being performed at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Crews say the contractor was the person injured in the fire.

Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a La Crosse County arson. One mobile home was destroyed by fire and three others were damaged early last Wednesday at the Brookview Mobile Home Park. No one was hurt. Sixty-one-year-old John Galster was taken into custody Saturday on four counts of arson - building without owner's consent. Another individual is also facing possible charges in the case.

A man has been convicted of four counts of telephone harassment and eleven counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. Authorities say 52-year-old Jacob Sell made repeated, harassing phone calls to local law enforcement agencies, while labeling himself as a "police auditor." The calls often involved obscene and abusive language directed at dispatchers and officers. A sentencing date for Sell has not yet been scheduled.

Attorney General Josh Kaul is opting out of the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial race and will seek a third term as attorney general instead. He frames his decision as crucial at a time when civil liberties and state programs are under strain. Kaul was widely seen as a front-runner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination due to his experience in statewide races. His departure leaves the Democratic field for governor wide open and competitive.

Access to free breast cancer screenings for women with little to no insurance is being expanded statewide. The services are provided through the Wisconsin Well Woman Program. It covers mammograms, breast exams, and other diagnostic tests at no cost for eligible women who meet income eligibility requirements. Enrollment involves a simple application process via phone, text, or mail that connects women to participating clinics.

Saluting the character—and unique characters—of Wisconsin dairy farming. Katrina Hoesly of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin says that’s what the “Wisconsin Originals-Born to Dairy” campaign is all about. You can submit a unique persona of Wisconsin dairy farmer you know, and find out more about the campaign by logging onto “Born to Dairy dot com.”

You can now order tree and shrub seedlings from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The seedlings, grown at state nurseries, are meant to be used for reforestation and conservation plantings on private, industrial, tribal and public lands. A minimum order consists of a packet of 300 trees or shrubs in increments of 100 of each species, or 500 shrubs or 1,000 tree seedlings. Species available include white cedar, balsam fir, pine, spruce and tamarack. There's also numerous hardwoods and shrub seedlings available. More information can be found on the DNR's website.

An Onalaska woman has been named Wisconsin's best grocery bagger. The annual Great Wisconsin Bag-Off took place during the Grocers Association's Innovation Expo last week. Vicheka Oum was named this year's champion of the Bag-Off where contestants must bag a 24-item order into reusable grocery bags. She'll now have the chance to represent Wisconsin at the national competition in February.