Firefighters from Nelson, Alma and Wabasha responded to a garage fire on Deer Creek Road in the Town of Nelson on Monday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, the garage was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived and is considered a total loss. No injuries were reported in the fire and the cause of that blaze is still under investigation.
New hours for the Buffalo County Courthouse. Starting this week, county offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8am-4pm and Fridays from 8am-Noon. The court system will continue with regular hours Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm and other state and federal offices in the building will not be impacted. Residents are advised to check with those offices for their hours.
Advent Health has donated a $40 gift card to every student in the Durand-Arkansaw School District to purchase a new pair of shoes at Rogans Shoes. Superintendent Ryan Nelson said the district is grateful for the donation and the ongoing partnership with Advent Health. This is the second year Advent Health has made the donation to families in the district.
A Western Wisconsin Woman is facing theft charges after being accused of stealing more than $100,000 from her employer. 54Yr old Jill McCorkel is accused of stealing the money from BOH Electronics in River Falls while Human Resources Manager. According to authorities, McCorkel sent the money to her boyfriend and sister and also put company money into her own bank account and tried to hide the transactions as payments to a contractor. She is to appear in St. Croix County Court in February.
Authorities in Eau Claire County are continuing their search for a missing man. Kenneth Lewis has not been seen since last Tuesday. His vehicle was found Friday on Gilbertson Road. Anyone with information on Lewis' whereabouts is asked to contact police.
A man charged in connection with a fatal vehicle crash in Price County is scheduled to appear in court today. A pickup truck and a semi collided on August 28th of last year at State Hwy 13 and State Highway 111 in the Township of Worcester. Two people from the pickup were killed. Lance Walcisak faces charges including two counts of second-degree reckless homicide.
Authorities say two Rochester police officers on foot were hit by a car Sunday night. The male officers, ages 51 and 22, were both taken to Mayo Clinic with non-life-threatening injuries. Minnesota State Police say an 18-year-old Rochester man was driving an SUV in snowy and icy conditions when he struck another vehicle and the officers. MSP is investigating the crash.
A proposed wind farm in Columbia County has taken another step forward. Alliant Energy submitted a proposal for the wind farm last week to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The project would place more than 40 large turbines on land that is owned by more than 300 residents spread over 48,000 acres in the southeastern portion of the county. The turbines would be 660 feet tall with 260-foot-long blades. Alliant Energy expects the PSC to decide by next year. If approved, the wind farm could start providing power by the end of 2028.
There
are arguments over transparency at the Wisconsin Capitol since
WisconsinEye, which is similar to C-SPAN, went offline in December,
lacking funding to continue operations. Beloit Democrat,
Representative Clinton Anderson says he and his colleagues, along
with members of the public, are being prohibited from recording
committee hearings. Anderson says he doesn't have an issue with
members of the public recording meetings, and that the need for
legislators to do so is because of WisconsinEye being down.
Credentialed members of the media are allowed to record inside the
Capitol and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says that provides
transparency. Prior to an Assembly floor session last week, the
Republican leader said that WisconsinEye is a valuable part of the
work at the Capitol, but that Democrats are trying to say that the
media are irrelevant. WisconsinEye is currently undertaking
fundraising in an effort to resume its coverage.
A new all-day Preschool program is set to start in the 2026-2027 school year in La Crosse. The La Crosse District's "All-Day 4k Preschool" program will provide students with the necessary time and experiences to build confidence and excitement and learning. Children will participate in school-wide activities such as art, music and physical education. They will also have a full day of play-based, hands-on learning, which strengthens learning and social skills. Enrollment for the program is open now on the La Crosse school website.
A former Waupun Correctional Institution officer pleads guilty to smuggling contraband into the prison. According to court documents referenced by Fox 6 Milwaukee, Luz Naranjo smuggled cellphones, tobacco, drugs and other prohibited items into the prison during the spring of 2023 in exchange for cash bribes. Naranjo allegedly used a supply cart to pass the contraband along to inmates instead of the sanctioned supplies from the cart. She’s accused of receiving $6,000 in cash which she deposited into her bank accounts, Naranjo faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at her sentencing in April.
A Waupun woman faces felony charges for stealing from a local nonprofit. 47-year-old Teresa Ruch is accused of taking $38,000 from Waupun Downtown Promotions while serving as the organization’s president. Waupun Police received a report in November of possible financial discrepancies. A bank employee noticed a business check had been made out to Ruch and began reviewing the business account and found other suspicious activity. The Dodge County District Attorney’s Office filed charges this month. Ruch is set to make a preliminary court appearance in early February.
Major cuts are coming to the Oshkosh School District. The school board approved a plan Thursday that would cut more than 40 positions in the next school year. The Oshkosh district is facing a 5 point 5 million dollar structural deficit going into the next school year, and another 2 million dollar deficit in 2027. Voters in the district approved a nearly 200 million dollar facilities referendum last year, aimed at improving school buildings.
Minnesota State Fair organizers will not increase admission and parking prices this year. All ticket prices will stay put. The fair's governing body also announced that it has OK'ed funding of improvements to the grounds. The upgrades to the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum include new seating, wider aisles and railings. Officials are also planning to repair and replace fencing and street and sidewalk pavement along with buying portable drinking fountains and recycling containers.
You can help protect Wisconsin waters by reducing your winter salt use. Although salt keeps roads safer during the winter, harmful chlorides from salt get into lakes, streams, and groundwater. Increased salt levels in the water can corrode bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. Road salt can also harm pets, causing irritated paws or other health concerns if ingested. In the early 2000s, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources measured about 600,000 tons of chlorides annually. By 2018, that increased to nearly 800,000 tons per year. Find more info on the DNR's website.
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