Local-Regional News July 22

 Advent Health of Durand has received a $916000 grant as part of the fiscal year federal budget.  Wisconsin 3rd District Congressman Ron Kind announced the grant yesterday.   The funding would help AdventHealth Durand modernize ambulance bays to enhance the safety of patients, improve the efficiency of emergency responders, and spare costly damage to emergency vehicles.   Other local organizations receiving grants include a $1 million dollar grant to Tri-County Hospital in Whitehall to install solar panels on the roof of the hospital, and a $750,000 grant to Visit Eau Claire to install a pedestrian underpass to connect the west and east sides of Menomonie Street.

Declining state inventories continued to hinder sales while driving home prices higher.  According to the Wisconsin Realtor Association's June Sales report, home sales in Western Wisconsin declined by 8.1% compared to a year ago.  Pepin County reported 4 homes sold in June, Buffalo County 17, Pierce County 37, Trempealeau County 39 and Dunn County had 54 homes sold in June.  The median price of a home in Western Wisconsin, $284,900.  Home Inventories continued to slide. New listings were down 13.5%, and total listings for the state were down 14.4% in June compared to their levels 12 months earlier.

Menomonie police responded to a bomb threat at CVTC on Thursday.  According to the department's social media page, a caller reported locating a bomb at CTVC, and gave the building and room number. The room number did not exist.   Authorities say a similar threat was received at the Eau Claire CVTC campus and the incidents appear to be a swatting incident designed to bring a large police presence.  Authorities are unsure if the two cases are related to other bomb threats made at Wisconsin schools on Thursday.

 A carnival worker is in custody in the Chippewa County Jail for the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.  Investigators say 61-year-old Craig McPherson of Georgia was traveling through the area for the Northern State Fair.  The 14-year-old victim and her 22-year-old sister were at the fair Saturday.  They say they asked McPherson to give them a ride to a gas station and that’s where the assault happened. W-Q-O-W/T-V reports detectives handling the case say they will conduct additional interviews before referring any charges to the district attorney’s office.  Those charges could be filed next week.

Lake City Residents may notice their water turning a reddish color after August 1st.  The Lake City Public Works Department will be adding chlorine to the water system on August 1st.   The addition of chlorine may cause the water to turn a reddish color and residents are advised to let the water run a few minutes before using it for cooking or cleaning.  The use of chlorine can cause problems in fish tanks and bait shops and it's recommended those users find alternate sources of water.  The chlorine should be clear of the system by August 10th

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is reporting another record-low unemployment rate for June.  The state's jobless rate dropped two-tenths last month to one-point-eight percent.   DEED says June's decline was entirely due to people moving from unemployment to employment as the labor force participation rate rose to 68-point-five percent.  The state gained 100 jobs last month and the May numbers were revised upward by 75 hundred jobs.   Minnesota has added more than 91 thousand jobs since June 2021.

Ethanol production is the focus of a roundtable discussion Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is hosting today (Friday 2:45 p-m) in southern Minnesota. Walz is first scheduled to tour the Guardian Energy ethanol plant in Janesville. The governor will then discuss E-15 and the production of the corn-based fuel with plant leaders. Farmer-owned Guardian Energy produces 110 million gallons a year and makes dried distillers' grain and corn oil.

Wisconsin's state butterfly is endangered.   The International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed Monarch butterflies as endangered following a meeting on Thursday. The group estimates that populations have declined between 22% and 72% over a decade. That's due to a number of factors, including a loss of habitat and the use of pesticides. Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed plants.

Governor Evers says he’s a long way from a decision on a proposed new casino in Kenosha. The Menominee tribe and Hard Rock International announced a partnership Wednesday after the Bristol village board approved a land sale to the group Tuesday. Tribal officials say they want to provide resources for the growing needs of the tribe – one of the largest, but poorest tribes in Wisconsin.   The Menomonie and Hard Rock tried once before to build a casino in the Kenosha area in 2015, but it was rejected by then-governor Scott Walker. Evers has the final say on any new gambling compacts in Wisconsin.

A 33-year-old Waupun man has been sentenced to prison for causing his grandmother’s death.  Gregory Spittel will have to serve up to 13-and-a-half years.  Prosecutors say the 75-year-old victim was found lying in a pool of blood at Spittel’s home in August of 2019.  A jury found him guilty of second-degree reckless homicide and four other counts last May.  Spittel had claimed members of a drug cartel killed Carole Foreman.  Investigators said Spittel was angry with her for giving information to the police which resulted in his arrest.

Local and federal authorities are investigating a worker’s death near Palmyra Wednesday.  A construction worker was killed when he fell from a scaffold and was impaled on a metal stake. When emergency responders arrived, they say the man wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse. The stake was cut, and life-saving measures were performed, but the worker died before they could get him to a hospital.

Charges against an Afghan refugee in Marathon County Court have been dropped.  A count of misdemeanor 4th-degree sexual assault against Matiullah Matie has been dismissed after the 40-year-old completed court-recommended counseling. As a result, the charges are now considered not proven and have no legal effect- and Matie is presumed innocent. He had been accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a woman who was helping him and his family resettle after they fled Afghanistan. The case was on track for a trial later this month, but that was dropped from the court docket this spring because of a potential resolution.

The nationwide staffing shortages have impacted another industry. Area pharmacies have had to adjust their hours of operations due to not having a pharmacist on site to help with prescriptions. Executive Director of the Minnesota Pharmacists Association Sarah Derr says even before the pandemic, there needed to be a stronger push to promote other careers in the healthcare industry, including pharmacology. Derr says she understands the frustrations that occur with this disruption but advises working with your doctor to provide a secondary pharmacy to transfer your medications to, or even having them mailed to you instead.

Final preparations are underway for Saturday’s big soccer match at Lambeau Field.   Bayern Munich from Germany, and Manchester City of England will meet in an exhibition they call a “friendly” in the soccer world. Soccer goals are being put up, and lines for the soccer field will be painted on the not-yet frozen tundra. The international match is expected to have a ten-million-dollar impact on the Green Bay-area economy. More than 75 thousand tickets have been sold, and a few tickets are still available. This will be the first soccer match ever played at Lambeau Field.

Local-Regional News July 21

 New principals for Durand Middle and High School.  At last night's Durand-Arkansaw School Board meeting, the board approved the hiring of Sara Sabelko as the Middle School Principal and Building and Curriculum Coordinator and  Steven Trudeau is the new High School Principal and Athletic Director.  Trudeau replaces Nick Gillis as High School Principal after Gillis retired from education at the end of the school year.

Emergency responders say four teenagers were floating on tubes down the Eau Claire River Wednesday afternoon when the current pushed them into a tree hanging over the water.  They had to be rescued from the river upstream from the Dewey Street Bridge.  W-E-A-U/T-V reports the Eau Claire Fire Department gave the teens life vests, then pulled them out by using ropes.  Some of them suffered minor injuries like bumps and bruises.  A firefighter was hurt when a rock fell and hit him in the head, shoulders, and back.  He’s expected to recover.

The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department has accepted a donation of $230,000 from the nonprofit group PESI, Inc for the purchase of body cameras for the department.  Along with the sheriff's department, body cameras will be provided for 7 local police departments in Chippewa County over the next five years.  The camera will automatically record without the officer needing to press a record button.

Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the midst of a heatwave, but Xcel Energy’s John Marshall assures the public that they can handle it. He says while excessive heat can strain their system, it was built and modeled for peak demand times of the year. Marshall also says they have crews “at the ready” in case there are any power outages. Marshall says if you do experience any kind of outage during the heatwave, contact your energy provider immediately.

Former Kronenwetter Administrator Richard Downey didn't stay unemployed long.  Downey confirmed to WSAU News on Wednesday that he's accepted a position as the new Assistant Administrator for the City of Altoona. This comes about two weeks after he was placed on administrative leave by the village, for reasons that still have not been made public, and two months after the village first held a closed-session meeting regarding Downey. They've since contracted with Duane Gau of Public Administration Associates LLC to take the job on an interim basis. Downey declined to provide any further comment regarding the new position.

UW-La Crosse and Mayo Clinic have reached an agreement to provide UW-L students with health care services.  Mayo doctors and nurses will provide the services at the Student Health Center on campus.    Mayo will also pursue more research and educational opportunities at UW-L.  Currently, Mayo provides sports medicine services for the athletic teams at UW-L.

The Wisconsin Legislature’s joint rules committee says local election clerks can’t help voters when they make a mistake on an absentee ballot envelope.  State Representative Steve Nass is chair of that Republican-controlled committee.  He says the Wisconsin Elections Commission is telling clerks to violate the law.  Nass says clerks have two choices in that situation – send it back to the voter or set it aside and don’t count it.  Clerks have been allowed to correct the ballots since the 2016 election.  Democratic Representative Gary Hebl of Sun Prairie says the change will just cause trouble for voters and clerks and could lead to more lawsuits.

The state of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit to recover the costs of cleaning up PFAs contamination. The suit seeks reimbursement of the nearly one billion dollars spent addressing "forever chemicals," including remediation of water and soil, and reimbursement for costs of providing bottled water and filters. 

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he's once again told former President Trump he cannot overturn the 2020 presidential election results.  Speaking to W I S N on Tuesday, Vos said Trump called him last week to pressure him into decertifying the results. Trump claims that the State Supreme Court's ruling that clerks are no longer allowed to use absentee ballot drop boxes invalidates the election, which he lost to Joe Biden. He subsequently called Vos a RINO - or Republican In Name Only - on social media and said he expects Vos’ primary opponent to do well against Vos. Vos said (quote) "There's very little we can do to control or predict what he will do."

 

Almost 200 election officials from across the country are meeting in Madison to get ready for the mid-term vote.  They are being urged to prepare for supply chain issues that could cause shortages of paper used for ballots, computer hardware, and many other purposes. Officials from 33 states are attending the summer meeting of the National Association of State Election Directors.  They are hearing from experts in security, interest groups that work with elections, vendors, and others.

The Oneida Nation will spend the money from a 648-thousand dollar federal grant to develop sustainable energy on the reservation.  The American Rescue Plan Act funding is being awarded through the U-S Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.  W-L-U-K/T-V reports the Oneida Nation will use the money to develop a strategic energy transition plan.  Tribe officials will investigate the potential for a solar farm and the purchase of electric vehicles for tribal operations.  Federal officials say this will help the Oneida Nation diversify its economy and create green energy jobs.

Minnesota workers applying for the “frontline worker bonus check” can appeal if their application is denied.  The deadline for applications is Friday at 5:00 p-m.  The state reports more than a million people have applied for the bonuses – 330 thousand more than the state’s projections.  Following the deadline, the applications will be processed and verified.  All applicants will be notified of their status by August 16th.

U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar is applauding the official resumption of the Remote Area Border Crossing Program--which allows U-S travelers to enter Canada via water or ice, rather than land or ports of entry. Klobuchar, who is co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group eliminating barriers to cross-border travel is crucial to businesses and families across Minnesota and she calls it a "game changer" for Minnesotans and Canadians.

Wausau will celebrate its sesquicentennial with several celebrations and events this weekend.  The State of Wisconsin granted the city charter in 1872.  W-S-A-W/T-V reports early settlers called the area Big Bull Falls and Marathon County was organized in 1850.  The name Wausau came from the Chippewa Indians who went on their yearly hunts in the area.  The name means “far away place.” Organizers say there will be no charge for the music shows.

Local-Regional News July 20

 The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include the adoption of academic standards for the upcoming school year, action on the hiring of new Middle School and High School Principals, and reports from the superintendent.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand High School.

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a resolution to approve economic support program expenses using American Rescue Plan funds, a budget modification authorizing the use of funds for additional county highway road construction, and reports from county committees.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the Pepin County Government Center.

Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident in the town of Lincoln Monday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 32yr old Diego Rubio-Salazar of Arcadia was traveling northbound on Hwy 88 and lost control of the motorcycle while negotiating a curve.  He left the northbound shoulder and was thrown off the motorcycle along with passenger 29yr old Gisel Hurtado of Arcadia.  Both were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 14yr old girl from Ellsworth was injured in an ATV accident in Trimbelle Township on Saturday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the girl was operating the ATV on private property when she lost control while turning and was ejected from the ATV.  The girl was transported to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

One person was injured in a vehicle vs grain truck accident in the Town of Chimney Rock on Tuesday.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, the driver of a pickup truck was traveling northbound on Hwy 93, and fell asleep, crossed the centerline, and struck a southbound grain truck.  The pickup was sent into the east ditch where it caught fire.  The driver was able to get out of the pickup before it was fully engulfed in flames.  The pickup truck driver was taken to Mayo Eau Claire with non-life threatening injuries.

A Republican candidate for governor criticizes the deal to bring Foxconn to Wisconsin, despite his company making millions from the project.   The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Tim Michels was in Mount Pleasant on Monday for a rally, where he criticized former Governor Scott Walker for the controversial multi-billion dollar deal. Foxconn never delivered on a promised chip factory at its sprawling site in Mount Pleasant, or the promise of thousands of jobs. But, Michels’ construction company won over 90 million dollars in contracts for infrastructure at Foxconn in 2018 and 2019. Michels’ primary opponent Rebecca Kleefisch  said he has "certainly mastered the art of political flip-flopping."

A Wisconsin legislative committee will discuss an absentee ballot rule for clerks when it meets Wednesday.  Republicans want to suspend a rule that would allow those clerks to fill in – or correct – witness addresses on absentee ballot certificates.  The Wisconsin Elections Commission has said it plans to formally establish an emergency rule allowing clerks to correct mistakes on a witness’ address, or fill in missing details.  The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules could stop that.

The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding people how to get a valid I-D so they can vote in next month’s primary election.  Potential voters can find the list of required documents they will need online at WisconsinDMV-dot-gov.  The closest D-M-V Customer Service Center can help you get the documents you need free of charge.  Valid identification for voting includes a driver’s license, an identification card, a military I-D card, or a student I-D card.

Milwaukee’s plan for hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention will apparently look a lot like the one worked up for Democrats and their 2020 convention.  The Republicans’ site committee picked Milwaukee last week largely because it already had a blueprint to follow.  A final vote is set for early next month.  There is still some local resistance.  Democratic State Senator Chris Larson says he has some security concerns – pointing to people who advocate for violently overthrowing democracy.  Larson refers to the January 6th attack on the U-S Capitol.

 Safety enhancements are being made for next month’s 2022 Wisconsin State Fair.  The changes include vehicle barriers similar to the ones added to the parade routes in Waukesha after last year’s Christmas Parade tragedy.  Fairgoers will be limited to carrying bags of nine-by-10-by-12 inches or smaller – though there will be exceptions for diaper bags, items for infants, or for medical needs.  All bags will be subject to inspection at the fair which starts August 4th.  Metal detectors will be present at every State Fair Park entrance.  The fair will run for 11 days, ending on Sunday, August 14th.

City officials in Wisconsin Rapids say heavy rainfall Friday morning caused wastewater to flow into the Wisconsin River.  At about 7:30 a-m the sanitary sewer interceptor was overtaken by rainwater.  Rainfall measurements in the collection area varied from three-point-nine to five-and-a-quarter inches.  Wastewater Superintendent Derek Budsberg tells W-S-A-W/T-V the system couldn’t handle that amount of water all at once.  It was released into the river to keep basements from getting backed up.  About 165 thousand gallons of diluted wastewater overflowed during a three-and-a-half-hour period.

There’s gas for sale for less than four dollars a gallon in parts of Wisconsin.  Triple-A says the average price of a gallon of regular in Wisconsin is four dollars, 22 cents, but that prices vary. Drivers are sharing photos of lower gas prices on social media. The average price of gas in Wisconsin 70 cents cheaper than the peak of four dollars, 92 cents last month.

With high temperatures and humidity expected to last through next week, Xcel Energy is offering tips for homeowners to find relief from the heat. Spokesman John Marshall suggests closing your drapes and blinds during the heat of the day, and if you have ceiling fans to turn them on to help circulate cool air throughout your home. He says home cooling can account for up to half of a summertime electric bill. Marshall also recommends installing a programmable thermostat that raises the temperature when the house is empty. Another tip -- clean or change out your A-C filters and make sure your outside compressor is cleaned off to allow for the best performance.

A Facebook post that claimed five girls were drugged at a downtown Stevens Point club, then taken and sold has spun out of control.  Police and the owner of the Icon nightclub say it never happened.  Stevens Point police say passing rumors like this one can be dangerous.  The rumors took a toll on the business.  Investigators now confirm the post was a fake.  Assistant Police Chief Mike Rottier tells W-A-O-W/T-V that allegations like this should be brought to the police first – not to social media.

Pre-fair discount tickets are now on sale for the 2022 Minnesota State Fair. Admission tickets are 14 dollars at Cub Foods stores through August 24th. Prices at the gate this year will be 17 dollars for adults and children ages 13 and over. Tickets for seniors and kids ages five to 12 are 15 dollars. Blue Ribbon bargain books are available for five dollars, and advance ride and game tickets are 15 dollars for a sheet of 20. The State Fair runs August 25th through Labor Day (September 5th).

It appears that a few gas stations in Hastings are engaged in what looks like a price war, as gas prices there are nearly a dollar a gallon cheaper than Minnesota’s average price of four-46 a gallon. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, three convenience stores in Hastings were selling regular-unleaded for three-68 a gallon as of Seven O’clock Tuesday.

Local-Regional News July 19

 The trial for a man accused of killing Bruce McGuigan in November 2020 has begun in Dunn County.  Chad Turgeson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the beating death of McGuigan in the town of Dunn.    Two other people were also charged in connection with that murder.  Ashley Gunder has already been sentenced while Ryan Steinhoff will go on trial in November.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Frankfort Township on July 11.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, 69yr old Dennis Altfillishof Morrison, IL was traveling northbound on Hwy N when he failed to negotiate a sharp curve and crashed into the southbound ditch.  He was treated for minor injuries at the scene.  Speed and unfamiliarity with the road are believed to be contributing factors in the accident.

A September court date has been set for the federal case involving a former Eau Claire County district attorney.  King is scheduled to make a court appearance as part of the federal civil lawsuit filed against him by a former co-worker.  Although it could change, the case is currently scheduled to go to trial in August of next year.  Gary King has denied the allegations that he sexually harassed the victim for more than a year.  He has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed.  Court papers indicate he is being sued by Jessica Bryan.  King has admitted kissing Bryan on the cheek as an expression of gratitude but says it wasn’t sexual.

The Town of Washington has filed a lawsuit against the city of Eau Claire over a recent land annexation.  The suit claims that the land annexed by the city does not border the city because a portion of the land, Lowes Creek Park, is owned by Eau Claire County, and the county did not sign off on the annexation petition that had been submitted by Laverne Stuart and Todd Hauge.  The city counters that land like Lowes Creek Park does not count toward the city border requirement and therefore the annexation is valid.  Eau Claire has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit.

Authorities in Olmstead County say a 42-year-old woman has been hospitalized after she was thrown, then kicked, by her horse.  K-A-A-L/T-V reports the incident happened Saturday night in Pleasant Grove.  The Rochester woman’s name hasn’t been released.  She was found in an area of thick vegetation and had to be carried to an ambulance on a U-T-V.  She was eventually airlifted to a hospital.  The victim’s name and medical condition haven’t been released.

A reminder from M-n-DOT -- political, lost pet, garage sale, and other advertising signs are prohibited from being placed on highway rights of way. M-n-DOT’s Scott Thompson says highway rights of way include driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches, sight corners at intersections, and boulevards in urban areas. He says private signs can distract motorists and, in some cases, obscure their view of the road -- increasing the risk for crashes. Workers will take down private signs located on the state highway right-of-way and transport them to the nearest M-n-DOT truck station where they will be available for retrieval.

 The latest report shows closed sales of Minnesota homes in June were down 14 percent compared to 2021. Just over 92 hundred properties were sold across the state last month. Minnesota Realtors C-E-O Chris Galler says that’s obviously due to the increased interest rates slowing down the marketplace itself, and again a lack of housing. He notes we’re getting into a better situation as far as the number of homes that are for sale within the state. Galler says the statewide median home price rose six-point-two percent to 345-thousand dollars in June.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels is having to scrub an NRA endorsement from his advertising because he never got one.   A flyer stating that Michels had the endorsement of the National Rifle Association went out over the weekend, but the NRA says it hasn't endorsed anyone in the Wisconsin race. Michels' campaign says that message was in error and it's being fixed now. That flyer will be edited to say that Michels got a positive rating on a candidate's questionnaire from the NRA.

A 21-year-old driver who hit a squad car while he was trying to get away Friday night has been jailed in Waupaca County.  The suspect’s name hasn’t been released.  Deputies were checking out reports of an underage drinking party in the Town of Scandinavia at about 10:25 p-m when one of the people at the party took off.  After hitting the deputy’s car, the driver led authorities on a short pursuit before he crashed into a power pole and his vehicle rolled.  The driver was treated for minor injuries and transferred to the Waupaca County Jail.

A Jefferson County judge has ruled the Wisconsin Department of Corrections violated state law with its visitor policy.  The prison system barred Catholic clergy from meeting with inmates for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed a lawsuit last year on behalf of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, alleging the policy stopped clergy from meeting in person with inmates in order to provide spiritual guidance, communion, and penance.  It argued that violated a state law granting clergy visits with all prisoners – and violated the inmates’ constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Quick help for suicidal thoughts and other mental health emergencies is now only three digits away. You can now call or text 9-8-8 to connect with a trained mental health counselor. Dan Reidenberg, Executive Director of Minnesota-based SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), says this new nationwide service is needed more now -- than ever before. He says a lot of people are struggling and that suicide rates go up when the economy takes a downturn, when inflation and recessions hit, and when unemployment is a problem. Nine-eight-eight is designed to be as easy to remember and use as 9-1-1, but instead, a dispatcher will connect callers with trained mental health counselors.

A Dane County judge is giving the Wisconsin legislature’s top Republican another chance to produce records requested by a liberal watchdog group.   American Oversight wants the documents connected to Michael Gableman’s review of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin. Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn is ordering Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to come up with the documents and pay statutory and attorney fees to American Oversight, but she’s denying the group’s request for punitive damages. Vos has so far turned over 14 hundred pages of emails and documents related to the Gableman probe.

A garage fire in Janesville sent one person to the hospital with burns to their hands and arms. Authorities say the fire was sparked by siphoning gas with a wet dry vacuum. The fire broke out late Sunday morning on North River Road Firefighters were able to keep the flames from engulfing the nearby home damage is pegged though at $150,000.

It’s peach season in Sturtevant again.  Milder winters are letting founder Dave Flannery grow peaches for sale at Apple Holler.  He tells W-I-T-I/T-V he tried 10 different varieties to see which ones did better in the climate of southeast Wisconsin.  Apple Holler in Racine County is primarily an apple orchard, but it has peaches, too – 11 kinds that are available from early July to early August, weather permitting.

Local-Regional News July 18

 Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Hwy 10 in Waubeek Township on Friday.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, 39yr old Scott Gurklis of Thorp was stopped on Hwy 10 waiting to make a left turn onto South Kirk Road, when his straight truck was rear-ended by a westbound truck driven by 24yr old Caleb Greger of Strum.  Greger reported that he dropped his GPS unit on the floor and took his seatbelt off to retrieve it. Before he looked up, he had already struck the rear of Gurklis' truck pinning him in the truck. Both Greger and passenger 44yr old Michael Ciruzzi were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.   Inattentive driving appeared to be the cause of the crash. Greger will be referred to the Pepin County District Attorney’s Office for a charge of Operating While Suspended – Crash Causing Great Bodily Harm. 

A motorcycle passenger is dead after a near-collision with a deer in southeastern Minnesota. The Wabasha County Sheriff's Office says 44-year-old Brock Kahn swerved to miss the deer while riding Saturday night and suffered minor injuries. Deputies say his passenger, 40-year-old Rebecca Kahn from Plainview, died at the scene.

An Arkansaw man was injured in a motorcycle accident last Tuesday in Waterville Township.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, 33yr old Shaun Hartung was traveling southbound on Hwy D when e swerved to miss a deer in the road.  Hartung lost control of the motorcycle and entered the southbound ditch and was ejected from the bike.  He was taken to Advent Health in Durand with unknown injuries.

A Superior police officer is on administrative leave after a rear-end crash early Friday left a 23-year-old man from Eau Claire dead and two others injured.  The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says Sergeant Greg Swanson was off duty at the time and arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.  The Douglas County Attorney's Office is requesting that a special prosecutor be appointed from another agency to review the case because of its previous work with Swanson.

One person is dead after a motorcycle accident on Interstate 90 near Tomah Saturday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a 68yr old man from Pigeon Falls, swerved to avoid another vehicle that entered his lane of traffic and hit another vehicle.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene while his 67yr  old female passenger was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.    I-90 was closed for nearly two hours due to the accident.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting applications for 2023 Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants through September 16, 2022. These grants are awarded to producer-led groups to help support and advance farmer participation in local watershed conservation efforts.  Applicants must be groups of at least five farmers whose farms are in the same watershed. Each farm must have produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenue last year, or $18,000 over the past three years. Each group must partner with a county land conservation department, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, or a nonprofit conservation organization. New and established groups are eligible to apply.  For more information on the grants contact the Pepin County Extension Office.

A second La Crosse teen has been arrested in connection with a May shooting in La Crosse.  17yr old Jackson Greengrass was arrested on Friday and is facing attempted first-degree intentional homicide.  Authorities say Greengrass and 18yr old Sage Hicke got into a fight with 15yr old Storm Vondrashek on May 22  and multiple shots were fired.    Vondrashek was shot and killed in the incident.     

Spring garden harvests are coming in now, and if you've got more vegetables than you were expecting, you could can them... or you could donate them. UW Extension Food safety specialist Barbara Ingham says plenty of food pantries could use those veggies.   If you're looking for good ways to preserve those veggies outside of donations, the Extension has a number of safe canning recipes online at Extension dot W I S C dot E D U.

Charges have been dismissed against a Fall Creek woman who had been accused of stealing from the charity she founded, Helping Hands for Our Children.  W-E-A-U/T-V reports that 52-year-old Shauna Hanson was originally charged with felony theft by false representation.  That charge was reduced to a misdemeanor when prosecutors could only show a 22-hundred dollar discrepancy in the charity’s funds.  Later, prosecutors told the court they could only show that the money donated to the Weighted Blanket Program wasn’t only used for that program.  Hanson was charged when authorities thought she had deposited more than 63 thousand dollars intended for the charity into her personal account.

 The site selection committee is recommending Milwaukee as the host city for the 2024 Republican National Convention.  The panel unanimously picked Milwaukee on Friday.  Host committee chair Reince Priebus said in a statement, "Wisconsin is a battleground state, Milwaukee is a fabulous city, and the people of Wisconsin are the best in America."  The plans still need final approval when the Republican National Committee meets in Chicago in the first week of August.  The convention could bring 50 thousand visitors to the Milwaukee area and generate 200 million dollars for the local economy.

 The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate is warning the state’s Elections Commission about its new rule for filling-out ballots.  Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said the Elections Commission needs to follow the state law on ballot curing.  Curing is when an election clerk fills in missing pieces of a ballot, the Commission has told local election managers that they can use their judgment as to when they should complete a ballot as opposed to tossing it aside.  LeMahieu says lawmakers are ready to come back to the Capitol as early as next week to override the Commission’s guidance.

Wisconsin is set to receive 50 million dollars a year for five years to replace lead pipes.  The money comes from the federal infrastructure law passed last November.  White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu was in Milwaukee Wednesday.  The city reportedly has replaced five-thousand lead laterals in the last five years.  That leaves more than 61 thousand.  When Wisconsin tested kids under the age of six for elevated lead levels in their blood two years ago more than 21 hundred were found.

 The head of the nation’s largest ag cooperative is encouraging farmers to prepare for propane shortages this fall. C-H-S C-E-O Jay Debertin (DEH-ber-tin) says the foreign export market for propane has grown by leaps and bounds, and that farmers can’t afford to wait until they know with certainty what propane drying needs are going to be like at harvest. He says by then it might be too late to put supply plans in place. Debertin is more confident about fall fertilizer supplies but says prices could remain elevated.

Amazon Prime Day may be over, but scammers aren’t calling it quits yet. Con artists have been known to send phony emails and texts that look like messages from major retailers, instructing you to redeem the reward points accrued during your shopping days. Bao Vang with the Better Business Bureau (B-B-B) of Minnesota says to “beware of fake lookalike websites -- check the U-R-L, watch for bad grammar, research the age of the domain, and search for contact information.” Vang recommends you just hit “delete” on any suspicious phishing messages.

Local-Regional News July 15

 The Durand City Council has decided to put on hold a proposed dog park at the OC Hanson Park in the City.  During this week's council meeting, the council decided to explore logging part of the property for a location for the dog park and still have a buffer zone between the dog park and the neighborhood across from the property.  However, some on the council would like the city to abandon the property and return it to the Durand-Arkansaw School District.

A convicted sex offender will live in a hotel in Menomonie when released from prison later this month.  According to Menomonie Police, Michael Jaenke, 48, will live temporarily at the Quality Inn on Plaza Dr. in Menomonie when released from prison on July 26.   The hotel housing is temporary and the public will be notified when other housing is chosen.  Jaenke will be on extended supervision for 10 years and will also be required to register with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry Program for life. 

Sun Country Airlines will soon be serving the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.  Thursday, the US Department of Transportation issued an order selecting Sun Country Airlines to provide passenger service to the airport under the Essential Air Service program.   This comes after SkyWest Airlines filed a notice in March to terminate service to Eau Claire and 28 other airports due to a pilot shortage.   Sun Country will provide two flights per week to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and at least two flights per week to seasonable locations, like Ft. Myers, Fl., Orlando, and Las Vegas.   Service is expected to start in December.

A Trempealeau County man, missing since June has been found safe.  According to a social media post on Thursday from the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, 28 yr old Derek Stawarz was found safe and sound. Stawarz was reported missing on June 14 and his abandoned car and cell phone, wallet, and car keys were found.  No other information was available.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is refuting the latest criticism from former President Donald Trump.  Following the latest verbal challenge, the Republican Vos repeated that there is no legal way to overturn the 2020 presidential election.  Trump referred to last week’s Wisconsin Supreme Court decision banning unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes in the state.  He called Vos a “RINO” – Republican in name only – saying the Wisconsin legislative leader would continue letting Democrats get away with what Trump still calls “a rigged and stolen election.”  W-K-O-W/T-V reports Trump wants Vos to pass legislation decertifying the 2020 election results.  Vos maintains there’s still “no way” to do that.

 Two Florida men are accused of kidnapping a person in Abbotsford and taking them back to Florida.  The victim apparently owed a debt to Gerardo Hernandez and Felipe Engracia-Gonzalez.  W-A-O-W/T-V reports they took that person back to Florida to work off the debt.  Authorities say both men were taken into custody in Florida and they are currently in federal custody.  Initial appearances in Wisconsin court haven’t been scheduled yet.  If they are found guilty, Hernandez and Engracia-Gonzalez would face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

 Minnesota is getting more than 68 million dollars in federal funding to expand broadband access across the state. U-S Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say the grants will allow broadband providers to service 23-thousand homes and businesses that lack high-speed internet. The U-S Treasury Department prioritized connecting families and businesses in rural and remote areas of Minnesota.  Smith says broadband is “necessary if we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone.”

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting a record number of overdose deaths in 2021. The one-thousand-286 deaths last year is a 22-percent increase from the 2020 total. That’s an average of more than three people dying every day from an overdose of any drug type. The latest numbers show most fatal overdoses last year were associated with fentanyl, along with a 35-percent increase in the total number of overdose deaths involving opioids. Overdose deaths from meth rose 34 percent last year and there was an 81 percent increase in fatal cocaine overdoses.

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A Stratford man accused of leading authorities on two high-speed pursuits, then involving them in a standoff, has entered a not guilty plea.  Marathon County deputies tried to make contact with John Strasser July 3rd after he allegedly set his home on fire.  When he was located driving a vehicle on State Road 153 Strasser reportedly failed to stop and drove at speeds around 100 miles an hour.  When he was finally stopped by tire deflation devices he refused to surrender and a stand-off lasted several hours.  W-S-A-W/T-V reports Strasser is charged with arson, fleeing an officer, intentionally pointing a firearm at a law enforcement officer, and operating a firearm while intoxicated.

 Stevens Point police are recommending charges of first-degree reckless homicide against two men accused of playing a role in a woman’s overdose death.  Thirty-five-year-old Laron Thomas and 27-year-old Isaiah Solis face two counts apiece.  W-S-A-W/T-V reports when officers responded to home last month they found the 27-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant to be unresponsive.  Evidence at the scene indicated drug use.  Investigators were able to identify the suspects accused of providing the drugs.  A toxicology report found the woman had died of a fentanyl overdose.

Dane County Deputies had their hands full this week with OWI arrests.  The sheriff's department arrested three motorists with a combined 17 OWI convictions between them. As it released the information. The Sheriff's Department noted that it's only Wednesday. Leading the trio, a 50-year-old Madison Area man who was arrested on the Ninth offense

 The director of the North Central Poultry Association representing Minnesota and Iowa is encouraged by efforts to limit the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.  Kevin Stiles says producers remain on high alert even though summer heat has neutralized the virus. Stiles says biosecurity practices have come a long way since the 2015 outbreak, and “the investments, the training, all of that they put in place we believe really helped to control the outbreak this time around. Unlike the previous avian flu outbreak, there was little to no evidence of farm-to-farm transmission this spring.

The owner of Hemker Park and Zoo is hospitalized with minor injuries after being attacked Wednesday by a camel. Thirty-two-year-old Roger Blenker of Albany was escorting the camel through an alleyway to prepare it for transport to another facility when the camel placed Blenker’s head into its mouth, biting down. The camel then dragged Blenker approximately 15 feet. A second employee -- 32-year-old Seth Wickson of Texas -- was able to intervene by placing a plastic walking board into the camel’s mouth to release its bite from Blenker’s head. The camel then charged at Wickson and bit his head. He was also able to get to a safe location on his own and refused medical treatment.

Wisconsin employers are offering higher wages and more flexibility to try to attract and retain workers. 85 percent of Wisconsin employers tell Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce that they’re struggling to hire. That number is similar to the last two surveys.  Nearly all employers tell W-M-C they plan to increase hourly wages this year, and 86 percent plan to increase wages by more than three percent.  The survey also finds nearly one-out-of-four employers offer remote and hybrid work options, up from just one in ten before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local-Regional News July 14

 Menomonie police say they have the man who skipped his jury trial this week in custody.  Twenty-three-year-old Jesse D. Nelson was supposed to go on trial Tuesday to face at least five child sex charges.  But, W-E-A-U/T-V reports that when everyone gathered for the trial at the Dunn County Courthouse Nelson wasn’t there.  Nelson is accused of having sexual contact with a child under 16.  Police are thanking the people who gave them information about his location so he could be arrested.

The Wisconsin State Patrol has announced it will be conducting ariel enforcement over parts of Dunn County over the weekend.    The patrol will use a plane to spot speeders and guide troopers on the ground who will then initiate a traffic stop.  Interstate 94 in Dunn County will be monitored on Saturday.   The patrol is also planning on flying over Hwy 29 in Chippewa County on Friday.

The 154th Wabasha County Fair is underway in Wabasha.  Today is senior day at the fair where seniors get reduced admission and there will be music and euchre tournament for the seniors.    Today the Swine, Beef, and sheep shows will be held.    Admission is $5 for the day or $10 for the season.  The Wabasha County fair continues through Saturday at the Fairgrounds just west of Wabasha.

A Southeast Minnesota farmer had 900 gallons of diesel fuel stolen from his farm.  Authorities say the farmer near Eyota noticed his fuel take empty Monday night and they believe someone cut the lock and stole the fuel.  Law enforcement suspects the fuel was taken all at once and the thief would have had to bring their own power source and large trailer to take the fuel.  The cost of the theft is estimated at nearly $5000.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is announced that the Lock at Fountain City will be closed for maintenance for four days in July.  The corp will be replacing the lock chamber's miter gates  The closure dates will be July 19, 21, 26, and 28.  During those days, the lock is closed to all traffic, commercial and recreational, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  After work is done on those days, the Corps said it would prioritize who would go through the lock first. They said first are government vessels, followed by excursion craft, commercial navigation, then recreational boats. The lock staff will communicate locking instructions via marine radio.

The Western Technical College System has given the Youth Fire Training program at WTC a grant for over 190,000 for the Youth Fire Training Program.  The training program gives high school students an early opportunity to get credits towards certifications that allow them to start their firefighting careers.  The money will be used toward a trailer that will transport fire training equipment between high schools in Western Wisconsin. 

A Wisconsin doctor says he is working to set up clinics offering abortion services in northern Illinois.  Doctor Dennis Christensen has bought two buildings where he says abortion pills could be offered this week at one site.  Surgical abortions would be available at the second site within six months.  The doctor says Illinois clinics are inundated by patients wanting abortions.  In some cases, they are being forced to wait two weeks – and waiting that long can be the difference between having a medical abortion or needing surgery to terminate the pregnancy.

 A digital forensics team will be searching the phone of Natural Resources Board chair Fred Prehn (PRAYN) for deleted text messages.   Attorneys for Midwest Environmental Advocates said they've turned over data pulled from Prehn's phone to a group that will scour it for records relating to his refusal to step down from the board. His replacement was named by Governor Evers, but was never confirmed by the State Senate. M E A is performing an open records request and says they have evidence from other sources that Prehn was discussing his plans with other people even before his replacement was named. Former Governor Scott Walker also urged Prehn to stay on the board to counter any appointments from Evers.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission doesn’t yet have any advice for clerks or voters after the state Supreme Court ruling that unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes were illegal last November.  After several hours of discussion and multiple failed votes, the commission wasn’t able to come to any decision.  The three Republican commissioners wanted to dictate what the clerks should do but the three Democratic commissioners said clerks already know how to conduct elections.  The primary election is coming up in less than a month.

Janesville city officials expect the expansion at G-E-A Mechanical Equipment to mean 74 new full-time jobs for the area.  A Tax Increment Financing Development Agreement was approved by the City Council Monday.  G-E-A was considering locations in several other states before choosing Janesville.  W-M-T-V reports the city agrees to transfer a 16-acre property to the company for one-dollar – then the company will repay the property’s value over the term of the agreement.  G-E-A is an international group that supplies food, beverage, and pharmaceutical systems to its customers.

The author of the new law allowing the sale of low-dose T-H-C edibles is working with Minnesota cities and counties to craft regulations for the hemp products. Representative Heather Edelson (ED'-uhl-sen) of Edina says local governments can implement rules for retailers that are best for their communities, such as licensing retailers and limiting where T-H-C products can be sold. Edelson says T-H-C products were being sold illegally in C-B-D stores as Delta Eight and Nine, and the new state law limits doses to five milligrams of T-H-C. She is working on a proposal to add state-level regulations in the next legislative session. Some G-O-P lawmakers are calling for the law to be repealed.

The mayor of Madison says people who harass election workers should be fined.  Satya Rhodes-Conway is proposing to let police ticket people up to one-thousand dollars for threatening, screaming at, or being disruptive to election or poll workers. The mayor says election workers should not have to worry about doing her job. Her proposal is up for a vote next week. 

Expanded testing has begun for monkeypox -- even though the number of confirmed cases remains low in Minnesota. The State Health Department’s Cynthia Kenyon says monkeypox symptoms include fever and malaise, and then a rash. Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester are testing for the monkeypox disease using the Centers for Disease Control’s orthopoxviral. The laboratory’s response aims to increase nationwide testing capacity as the country has seen 790 monkeypox cases through July Eighth. As of today (Wednesday), there have been nine confirmed cases of monkeypox reported in Minnesota.

That lake water is cold.  Officials report the average surface temperature on Lake Superior in the coldest it has been at this point in the year since 1997.  K-B-J-R/T-V reports that’s bad for fishing and for people who want to go swimming.  However, it’s not all bad.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the cold temperatures are good for the ecosystem in general.  Corey Goldsworthy says the cold water discourages the spawning of invasive species and gives the native species a good chance to bounce back.