Local-Regional News August 18

One person is dead after a motorcycle accident on Hwy 35 near Hwy QQ in Oak Grove Township Saturday Afternoon. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 49yr old Jay Fischer of Fridley, MN and his passenger 49yr old Maren Koscielski of Minnetonka, MN were traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when Fischer lost control of the motorcycle and entered the east ditch. Koscielski was pronounced dead at the scene while Fischer was med flighted to Regions Hospital. That accident remains under investigation.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs car accident in Rock Elm Township on Sunday afternoon. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 27yr old Uziel Cerezo of Crystal, MN was traveling eastbound on Hwy 72 when he failed to negotiate a curve, drove left of center and struck a westbound car driven by 46yr old Nicol Brookshaw of Ellsworth. Brookshaw and two passengers were uninjured while Cerezo was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie. That accident remains under investigation.

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Mondovi Township on Friday night. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department deputies responded to a call of a vehicle crash at S311 Sand Road. The occupants of the home said a vehicle had rolled over and hit the deck of their home. 18Yr old Jacob Parson was the driver of the vehicle and was transported to a landing zone and med flighted to Mayo Eau Clarie. Speed and Alcohol or Drugs appear to be significant causes of the accident that remains under investigation.

Some family members say 28-and-a-half years in prison for killing Elizabeth Price and David Dishneau is not enough.  Wayne Price was sentenced for the double killing in Eau Claire County Circuit Court last Friday.  Prosecutors told the court the 49-year-old Price shot his sister and her boyfriend to death, then buried their bodies on his property almost three years ago.  The prison term is being added on top of the time he was already serving.  Lori Price, Wayne and Elizabeth’s sister, says she has submitted evidence that her brother didn’t act alone and other people are involved.

A Polk County Sheriffs deputy pulled over in Barron County in July has been charged in Barron County. According to authorities, 48yr old Anthony Grimm was pulled over after reports of a vehicle going too fast and swerving all over the raod. The Officer smelled intoxicants coming from the vehicle and said Grimm had slurred speech. Grimm refused a breathalyzer and field sobriety testing and told officers he had two guns in the vehicle which officers found. Grimm has been charged with operating a motor under the influence 2^nd offense, operating wth prohibited alcohol concentration 2^nd offense and two counts of having a firearm while intoxicated. He is currently on administrative leave from the Polk County Sheriffs Department and his next court appearance is August 5^th.

Residents of Dunn and Pierce counties have until Oct. 5 to apply for disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for uncompensated losses from property damaged by the June 28 to Aug. 1 severe storms and flooding. Applicants do not have to wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. Interest rates are as low as 1.25 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.75 percent for non-profit organizations, and 3 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. There is no cost to apply, and no collateral required for loans of $25,000 or less. If approved, applicants can choose to accept a partial amount, and there is no prepayment penalty. For more information visit disasterload. sba.gov.

Area non-profits have the opportunity to apply for the next round of grants from the Eau Claire Community Foundation. The Foundation has partnered up with the United Way of The Chippewa Valley and the Community Foundation of Chippewa County to review grant applications for those non profits that need funds to cope with the covid-19 pandemic. So far nearly $850,000 in grants have been awarded and for more information, visit the Eau claire Community Foundation website.

Washington County authorities say comments made by a Minnesota House candidate during a protest in Hugo did not violate any felony statutes.  Sheriff Dan Starry and County Attorney Pete Orput say John Thompson used "divisive, hurtful and inflammatory rhetoric Saturday outside the home of Minneapolis police union head Bob Kroll.  Thompson is accused of using profanity and berating children.  Starry and Orput say Thompson also chose to admonish the men and women wearing the sheriff’s office uniform that were present to protect all citizens in this instance. They are reviewing any other possible violations of state law or city ordinance.  Thompson has since apologized for his behavior at Saturday's event.

Attorneys for a northwest Missouri man accused of killing two Wisconsin brothers are trying to convince the court to dismiss two of the charges he faces.  Garland Nelson of Braymer could get the death penalty if he is found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder.  His attorneys are asking the judge to dismiss two counts of abandoning a corpse.  Prosecutors say Nelson killed 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel and 24-year-old Justin Diemel of Shawano (SHAW no) County, Wisconsin in July of 2019, then burned their remains and dumped them in locations in Missouri and Nebraska.  Nelson’s case is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At a time when the University of Wisconsin-Madison is strapped for cash, it’s still waiting for a big check from Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group. The tech giant building a huge complex in southeastern Wisconsin pledged 100 million dollars to the university to help fund an engineering building on campus and pay for company-related research. So far, less than one percent of the money has been handed over. Foxconn reportedly gave the university 700 thousand dollars in the first year of a five-year agreement but has sent no additional money to Madison. Changes in top leadership at the company may have played a role in slowing things down. Plans for the complex in Mount Pleasant have already been scaled back.

Some students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are taking steps to avoid the rush of move-in week.  Starting Sunday, dorms were opened for students using the school’s early dorm drop-off option.  It’s available to students from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.  The students are being allowed to drop off their belongings at their dorm rooms before the normal move-in day – that doesn’t happen until the end of this month.  School officials say this is one way to reduce the crowds and make it easier to comply with COVID-19 preventive measures.

 He didn’t have a concealed carry permit, so a man walking around downtown Madison with a gun in his waistband was arrested Friday.  The man’s name hasn’t been released.  Police say they got calls telling them about a man with a gun at about 7:35 p-m.  They say the suspect had a magazine in his pocket to go with the weapon in his waistband.  When it was confirmed that he wasn’t a valid C-C-W permit holder, the weapon was seized and charges were filed.

First District Congressman Jim Hagedorn says he has fired his chief of staff for excessive spending.  The Minnesota Republican says Peter Su spent almost 40 percent of his office’s annual expense allowances in the first three months of the year.  About half of the expenditures went for printing and mailing correspondence – an estimated 270 thousand dollars.  Hagedorn says he became aware of the issue two months ago and hired outside counsel to perform an independent review.  Hagedorn is currently running for reelection in a rematch with his 2018 opponent, Democrat Dan Feehan.

The Beloit Parks and Recreation Department says one of its employees has spotted a cougar at Big Hill Park.  The observation was posted on Facebook Saturday and the sighting was reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  There was a previous cougar sighting five years ago by two workers in the same park.  Then, last June Beloit police took a report from a person who said they saw a cougar near a footbridge in the park.  The Facebook posting includes instructions from the D-N-R about what to do if you see a cougar or other wild animal nearby.

Local-Regional News August 17

In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has detected emerald ash borer (EAB) for the first time in Dunn County in the town of Rock Creek, and Pepin County in the towns of Lima and Waterville. These are the first new county detections of 2020 for Wisconsin. There have also been 30 new municipal detections in counties where EAB was previously detected. To date, Wisconsin has found EAB in 56 of the state's 72 counties. The entire state is part of the EAB federal quarantine area, so there will be no regulatory changes as a result of these detections.

A popular summer event in Durand is still scheduled for August 26^th. The Durand City Council is allowing the Durand Improvement Group to have music in the park with the White Sidewalls performing. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the council felt the event can move forward as long as DIG continues to work with Pepin County Health Department. The Music in the Park and taste of Durand is scheduled to be held at Memorial Park on August 26^th.

Durand police reported the missing Durand resident has been found. The Department had been searching for Brian Garness after he went missing on Thursday. Saturday the department posted on social media that Garness had been found and was safe and thanked the public for their help in locating him.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District has released its draft Upper Mississippi River master plan and environmental assessment. The plan includes the Upper Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg, Iowa. The Corps says the plan is based on regional and local needs, resource capabilities, suitability, and expressed public interests. The public review and comment period on the documents runs through September 17th.

A Chippewa Falls woman has been arrested for OWI on Saturday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Troopers pulled over 29yr old Marisa Lane Aselson on Hwy 53 south of Melby Street for a defective headlight. Aselson displayed signs of impairment and there was an 8yr old child in the car. After and investigation and evaluation that Aselson was under the influence of prescription medications. Aselson was transported to Mayo Eau Claire for an evidentiary blood draw which she refused. She was charged with OWI first offense with a minor in the vehicle.

Another area event has been cancelled due to the covid 19 pandemic. Organizers of the 100 miles of Garage Sales that was to take place September 10th-13^th announced the cancellation last week. The sales happen in communities along the Mississippi River from Prescott to Winona, MN. The Mississippi Valley Partners hope to have the event next spring.

 Protesters calling for the firing of Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah engaged police in a 90-minute standoff over the weekend.  The marchers were angered when police arrested two people – one was pulled from his bicycle and tackled.  Wauwatosa police say protesters tried to stop one arrest by fighting officers and blocking the street, keeping squad cars from leaving.  Police say the suspect was arrested for several incidents over the past few days and he will likely face charges.  Despite the Friday incident, the city decided to remove its limited hours for protesting after getting some pushback.

 Extra enforcement is on Minnesota roads now through September 7th looking for impaired drivers. State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank says the bottom line, they hope a trooper finds you before tragedy does. "If you make the bad decision, you're going to run into an officer, deputy or trooper that is going to arrest you if you are driving impaired." D-P-S says each year, one in four fatalities in Minnesota is related to an impaired driver.

Governor Tony Evers says he doesn't see a need to step in with a new statewide order on whether or not to close or open schools this fall. He says he's been in contact with districts and administrations and school boards and that local decisions are being made.  Evers says what reopening looks like will be wildly different for small districts as opposed to large districts, and that needs for each can be weighed by schools boards.

Many employees at a northwest Wisconsin produce plant are COVID-19 positive. The Barron County Health Department says 44-percent of the workforce at Seneca Foods in Cumberland are infected with the coronavirus. The first case was reported in mid-July; ten days later, the health department reported several cases at Seneca Foods.

Former vice president Joe Biden will be at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware – not Milwaukee – next week when he accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.  The announcement from campaign officials ended speculation about the formal event.  Biden and running mate Kamala  Harris will deliver their Democratic National Convention speeches Thursday at the center.  Biden had originally planned to accept the nomination at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.  Those plans were changed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The U-S Postal Service recently sent detailed letters to 46 states and D-C warning that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted. The Postal Service's warnings come amid a sweeping organizational and policy overhaul and tough financial conditions. President Trump, who has questioned the validity of voting by mail, on Friday said he will approve billions of dollars in funding for the U-S-P-S as part of a coronavirus relief package if Democrats make concessions on certain White House priorities.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson says he hopes talks about a new coronavirus stimulus bill remain broken down.  The Wisconsin Republican tells Breitbart News he doesn’t support any new spending that would add to the federal debt.  Instead, Johnson says he wants to spend only the money already authorized by the relief package passed earlier this year called the CARES Act.  If nothing is approved by Congress, a series of executive orders from President Trump would go into effect.  Democratic U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin says the president’s orders amount to “chaos.”

Three Minnesota churches are naming top state officials in the lawsuit they filed over the state’s face mask mandate and social distancing requirements.  Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and other state leaders are named in the suit.  The court is being asked to declare the governor’s orders unconstitutional as they apply to religious services.  The churches filing the suit are Cornerstone in Alexandria, Land of Promise near Buffalo, and Lifespring in Crosby.

The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles is giving drivers over 60 some additional time to renew their licenses. Saying they recognize the continuing health risks amid the pandemic, D-M-V officials extended the deadline by 60 days. They will have until November 23rd. State officials say they have implemented some safety protocols. All employees are wearing face masks and customers are encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines and markers. The D-M-V says a lot of its services are accessible online.

Wisconsinites who've died from the coronavirus are overwhelmingly older. So far, just over one-thousand Wisconsinites have died from complications of COVID-19. More than 900 of them were older than 60. No one under the age of 18 has died from the coronavirus in Wisconsin.

 A Wisconsin store manager tells reporters people are playing video games to pass the time while stuck at home by the coronavirus pandemic.  William Brown runs the Gaming Generations store in Eau Claire.  He says he has seen a 60-percent increase in sales of gaming consoles compared to last year.  Brown says it’s harder for bigger retail stores to get their hands on consoles like Nintendo Switches because they sell out within a few hours.  He says people are mostly playing Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy Seven and Sponge-Bob. 

Local-Regional News August 14

The Mondovi School District has released a re-opening plan. The plan is based on three covid 19 risk levels, low, medium and high. Under the High risk category virtual learning will be done for all grades, under the medium risk level, face to face instruction with students remaining with their grade level cohorts will be held for PreK through grade 5, while for grades 6-12 it will be blended learning with 2 days face to face and three days virtual at home. In the low risk level face to face instruction for all grade levels with preK-grade 5 remaining with grade level cohorts. When in the building, all students will be required to wear a face covering and the district will re-evaluate the face covering policy after Governor Ever's order expires on September 28. The entire plan is available on the Mondovi School District website.

Mondovi residents could see a large increase in their water bills. During a public meeting on the water rates, it was discussed that due to the increasing expenses and the city may have to raise water rates by 102%. Before the rates could be raised, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission would have to approve any rate increase and another public hearing would be held. Meanwhile, the council did approve new wastewater rates and a new billing method. Starting in February 2021, billing will be done monthly and the new residential rates will be $20 per 1,000 gallons, rising to $30 in 2022 and $40 in 2023.

As the campaign season heats up, those wanting to show support for their candidates are reminded that signs are prohibited on public property. Durand Mayor Patrick Millien says during the primary, city workers found campaign signs at Memorial Park and the Fire Hall. Boulevards are also off limits as they are part of the state rights-of-way. If you have a sidewalk, a good rule of thumb is to put the sign on the side of the sidewalk that has your yard and house.

Wisconsin school districts were already having a hard time finding enough substitute teachers – then the coronavirus pandemic complicated the picture.  The challenge of virtual learning is ramped up even higher when an unfamiliar teacher is called on.  The numbers are working against the schools.  Many full-time teachers don’t want to return to the classroom and fewer substitutes are available if a few of those teachers test positive.  As districts struggle with those questions, there’s yet another looming issue – substitute bus drivers.

Governor Tony Evers announced on Thursday that the state has been busy getting federal CARES act funding out to help Wisconsinites over the past several months. A large chunk of that funding went to shore up medical responses but also to help struggling businesses.  Republicans have criticized Evers for sitting on about 300 million dollars of the discretionary funding, but he says he's holding on to it to see if more help is needed as the pandemic continues.

The chief clerk of the Wisconsin Assembly has released records showing a former state lawmaker tried to convince a legislative aide to have sex with him.  The incident happened last year.  Staush Gruszynski told state human resources officials he was drinking heavily and didn’t remember talking to the staff.  She filed a formal complaint accusing the Democrat of propositioning her at a Madison bar last October.  Media outlets filed a lawsuit last March seeking the information.  It was released Wednesday, a day after Gruszynski lost a primary election.

The Minnesota Legislature has gone through three special sessions and still has no agreement on a bonding bill.  The latest session ended Wednesday with several bills approved.  Both parties agree – the state needs a bonding bill.  There’s more than a billion dollars of work that needs to be done.  The jobs created will be important to Minnesota’s economy.  Governor Tim Walz could bring lawmakers back for a fourth special session next month.  That’s what some of them expect and nearly all say they hope the bonding bill is passed then.

Wisconsin Republicans have their sights on veto-proof super-majorities in the state Legislature.  They need to flip three seats in the Wisconsin Senate and three in the Assembly to have a two-thirds majority in each house.  That would be enough to override any vetoes by Democratic Governor Tony Evers.  Tuesday’s primaries set the match-ups for November.  One of the most hotly-contested races will be in the 32nd Senate District in western Wisconsin where Republican Dan Kapanke will try to beat former state Ag Secretary Brad Pfaff.

Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall-Vogg says it’s almost certain we won’t know who won on Election Day in November.  She said it isn’t likely her office will be able to count all of the absentee ballots before midnight.  Woodall-Vogg said Wednesday it took until 2:30 a-m to count the absentee ballots in the primary election.  She expects there will be a lot more November 3rd.  She says lawmakers could make things easier by changing the law to allow local clerks to start counting ballots before the polls close that day.

The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says the state’s flagship campus is “in a real financial crisis.”  Chancellor Rebecca Blank blames the challenging situation the school faces as the fall semester approaches on the coronavirus pandemic.  Blank says how bad things will get depends on factors like students who are enrolled for the fall semester actually showing up, how deep state budget cuts are, and whether lawmakers give the university the authority it needs to borrow money.  Blank's comments were given Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Madison membership.

 Rochester police say a 26-year-old suspect is in custody after trying to run over a police officer with his car.  The incident started when the man wouldn’t pull over for a traffic stop at about 2:10 a-m Wednesday.  After following the car for about five miles, it pulled into a parking lot and the officer approached on foot.  That’s when the driver is accused of aiming his car at the officer, who was hit and thrown onto the hood.  The officer fired a shot, missing the suspect, who then tried to run away.  He was caught and arrested.  The officer was taken to the Mayo Clinic, treated for minor injuries and sent home.  Authorities haven’t released the suspect’s name.

Congressman Tom Tiffany has written a letter to Wisconsin’s governor asking him not to stand in the way of Wisconsin kids who want to get the best education they can.  The Republican from the state’s Northwoods area says he takes Governor Tony Evers at his word when he says he won’t order all Wisconsin schools to start fall classes online.  But, Tiffany says if those schools do move online, someone needs to study the impact of all that time at home and on a screen before it becomes has a negative effect on the students

Governor Tony Evers has granted pardons to nine more people. This latest round brings to 56 the total number of pardons granted by the Democratic governor. The eight men and one woman were convicted of a variety of crimes, including stealing vehicles, driving a getaway car, and selling marijuana, when they were teens or young adults. Pardons do not result in an expungement, and are only granted to those who've completed their prison terms and have not committed any new crimes.

Local-Regional News August 13

The Durand Swim club has begun its fundraising campaign. The Club is looking to raise $1.75 million dollars to be used toward the pool at Tarrant Park. During last nights Durand City Council meeting, council members received the informational packet on the fundraising. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says anyone wanting more information should contact city hall..   The City also approved the sale agreement with the Durand Arkansaw School District for the softball fields. That agreement now needs to be approved by the School Board.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the community development block grant for the Public Facilities program, public hearings on water and wastewater utility rates, and discussion and discussion and action on an ordinance regarding camper and trailer parking regulations in the city. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at the Marten Center.

A 50-year-old Dunn County woman facing seven charges for allegedly stealing from a veterans home resident has made her first court appearance. Nola Tyrrell worked at the veterans home in Chippewa Falls until April. She’s accused of making fraudulent transactions on the victim’s credit union account. A debit card was requested and sent to the veterans home. Investigators say Tyrrell used that debit card to take more than 40 thousand dollars from the account between November 2019 and May.

A former Rusk County Employee pleaded guilty in Federal Court to charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and criminal asset forfeiture. The U.S. Attorney's office reported that 65yr old Sandra Stiner of Ladysmith plead guilty to the charges after federal prosecutors said she stole over $700,000 by submitting fake invoices to the county. Stiner had retired in 2019 and now faces a minimuim 2yrs and a maximum 20yrs in prison when sentenced in November.

A 55-year-old motorcyclist was killed Tuesday afternoon in crash near Stewartville. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says an S-U-V was stopped waiting to turn. The victim, Charles Sklavos of Rochester,  was stopped on his motorcycle behind the S-U-V. Deputies say another S-U-V approached the motorcycle from behind and failed to stop and hit the motorcycle. Sklavos was thrown off the motorcycle and died at the scene. Investigators say there is no indication of intoxicated or distracted driving. A possible mechanical failure of the S-U-V is being investigated.

 Officials at Beloit College say any student enrolled for the fall semester is eligible for a free fifth year of college classes. The school is making the offer due to the coronavirus pandemic. The special offer includes financial support programs to help those students keep pursuing their education without interruption. The additional semester must be taken immediately following the student’s eighth semester at Beloit.

 Officials at Marquette University say plans have changed and no participants in next week’s Democratic National Convention will be staying in dorms. Less than a month ago the university had said about one-third of the dorms would be used for D-N-C guests. Now, Marquette says all the people planning to stay on its campus have canceled their reservations. The announcement comes a week after the party’s presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, decided not to come to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic Party nomination.

 Minnesota authorities ran more than 27 thousand background checks for gun sales in July.  That’s more than three times the number of checks in the same month last year.  The coronavirus pandemic, rioting and civil unrest, and calls to defund police are pushing more people to buy firearms.  One Oakdale store, Get Guns Now, reports sales are up by 400 percent.  That business is struggling to keep up with demand when it tries to get a product to put on its shelves.  There is a firearm and ammunition shortage right now.

After she had been missing for a day, three-year-old Abby Ladwig wandered out of the woods Tuesday near her family home in northwestern Wisconsin.  Family members have driven from as far away as Lake Geneva to the child’s home in Winter when a neighbor started yelling they had found her.  The girl first went missing when she followed her dog, Peanut, out of her family’s yard and into the woods.  Hundreds of people took part in the search.  Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek says at times searchers had to crawl through the brush as they looked.  Abby had some scratches, a few bug bites and was a little dehydrated.  She was taken to a hospital to be checked out, then released.

The U-S Department of Urban Housing and Development is sending three-point-eight million dollars to Wisconsin to help residents dealing with hardships during the coronavirus pandemic.  Fifty-two public housing authorities will share the federal money.  It will be used to help low-income families buy cleaning supplies, cover child care costs, and help with relocation expenses brought on by hospitalizations or quarantining.

The E-P-A administrator says the Lower Menominee River is being delisted as an area of concern.  Wisconsin native Andrew Wheeler visited Green Bay Tuesday to meet with agricultural partners involved in improving the quality of the Great Lakes.  Wheeler says restoring the health of the Great Lakes has been an important focus of the Trump administration.  More than 43 million dollars in funding was used to restore the Lower Menominee River.  The E-P-A head also visited Fincantieri Marine in Marinette Tuesday.

 A poll released Tuesday shows more than two-thirds of Wisconsin residents support the requirement that face masks be required in all public places.  The Marquette University Law School poll was conducted a few days after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a statewide mask mandate taking effect August 1st.  Overall, 69 percent of the people responding to the poll agreed that masks should be required.  There was a big split between the parties.  Ninety-three percent of Democrats support the mandate, but only 43 percent of Republicans.

Wisconsin's unemployment backlog is now over 600 thousand claims. The Department of Workforce Development says more than 620-thousand claims are waiting to be processed. Some of them date all the way back to March. More than four-million people have been paid by Wisconsin's unemployment office since March, those payments total over three billion-dollars. Workforce Development officials have blamed the backlog on slow computers and input issues at their Madison office.

Scientists say an invasive beetle that damages lawns is showing up on Minneapolis’ south side.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a swarm of European chafer beetles was recently reported by a homeowner.  That resident contacted an entomologist at the University of Minnesota – who then informed the M-D-A.  The beetles can cause major damage to turfgrass.  Home lawns, golf courses and turf growers could suffer significant impact if the beetle were to become entrenched in Minnesota.

Local-Regional News August 12

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the sale of the Tarrant Park Softball Field to the Durand-Arkansaw School District, a cost sharing agreement with Kwik Trip for Hardy Street and discussion and possible action on updating the Vacant Building ordinance including clarifying property for sale rules, increasing fee structure, requiring a sellers permit for commercial buildings and clarifying the storage in support of another business rule. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN Facebook page and You Tube Channel.

Fewer problems were reported during yesterday's primary election across Wisconsin. Here in Western Wisconsin for the 3^rd Congressional District, Democrat Ron Kind will face Republican Derrick Van Orden, while for the Wisconsin State Senate District 10, Republican Rob Stafshold defeated Cheri Link to move onto the general election and for Pierce County District Attorney, Karl Anderson wins the primary by defeating Amber Hahn.

Chippewa County Public Health says there was possible covid 19 exposure at Badger Hole in Bloomer on August 5 from 2:30-5:30 p.m., and on August 8 , Happy Hour in Bloomer on August 8 from 7:30-10 p.m., Junior's Bar in Bloomer on August 8 from 9-11:30 p.m. and at The View on Lake Wissota on August 7 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There was also possible exposure at a car show in Bloomer at the fairgrounds. The times for that possible exposure were from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 9.

The Dunn County Health Department reports that two horses in Dunn County have tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which is caused by the EEE virus. EEE virus is spread to humans, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire EEE virus by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread person to person or directly between animals or between animals and humans. Presence of a EEE positive horse confirms that there are mosquitoes in the area infected with the EEE virus that can spread the virus to people and other animals. Pepin County has also reported a horse that has tested positive for EEE.

Another Eau Claire County Employee has been charged with theft. Zer Smith was charged Tuesday with four felonies after authorities allege she took over $10,000 in gift cards that were to be used for participants in the county's at risk youth program. Detectives were able to find the the theft due to records from The Eau Claire county Department of Health Services showing discrepancies in the amount of gift cards used in the program and the amount of cards that were purchased by Smith.

 Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tells her constituents that “organized people will always beat organized money.”  The Minnesota Democrat withstood a strong challenge from a well-funded opponent during Tuesday’s primary election.  Democratic U-S Senator Tina Smith and Republican challenger Jason Lewis rolled to primary victories in the only statewide races on the Minnesota ballot.  In the conservative 7th Congressional District, former state lawmaker Michelle Fischbach won a three-way Republican race to challenge Democratic incumbent Congressman Collin Peterson in November.

  Prosecutors with the State Attorney General’s Office have told the court former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane should stand trial as an accomplice to the murder of George Floyd.  The prosecution brief was made public Tuesday.  Lane’s attorney has pointed out his client had less than a week on the job when Floyd was killed on Memorial Day.  The prosecution has said there is no free pass under state law for rookies who disregard their training at the suggestion of a senior officer.  Lane’s attorney points out that his client challenged Derek Chauvin twice while he held his knee on Floyd’s neck.

University of Wisconsin System interim President Tommy Thompson says administrative employees will be laid off over the next two years due to budget cuts.  Thompson didn’t specify a number of positions to be eliminated, but a 10 percent reduction would mean about 60.  The system’s 13 universities are making their own staff reductions, but the cuts announced Tuesday affect administration employees only.  Thompson announced the moves will save 10 million dollars in a budget under stress.  The system has already been hit with a  49-million-dollar state spending reduction and it faces another loss of state money now.

The Wisconsin Farm Support Program is open for a second round of applications from agricultural producers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.  The state has eight-point-four million dollars available.  Nearly every Wisconsin farmer who hasn’t already received a payment would be eligible.  The state is accepting the applications through Monday, August 24th.  Payments will be issued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by the middle of next month.

There will be no Badger or Golden Gopher football this fall as the Big Ten Conference announced today the postponement of the 2020-21 fall sports season today. The statement from the conference says the decision was made due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference statement says it relied on the medical advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. The Big Ten says it is still considering a possible spring season for football.

  A Middleton man has been sentenced to federal prison for perjury connected to a sports complex he told people he was building.  Forty-six-year-old Todd Goldbeck borrowed millions of dollars to build the project in Jefferson.  U-S District Judge William Conley told Goldbeck he defrauded Summit Credit Union and the Small Business Administration, then lied to a bankruptcy trustee when the scheme failed.  The sports complex was never constructed.

A Wisconsin state representative says a Wauwatosa police officer is lying about what happened during a confrontation Saturday night.  Officer Joseph Mensah says he was assaulted and at least one shot was fired at him by the 50-to-60 protesters who showed up.  State Representative David Bowen says the claims are false and Mensah provoked the protesters.  Bowen says no one tried to kill Mensah, no one tried to enter the home, and there was no shot fired at him at the back door.  He says Mensah pulled the trigger on the shotgun held by the protester.  Although Mensah could lose his job for three fatal shootings in the last five years, Wauwatosa officials have pledged to make sure he is fully protected.

A government report shows the coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on Minnesota’s exports.  Production sectors like communications equipment and agricultural and construction machinery have been hit especially hard.  Minnesota exports were down by 17 percent in June, compared to the same month last year.  That’s a drop of more than 339 million dollars.  Although it’s bad for Minnesota interests, the international trade promotion group Trade Partnership says this state has fared better than most states, despite the 17-percent drop.

A 100-year-old war vet from southern Minnesota has reached his goal of walking 100 miles for charity. Mickey Nelson of Clarks Grove was raising money for the Salvation Army's campaign to help those affected by COVID-19. As of this morning, the World War Two veteran was able to strum up 110-thousand-dollars in donations. Contributions are still being accepted at SalvationArmyNorth.org/mickey.

Local-Regional News August 11

The Pepin County Health Department reports that a horse in Pepin County has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which is caused by the EEE virus. This is the second documented EEE animal case in the state this year. No EEE cases in humans have been reported in Wisconsin thus far in 2020. EEE virus is spread to humans, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire EEE virus by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread person to person or directly between animals or between animals and humans. Presence of a EEE positive horse confirms that there are mosquitoes in the area infected with the EEE virus that can spread the virus to people and other animals. Because EEE virus is known to be circulating Pepin County, residents and visitors to are should be vigilant in preventing mosquito bites.

The Chippewa Valley Bike Trail is complete. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held yesterday in Chippewa Falls to celebrate the final stretch of the system, a 1.2 mile stretch of trail in Chippewa Falls and another 1 mile segent in Lake Hallie. The Chippewa Valley trail system, is a 76 mile network of three connected trails that now connects Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn and Pepin counties.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings Monday afternoon as strong storms swept through the state.  Wind damage was reported in the area around Lancaster at 1:00 p-m, while power lines were down on the south side of Darlington an hour later.  A cold front is blamed for pushing the storms through the state.  Gusty winds and hail were the main problems for the southern part of Wisconsin.  No deaths or serious injuries were reported.

La Crosse city work crews are removed the Hiawatha statue from Riverside Park Monday.  The park was closed to the public for safety reasons and at the request of artist Anthony Zimmerhakl’s family.  The La Crosse Park Board voted to remove the statue last month after it stood there for almost 60 years.  It will be returned to Zimmerhakl’s family.  The president of the Ho-Chunk Nation had called it a historically inaccurate figure, but more than 17 hundred people signed a petition seeking to keep the statue in the park.

Polls open for Wisconsin’s partisan primary election this  morning at 7:00 a-m.  Hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots through the mail.  If you have chosen to vote today, you have until 8:00 p-m – when the polls close.  If you’re in line by that time, you are still legally permitted to vote.  You have to be registered to vote, but you can take care of that when you walk in.  You will need a proof of residency, like a state I-D, a utility bill, or a copy of your lease.  You will also have to show a form of photo identification.  More than a half-million votes have already been submitted through the mail.

The agency in charge of Wisconsin's online library system has been spending the pandemic bolstering its collection. Sara Gold with the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium says they've been bulking up their stocks of licenses to help borrow out books to libraries across the state.  The consortium received 250-thousand dollars in grants from the Department of Public Instruction in April, which has helped it buy several thousand new books and resources for patrons.

More than 200 thousand households in Wisconsin are getting more help with their groceries under Governor Evers' latest coronavirus order. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says July's order re-starts the program that expands FoodShare benefits. It's not clear exactly how many people will get expanded benefits, or how much they will get. A family of four in Wisconsin can usually get almost 650 dollars a month for groceries under the FoodShare program. D-H-S says benefits for July should have appeared on FoodShare cards over the weekend. Benefits for August will appear in two weeks.

The 2020 Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo held at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls each fall will not be held this year. After careful consideration, the UWRF Rodeo Club has decided to cancel the Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo scheduled for September 11 and 12. Given concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the club felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented situation.

Two parents from Monroe County will spend up to four years in prison after their convictions on charges of child abuse and neglect.  Travis and Amy Headrick had been accused of keeping their children in makeshift cages, including a former horse trough.  They had pleaded guilty to three felony charges in February after originally being charged with 10 in 2018.  The Headricks were arrested after a witness phoned in a tip to authorities about the living conditions inside their home.  Both parents apologized for their actions prior to their sentencing last Friday.

Wisconsin Democrats say they’ve found a lot of problems with entertainer Kayne West’s ballot paperwork. Democrats say hundreds of West’s signatures don’t meet the requirement for addresses or voting location. West needs two-thousand valid signatures to make the November ballot. His representatives turned in more than 24-hundred on Friday. The Wisconsin Elections Commission is not saying when it will make a final ruling.

A new poll shows voters in Wisconsin favor Joe Biden over President Trump. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Elections Research Center poll finds Biden leads Trump by six points. According to the poll, Biden's drawing support from Democrats who went for other candidates than Hillary Clinton in 2016, or didn't vote at all. The president maintains strong backing from Republicans.

Congressman Bryan Steil has criticized Governor Tony Evers for his COVID-19 response.  The Wisconsin Republican was in Janesville Saturday for the opening of a new Trump campaign office.  Steil says the governor has spent very little of the federal CARES Act funding so far.  He accuses the Democratic governor of allocating much of the money for future use, rather than spending the money now to make an immediate impact.  Steil says Wisconsin lawmakers can’t convene and spend the federal money.  It’s only authorized for the governor to spend.

A security officer on the campus of the University of St. Thomas thinks he caught a glimpse of a black bear as it lumbered toward a wooded area Sunday morning.  A jogger had flagged him down shortly before 8:00 a-m.  It was the third time a bear had been sighted in St. Paul since the middle of June.  The latest contact came near Summit Monument Park along Mississippi River Boulevard, just west of the campus.  The Department of Natural Resources says there have been no documented human deaths attributed to bear attacks in Minnesota, but there have been eight unprovoked attacks since 1987, resulting in 10 people being hospitalized.

Wisconsin candidates for the reality television show American Idol will be auditioning virtually later this week.  Oshkosh teenager Franki Moscato got the change to compete on the A-B-C show last year, although his dream ended during Hollywood week.  The coronavirus pandemic is forcing many television shows to make changes.  American Idol will be hosting virtual auditions for Wisconsin candidates Wednesday. 

Local-Regional News August 10

The final details of the sale of the Tarrant Park Softball Fields from the City of Durand to the Durand-Arkansaw School District should be completed this month. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city council should vote on those details this week.  Milliren believes the sale will be finalized by the middle of this month.

The Plum City School District is looking for volunteers to be apart of a strategic planning committee. Plum City School Superintendent Amy Vesperman told board members that she has some teacher volunteers and is looking for volunteers from the community. For those that would like to volunteer or for more information on the committee you can call Superintendent Vesperman at 262-751-11-34. The School Board hopes to approve committee members at the August Board meeting.

St. Croix Falls police say they shot and killed a person at a motel Saturday night. Police were called to the Dalles House Motel around 9:45 pm on Saturday by a woman who said she was in trouble. When officers arrived, a man with a knife left the hotel room and got into a confrontation with police. Officers say the man did not follow instructions, and charged at them with the knife, when they shot him. A woman with multiple stab wounds was found inside the hotel room. She was airlifted to a hospital for treatment, and her condition is not known at this time.

Wisconsin voters who haven't already voted absentee will head to the polls for the state's partisan primary election tomorrow. Reid Magney with the Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds us what that "partisan" means"There's a section on the ballot, where you fill out what your party preference is. You don't absolutely have to do that, but if for example you vote for somebody in the Democratic column and somebody in the Republican column, if you've made that part preference, it will ignore the other party." There are no statewide races or initiatives on the ballot, but a host of local and legislative primary races.

The battle between Wisconsin and COVID-19 reached a milestone and set a new record over the weekend.  Health officials recorded the 50 thousandth recovery from the virus.  The record that was set was Saturday’s one-thousand-165 positive test results.  Sunday’s positive results were about half of that, 621.  As of Sunday morning, there were 355 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 – 94 of them in intensive care units.  The addition of two deaths brings the Wisconsin total to 998.

Police say suspended Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah was assaulted Saturday when he tried to stop protesters from vandalizing his girlfriend’s home.  Mensah was trying to talk to the 50-to-60 people gathered outside when he was attacked.  As he went back into the home one of the protesters fired a single round from a shotgun in his direction, but Mensah wasn’t injured.  Four law enforcement agencies responded and dispersed the crowd.  The protesters want Mensah fired after he fatally shot three men in the last five years.

Operation Legend is credited for 32 arrests and the recovery of 27 firearms so far in Milwaukee.  Federal agents arrived in southeast Wisconsin in mid-July to help combat violent crimes.  Some of those arrested were wanted for homicide, armed robbery and recklessly endangering safety.  U-S Attorney Matthew Krueger says the effort has also contributed to federal charges against eight defendants for firearm-related crimes in Milwaukee.  Krueger said, "by bringing to justice the shooters, the drug traffickers, and those who carry illegal firearms, we will reduce the levels of violence in our neighborhoods.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling state lawmakers back to the Capitol Wednesday for a third special legislative session.  The governor plans to extend the coronavirus peacetime emergency for another 30 days.  Walz said, "as long as the COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to Minnesota, it is my duty to work to provide our state with the tools we need to fight this."  Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the Senate will vote again to cancel the governor's emergency authority.  The D-F-L-controlled Minnesota House is not expected to strip the governor of his powers.

Three men accused of looting a Madison clothing store during riots in the city’s downtown area last May are now facing burglary charges.  The felonies were filed Thursday against Martin J. Engelhart, Noa Q-P Reick and Matthew J. Wagner.  A security guard at the store they allegedly hit says at least 10 thousand dollars in damage was done by rioters.  Surveillance cameras caught Wagner and Engelhart entering the store, although Wagner apparently didn’t take anything.  A witness recording Facebook Live appears to have captured Reick breaking in and stealing clothing.  All three men have Dane County Circuit Court dates later this month.

Two women charged with beating a state lawmaker in Madison in June are heading for trial. A judge Thursday found enough evidence against Samantha Hamer and Kerida O'Reilly to go to trial. Prosecutors say the pair led a mob against Milwaukee state senator Tim Carpenter, who was taking photos of protests and riots outside the state capitol building one night in June.

About 150 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are deploying to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide base security.  Members of the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company leave this weekend for additional training at Fort Bliss, Texas . Company Commander Captain Troy Davidson said our soldiers are trained and motivated for this important mission.  Due to COVID restrictions, the send-off ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook Sunday at 1 p-m.  Many of these soldiers responded to the civil unrest and rioting in the Twin Cites following the George Floyd protests.

The University of Minnesota is conducting a clinical trial to combat COVID-19.  U of M researchers say an experimental therapy using N-K or natural killer cells is being used to treat COVID-19.  Up until now, natural killer cells have been used in the development of therapies for leukemia and other types of cancers.  A female COVID-19 patient in her fifties received an infusion of the experimental therapy this week.

 A new survey of Minnesota realtors shows the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the demand for what homebuyers are looking for.  Minnesota Realtors Association president Chris Galler says people want more outdoor living space, more space within the home, especially so that they can work from home, and have appropriate space if they have children to teach them from home."  Galler says there is also a high demand for people looking for a second property such as a cabin -- to serve as a getaway home.

 The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs says there will be aircraft training this week at Volk Field.  Around 50 aircraft and nearly one-thousand personnel from the National Guard, Air Force, Army and Navy are taking part in the annual Northern Lightning Counterland exercise.  There will be a lot more planes around Camp Douglas area August 10th through 21st.  Officials say the public in nearly two dozen central Wisconsin counties will hear increased noise and sonic booms between 10 a-m and 4 p-m on weekdays.  The exercise is a necessary part of training for actual combat.

A venerable Wisconsin bar is closing after 93 years. Dean and Sue's in Menomonie started as a grocery store and three-stool bar, though it's now run by the original owners' grandchildren. Owner Micky Rugland tells Channel 18 in Eau Claire that selling the bar will allow his family to start a new chapter.