Local-Regional News Sept 4

 

The Alma, Durand-Arkansaw, El Mound and 16 other Wisconsin school districts are splitting almost one-million-dollars for new technical equipment. The funding comes from the Department of Workforce Development. Alma received a $10,000 grant, while Durand-Arkansaw and Elk Mound both received $100,000. The money will give the schools equipment for projects including welding, carpentry, and bioengineering programs. The department says more than 42-hundred students across the state will benefit.

The City of Durand is preparing once again to reconstruct Madison Street in the Downtown. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city hopes to put the project out for bids in November.  The city is planning on using a combination of financing from the TIF District, and grants to pay for the project.

The Lake City Public Works Department will be doing the annual chlorination of the water system in Lake City starting on Monday. Lake City residents may experience discolored water at times, and the department advises them to let the water run for a few minutes to flush their faucets. Those that have fish tanks should not use the water while the chlorination is being done. The chlorine should clear the system by September 22nnd.

The Wabasha-Kellogg School District announced it will begin its school year on Tuesday. The school year was initially scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Sep. 2, however, a widespread mold issue caused the school year to be delayed while the building was cleaned the mold was removed. An open house will be underway on Monday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bond is being set at 250 thousand dollars for a woman charged in a deadly shooting in Eau Claire. The incident happened Saturday afternoon at a home on Sunset Drive. Police say 29-year-old Dakota Bilderback fatally shot her children's father -- 37-year-old Michael Lee. Lee was found dead at the scene. Bilderback is charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

Ten years in prison is the sentence being ordered for an Eau Claire man convicted on federal drug charges. Forty-eight-year-old John Soung pleaded guilty in June to a charge of possession of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Soung's prison sentence is to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Chippewa County was the scene of a deadly motorcycle crash on Sunday. The accident happened at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the town of Lafayette. Authorities say a vehicle turned in front of a motorcycle on County Highway K and that two people were thrown from the bike in the collision. The motorcycle's operator -- 25-year-old Ramsey Stevens of La Crosse -- died at the scene.

The City of La Crosse is filing suit against three companies claiming that they have artificially inflated the price of fire trucks. The city says that a standard truck that cost around half-a-million dollars around fifteen years ago now costs around a million dollars and that truck manufacturers have manipulated the market to increase those costs. The city has filed suit in federal court and is asking for a jury trial.

An Eau Claire man is accused of his fourth OWI. Wisconsin State Patrol says the man was stopped after driving almost 20 miles-per-hour over the speed limit. Troopers say the driver, Thomas Jones Jr., was showing signs of intoxication. He was taken to the hospital for a mandatory blood draw, and was then booked at the Jefferson County Jail. Jones Jr. is facing multiple charges.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is offering a new tool to track measles infections. The agency launched a dashboard sharing updates on measles cases in Wisconsin on Tuesday. Data on the dashboard will include case counts, vaccination status, hospitalizations and deaths. A new case of measles was confirmed in Oconto County yesterday, bringing the total to 24.

A former trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol is facing charges. Michael Klingenberg is being charged with ten counts of possessing child sex abuse material. Investigators received a tip in March alleging Klingenberg had a file containing the material. He was arrested last week and taken to Marathon County Jail. Klingenberg is also facing separate misdemeanor charges of sexual assault and disorderly conduct.

Despite a fall in overdose deaths in recent years, Wisconsin still has plenty of work to do to combat the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin. UW Health Dr. Randall Brown says a number of things need to be done avoid overdoses going back up. Brown says increased access to information and tools to prevent overdoses have been big factors in reducing overdose deaths. Overdose deaths in Wisconsin dropped almost 35% between March of 2024 and 2025, which equates to about 600 fewer deaths.

A State Senate committee Wednesday will hear public testimony on legislation that combats sextortion. "Bradyn's Law", named in memory of 15-year-old Bradyn Bohn of Kronenwetter, who died by suicide on March 5 after falling victim to sextortion, would make sextortion a standalone crime in Wisconsin. Sextortion is a form of child sexual exploitation that involves threatening or blackmailing children, often after tricking them into sending them nude or sexual images. Scammers then threaten to go public with the photos if a victim doesn't comply with their demads. Under the bill, perpetrators of sextortion could be charged with a Class B felony if the victim commits suicide, which would allow for imprisonment up to 60 years. The bill was unanimously passed in the Assembly earlier this year.

A plea to Wisconsin legislators to increase the minimum wage. Tuesday, several service workers spoke at the State Capitol, all in favor of raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour. One of them, Troy Brewer, who is a cook at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, said “A $7.25 minimum wage is absurd in this day and age. It’s the floor, not even the ceiling.” Last year, 25 states raised their minimum wage, while Wisconsin is one of 20 states that adheres to the federal rate set in 2009. Opponents say raising the minimum wage will hurt employers and lead to the elimination of jobs.

A new study says Madison is one of the best cities to retire in. The report by WalletHub compares more than 180 cities based on metrics like health care quality, affordability, access to recreational activities, and tax-friendliness for retirees. Madison ranks ninth-best, with Orlando, Florida, and Scottsdale, Arizona, at the top of the list. Minneapolis stands at third. The study puts California cities San Bernadino and Stockton at the bottom.

Local-Regional News Sept 3

 

City of Durand Crews and Global Pools are winterizing the new Tarrant Park Pool. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says Global will also help with the restart of the pool next summer.  Final attendance numbers should be available at the next city council meeting.

Property values in the Durand-Arkansaw School District have reached an all-time high. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says values have reached the $1 billion mark. Those values may increase even more after the city of Durand’s city-wide reassessment is completed next year.

Wabasha County authorities are investigating a suspicious death on Saturday. According to the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to Mac’s Park Place Campground in Mazeppa on Saturday evening. Upon arrival, deputies found 63yr old Barbara McBride-Law of Lakeville, MN, deceased in a camper without obvious injury or trauma. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results for a final determination of death.

Authorities are sharing the names of the victim and suspect in a deadly weekend shooting in Eau Claire. The incident happened Saturday afternoon at a home on Sunset Drive. Police say 37-year-old Michael Lee was found dead at the scene, and that 29-year-old Dakota Bilderback has been arrested and charged on suspicion of second-degree intentional homicide.

A Western Wisconsin man charged in an officer-involved shooting in Eau Claire is accepting a plea deal. Thomas Burback had previously pled not guilty to four charges -- including intentionally pointing a gun at law enforcement. Burback was shot on May 25th of 2024 when an officer responding to a disturbance call says the defendant pointed a handgun at them. Burback has now pleaded no contest to charges including failure to comply with an officer's attempt to take a person into custody. He will be sentenced at a later date.

State Senator Jeff Smith sent a letter Senator Chris Kapenga yesterday urging him to hold a hearing in the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs on Senate Bill 385 that would restore funding to the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program, which would allow the facilities at Klein Hall in Chippewa Falls and another in Green Bay to remain open. Both facilities are set to close at the end of September after the Joint Finance Committee did not include the funding in the new budget. The bill has 40 co-authors in the Senate and Assembly.

A duplex was severely damaged in a fire Tuesday night in Eau Claire. According to the Eau Claire Fire Department, firefighters were called to the duplex at 4154 Mary Place on Tuesday night and found flames coming from the back of the residence. Firefighters contained the fire to the one unit, but the duplex sustained nearly $550,000 in damage. The cause of that fire is under investigation.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports they pulled an intoxicated driver over Sunday evening who had children in the vehicle. Officers responded to a location in Merrillan where a witness said that kids were inside a parked vehicle screaming while their parent was in a nearby bar. By the time officers arrived on scene, the vehicle was gone, though it was later pulled over on Highway 12 with reports noting it was being driven in an erratic manner. The driver -- who had two children in the backseat -- reportedly admitted to having been drinking. They were arrested on an OWI charge.

A newly released study finds flooding like that in southeast Wisconsin last month has been rising steadily in the state. The Wisconsin Policy Forum found Wisconsin has seen a dramatic increase in damage caused by flooding following heavy rains over the past 45 years. Researcher Tyler Byrnes says the state can expect to see floods to continue happening with at least the same frequency, if not more frequency as the climate continues to warm and as we continue to urbanize. The study concludes that while local governments can expand infrastructure to handle increasing rainfall, fees that fund that construction would have to rise to cover the growing costs.

Those flying commercially will notice new changes to TSA security like being allowed to keep your shoes on. University of Illinois Computer Science Professor Sheldon Jacobson says changes are made by assessing every layer of an airport security system. Jacobson says changes TSA has made to security, like letting people keep their shoes on, have helped people move through airports faster without compromising safety. Facial recognition could also be a game changer when it comes to improving airport security efficiency.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is planning to call a special legislative session to address gun laws. He's making the move after the recent deadly shooting last week at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. Two children were killed, and dozens were wounded on Wednesday. Governor Walz didn't get into specifics, but he plans to release a proposal for legislators to consider in the coming days. It's likely to focus on types of weapons, red-flag reporters, mental health, and safe storage.

Wisconsin Congressman Scott Fitzgerald says he approves sending federal agents to Chicago to curb crime, but not Milwaukee. Speaking on WISN's UPFRONT, the Oconomowoc Republican says Milwaukee has a better track record on violent crime than Chicago. Fitzgerald says there could be 10th Amendment issues with a military deployment to Milwaukee, and that Congress would have to engage in oversight if that happens. Vice President J D Vance floated sending federal agents and troops to cities including Milwaukee during a stop in La Crosse last week.

The Diocese of Winona-Rochester continues to mourn the death of one of its spiritual leaders. Bishop Bernard Harrington passed away on Saturday. The 82-year-old was ordained in 1959 and served in several capacities, including pastor, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Funeral arrangements are pending

The Eau Claire City Attorney's Office is seeking applicants for a paid internship position. The city says the post would be right for someone interested in municipal law who has a desire to serve the public interest. A full job description and application information can be found at eauclairewi-dot-gov/jobs.

Local-Regional News Sept 2

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the fall 2025 Dual Credit Requests. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the program helps students get college credits while still in high school.  The cost of the program is approximately $90,000.

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident in Ellsworth Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 74yr old Gary Sukowatey of Ellsworth was traveling eastbound on 480^th Avenue when he collided with a go-kart traveling southbound that was operated by a 10yr old juvenile male from Ellsworth who was attempting to cross 480^th Avenue. Sukowatey was taken to River Falls Area Hospital, while the juvenile was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident in Martell Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 72yr old John Lund of Birchwood, MN was traveling westbound on Hwy N when he collided with a vehicle traveling northbound on Hwy 63 driven by 35yr old Robert McQuire of Winona. Lund was taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.

A suspect is in custody following a deadly Saturday afternoon shooting in Eau Claire. The incident happened around 2 p.m. at a location on Sunset Drive. Police say a man was found dead at the scene. Officers have a woman in custody, but have released few other details.

After a significant discovery of common mold spores throughout its building last week, Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools delayed the start of its school year. Superintendent Nels Onstad says the building is being cleaned, but he could not give a timeline as to when it would reopen. The district is working with a professional company for mold remediation, and district families will be notified of how the school year will proceed.

University of Wisconsin students begin fall classes this week. Classes at the La Crosse, Platteville, and River Falls campuses start today. Classes at the Eau Claire, Stout, and Superior campuses start Wednesday.

Sportsmen in Western Wisconsin and across the state are taking note of the start of a number of hunting seasons. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the hunting season for mourning doves, snipe, and rail began on Monday. The days also marked the opening of the Early Canada Goose season. Bear hunting season begins tomorrow.

The former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will be featured in a documentary airing today. TMZ's documentary named "The War Over OnlyFans" features Joe Gow and his wife Carmen Wilson. Gow was removed after it was discovered that he and Wilson were producing pornographic content together. The documentary will air on FOX.

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

The City of Durand has hired SEH out of Eau Claire to develop a long-range plan for the city. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the company will begin work in January and will need input from the public.  Milliren says the city hopes the plan is completed by January of 2027.

New vape regulations in Wisconsin are now in effect. As of today, any electronic vaping device not listed on the Department of Revenue's Electronic Vaping Device Directory is illegal to sell in the state. There are 216 products listed in the directory. Retailers selling illegal vapes are subject to a thousand-dollar fine per day, per device.

Health officials are reporting more cases of measles in Oconto County. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services updated its dashboard to show 23 cases as of Friday. It's an increase of nine since last week's update. All 23 people are reportedly unvaccinated. Two people have been hospitalized. The first nine cases were reported early August after individuals were exposed during out-of-state travel.

Federal health officials have cut back a long-standing program that tracks foodborne illness in the U.S. The CDC said the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, will now require state health departments to track only two pathogens, salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The change affects ten states participating in FoodNet, a joint federal-state system established in 1995 that tracks foodborne infections in the U.S. FoodNet sites include health departments in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee and some counties in California and New York. Before the change, health departments were also required to track campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio and yersinia.

Dane County health officials have reported the county's first case of West Nile Virus in 2025. It's the fourth human case in Wisconsin this year. Public Health Madison and Dane County said Thursday that the highest risk for the illness happens in August and September. Officials recommend wearing long, loose fitting clothing to prevent bites, and advise getting rid of standing water to prevent mosquito pools.

Current State Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley is not running for her seat next spring. The conservative justice announced Friday she won't seek a second 10 year-term in office. Bradley is currently one of three conservatives on the court, which now holds a liberal majority. In a statement, Bradley says the court is now shifting towards political activism, and instead she will seek to rebuild conservative movements outside the court. If that seat is not held by conservatives, the court will move to a long term liberal majority.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development announces grants to help train skilled workers. The Wisconsin Fast Forward grants support innovative local and regional solutions to help employers meet workforce needs in their areas. DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek says any business interested in increasing their pool of skilled workers should apply regardless of company size or industry sector. Funding will go towards reimbursing the costs of customized occupational training for unemployed, underemployed, and existing workers.

Local-Regional News Aug 29

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local-Regional News Aug 28

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local-Regional News Aug 27

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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