April 2020

Thu
09
Apr
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Voters Take to the Polls

DANE COUNTY–Residents around the county, and the state, turned out to vote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the need for protective measures for poll workers, longer voting times and social distancing.

Clerks in towns, villages and cities around the state were unsure as of Monday afternoon if the election would take place as they awaited a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision on the matter. Gov. Tony Evers had signed an executive order that morning moving the date to June, but Republican lawmakers contested the measure. (See story, page 5)

Middleton alder Luke Fuszard worked the polls from the start of voting at 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and said there was a steady flow of people coming to vote. City administrator Mike Davis said the same was true of afternoon. 

“As of 4:30 (p.m.) we hit over a thousand votes,” he said. 

Thu
09
Apr
Thu
09
Apr
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Evers Closes 40 State Parks

MADISON–Gov. Tony Evers today directed the Department of Natural Resources to close several state parks.

Due to unprecedented crowds, litter, vandalism and out of an abundance of caution to protect public health and safety and help flatten the curve, the following Wisconsin State Parks, Forests and Recreational Areas will close at the end of the day Thurs., April 9, and will remain closed beginning Fri., April 10, until further notice:

Mon
06
Apr
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Election Back On

WASHINGTON DC–In what can best be described as a voting roller coaster, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Wisconsin Spring Election must go on April 7, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Last week, District Judge William M. Conley from the US District Court-Western District of Wisconsin extended the absentee voting date to April 13 and the absentee request date to April 3. On April 6 Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order moving Election Day to June 9. On the same day the country’s highest court sided with Wisconsin Republican legislators who petitioned the court on Conley’s decision and the Wisconsin Sumpreme Court reject Evers order.

The ruling means that absentee ballots must be postmarked by tomorrow, April 7, those received after that time will not be counted. 

Mon
06
Apr
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Voting Rules Constantly Changing Ahead of Tomorrow’s Election

In an April 2 ruling to allow a week-long delay in accepting absentee ballots, Federal judge William M. Conley of the Western District of Wisconsin criticized the State Legislature, Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The ruling extended the deadline for absentee ballots to 4 p.m., April 13 and extended the deadline for requesting absentee ballots to 4 p.m. on April 3. But an executive order issued by Evers on April 6 could change dates again.

Conley wrote that the Legislature and Governor “apparently are hoping … that the efforts of the WEC [Wisconsin Election Commission] Administrator, her staff, the municipalities and poll workers, as well as voters willing to ignore the obvious risk to themselves and others of proceeding with in-person voting, will thread the needle to produce a reasonable voter turnout and no increase in the dissemination of COVID-19.” 

Sat
04
Apr
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Resident Suggests Decorating Middleton During Pandemic

MIDDLETON–Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis received a suggestion from a new resident to show Good Neighbor spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic by decorating their neighborhoods.

The resident, who was unnamed, offered the following proposals for the weeks of April. In an email to residents on April 4, Davis suggested enacting the idea.

The Schedule would be as follows:

Week One, April 6: Sidewalk Chalk–Write positive messages and get creative with sidewalk chalk on sidewalks and driveways.

Week Two, April 13: Hang Banners–Paint windows or hang banners with brightly colored positive messages/fun scenes for selfies.

Week Three, April 20: Kindness Rocks–Paint brightly colored positive messages on rocks and place throughout the neighborhood for others to see.

Fri
03
Apr
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Election Results to Come One Week After In Person Voting

MADISON–A Wisconsin federal judge who extended voter registration two weeks ago, has ruled that municipal clerks cannot release election results until April 13, one week after Election Day.

U.S. District Judge William Conley on Thursday extended absentee ballot request to 5 p.m. on April 3, and on Friday extended the return of ballots to April 13 by 4 p.m. In person voting was not extended, and is still slated for April 7.

The Wisconsin Election Commission petitioned the court to move the date of election results and absentee votes in an effort to get residents to mail in their ballot.

Fri
03
Apr
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2020

Oh, 2020, I had such high hopes for you. A new decade. A leap year. A census year. A Presidential Election.

But then Australia caught on fire. I am not especially spiritual, but it did seem like some foreboding sign that 2020 may not be all I had hoped it would be. The constant barrage of photos of crying koala bears, forest aflame and rescue efforts filled my social media feeds. 

Then in late February we really started hearing about the COVID-19 outbreak, in my opinion, when the federal government could no longer keep it from us. 

Fri
03
Apr
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Good Neighbor Hub Gets Community Update

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Good Neighbor Hub group kicked off its weekly Zoom meeting on March 27 with a call for district captains to organize volunteer efforts in various neighborhoods. The districts follow Middleton Common Council districts, and currently captains are need in districts 1, 4, 7 and 8.

City Administrator Mike Davis started off the updates and said the city has moved all voting precincts to Kromery Middle School. He reminded that poll workers are still needed for the Spring Election on April 7.

Davis said about 7,000 absentee ballots had been distributed as of Friday afternoon. The last day to request a ballot was March 30.

Bartlett Durand, who was conducting the meeting asked Davis how the city staff was doing during the Safer at Home order.

“People are stressed,” he said and added that it is hard to balance family, work and isolation. 

Fri
03
Apr
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Two Jail Inmates, Four Sheriff’s Deputies Test Positive for COVID-19

MADISON–When inmates at the Dane County Jail began displaying fevers and other potential COVID-19 symptoms, eight were quarantined and tested and two have now tested positive for the virus. Two sheriff’s deputies have tested positive for the virus.  

On March 26, the eight subjects, all male were placed in segregation cells in the Public Safety building while they awaited test results. 

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