Local

MIDDLETON–When Bridge Volunteering opened last fall, the goal was to connect Middleton High School students with volunteering opportunities. One of the connections was with the Middleton Senior Center, and now during the COVID-19 pandemic, those opportunities continue.

Students have been working with clients of the center through the Phone Buddy program, as well as completing gardening tasks.

“Bridge Volunteering started the ‘buddy’ program with the Middleton Senior Center. The seniors were sent a newsletter asking if they would like a ‘check in’ call from a Middleton high school student once a week,” said Shaney Andler, Director at Bridge. Students were then paired with a “buddy.”

DES MOINES IA–Following six years of public involvement and regulatory review, during which citizen groups and government agencies in the Driftless Area voiced nearly unanimous opposition to the proposal, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative have received approval for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek (CHC) Transmission Line Project from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). 

In a written decision, the three IUB members unanimously approved the franchise for the 14-mile Iowa transmission line segment, which will be constructed from the Hickory Creek substation near New Vienna in Dubuque County,  northward to Clayton County in Iowa, and then cross the Mississippi River near Cassville, and continue through the Driftless Area on its way to Middleton.

Update: CJ was found safe in Black Earth.

Original story:

MAZOMANIE–The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 17-year-old Clarence Floyd of Mazomanie. Clarence was reported missing by his family early this morning.

Clarence, who goes by CJ, left his home in Mazomanie on the night of June 3 and has not returned. The Sheriff’s Office has information that he was seen at HWY 78/CTH Y at about 6 p.m. Wednesday evening and then at HWY 14/CTH KP at approximately 8 p.m.

CJ is 5’6”-5’7” tall and approximately 120-130 lbs. He has black hair with blonde tips (not red as in the photo). He left home wearing a dark gray Star Wars t-shirt, black shorts and New Balance tennis shoes.

If you see CJ or have information on his whereabouts, please call 911.

WEST ALLIS–For several months the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board of Directors and staff have been working tirelessly analyzing all facets of the annual event, in hopes of being able to provide the Wisconsin State Fair experience that Fairgoers have come to know and love over the past 169 years.

On May 26, the board voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Yingling to make the determination on whether events currently scheduled at State Fair Park, including the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair, are to be canceled, after extensive input from each board member and Kathleen O’Leary, Executive Director/CEO. On May 28, Yingling announced that for the safety of fairgoers, staff, vendors, entertainers, exhibitors, sponsors, suppliers and the broader community, the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled.

DANE COUNTY–Dane County Sheriff’s deputies, working in conjunction with officers from 

UW–Madison Police, Sun Prairie Police, City of Madison Police, Fitchburg Police, Capitol Police, Janesville Police, Albany Police and the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, have arrested Raymond M. Sanchez, III, 37, of Footville, on multiple charges of Burglary. This was an extensive investigation that ultimately crossed state lines and resulted in the recovery of thousands of dollars in stolen property.  

CROSS PLAINS–By a 4-3 vote at their May 26 meeting, the Cross Plains Village Board opened streets to all-terrain vehicles and closed off a chance for a referendum on the long-contentious topic.

The narrow votes with Board Members Sarah Francois, Bill Brosius and Kevin Thusius, voting against an ordinance permitting ATVs and UTVs; and for an advisory referendum, shows how divided the village has become.

Discussion on social media turned to “bullying,” said Amalia Hicks, an ATV opponent, and even a board member was accused of intimidating speech during a previous board meeting. However, the accuser declined to pursue the matter.

MADISON–Memorial Day weekend is typically the official kick-off to the boating season in Wisconsin. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind boaters to make safety their top priority and to check their equipment before heading out on the water.

The Sheriff’s Office Marine and Trail Enforcement will have several boats on Dane County lakes this weekend. If the weather cooperates, getting out on the lakes will be an opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors. Please consider the following tips when preparing for this boating season.

• Ensure there is a life jacket for everyone on board

• Check batteries, gas levels and lighting

• Check the fire extinguisher

• Display proper registration information

• Have a sober driver

COVID-19 Safety Precautions                 

• Maintain social distancing

• Only share a boat with members of your own household

• Don’t raft or tie boats together

MADISON–Earlier this week, Public Health Madison & Dane County released Forward Dane, a phased reopening plan for Dane County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, based on active monitoring of the data-based metrics outlined in the plan, an order has been issued that moves Dane County into Phase 1 of the reopening plan, effective May 26, 2020 at 8:00am.

“We released Forward Dane so everyone in the community could see the requirements that needed to be met for us to continue opening businesses, while still balancing the health and safety of our residents,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County.

“We are receiving hundreds of test results each day and have analyzed additional data from the community testing site at the Alliant Energy Center. We feel confident that our county can take the next step in the reopening process at this time,” continued Heinrich.

Phase 1 includes:

SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN–Farmers markets are beginning to crop up are around the region, but with a few changes and restrictions in place to accommodate for safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greenway Station Farmers Market Manager Cheryl Heck said the market has worked out ways to social distance, sanitize and keep people safe. She said plans are to tentatively open the market the first Thursday in June. 

The market, which Heck said has been in operation for about 20 years, has looked at placing vendors back to back with guests going around the outside perimeter of the market, or possible using a longer span of the parking lot, which is located on Greenway Boulevard on the south end of Greenway Station. Vendors will have masks and gloves and hand sanitizing stations. The market goers will also move in a one-way direction through the market.

In addition, Heck said items will be prepackaged or packaged for the customers. 

WISCONSIN–In a 4-3 decision on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order, calling is “unlawful” and “unenforceable.” Conservative Judge Brian Hagedorn dissented, joining liberal justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Rebecca Dallet in voting to maintain the order.

In their findings, justices said Evers overstepped his authority when he extended the original 60 day order to May 26. 

The lawsuit was filed against state Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm as well as other health officials because they made the decision to extend the order on April 12.

The court ruling came just two days after restrictions on many businesses were lifted, allowing stores to have five people or less at any given time.