News – September 4, 2016

Patriot Tour Ends In Beaver Dam, Collects Six Figures

9/4/16 – This year’s Patriot Tour collected over $100,000 for wounded veterans and their families. However, Event Organizer Bill Sherer expects the total to be closer to $150,000 once the final numbers are tabulated in the coming weeks. The Nation of Patriots annual event sees the United States flag travel on motorcycle throughout the lower 48 states each summer. The tour started in Madison on Memorial Day weekend and ended with a ceremony in Beaver Dam yesterday.

Wisconsin’s Fall Harvest Facing Delays

9/4/16 – Wisconsin’s wet summer might delay part of the fall crop harvest. That’s according to observers around the state for the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service. For now, 87% of the statewide corn crop is in good to excellent shape along with 86% of the soybeans, and the general maturity of both crops remains ahead of normal. But there’s at least some concern that muddy fields and high plant moisture levels could delay fall fieldwork — and the wet conditions appear to be contributing to diseases and late season mold in soybeans. 12-14% of Wisconsin soils have surplus moisture, and officials say dry weather will be needed to complete the fall fieldwork in most places but southeast Wisconsin — which is still said to be in need of rain.

Corn, Bean Sales Expected To Increase In Wisconsin

9/4/16 – Don’t be surprised to see more Wisconsin sweet corn and green beans sold throughout the Badger State. The U-S-D-A expects Wisconsin farmers to increase their contracted production of sweet corn by 5% this year, to 517,000 tons. Officials also project a 2% increase in snap beans, to almost 341,000 tons, which would be the largest total since 2009. The Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service says green peas have also had record high yields, but their contracted production is expected to drop 17% from last year, to about 67,000 tons. That’s because there are about 6,000 fewer acres devoted to the pea crop.

Wisconsin Cities Among Nation’s Best For Runners

9/4/16 – Wisconsin’s two largest cities are among the 50 best “Running Cities in America.” Runner’s World magazine rates Madison 12th and Milwaukee 37th based on climate, crime, access to trails and healthy foods, and numbers of households with runners. San Francisco is Number One followed by Seattle and Boston. Runner’s World calls Madison a “fitness friendly city” with a soft running path on the Military Ridge State Trail and scenic beauty at the U-W Arboretum — while Milwaukee is recognized for its Beer Run and a trail at Lakeshore State Park that juts into Lake Michigan.

Badger State Ranks Top 20 For Obesity

9/4/16 – Almost 31-percent of Wisconsin adults are considered obese. That’s the 19th highest rate in the country, according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Wisconsin’s rate actually dropped by one half of one percent from the previous year, but the report’s authors call the small percentage “stable.” The health trust says only Minnesota, Montana, New York, and Ohio had meaningful drops in their adult obesity — and it’s the first time in the past decade that any states had such declines.

Columbus School District Receives Agri-Science Grant

9/4/16 – The Columbus School District plans to use a $25,000 Monsanto grant to revitalize its 6-12th grade Agri-Science program. The grant is part of the ‘America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education’ program, which aims to bolster science, technology, engineering, and math offerings in schools throughout the country. The program began in 2011 and has awarded a total of over $11,000,000 to more than 700 districts.

Attorney General Wants Avery Case In Circuit Court

9/4/16 – The Wisconsin attorney general is asking the state appeals court to move the Steven Avery case back to circuit court. Attorney General Brad Schimel filed the response to Avery’s appeal of his 2005 murder conviction. Avery was found guilty of killing freelance photographer Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County. The conviction for Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, was overturned last month. Avery’s attorneys have asked the appeals court for more time to test blood evidence as they challenge his conviction.

Beaver Dam Garbage Collection Delayed This Week

9/4/16 – A reminder that garbage pick-up in Beaver Dam will be delayed by one day all this week because of the Labor Day holiday. Advanced Disposal Services will collect tomorrow’s route Tuesday; Tuesday’s route will be collected on Wednesday and that will continue all week with Friday’s route collected on Saturday. September brush collection will also be affected with Monday through Wednesday’s routes each delayed 24 hours. In addition, the Department of Public Works Garage is closed tomorrow.

Columbus Residents Urged To Help With Community Projects

9/4/16 – Local residents are encouraged to help with a city-wide cleanup project next weekend. Faith Lutheran Church in Columbus is organizing a group to complete various projects in the Columbus area. Member Pat Sullivan says tasks include: fixing up city parks, cleaning the city pool, making winter hats for elderly and homeless people, and painting the church’s exterior. While some of the projects span the weekend, Sullivan says most of the work will be done next Sunday. He says the tasks will follow a special 8 am church service that recognizes local police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. Anyone interested in helping with the projects, should contact the church.

Red Cross In Need This Holiday Weekend

9/4/16 – The Labor Day weekend is nowhere near relaxing for most Wisconsin Red Cross volunteers and staffers. The state chapter says it has been “bombarded” with needs for housing and other help to those affected by heavy floods the past two months, and disasters that included a house explosion in Fitchburg in which two dozen homes were damaged. All told, the Wisconsin Red Cross region has responded to 81 disasters in August alone, while sending 77 people to the Louisiana flooding crisis and other out of state emergencies. The Red Cross is seeking funds nationally and from the Wisconsin Region to keep helping.

Legislator: DPI Has Ways To Better Protect Student Information

9/4/16 – The chair of the Legislative Council Study Committee on Student Data says they have found ways to strengthen protection of that student data. The Department of Public Instruction maintains that student data indefinitely. State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt says an expert told the council that an average student profile is worth about $175 to someone who knows how to make use of that data. He says that could add up to a lot with over 800,000 public school students in the state.

Wisconsin Company Working With Boston Firm For Heating Fuel

9/4/16 -A Wisconsin company that makes backup electric generators is now a minority shareholder in a firm that helps users of propane as their backup heating fuel. Generac Holdings of Waukesha says it will work with Tank Utility Incorporated of Boston on a digital app to help manage fuel levels for propane standby generators. Generac officials expect it to be ready sometime next year. They say it help propane users determine when their tanks need to be refilled. The amount of Generac’s investment in Tank Utility was not disclosed.

Beaver Dam Mayor Holding Listening Session This Week

9/4/16 – Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has his regular listening sessions scheduled Tuesday. Kennedy opens his door for city residents to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Kennedy says it is important constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular common council meeting, which is typically held on the first and third Mondays of the month. However, there is no council meeting tomorrow night because of the holiday. The listening sessions are held in Room 158 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am-Noon and again from 5-6pm. Kennedy is also available for private meetings. Appointments can be made by contacting the mayor’s office.