News – April 13, 2021

(Town of Beaver Dam) The five neighboring townships that contract with the city of Beaver Dam Fire Department are in the process of hammering out their next contract, if there is one. John Kraus (krowss) Jr with the rural fire association says the new contract “substantially” increases costs. That after city voters approved a fall referendum to hire six new paramedic-firefighters. Kraus says “everything is on the table” and that includes the association going on without the city. The Town of Beaver Dam will discuss the matter this evening and it’s on tomorrow’s Calamus Town Board agenda.

(Juneau) Leading safety officials in Dodge County are expressing their admiration for those who work in the county’s dispatch center. Each year the second week in April is recognized for the field of professionals who work in the sphere of Public Safety Communications. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says the county’s dispatchers exhibit compassion, expertise, and professionalism as they help citizens, businesses, and emergency responders in difficult situations.

(Dane County) Leaders in Wisconsin’s second largest county are pushing their sheriff to stop any use of no-knock warrants, The Dane County Board cannot ban the warrants, but members are proposing a resolution to push the sheriff to stop using them.  Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney (ma-hone-ee) says he rarely uses the surprise raids, only 11 times in 2020, but they help prevent armed confrontations between police and suspects.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials reported three COVID deaths yesterday bringing that total to 6,680. Dodge County has 161 deaths with 70 active cases. Twenty-point-six-percent (20.6%) of Dodge County residents are fully vaccinated while 30-percent have had at least one dose.

(Wisconsin) Once you complete your COVID-19 vaccine series, it is a good idea to keep your vaccination card. State health officials say that information is also available in the Wisconsin immunization registry. Everyone who receives the COVID vaccine receives a card, as part of the nationwide vaccination effort being coordinated by the CDC.

(Manitowoc County) The attorney for convicted murderer Stephen Avery says her client was framed in the killing of Theresa Halbach (hall-bock). In a court filing this morning Attorney Kathleen Zellner (zell-ner) alleges that Avery’s nephew Bobby Dassey (dass-ee) was involved in the murder. In the filing Zellner says a former newspaper delivery man witnessed Bobby and another man pushing a dark blue Rav-4 down Avery Road towards the junkyard. – WRN

(Waupun) The recount for a seat on the Waupun School Board will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). Jodi Schultz defeated Jessica Standke (stand-key) by one vote in the race for a seat on the board representing the Fox Lake/Westford area. Schultz got 807 votes to Standke’s 806. The recount will get underway at 8am in the Waupun City Hall Auditorium.

(Juneau) You do not need insurance to receive a vaccination. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says those receiving the vaccine do not need to have a valid state identification and do not need insurance. Dodge County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Scott Smith tells us that the county cannot bill insurance companies as the process is funded through grants and other sources. State health officials remind vaccinators that they cannot refuse to vaccinate someone if they do not have health insurance, or for that matter identification.

(Waupun) Agnesian HealthCare, a member of SSM Health, has vaccinated nearly 28-thousand people. They have also provided around 98-hundred vaccines through its employees, volunteers and community members through employee health and community outreach.