News – April 3, 2020


(Dodge County) Dodge County saw no day-to-day increases in its number of positive COVID-19 cases as of 2pm Thursday. That is according to the Wisconsin Department of Health’s latest official daily update which indicates that statewide there are 1,730 positive cases, an increase of 180 from Wednesday. There were seven more deaths reported in yesterday’s 2pm statewide update with Wisconsin officially at 31. To date, 20,317 people have tested negative. Fond du Lac County saw an increase of four cases since yesterday and has reported two deaths. Columbia County has reported 15 cases, up one. Jefferson County also did not see an increase in cases from Wednesday. Washington County is up two from Wednesday to 46. Green Lake County also reported its first probably case of COVID-19 yesterday.

(Wisconsin) You now have one more chances to ask for an absentee ballot for the spring primary. A decision on Thursday by federal judge William Conley will push back the final date for turning in absentee ballots until April 13th. Conley’s decision also allows people to get around having a witness sign the voting envelope, if people are worried about exposing themselves to COVID-19.

(Beaver Dam) Some Beaver Dam residents will be voting in a different location next Tuesday. The city announced yesterday (Thursday) that voters who used to cast a ballot at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church on West Mackie Street will instead be voting at the Watermark Community Center at 209 South Center Street. City officials say that they were informed by the church that they would be closed. The move affects voters in wards seven, nine, 11, 12 and 13.

(Madison) During a Facebook live question and answer session on Thursday, Dr. Ryan Westergaard with the state Department of Health Services was asked why the “Safer at Home” order cannot just be for counties where COVID-19 has been detected. Westergaard says infected people can show no symptoms, and spread the virus. As of Thursday, DHS reported only 20 of the state’s 72 counties with no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

(Madison) Tony Evers wants the federal government to go on a milk-buying binge. Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture are asking the U-S-D-A to buy surplus milk to help farmers who are dumping the excess. A number of farms across Wisconsin started pouring milk down the drain this week. There’s a surplus of milk because of the coronavirus. Governor Evers says Washington should buy the extra milk and give it to food banks or people who get food stamps.

(Milwaukee) The Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee is being postponed by a month — from mid-July to mid-August. Convention organizers say it was the best decision in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden speculated about postponing the convention on MSNBC Wednesday night. The convention was originally set for July 13th through the 17th. It will now be held the week of August 17th.

(Milwaukee) Dr. Anthony Fauci is getting his own bobblehead. Phil Sklar from Milwaukee’s National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum says five dollars from the purchase price will go towards the American Hospital Association to support the 100 Million Masks Challenge. Sklar says Fauci has become “America’s voice of reason” during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says because bobbleheads are caricatures, they did not have to get Fauci’s permission. The Fauci bobblehead costs 25 dollars and pre-orders are being accepted now. They should be ready by early July.

(Beaver Dam) Voters in Beaver Dam are seeing a contested race for mayor on the April ballot. Incumbent Mayor Becky Glewen, who is seeking her second term helming the city, says she has been pleased with the progress that the community has seen over the past three years. Glewen says when you’re a leader, you have to have a vision and be able to share that vision and work with others to get things done. Jeff Kohman is chair of the city’s Police and Fire Commission and a former common council president who says 15 years ago the faces on the council were different, but the job was the same. Kohman paints himself as a fiscal conservative who will look at the needs of the whole community, not just a small portion.

(Beaver Dam) A former city of Beaver Dam beat reporter is challenging a frequent critic of the mayor for a seat on the city council. Ward Six incumbent Ken Anderson says he may not always agree with the mayor but he tries to be fair and make sure the taxpaying citizens are represented being as transparent as possible.

Candidate Dan Baulch says he wants to bring a spirit of collaboration and optimism back to Ward Six and says the city cannot afford to let months and years go by simply hoping things will fall into place and get better.

(Juneau) Two write-in candidates are vying for the District 32 seat on the Dodge County Board. Incumbent Lisa Derr is seeking her fourth term on the county board and is being challenged by Linda Yuds. The District 32 seat includes wards seven and nine in the city of Beaver Dam. You can hear our interviews with both candidates on DailyDodge.com.

(Calumet) A workshop on the town of Calumet was significantly damaged by fire yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. The Fond du Lac County Communications Center received a report of a structure fire at W3110 Artesia Road around 3:20pm. Sergeant Logan Will says their investigation showed that the property owner, Dale Freimark, had been using a blow torch near the workshop when the fire began. He says the blaze is considered to be accidental and is not suspicious. No injuries were reported. Assisting at the scene were fire departments from the town of Calumet, Mt. Calvary and the Mt. Calvary Ambulance.

(Dodge County) Dodge County will be featured on an episode of the nation’s longest running tourism show. Discover Wisconsin. The program will feature fun activities in and around the Dodge County area with a specific focus on the cities of Waupun, Watertown and Beaver Dam. Discover Wisconsin will be broadcast on WKOW TV 27 Madison tomorrow (Saturday April 4) at 6:30pm, on WITI Fox 6 Milwaukee at 10am Sunday (April 5) or can be streamed at discoverwisconsin.com.