News – August 12, 2020

(Dodge County) There were a couple contested races in both congressional districts that cover the Dodge County-area on yesterday’s primary ballot, depending on your party affiliation. Scott Fitzgerald defeated Cliff DeTemple to secure Republican nomination for the Fifth Congressional seat being vacated by longtime GOP Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. Fitzgerald will advance to face Democrat Tom Palzewicz on the November ballot. In the Sixth Congressional District, Democrat Jessica King secured 75-percent of votes and will face incumbent Glenn Grothman this fall.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin eclipsed 1,000 deaths Tuesday. State health officials recorded eight more deaths, bringing that number to 1,006. Wisconsin health officials reported 724 positive coronavirus cases in in their daily 2pm update, which is 5.3-percent of the 13,500 tests announced. There are 9,305 active cases in the state, a decrease of 78 from Monday. Dodge County has five deaths on record and 845 cases, an increase of 10 cases from Monday. County health officials are actively monitoring 182 people.

(Cambria-Friesland) The Cambria-Friesland School District will offer both in-person and virtual learning options this fall, as well as some outdoor instruction. The school board recently adopted the back to school plan that will see school buildings open five-days a week with in-person teaching. Parents who want their kids to learn at a distance can sign up for virtual learning. The district will set up areas surrounding the school to accommodate outdoor learning for the first couple months of the year. A situational facemask policy has been adopted, meaning if proper social distancing is attained or learning is moved outdoors, face coverings may be removed. More information can be found on the school’s website. A link will be available with this news story at DailyDodge.com.

(Wisconsin) The latest Marquette Law School poll of likely voters in Wisconsin finds support in the presidential race little changed since June. Poll director Charles Franklin says Joe Biden has a five point lead among likely voters, 49 to 44-percent for Trump. He says in June, that was a six-point Biden lead. Among registered voters, Biden was at 48 percent and Trump at 42 percent. In June, Biden had 49 percent and Trump 41 percent support among registered voters.

(Beaver Dam) No injuries were reported following a chemical leak in Beaver Dam. Fire crews responded to Animart Dairy and Livestock Solutions at 1240 Green Valley Road at 8:58am yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Fire Chief Alan Mannel says a 275-gallon tank of formaldehyde was leaking; the leak was stopped in less than one hour but not before losing around 200 gallons. It is not clear how the formaldehyde tank was punctured but Mannel says it was an apparent accident. Beaver Dam received mutual assistance from Dodge County, Fond du Lac, Fox Lake, Juneau, Hustisford and Watertown. A private company from Chicago was contracted to clean-up.

(Westford) A Sun Prairie man was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday) to 150 days in jail with work release privileges for injuring another motorist in a drunk driving accident in Dodge County. On October 2nd, Daniel Pickhardt apparently lost control of his truck on County Road G and spun out. The 56-year-old was then rear-ended by a woman who complained of back pains. Pickhardt’s blood alcohol level was point-one-six (.16).

(Waupun) A Waupun Correctional inmate was charged yesterday (Tuesday) with making inappropriate contact with a prison guard. Britt Evans is facing a felony count of Second Degree Sexual Assault and Battery by Prisoner. In April, a correctional officer was assisting with morning mediation when Evans reportedly stuck his arm through the feed trap and made contact with the guard. When questioned why he did it, Evans allegedly said (quote) “because I wanted to.” If convicted, the 45-year-old faces an additional 46-years in prison. An initial appearance is scheduled for September 24th.

(Empire) Mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal resulted in a vehicle slamming into a home in the Fond du Lac County Town of Empire around 7:30am yesterday (Tuesday). Authorities say that the driver, a 53-year-old Fond du Lac man, pulled over to the side of the road to clean his windshield off but applied the accelerator instead of the breaks. The car went down a hill and crashed into a residence at N5123 Oak Hill Road. There were no injuries. The driver was cited for Failure to Keep Control of a Vehicle.