News – August 27, 2021

(Wisconsin) COVID hospitalizations in Wisconsin are at their highest since January, and that’s taking its toll on health care workers’ morale. Doctor Ann Sheehy of U-W Health compares her work over the last year-and-a-half to running a marathon. She says she’s trying to stay positive, but she is worried the number of patients could climb this fall and winter. Dodge County has had nine hospitalizations since Sunday. – WRN

(Dodge County) Fifty-one-percent of Wisconsin residents are fully vaccinated against COVID while 54.2-percent have had one shot of the vaccine. In Dodge County, 41.2-percent have completed their vaccination series while 44-percent have had at least one dose. Health officials in Dodge County have reported 36 additional cases from Wednesday to Thursday with active community cases totaling 291.

(Portage) The Columbia County Health Department will be hosting a free walk-in COVID vaccine clinics next week. County health officials say the clinic will be for a one-and-done Johnson and Johnson shot. The J and J vaccine is only offered to those 18 and older. The clinic will be at the Taste of Portage at 112 East Edgewater Street between 11am and 4pm Saturday, August 28th. Information about scheduling a vaccine shot is available at DailyDodge.com.

(Oshkosh) The Oshkosh School Board meeting this Wednesday was cut short by anti-mask protesters. The meeting got underway at 6:00 p-m, but arguments broke out when the protesters entered the room.  They refused to put on masks when they were asked and school board members walked out of the meeting room, gathering in the superintendent’s office.  Forty-five minutes after the meeting started, the building was cleared.  No make-up date for the postponed meeting has been announced.

(Dodge County) There was a decrease in jobless claims in the region from June to July. The state Department of Workforce Development says the unemployment rate in Dodge County last month was 3.3-percent, down just under a half-percent from the 3.7-percent reported in June and still well below the 7.1-percent logged last July. Statewide jobless numbers held steady over the three-month period at 3.9-percent, well below the national rate of 5.4-percent.

(Green Lake County) Green Lake County has a new coroner. Governor Tony Evers Wednesday announced his appointment of Daniel Krieser to the position. This fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. John Willet in May. Krieser has served with the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner’s Office since 2014. Krieser says he is thankful the governor has given him this opportunity and that he is excited to become a part of the community.

(Beaver Dam) Two long-standing icons at WBEV/95X were recognized by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association on Thursday. Bill McCollum and the late John Moser were inducted as 2020 WBA Local Broadcast Legends. The award honors individuals who exemplify localism and fulfill the commitment broadcasters have to serve their communities. “Uncle Bill” has been with the Beaver Dam station for 58 years, spending most of that time hosting the WBEV Morning Show as well as the popular Barn Show. John spent 47 years on the air before passing away in January.