News – December 9, 2020

(Cambria) A Didion Milling employee reported missing was found dead at the Cambria facility yesterday (Tuesday). Authorities responded to a call of an unaccounted-for employee who was working in or around a corn silo just after 9am. After numerous hours of searching the missing person was found deceased inside one of the corn bins. The employee was identified as a 52-year-old Waupun man. His name is being withheld pending notification of family. The incident remains under investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

(Hustisford) An Oconomowoc man was found not competent to stand trial yesterday on charges that he significantly injured a passenger in a Dodge County accident where a controlled substance was allegedly found in his system. Ryan Rhadans was the reported driver during the 2016 crash on St. Helena Road that left his passenger, Timothy Bradfield, paralyzed. Blood samples that were later tested reportedly found THC in Rhadans system. The case is now suspended and the 38-year-old was referred to an outpatient program.

(Mayville) The owners of Leroy Meats are purchasing the city-owned Mayville golf course. The Common Council this week accepted their offer of $150-thousand-dollars, with the restriction that the city can repurchase the land should there be a proposed change in land use. A city-wide referendum during the spring election indicated that citizens wanted the course to be sold under the condition that it continues to operate as a golf course. Since the land will be privately owned, for the first time the city will be receiving tax revenue from the property. The exact amount is unknown at this time as the golf course will need to be appraised which will take place sometime in 2021.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials are reporting 4,114 positive coronavirus cases in Tuesday’s daily update. There are 57,813 active cases in the state, a decrease of 196 from Monday. The state reported 68 deaths bringing that total to 3,806. Dodge County has experienced 84 deaths and 9,169 cases. County health officials are actively monitoring 855 people, a decrease of 120 from Monday.

(Dodge County) The Dodge County Health Department is highlighting new CDC recommended quarantine guidelines. Those who do not develop symptoms can end their quarantine after day 10 without testing or day seven after receiving a negative test result that was collected within 48 hours of the end of quarantine. Health officials say people must continue to monitor for symptoms for the full 14-days. / The new guidelines take into account emerging scientific evidence on isolation periods and recognizes the difficulties Wisconsinites may have complying with the full 14-day quarantine window.

(Wisconsin) Marshfield Clinic has been selected by the state Department of Health Services as a distribution hub for the COVID-19 vaccine. Marshfield – which operates a medical center in Beaver Dam – was selected based on their ability to keep the Pfizer vaccine stored at the required negative 112 degrees Fahrenheit and their ability to distribute the shots to other hospitals, nursing homes, and local public health offices in the region. Officials say they will be following the DHS recommendations for who gets the vaccine first. The first doses are expected by next week after Pfizer’s hearing with the FDA on Thursday. Moderna vaccines may come about a week later. -WRN

(Madison) U-W Health’s ultra-cold storage capabilities will allow it to store the coronavirus vaccine. The Madison facility is getting ready to serve as a central storage facility for the distribution of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. It will partner with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in the distribution of the vaccine to other health and long-term care facilities in the region. Even though those at the top of the list could start getting the vaccine this month, it will still be several months before it’s available to the general public. -WRN