News – January 19, 2021

(Wisconsin) Today marks the start of a mobile vaccination program in Wisconsin. It is a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin National Guard. DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the program will launch with nine teams tasked with supporting local health departments as needed. It’s anticipated the teams will initially be able to vaccinate between 70 and 140 people per day, and grow from there. – WRN

(Wisconsin) The chief lobbyist for the Wisconsin Grocers’ Association wants grocery workers closer to the front of the line for COVID-19 shots. Brandon Scholz says the people who stock the shelves and work the check-out lines have been considered essential employees for the past ten months, and he wants to know why they are being left-out of the next round of coronavirus vaccines. The Department of Health Services is finalizing who will be in the next group, known as Phase 1b. Scholz says he cannot believe that prisoners and mink farmers are further ahead in line. – WRN

(Wisconsin) About 500 soldiers and airmen with the Wisconsin National Guard are in Washington, D-C, to help provide security for Wednesday’s inauguration. Joe Biden will take the oath of office amidst the tightest security in history for an inauguration. The Wisconsin troops will be among about 25-thousand from across the country, a response to threats of possible terrorist attacks. The soldiers from the 32nd “Red Arrow” Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 115th Fighter Wing and the 128th Air Refueling Wing left Wisconsin Saturday. – WRN

(Madison) An eight-year-old from Madison will be recognized during President-elect Joe Biden’s nationwide inauguration program Wednesday evening.  Morgan Marsh-McGlone raised over 50-thousand dollars with her virtual lemonade stand to help combat food insecurities.  The program will air on most major networks, cable news stations and the Presidential Inauguration Committee’s social media pages.

(Wisconsin) President elect Joe Biden has named Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to his administration. Governor Tony Evers office confirmed Monday that Palm will be nominated to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services position, rejoining the federal agency in which she served during the Obama administration. Palm’s last day will be Wednesday. – WRN

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials are reporting 1,083 positive coronavirus cases in Monday’s daily update. State health officials recorded 19 deaths bringing that total to 5,470. Dodge County has experienced 129 deaths and 10,927 cases, a one-day increase of eight positive cases. County health officials are actively monitoring 343 people. Columbia County recorded one death yesterday for a total 38.

(Wisconsin) Scammers are targeting Wisconsinites who are worried about the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. State consumer protection administrator Lara Sutherlin says they are getting reports of robocalls and spam mails from crooks claiming that they can bump people up on ‘the list’ of COVID-19 vaccinations, which is not true. If you are worried about getting a vaccine, contact your doctor or insurance company, and never ever pay someone who calls you out of the blue asking for gift cards, prepaid debit cards or money orders. – WRN

(Wisconsin) The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is releasing an ad calling for U-S Senator Ron Johnson to resign. The spot links the Oshkosh Republican to the storming of the U-S Capitol. At the same time, a new billboard has been placed along highways in north-central Wisconsin demanding Johnson and Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany resign. – WRN

(Rosendale) Parents of children attending a middle school in the Rosendale-Brandon School District targeted for closing got a chance to speak out during a public hearing Monday night. District officials are expecting a 30 percent drop in enrollment over the next four years at the Brandon Middle School and the district projects a possible savings of $68,000 by combining the school with the Rosendale Middle School and eliminating some positions. The Brandon Elementary School would remain open for 4K through 5th grade students. Some parents who spoke during the meeting pleaded with district officials not to close the school. The Rosendale-Brandon School Board is expected to vote on the matter at their February 15th meeting.

(Madison) Some of the latest state funding announcements will impact health departments, and drug treatment services.  State health officials will provide local and tribal health departments with 86-million dollars to offset COVID-19 costs, along with nearly 9-million dollars to 28 county and tribal governments to provide treatment services for opioids or stimulants.

(Waupun) Waupun Police reporting vandalism to the front walk of the Historical Society building over the weekend. More extensive vandalism affected other city property, as well as the historic Masonic Lodge building. Anyone with information about the responsible person or persons is asked to contact the Waupun Police Department [at 920-324-7911]. Information can be reported anonymously. A city public works team is working on clean up. Unfortunately, given dropping temperatures and the kind of paint used, a special product had to be ordered to begin that process.