News – January 26, 2021

(Beaver Dam) That storm system tracked further north than anticipated dumping around a half foot of snow on the Dodge County area. The National Weather Service Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until noon but it’s the blowing and drifting that is hampering the morning commute and triggering closings. Beaver Dam reported 6.2-inches of snow. Parts of Madison are reporting 8.5 inches. Theresa got seven inches, Oconomowoc and Watertown have five, Jefferson recorded 4.5-inches, Portage and Lodi have four. The weather service says plan on slippery road conditions as patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

 

 

(Beaver Dam) The city of Beaver Dam will receive a half-million dollars in grant funds for road repairs following action by the common council last (Monday) night. Under the terms of the Community Development Block Grant, property owners who live on the streets would not be assessed for roadwork costs. In addition, the city is targeting another round of grant funds this spring that could bring in another one millions dollars, which is expected to cover over half of the total costs. The projects identified include portions of West, Front, Haskell, Beaver and West Maple.

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man is facing over 64 years in prison for allegedly dealing a large amount of drugs out of his apartment. Following a search warrant executed at Reginald Bennet’s Lake Crest apartment, authorities allegedly found drug paraphernalia, over 10 grams of cocaine and nearly $35-thousand-dollars in cash. The 28-year-old had a signature bond set at $1,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 4th.

(Wisconsin) Two Republicans on the state’s finance committee say the Governor should simply follow basic state procedure to get the funding for a new unemployment system. Representative Mark Born of Beaver Dam and Senator Howard Marklein say that Governor Tony Evers should simply file for a ‘request for proposal’ on a new unemployment system. That would put the program out for bids. Evers continues to say it’s disappointing that Republicans are blaming him for a system that was broken under their watch in the Walker administration. -WRN

(Dodge County) For the first time since the Holidays, Wisconsin reported fewer than a thousand new COVID-19 cases in a single day Monday. The state Department of Health Services reported 984 positive tests Monday. The state health department also reported eight COVID deaths, bringing that total to 5,699. Both the number of hospitalized patients and the number in ICUs increased slightly, to 772 and 175 respectively. Dodge County has experienced 138 deaths and 11,052 cases, a one-day increase of 11 positive tests. Health officials are actively monitoring 294 people. -WRN contributed

(Wisconsin) The state’s biggest business group is again urging the Department of Health Services to add over 380-thousand manufacturing workers to the second phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President and CEO Kurt Bauer argued manufacturers have been essential in making personal protective equipment for hospitals and businesses, and that it’s “unacceptable” to put prisoners ahead of workers in manufacturing. Last week, the state’s medical advisory committee approved a recommendation for the second phase that included people in congregate living spaces, including prisoners. -WRN

(Wisconsin) Wisconsin is starting another week at the back of the line for the coronavirus vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Wisconsin is last in the Midwest in getting people the shot. As of Friday, the Department of Health Services reported that Wisconsin had administered 310-thousand doses. Wisconsin has been allocated more than 700-thousand. Governor Evers blames the federal government for the slow rollout. The governor’s critics in the legislature say the Evers administration is to blame. -WRN

(Wisconsin) Republican lawmakers are backing a bill that calls for public health officials in Wisconsin to begin vaccinating the general public in less than two months. The measure calls for the state to come up with a plan to begin vaccinating everyone by March 15th.  One bill sponsor says he believes the deadline is realistic because he’s expecting the arrival of more vaccine options.  A Democratic state senator calls it “a great plan,” but only if the vaccines are available. -WRN

(Madison) The U-W System will continue to host some of their testing sites for COVID-19 surge testing.  The U-S Department of Health and Human Services is providing 144-thousand additional rapid tests that will be used to identify people with the virus within 15 minutes.  12 U-W school sites will be used, which does not include Madison and Milwaukee.

(Wisconsin) Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature want to cancel the governor’s mask order. The state Medical Society urges them not to. CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society Dr. Bud Chumbley says regardless of political leanings, the best way to control the spread of the virus is with a mask. The state Senate will consider a Republican authored joint resolution today. If passed there and in the Assembly, it would not require the governor’s signature to go into effect. -WRN