News – July 14, 2020

(Columbus) A construction worker was killed after being struck by a commercial truck yesterday (Monday) morning near Columbus. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received report of the incident around 8:30am at highways 151 and 73. 29-year-old Moises Efrain Andino-Lopez was struck by a portion of the truck as it passed through the construction zone. Andino-Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.

(Caledonia) A motorcyclist was killed while attempting to pass a semi in the Town of Caledonia yesterday (Monday). Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the crash on Highway 33 near Tritz Road just after 10am. The motorcycle operated by Christopher Gene Binder of Coloma collided with the semi as the 32-year-old attempted to pass at a high rate speed while, at the same time, the semi began turning left into a driveway. Binder was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation but authorities say speed appears to a major contributing factor.

(Beaver Dam) A car collided with a bicycle Monday afternoon in Beaver Dam. Authorities responded to North Center and Scott streets, near Dairy Queen, around 4pm. A 13-year-old Beaver Dam girl was transported to Marshfield Medical Center Beaver Dam with non-life-threatening injuries. The Fox Lake man driving the car stayed at the scene and was not injured. There were no citations issued. The incident remains under investigation. Beaver Dam Police Sgt. Craig Retzlaff says there were two juvenile boys who witnessed the incident who did an excellent job staying calm and alerting those in the area that first responders were needed.

(Jefferson County) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of a Jefferson County homicide suspect. Kevin Anderson of Fort Atkinson is wanted in connection with the killing of his biological sister, 57-year-old Nedra Lemke, and her husband, 59-year-old James Lemke. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (920-674-7311). Authorities say information can be submitted anonymously, but if a reward is sought, be sure to include contract information.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials reported 494 positive cases of coronavirus in Monday’s daily update, which is 7.5-percent of the 6,100 tests announced. There are 7,447 active cases in the state, up 142 from Sunday. There was no change in the death count, that number stands at 820. Dodge County has five deaths on record and 523 cases, an increase of eight from Sunday. County health officials are actively monitoring 39 people while 241 have recovered.

(Waupun) [Nine] Additional coronavirus cases have been reported at Dodge Correctional. According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the Waupun prison has nine inmates test positive for COVID-19. The facility has had three staff members confirmed to have coronavirus. At nearby Waupun Correctional, 228 inmates along with 22 employees have tested positive; both figures are most in the state. Fox Lake Correctional and John Burke Correctional have tested over 1,500 inmates combined with no positive tests to date. Fox Lake Correctional has reported two staff members who have had COVID-19.

(Dane County) A face-mask mandate began yesterday in Dane County. Masks are required for everyone in Dane county over five years old. Masks are only required indoors, and where social distancing is hard to maintain. Violators risk a 376-dollar fine, but it’s not clear how strictly it will be enforced. Local businesses say about 90-percent of people in Madison already wear masks, so the new requirement should not be much of an adjustment for many.

(Milwaukee) The Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance yesterday requiring people to wear masks in public spaces.

(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam School Board last night adopted a return to school plan. The multi-faceted strategy uses CDC and local county public health guidelines in outlining scenarios. For example, if there is low coronavirus activity in the county, there could be in-person learning at all grade levels with no masks needed. Conversely, with high levels of infections, school could become virtual-based only, or there would be a heavily modified schedule of virtual learning and in-person learning with masks required. A more middle of the road approach would see a mixture of virtual and in-person learning options, with limited student movement and masks required during bussing and transition times. Parents will be given an option of in-school or virtual learning.