News – March 16, 2022

(Juneau) A federal lawsuit filed against Dodge County law enforcement leaders has been dismissed. Selepri Amachree’s suit alleged he was illegally held in the Dodge County Jail for six months in 2017. It stemmed from a deportation order following a drug arrest 20 years ago. However, the Supreme Court determined in 2006 that such drug offenses did not rise to the level of deportation. Amachree claimed that the Dodge County sheriff conspired with Immigration agents to detain him. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says he is grateful the federal court concluded that no viable claim exists. Amachree says he is disappointed in the decision. The suit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it or its claims cannot not be re-filed in the future. However, Amachree’s legal team can file an appeal with the Seventh Circuit Court in the next 30 days. He says his counsel is still discussing next steps and has not officially decided anything yet.

(Wisconsin) Governor Tony Evers is spending $50-million-dollars in federal stimulus funding in order to help reduce violence in the state. Calling it a public health issue much like COVID, Evers says more needs to be done to prevent violence before it starts. Multiple Dodge County law enforcement agencies are receiving funds including the sheriff’s office as well as police departments in Beaver Dam, Waupun, Mayville, Fox Lake, Horicon, Juneau, and Hustisford.

(Waupun) A twenty-two-year-old college student from Waupun is in need of a new kidney. Eric Warnke is diagnosed with end stage kidney failure. Warnke will speak at Bee a Donor on April 9th. The event brings together donors and recipients to share stories and promote organ donation. He will also appear on Community Comment on April 7th to share his story and search for a living donor. More information and updates can be found at the ‘A Kidney for Eric’ Facebook page. A link can be found with this news story at DailyDodge.com.

(Wisconsin) Fewer and fewer people are in the hospital with the coronavirus in Wisconsin. The state’s Hospital Association says there were only 248 people with COVID in Wisconsin hospitals late Monday. Only 53 were in intensive care units. Those numbers have not been that low since the end of last July. – WRN

(Dodge County) Dodge County health officials confirmed two additional COVID deaths Tuesday. That brings the total death count to 321 with 279 confirmed and 42 probable deaths. There were nine new cases reported yesterday with three additional hospitalizations. So far, 52.4-percent of Dodge County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 50.1-percent have completed vaccination series.

(Wisconsin) A warning for people on FoodShare. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says it’s actively investigating reports of compromised FoodShare cards. The agency says anyone enrolled in the program needs to check their balances, check-in with the agency that issues the cards, and change passwords and PIN’s. Health Services says people also need to report lost or stolen FoodShare cards immediately. – WRN