(Juneau) The Dodge County Board last night approved the establishment of the Beaver Dam Lake District on a 21-to-six vote. The taxing entity will raise revenue from waterfront property owners to address issues ranging from shoreline erosion to water quality. The district could, among other things, greatly improve the lake’s chances of receiving grant funding. The process was triggered when the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association submitted a petition with the required signatures to the county to form the district. Now that the district has been approved, an organizational meeting of the initial lake district board must be held within 90 days, to prepare for the first annual meeting this summer when the new board will elect its own members. Those who live inside the lake district will approve or disapprove budgets set by commissioners.
(Juneau) Dodge County has officially hired a new director for Clearview Nursing Home. The county board last (Tuesday) night approved Edward Somers for the opening. The vacancy was created when former Clearview Director Deanna Wilson resigned and took a position as vice president of campus operations at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge in Madison. The starting salary will be $65.87 an hour and benefits include 15 days of paid vacation. Somers first day is slated for April 20th.
(Madison) The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting community spread as more than five dozen cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the state. As a result, Governor Tony Evers issued new directives including a ban on gatherings of more than ten people and has limited restaurants to carry-out and delivery only.
(Beaver Dam) A drive-thru coronavirus testing clinic has been set up in Dodge County. The stand-alone testing center, for county residents only, is aimed at making testing more efficient. Those who feel they may have symptoms should call first, a number you’ll find at DailyDodge.com. If deemed appropriate, the patient will be directed to the drive-thru site for a test at no cost. The hospital and the county’s public health unit ask that those who have not been screened refrain from entering the drive-thru line. People who do test positive will be expected to self-quarantine for 14 days.
(Juneau) The latest word from officials is that there are no cases of coronavirus in Dodge County at this time. The county’s Public Health Officer, Abby Sauer says as of 8am on Tuesday, there have been no positive test results for COVID-19. She says they are “closely monitoring the situation and remain focused in our efforts to prevent the spread of infection in the community.” Sauer says the number of confirmed cases in Wisconsin should “remind all of us about the importance of social distancing and maintaining good hygiene to prevent the spread of disease.”
(Waupun) The Waupun Common Council on Tuesday approved declaration of a state of emergency in response to the threat of Coronavirus spread. Mayor Julie Nickel says the declaration is a “precautionary measure.” Among other things, the declaration restricts access to city hall, though plans are being put in place for voting. That joins a list of buildings previously closed including the senior center, community center and library. The Dodge County Board also adopted a resolution last night declaring a local state of emergency.
(Madison) The Wisconsin state Senate will not be on the floor next week. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he is postponing the March 24th floor period “out of an abundance of caution” for senators and their families during the coronavirus pandemic. The Juneau Republican says he and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos plan to call an extraordinary session of the Legislature sometime in spring. Next week was the final general business day for the legislative session.
(Madison) Governor Evers will issue an emergency order to waive work search requirements and modify availability requirements for unemployment insurance benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19. Evers wants the Legislature to waive the one-week waiting period for benefits, just one of many things he’ll discuss with legislative leaders today. Lawmakers are working on one or more bills to respond to the pandemic.
(Beaver Dam) Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam is announcing additional restrictions for visitors and changes in services in response to ongoing COVID-19 developments. Effective immediately, the hospital’s Café will be closed to the public. In addition, their massage and foot clinics along, with their chiropractic and sleep centers, are closed indefinitely. There will also be no Saturday walk-in screening mammograms until further notice.
(Beaver Dam) Moraine Park Technical College has extended the length of time that classes will be suspended. College officials have announced that the school will be closed beginning at 10am on Wednesday (March 18) until Monday, April 13, except for essential employees. Face-to-face spring semester classes will not resume until one week later on Monday, April 20. Any classes that can be taught in a fully online format will begin on Monday, March 30 including the online classes that have not yet started.
(Columbus) The Columbus Municipal Court will convene so long as city hall remains open. That according to Judge Ed Schellin who tells us that those who have a court date scheduled for today (Wednesday) should expect the hearing to be on the docket. However, those who wish to appear by phone have the option to do so. Adult citations begin at 2pm and juvenile citations will be start at 3:30pm. Details on how to phone into the courtroom are at DailyDodge.com.
