News – March 22, 2021

(Dodge County) A nearly four-hour standoff, that saw a butcher knife-wielding suspect at one point holding a baby in front of him, was brought to a safe resolution thanks to training, interagency cooperation and patience. That’s what Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt told us last week on WBEV’s Community Comment about the March 9th standoff that started as a 14-mile police chase in Fond du Lac County. Schmidt, who maintained a bird’s eye view via drone helicopter, also credited the expertise of negotiators. The child was not injured. A 34-year-old Merrill man is under the care of medical professionals.

(Taycheedah) The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the death of a suspect who apparently shot himself early yesterday (Sunday) morning in the Town of Taycheedah. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies pulled a vehicle over while investigating a domestic incident. The suspect was found in the trunk, brandishing a weapon. Law enforcement attempted to negotiate but the man sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died at a hospital. No deputies discharged their weapon on scene.

(Portage) Electrical overheating of combustibles started a fire on West Pleasant Street in Portage around 7am Saturday. Crews were able to extinguish the blaze near the exterior doorway before it spread further into the home. There were no injuries.

(Juneau) Dodge County employees have been banned from work related out-of-state travel due to the pandemic. The county board recently adopted a resolution that restricts executive committee-approved travel during the county-declared state of emergency. The only travel permitted under the resolution would be if medically necessary or deemed necessary by law. The travel ban will remain in place until the declared state of emergency in Dodge County is rescinded.

(Dodge County) No COVID deaths were reported in Wisconsin Sunday and that number remains unchanged at 6,576, after 14 deaths were reported by state health officials Saturday. Dodge County has 158 deaths.

(Wisconsin) The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has announced a second round of broadband expansion grants. The PSC has $28.4-million-dollars to 58 projects for expanding high-speed broadband internet access in the state. The grants are part of the Broadband Expansion Grant Program.

(Wisconsin) Additional federal money to expand Medicare in Wisconsin – it’s an idea that continues to have support from Democrats while Republicans remain opposed. A recent memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found the state would have received $1-point-6-dollars-billion from the federal government had it accepted the full expansion seven years ago.

(Madison) A major retailer is coming to downtown Madison. Target has announced that it will open a 15,000-square-foot store in a vacant space on State Street. There is no word yet on when the store will open.

(Dodge County) The DNR says fire danger remains very high for most of Wisconsin. Dry winds and thawing snow has left much of the state in prime conditions for wildfires. The fire danger in Dodge County is high along with Columbia, Jefferson and Washington Counties. In Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties it is very high.