News – May 21, 2021

(Beaver Dam) During alcohol compliance checks, Beaver Dam Police Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson says he usually offers a few suggestions of the kind of alcohol the underage volunteer should avoid tying to buy. The checks allow law enforcement to determine if businesses with a liquor license are carding underage patrons. Law enforcement uses underage volunteers to conduct the sweeps. Johnson says he suggests avoiding the “hard stuff” like Jack Daniels. He says it is important to “keep it simple” and buy some wine coolers or beer. The alcohol is purchased using taxpayer money so it is immediately returned if a business does end up selling it to the underage patron.

(Madison) The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is delaying for now, on budget action for the state Public Service Commission and broadband expansion. Governor Tony Evers has also called for $200-million-dollars in state spending for broadband expansion. And the special session he is called for includes another $200-million in federal money for broadband, if Republicans agree to expand Medicaid, which they have already rejected. – WRN

(Madison) Legislative Democrats are hoping that the Republicans on the state’s joint finance committee finally hand over money that has been earmarked to help homeless Wisconsinites. Democrats say those funds were needed before, during and after the pandemic and Republicans have hurt Wisconsinites for no reason. – WRN

(Columbia County) Work is slated to begin later this month on improvements to Highways 44 and 33 in Columbia County. The $5.3-million-dollar project will include replacing two-and-a-half miles along Highway 44 east from Pardeeville to Marcellon as well as add paved shoulders and culvert replacement. Construction is scheduled to begin May 26th and be completed in early July. Around that same time, ten miles of highway will be resurfaced on Highway 33 west of Marcellon to northwest Cambria until mid-October. Both highways will be open during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. More information about the project is available at DailyDodge.com.

(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Unified School District will be providing free meals to children this summer. In partnership with the district’s food service provider, Taher Inc., they will distribute free meals to any person 18 years or younger and persons 19 or older with a physical or mental disability. The meal distributions will take place at the Beaver Dam High School from 4pm to 5:30pm every Wednesday during the summer, beginning June 2nd.

(Beaver Dam) Marshfield Medical Center – Beaver Dam announced yesterday (Thursday) additional services that will be located in their medical office building. The facility will be providing family medicine, dermatology, and chiropractic care in newly renovated space on the fourth floor of the building located at 705 South University Avenue, adjacent to the hospital, beginning in July. New pain management services are also expected to be added to the location later this summer.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials reported two COVID deaths yesterday bringing that number to 6,978. Dodge County is reporting 165 deaths with 121 active cases. Thirty-two-point-six-percent (32.6%) of Dodge County residents are fully vaccinated while 36.8-percent have had at least one dose.

(Wisconsin) Three Wisconsin counties have now vaccinated more than 50-percent of residents for COVID-19. Leading the way is Door County, where 57-percent of the county’s 27-thousand-500 residents are fully vaccinated. Dane County has fully vaccinated just over 54-and-a-half-percent of the counties more than 540-thosand residents. And in Bayfield County, just over 52-percent of its 15,000 residents have completed the vaccine series. Adjacent Clark and Taylor counties have the lowest completion totals, at just over 22-percent. – WRN