(Juneau) A Dodge County prosecutor was recently recognized for his work. Managing Attorney Bob Barrington was selected to receive a Lifetime Achievement award by the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association. The awards are designed to recognize the outstanding work of Wisconsin prosecutors and includes specific honors for a district attorney, deputy district attorney, and assistant district attorney. Nominations were received from criminal justice system partners across the state and reviewed by a bipartisan committee of current and former prosecutors. Kevin Calkins from Columbia County was named Assistant District Attorney of the Year. In total, seven awards were handed during the fall State Prosecutor’s Education and Training conference held in the Wisconsin Dells on November 4th.
(Madison) The Wisconsin Senate this week passed a bill authored by a Watertown politician. The legislation, introduced by Senator John Jagler, requires high schools to collect and report crime data. It also instructs the Department of Public Instruction to place the information to the school’s annual accountability report card. Jagler says parents deserve to know exactly what kind of environment their kids are facing when they get to school. The Republican adds many parents are going to be happy to know how safe their schools are, others are going to be disturbed by how frequently the learning process is being interrupted by crime and police calls. The bill now heads to the assembly for a vote.
(Madison) Republican-drawn congressional and legislative maps have passed the state Assembly, and Speaker Robin Vos hopes Governor Tony Evers will sign them. Evers and Democrats in the legislature contend the maps are Gerrymandered, providing Republicans an unfair advantage. The governor has promised to veto them, sending redistricting to either federal court or the Wisconsin Supreme Court. – WRN
(Kenosha) Governor Tony Evers has authorized the Wisconsin National Guard for duty following a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Closing arguments in the case are Monday, and approximately 500 Wisconsin Army National Guard troops are reporting for State Active Duty to support local partners in ensuring public safety in conjunction with hundreds of officers from volunteering law enforcement agencies. The Guard will stage outside Kenosha in a standby status to respond if requested. Evers is urging people not from the Kenosha area to stay away, and for those who do exercise their First Amendment rights to do so safely and peacefully. – WRN
(Beaver Dam) In an effort to celebrate progress in area businesses and organizations while cultivating young leaders in our community, the Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce has announced they have made changes to the traditional Annual Awards program. Scheduled for January 26th of 2022, the Annual Awards Recognition and dinner will feature three awards categories. The Five-Under-Forty Award will recognize and honor five of the areas brightest young leaders demonstrating success in their careers and the community. The Innovation Awards will honor both a large and small company and organizations in our area whose product, project, program, or process improvement best exemplifies forward-thinking ideas and innovation. The Emerging Leader Award, started in 2021, recognizes a high school or post-secondary student who has made a significant impact and positive difference in Beaver Dam, an award that comes with a $200 chamber check prize. Application information for the new awards can be found online at beaverdamchamber.com.
(Waupun) SSM Health is hosting several upcoming COVID vaccine information seminars. Officials with the healthcare provider, with clinics in Waupun and Fond du Lac, say vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. Virtual updates are being offered by local health care leaders with the first session slated for November 15 at 3:30pm. Subsequent sessions are scheduled for November 29, December 13, and January 10. Community leaders planning to speak at the November 15 session include Fond du Lac County Health Officer Kim Mueller and SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital President Katherine Vergos. The sessions – scheduled via Zoom – will provide updates on COVID developments and conclude with participant questions. Participants can submit questions prior to each session or at any time during the Q and A portion.
(Wisconsin) Wisconsin is ending the week with an uptick in coronavirus hospitalizations. On Thursday, the Wisconsin Hospital Association counted more than a-thousand people in the hospital with the virus. About 300 are in Intensive Care Units. A week ago, there were about 900 people in the hospital in Wisconsin with COVID. – WRN
(Wisconsin) The fall deer hunt is quickly approaching and the Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters to take care of their health before getting out into the woods. Conservation Warden Jon King says hunters should be sure to stretch and get acquainted with being out in the woods again. King says that you should always let friends or family know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, make sure to bring a cell phone in case of emergencies. The nine-day gun-deer hunt starts a week from today. – WRN
