News – November 24, 2020

(West Bend) The president of the West Bend City Council has died in a hunting accident. Washington Island Police say 65-year-old Steven Hoogester (who-guh-ster) died on Sunday after accidentally shooting himself in the chest. Investigators say that Hoogester was leaving a ground blind when the accident happened. Hoogester was elected to the council in 2013 and was previously a lieutenant with the West Bend Police Department. It is the first fatality of the deer hunting season. The DNR says nine other people have been injured in accidental shootings this season.

(Oakfield) An Oakfield man was injured when he fell 35 feet from a tree stand while hunting in the Kettle Moraine Northern Unit Monday afternoon. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say the 40-year-old called 911 around 12:30pm asking for help and was able to direct DNR wardens and first responders to his location near the Zillmer Trail. Flight for Life transported the hunter who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials are reporting 3,095 positive coronavirus cases in Monday’s daily update. That’s the lowest number of new cases in over a month, and the daily positive test rate of about 25.8 percent is the first time since November 1st that that critical indicator has dropped below 30 percent. There are 74,340 active cases in the state, a decrease of 695 from Sunday. The state reported six deaths bringing that total to 3,011. Dodge County has 66 deaths on record and 1131 active cases.

(Madison) Wisconsin has spent almost all of its two-billion-dollar coronavirus stimulus. About half of the two billion-dollars went to coronavirus testing, tracing, and state government operations. The rest went either to health care, or to several support efforts that sent money to everything from the University of Wisconsin system — to local movie theaters. Wisconsin needs to spend all of its coronavirus stimulus money by the end of the year. –WRN

(Beaver Dam) The formation of the new Beaver Dam Lake District is on track. An initial lake district board has been assembled, to prepare for the first annual meeting next summer when the residents in the district will elect their own board. Bill Foley with the Lake Improvement Association says commissioners have already established a boundary description and worked with the state revenue department as a modest assessment will be on the tax rolls this year to cover start-up costs. Next summer, when snowbirds are expected back, the elected board will vote on a budget. The lake district also now has its own website: bdlakedistrict.org.

(Madison) Wisconsin has shipped its one millionth N-95 mask as part of efforts to help pandemic frontline workers have access to the PPE they need.  The State Emergency Operations Center has also helped to distribute over 16-million non-surgical and non-medical masks, nearly 8-million pairs of gloves, nearly 225-thousand respirators, and almost 279-thousand containers of hand sanitizers. –WRN

(Madison) Today is day five of the election recount in Dane and Milwaukee counties. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said nearly one-quarter of ballots were tabulated as of yesterday (Monday). Milwaukee County hoped to complete its recount ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, but challenges by Trump campaign observers are leaving that timeline in question. –WRN

(Mount Pleasant) The coronavirus pandemic is being blamed for the lack of information about Foxconn’s plans for its facility in Mount Pleasant. The project director for the village says those plans are on hold until next year.  The original plans for a 20-million square-foot plant have already been downsized once.  It is not clear how many jobs will be developed, but likely not the 13-thousand originally promised.  The first stage of the building has been completed, but not the plant where the liquid crystal displays would be made.  Local officials say they do not know what the timeline is right now, saying they’d have a better idea if it was known when the COVID-19 pandemic might end. –WRN