Newscast – September 29, 2020

(Beaver Dam) Beaver Dam Alderman Mick Fischer asked the mayor what she was smoking when she assembled a $6-million dollar borrowing plan for next year, which is three times what the city can borrow under a self-imposed cap that requires three-fourths majority of the council to exceed. Mayor Becky Glewen pointed out the historically low interest rates and available debt capacity in saying that constituents are not happy that previous councils let the city get so far behind in addressing crumbling infrastructure. The borrowing plan includes $4.25-million dollars for roads and $1.5-million for the parks. A separate plan to relocate the Department of Public Works for between $10-and-$13-million dollars saw healthy discussion by officials with Fischer saying that he will be asking the council next week for a spring referendum. Glewen indicated that such a decision is the responsibility of elected officials.

(Cambria-Friesland) Citing “an increase in positive COVID-19 cases and staff shortages related to the virus,” the Cambria-Friesland School District will be closed through the rest of the week. School District Administrator Tim Raymond says the plan is to re-open Monday. He says the school board will reconvene, if necessary, to discuss if the closure needs to be extended further. At this time, the district’s child care will remain open.

(Dodge County) Wisconsin health officials are reporting 1,726 positive coronavirus cases in Monday’s daily update, which is 21.9-percent of the 7,800 tests announced. There are 19,560 active cases in the state, an increase of 510 from Sunday. State health officials recorded two deaths Monday, for a total of 1,283. Dodge County has 16 deaths on record and 1,884 cases, an increase of 47 from Sunday. County health officials are actively monitoring 429 people.

(Wisconsin) A conservative think tank wants to stop Governor Evers from enacting mandates based on health emergencies. Lawyers for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty have asked a Polk County judge to immediately strike down Governor Tony Evers’ extension of his public masking order. The group says that Evers does not have the authority to continue enacting orders like this. They filed a similar lawsuit against the first round of the mask mandate, before Evers extended it alongside declaring a new public health emergency due to rising COVID-19 cases. – WRN

(Markesan) Authorities in Green Lake County are investigating an armed robbery at a grocery store. The incident occurred at Ted’s Piggly Wiggly in Markesan just before 9pm Sunday evening. The suspect was wearing a surgical mask and sunglasses when he entered the business at 450 North Margaret Street and acted as if he was shopping. He approached the checkout, pointed to what “appeared to be a handgun” in the waistband of his pants, demanded money and fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a white male, at least six-feet tall with a skinny build, wearing light-colored blue jeans and a bluish jacket or hoodie. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Markesan Police Department. Images of the suspect can be found on DailyDodge.com.

(Waupun) Authorities in Waupun had their hands full recently with a delusional subject, thought to be on drugs, who was bleeding profusely. Police responded to a residence on the 100 block of North Madison Street Thursday evening just after 9pm following reports of an out-of-control man who punched a glass window. He was said to be yelling unintelligibly and bleeding heavily from his arm when he left the residence and walked into a Madison Street business. When the owner called 9-1-1 the man left, heading for Veterans Memorial Field where he was witnessed by a bystander climbing up the bleachers and then falling over the top. Police arrived and EMS transported him to Waupun Memorial Hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries reported and the incident remains under investigation.

(Wisconsin) The presidential campaigns are back in Wisconsin this week. Jill Biden was in Madison and Waukesha Monday, campaigning on behalf of her husband, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. President Donald Trump’s son Eric will be at a Rothschild metal fabrication business Thursday evening for a “Make America Great” campaign event. The president himself is scheduled to make campaign stops in La Crosse and Green Bay on Saturday. Trump last visited Wisconsin earlier this month with a rally in Mosinee. – WRN