Local News
Reedsburg Area Medical Center Birth Center opens milk drop off depot
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL) and Reedsburg Area Medical Center have partnered to bring a new breast milk collection depot to Reedsburg. This joint effort increases access for approved donors and families in the area to donate lifesaving, critical nutrition for babies in need. The organizations welcomed the new depot with a grand opening ceremony on April 29th in the Birth Center at Reedsburg Area Medical Center.
“Reedsburg Area Medical Center is excited to provide this valuable service to local moms in Reedsburg and surrounding communities,” says Pam Dregney, RAMC Birth Center director. “Area moms have shown an increased interest in donating their precious breast milk and are excited about the prospect of helping other infants and families. I would also like to thank the RAMC Foundation for their very generous donation of the freezer to use for the donated breast milk.”
The milk depot at Reedsburg Area Medical Center collects human milk donations from healthy, lactating women who are approved donors through the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. The donations are then sent to the milk bank’s processing facility in Elk Grove Village, IL, where the milk is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria. The pasteurized milk is tested by a third-party lab and distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Wisconsin and Illinois.
“Donor milk is life-saving for medically fragile babies. Many of the smallest patients’ care plans rely on this essential nutrition. The families that can donate this invaluable resource are superheroes! We are so happy to partner with Reedsburg to provide this convenient drop-off location to the donors in the community.” said Amber Barnes BSN, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, clinical manager, Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.
Individuals interested in donating through Milk Bank WGL please visit www.milkbankwgl.org or call 847-262-5134. The Milk Bank will guide all donors through the process of donating their breast milk. Approved donors must bring their donor ID number given by the Milk Bank when bringing their donation. Donations are gladly accepted by appointment by calling the RAMC Birth Center at 608-768-6251.
For more information on Reedsburg Area Medical Center visit ramchealth.com.
Local Scam Attempt
Beware of phone scams
There is a phone scam that has been making its way through our area.
Patients are being contacted by people posing as employees from trusted organizations – like hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Instead of asking for the usual credit card or social security card numbers, these scammers are asking patients to verify their insurance/Medicare ID numbers. The information is then used to access and utilize protected health information in a harmful way.
If you are ever in doubt, don’t give your information out.
Mauston Passes Another No Mow May
The City of Mauston recently approved another season of No Mow May. Residents and property owners wishing to participate can pick up a yard sign at City Hall to place in your front yard during May.
Participants will be exempt from typical weed and grass cutting requirements during May, but must bring their lawns back into compliance no later than Monday, June 10th, 2024. Anything after June 10th that is not in accordance with city ordinance will be enforced.
We kindly urge those who participated last year and still have signs to reuse them for this season or return them to City Hall.
Mauston’s Massey Selected as one of 32 finalists for WIAA Scholar Athlete Award
Congratulations to Brock Massey who was recently selected as one of 32 statewide finalists for the very prestigious 2024 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award! Only four boys and four girls from each of the four WIAA divisions were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement. Brock Massey will be honored at the WIAA Scholar Athlete Banquet on May 5 in Stevens Point. Royall’s Marah Gruen was also selected as a finalist!
Reedsburg Area Medical Center campus – wide phone system upgrade
Beginning the evening of Wednesday, April 24th Reedsburg Area Medical Center will begin a phone system upgrade which will affect all phones across the campus including the hospital, Senior Life Center and clinics. During the upgrade anyone calling into the campus will hear a phone disconnected tone. This is temporary during the upgrade. The timing is such that there should be minimal disruption to any callers. Please see below for important information and temporary phone numbers to use during this time.
RAMC Physicians Group and Specialty Group phone upgrades will begin at 7:30pm.
Reedsburg Area Senior Life Center phone upgrade will begin at 7:30pm. During this time anyone needing to contact the Senior Life Center should call 608.495.1502.
Hospital phone upgrade will begin at 11pm. During this time anyone needing to contact the hospital should call 608.495.9758.
ALL PHONES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL NO LATER THAN 3AM.
Thank you to everyone for your patience during this time.
Norwalk Man Arrested after Hit & Run and Firing Weapon
On 04/17/2024 at approximately 8:38 PM, Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported hit and run traffic crash at Main Street and S. Water Street, in the Village of Norwalk. The suspect vehicle was later located behind an address on Main Street in Norwalk.
As Deputies attempted contact at the front door of the suspected driver’s residence, a single gunshot was heard from inside the residence. The roommate to the suspect quickly exited the residence and was detained by deputies. A second male was inside the residence, who was later to be determined to be the shooter. The shooter was identified as Eduardo Gomez Jimenez (18 years old). Deputies immediately entered the residence and began giving commands to Eduardo. He discarded the firearm and then attempted to run into an interior room. Deputies were able to quickly apprehend Eduardo and took him into custody. Thankfully, no one was injured from the shooting. During the investigation, it was found the handgun had been stolen.
Eduardo was arrested and booked into the jail for the following charges:
941.30(1) 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety- 3 counts
947.01(1) Disorderly Conduct
941.20(1)(b) Go Armed with Firearm While Intoxicated
346.67(1) Hit and Run
346.63(1)(a) Operating While under Influence (1st)
943.34(1)(bm) Receiving Stolen Property Firearm
Eduardo is currently being held at the Monroe County Jail.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cashton Police Department and Monroe County 911 Communications Center.
Local Counties Awarded Farm Bureau Grant
Congratulations to these local county Farm Bureaus (Juneau, Adams & Sauk) who will be awarded $250 each to be used towards #FarmNeighborsCare Projects. Special thanks to McCade’s Joyride for their support of farmer wellness initiatives and contribution to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation which is supporting these grants.
Wonewoc Library Receives Grant
Wonewoc Lions Club representative Julie Ott, presented the Wonewoc Public Library Board with a $500 donation. It will be used to purchase large print books and other materials.. Ott also serves on the board along with from left, Mike Roraff, Polly Benish, Lauren Kreutzer, Belinda Gehri and Larry Ennis, and Colleen Beier.
Necedah’s Marquis Energy Set to Change Hands
Marquis Energy (Necedah) ethanol production plant is being sold to United Cooperative (Beaver Dam based). The deal will be effective on May 31st of this year. The sale was announced on Monday. The plant will be operated under the new name United Energy Mauston. The facility is not expected to let go of any of their more than 50 employees. They have not announced how much the acquisition was as they are still working out details of the sale.
