News
7th Annual GOLD Ice Fishing Tournament is a Go for this Saturday
From the Guardians of Lake Decorah on this weekends Ice Fishing Tournament: We are officially a go! After punching many holes today, we have determined that the tournament will move forward. We found 4 to 6 inches of safe ice in most areas, but we still recommend foot traffic only come Saturday to ensure everyone’s safety on the ice.
Vernon County Resident Arrested for Car Thefts
On Wednesday morning, January 17, 2024, at approximately 5:45 AM, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch
Center received a report that a black, Ford F-250 pickup truck had been taken, without consent, from a
residence along Will Kumlin Road, approximately one mile northwest of State Highway 82, rural De Soto,
WI, in the town of Wheatland. The caller reported locating the vehicle in the ditch, with minor damage,
a short distance from their residence.
At approximately 6:00 AM, the Sheriff’s Office received a second call reporting that a black, 2015
Chevrolet Equinox was missing from another address on Will Kumlin Road, just north of State Highway
82.
At 7:15 AM, the Sheriff’s Office received a third call reporting that a black Chevrolet Equinox was found
abandoned along Peterson Avenue, southwest of County Road N, rural Viroqua, WI, in the Town of
Sterling. It was quickly determined the abandoned, found with possible damage from striking a
snowbank, was the same vehicle that was reported missing.
During the investigation, it was determined that a third vehicle, a silver, 2013 Chevrolet Silverado K3500
was missing from Peterson Avenue. That vehicle was located by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, in
the Village of Gays Mills, at approximately 9:00 AM.
The investigation continued and with the assistance of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Colton Allen
Frazier, age 26, of rural De Soto, WI, was taken into custody and transported to the Vernon County
Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. In addition to three counts of Take and Drive a Motor Vehicle Without
Owner’s consent, Frazier was also booked for three counts of Felony Bail Jumping stemming from similar
criminal charges filed in Crawford County Circuit Court, in October 2023 in which Frazier is due back in
court on March 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM.
Colton Frazier appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon for a bail hearing, and he
was released on a $5,000.00 Signature Bond. Frazier is due back in Vernon County Circuit Court on
February 7, 2024, at 8:30 AM for an Initial Appearance. Formal charges will be sought through Vernon
County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher.
The investigation continues and Sheriff Torgerson would like to thank Sheriff Dale Mc Cullick and his
staff at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response and assistance.
If you have any information about this crime or any other crime, contact Vernon County Crime Stoppers
at 608-637-8477 or www.p3tips.com You will not ever be asked for you name when contacting Crime
Stoppers.
Barn Fire Outside of Mauston
ON TODAY’S DATE AT 04:20 AM, LYNDON STATION FIRE WAS REQUESTED FOR FULLY INVOLVED BARN
FIRE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LEMONWEIR, MAUSTON WI. UPON ARRIVAL TO THE SCENE, LYNDON FIRE HAD HEAVY
SMOKE AND FIRE SHOWING FROM THE A-SIDE OF THE DAIRY BARN. MUTUAL-AID WAS REQUESTED FOR
MAUSTON FIRE FOR MANPOWER AND A TENDER. WATER SUPPRESSION WAS INTRODUCED TO THE FIRE, AND
WITHIN AN HOUR THE DEPARTMENTS HAD CONTROL OF THE FIRE. ONLY ONE CALF WAS LOSS DURING THE
INCIDENT. THE DAIRY BARN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. A CAUSE FOR THE FIRE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING AGENCY’S FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE FOR TODAY’S CALL;
JUNEAU COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, JUNEAU COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, MAUSTON FIRE, MAUSTON
AREA AMBULANCE, THE SALVATION ARMY AND KWIK TRIP FOR HOT FOOD AND DRINKS, SWAGGER INN FOR
HOT SANDWICHES, LISA COUGHLIN FROM CASTLE ROCK REALITY FOR DOUGHNUTS, WATER, AND MUFFINS,
AND WISCONSIN RIVER MEATS FOR LUNCH.
THE BABCOCK FAMILY FARM WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FARMS FOR TRANSPORTING THEIR CATTLE
SO THEY ALL COULD BE MILKED TODAY;
LYNDELL FARMS, CAT-TAIL FARMS, M&G FARMS (CARL MILLER), DONNY KROGH, KEN KAYHART FARMS,
FRANK AND DAN PORKONEY, BLUFFVIEW FARMS, MCGOWN FARMS, ERIN AND BRIAN FESK FARMS, JOE
DORROW (REEDSBURG), JAKE LEE (LOGANVILLE), TYLER CROSS (WAUNAKEE), LANGER FARMS (DEFOREST),
HOFFMAN FARMS (WAUANKEE), BLUE-V FARMS AND ALL BABCOCK FAMILY, EMPLOYEES AND FRIENDS.
THE LYNDON STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE BABCOCK FAMILY FARM APPRECIATES ALL THE SUPPORT
FROM THE COMMUNITY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
City of Tomah Comprehensive Plan Update: Online Survey Opportunity
The City of Tomah has started on its 10-year update of the Comprehensive Plan, which was last significantly updated in 2013. The purpose of the plan is to provide a roadmap for the City’s next twenty years. The plan touches on ten different topic areas including economic development, land use, transportation, historic preservation, natural resources, and several others. In addition, the document contains a community-wide vision, topic-specific goals, objectives, policies, and recommendations, and an action plan to help prioritize future projects.
An online survey has been created to gather community-wide input as the first step in the Comprehensive Plan update process. This survey is intended to gather input on land use, transportation, recreational, cultural, and natural resource assets, issues, and opportunities.
Next Steps:
- We encourage all community members to take the online survey which will help guide the development of the Comprehensive Plan. The survey will be open between January 12, 2024 through February 2, 2024. It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey is available online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TomahComp24.
Additional information about the Comprehensive Plan Update is available by contacting
Shane Rolff, Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator at srolff@tomahwi.gov or 608-374-
7429.
Juneau County Sheriffs Sales
Mauston Board of Education Approves Operational Referendum Question for April 2 Ballot
At its Monday meeting, the School District of Mauston Board of Education voted to
place an operational referendum question on the ballot for Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
The question asks voters’ permission for the district to exceed its state-imposed revenue limit by $2.25
million per year over the next four years. It is necessary due to inadequate funding for public schools at
the state level over the past several years, paired with the effects of an outdated state school funding
formula. Expenses are also on the rise due to the increasing needs of students and the impact of
inflation.
The School District of Mauston is not alone in facing these challenges. Over the last decade, more than
half of the school districts in Wisconsin have received voter approval to exceed their revenue limits
through an operational referendum.
“While we are proud of our schools and the exceptional educational experience we have provided for
generations, the fact is that our district has some significant financial needs that will require our entire
community to address,” said Joel Heesch, Superintendent. “This proposed operational referendum will
allow us the expanded revenue limit authority to avoid cuts to programs and services while maintaining
what makes our school district so special. We look forward to sharing more information and answering
community members’ questions in the days and weeks ahead, right up to election day.”
If voters approve the proposed referendum, the School District of Mauston will be able to avoid
additional cuts in staffing and student programs over the next several years. The district will also
prioritize maintaining its current level of instruction focusing on small class sizes, providing a full range
of academic programming, and retaining its experienced staff.
The property tax impact of an approved referendum would be $.95 per every $1,000 of assessed
property value. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000, for example, would see a property tax
impact of $95 per year.
The district will be sharing more information, including answers to frequently asked questions, in the
coming days. Election day is Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Baraboo Man Arrested for the 4th OWI in Mauston
Derek P Carpenter, 34 years of age, from Baraboo, Wisconsin has been arrested by the Wisconsin
State Patrol DeForest Post for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, 4th offense.
At approximately 7:05pm on Thursday, January 11, 2024, Wisconsin State Patrol received a
complaint about a possible intoxicated driver on the interstate near Wisconsin Dells. State Patrol
troopers successfully located the vehicle in Mauston and observed driving behaviors consistent with
an intoxicated driver. After a traffic stop, troopers determined the subject was likely impaired and
performed standardized field sobriety tests on the driver. Based on their observations, troopers
placed the 34-year-old male driver under arrest for OWI 4th Offense. Wisconsin State Patrol was
assisted by Juneau County Sheriffs Office and Mauston Police Department in locating the vehicle.
“Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6,
Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is
presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
Buggy Hit & Run in Vernon County
01/08 Christian Brueggen, Cashton, was following a horse and buggy northbound on State Highway 27, town of Christiana. Brueggen attempted to pass the buggy on the left, and the horse ran into Brueggen’s vehicle, causing extensive damage. The horse and buggy continued without stopping. The identity of the operator of the buggy is unknown at this time.
Tomah Health Supports Local Food Pantry
A donation by Tomah Health staff made the recent holidays a bit merrier for Tomah’s Neighbor for Neighbor Food Pantry.
Staff had the choice to accept a gift certificate from the hospital as a holiday gift or donate the value of the item to the food pantry.
The result was a three-thousand one hundred fifty-dollar donation to the food pantry, which executive director Dawn Pleuss (Ploy-ce) said will help the organization with day- to -day expenses.
Over the last 12 years the hospital has made the donation which has totaled over 30-thousand dollars to the local pantry.
Pleuss said the number of people who visit the pantry has been increasing to nearly six-hundred families each month…. up from about four-hundred a month one year ago.
Tomah’s Neighbor for Neighbor Food Pantry is located at eleven-eighteen (1118) West Veterans Street in Tomah.
Snow Clearing Tonight in Mauston
From our City Administrator Daron Haugh – Starting tonight at 0900pm, the City of Mauston will be shutting down State St. from Hanover St. to the intersection at the stop and go lights near the small Kwik Trip and Carl’s Brite Spot. This is happening so the City of Mauston can remove snow along the streets downtown. We are expecting this closure to last about 3 hours, of which at no time traffic shall pass through State St. Once the work has been completed, State St. will reopen back up. All side roads that intersect with State St. will still be open.
