Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 down in U.P.

By

Emergency crews overnight were searching for the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet that crashed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula while on a military training mission.

The Wisconsin Air National Guard says an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to its 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison crashed about 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

The Wisconsin Air National Guard said in a statement released on its Facebook page: “Emergency responders are on scene. The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time, and the incident is under investigation.”

The crash occurred north of the Garden Peninsula, near the border of Delta and Schoolcraft counties in the Hiawatha National Forest. The 115th Fighter Wing participated in a coordinated search effort with local emergency responders, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Forest Service and other government agencies overnight.

Record day for COVID-19 deaths in Wisconsin, Dane County puts strict gathering ban in place

By

It’s been another record day of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Wisconsin as a surge of infections continues to move through Wisconsin.

The Department of Health Services reports that 318 people were sent to the hospital and 92 people died of COVID-19 on Tuesday, a record for both of those numbers. Over 7,000 people tested positive, putting the total number of cases over 323 thousand.

The seven day average number of deaths is now at 49, and that’s up over 800 percent in only 2 months.

Public Health Madison – Dane County has put a ban on public indoor gatherings, and is restricting outdoor gatherings to just 10 people, even with social distancing. 

That includes sporting events, meetings, movies, conferences, and other activities. Indoor mass gatherings of any people who do not live together are prohibited. “This virus does not spread on its own. We spread it. Every gathering – no matter the size – is an opportunity for disease spread and prolongs the pandemic,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. “We are hopeful that with the community’s cooperation, we can bring our numbers down and avoid more hospitalizations and deaths,” added Heinrich.

The new emergency order will be in effect starting on Wednesday and running through December 16th.

November is peak month for car-vehicle collisions

By

November is the peak month for vehicle accidents involving deer. According to State Farm, Wisconsin drivers have a 1 in 57 chance of hitting an animal, mostly deer.

Those odds rank the state 7th most risky according to a press release from the insurance carrier.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation encourages drivers to eliminate distractions, use extra caution in deer zones, be aware of risky dusk-to-dawn times, don’t rely on unproven tools such as deer whistles.

If you see deer, slow down, don’t swerve or slam on the brakes and know more are nearby.

Odds of hitting a deer in the road are the highest in West Virginia and the risk is lowest in Hawaii.

Evers signs order urging people to stay home and break the chain of COVID-19

By

Governor Tony Evers has signed a new executive order urging people to stay home and not to socially mingle.

Evers says people need to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously as we head into the winter months.

“And unfortunately with the holidays just around the corner, we recommend that you plan to celebrate just with your own household. You can still invite others to join virtually, but we advise you not to go to any gatherings with people who are not in your immediate home.”

Evers says people need to stay home and break the chain of the spread.

“Each day this virus goes unchecked is a setback for our economic recovery. Our bars, restaurants, small businesses, families and farmers will continue to suffer if we don’t take action right now.”

“We must get back to the basics of fighting this virus, just like we did last spring, and it starts at home. It’s not safe to go out. It’s not safe to have others over. It’s just not safe.”

The measure also calls on businesses to limit the amount of contact people are having with each other. The order does not carry any actual enforcement language, as those efforts have been largely stymied due to repeated lawsuits challenging the state’s health orders. 

 

UW-Health experts pleased to hear news of possible COVID-19 vaccine

By

News of a viable vaccine for COVID-19 is just the first step, according to UW-Health’s Dr. Jeff Pothoff.

Pothoff says the vaccine will need to go through its final trials before it’s fully approved for use, but that it’s a fantastic result. 

“This is a tremendous feat for science. Over the course of less than a year develop, and then not only develop but do the trials that are necessary to begin proving that the vaccine is safe and effective.”

Reports from Pfizer say that the vaccine appears to be 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. Pothoff says the US will have to start ramping up production to ensure that it can make over 300 million doses for the nation.

“Scientists bring the expertise, governments bring the resources, and before you know it… Bam! There it is. That’s a pretty monumental moment for all of us.”

Pothoff expects that there will be a staggered rollout of the vaccine, once it’s ready. First doses will go to medical staff and those who are most vulnerable, and then roll out to the rest of the nation. 

“We’re still fighting a fierce battle against this virus and we need every single healthcare provider to stay healthy so that they can come to work and take care of the rest of us.”

UW-Health psychologist says simple steps can help maintain mental health during pandemic

By

As the stress of the pandemic spills over into the stress of the Presidential elections, health experts are reminding people to take a break and take care of themselves.

Doctor Shilagh (SHY-lah) Mirgain with UW-Health says steps towards good mental health can be as simple as remembering to do simple tasks. 

“Make sure you’re getting outside and exercising, making sure you’re getting good sleep, eating well, doing enjoyable activities, you know all of those are really vital things to be doing.”

She says that you shouldn’t feel ashamed of being stressed out and worried. Just find time to work on things when you can, and keep in touch with friends and family.

“Wellness is a direction not a destination and it’s built on those small daily steps we’re taking so just think about one thing you can do each day.”

She says it’s very important to get enough sun as we enter the winter months, and to reach out to family and friends to stay in touch. That’s both to help ourselves, and to keep contact with other people who might be in need.

“We’re doing for ourselves, but also for one another, and we need to support each other as we go into the holidays, into this long winter season ahead where our typical coping strategies aren’t going to be available.”

Daily COVID-19 count passes 6,000 for first time, over 250,000 total infections since start of pandemic

By

Another pair of milestones of COVID-19 in Wisconsin for Friday.

The Department of Health Services reports that 61-hundred people have tested positive for COVID-19, and the state has passed over 250-thousand positive cases since the pandemic first began. 244 more people were sent to the hospital, and 62 people died.

The Wisconsin Hospitals Association reports that 1,787 people are currently hospitalized, and 385 people are in intensive care.

Slow down and take it easy around farm equipment during the harvest, says Farm Bureau

By

More farm equipment is going to be out on county roads as the fall harvest continues, and farmers are asking people to slow down and take it easy.

Farm Bureau member Shane Goplin says that there’s never a good reason to pass a vehicle in a no passing zone, even if it’s a slow moving vehicle. 

“I’ve had instances where I was even making a right-hand turn and somebody passed me on the left over a blind Hill and it just sent cringes down my neck. You don’t know what’s coming around that corner, or over that hill and it could be dangerous, no doubt!”

Goplin says that if there is an issue, that farmers will try to make space for someone so that they can be properly passed but that drivers just need to have patience. 

“I’m constantly looking for a place where I can get off on a road or where I can get myself off a hundred percent off the road so they can pass.”

State law makes it illegal to pass a farm tractor or hauler in a no passing zone, but Goplin says that ought to just be good common sense in the first place. 

Trump pledges federal money to assist Kenosha

By

President Donald Trump said federal funding will be provided for Kenosha, to help the city and its businesses recover from last week’s looting and damage following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer.

“We will provide one million dollars to the Kenosha law enforcement so that you have some extra money to go out and do what you have to do,” Trump said on Tuesday.

“I’m also providing nearly four million dollars to support these small businesses that I talked about today, that got burned up, burned down.”

Trump also promised “over 42 million dollars to support public safety statewide.” He said that would go to law enforcement, as well as for additional prosecutors and resources to provide services to crime victims.

 

Two arrested for OWI after weekend boat crash on Lake Butte Des Morts

By

A boat collision that sent eight people into the water near Lake Butte Des Morts over the weekend resulted in no serious injuries – and two being arrested for OWI.

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Patrol Captain Greg Ciancolo says alcohol wasn’t the only factor.

“Both boats in this scenario did have legal lighting on them, but certainly being on the waterway at night, depth perception becomes an issue as well as reaction time.”

A larger boat was going just 2-3mph when it was hit by a much faster, smaller vessel – which ended up on top of it.