Wisconsin
Area and Wisconsin DNR fire officials say wild land fires are up significantly this year so far
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – A grass fire just south of Eau Claire is one of several that fire crews responded to in recent days.
“7 fires over the course of a week is a pretty busy week. Historically for how often our agency responds to fires,” said Andrew Sorenson.
He is a team leader with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division. Sorenson said the dry conditions have kept him and others responding to fire busy this year.
“We actually started our year really early. Our first fire in Augusta here was actually February 2nd. Which is very odd. We’re normally under snow cover,” said Sorenson.
The 7 fires he mentioned were for areas considered east of Eau Claire, which include: Augusta, Neillsville, Black River Falls and slightly up north Jim Falls.
He said there is a range of causes he knows of when it comes to the fires, and they include stray ambers and cigarette butts among other things.
“The last 7 days, our number cause has been down power lines. That’s a function of these high wind speeds that we’ve had,” said Sorenson.
“They spread really fast and can be much larger with the wind driven and the dry conditions we have currently,” said Altoona Fire Department Chief Mark Renderman.
He communicates with area fire departments through his role as president of the Eau Claire County Fire Chiefs Association.
“We’re responding to more grass fires, and even grass fires that are in your backyard, has been an increase this year than in years past,” said Renderman. “I would say we’re probably seeing about a 30% increase in wild land fires this year than last year.”
There are chances for precipitation in the coming days, but officials say that probably won’t be enough.
“We can have rain one day, and if we have a nice warm, blue, beautiful, sunshine day the next day, those grasses will be ready to burn,” said Sorenson.
He and Chief Renderman said things should ease up as the grass, and landscapes in general, become greener.
Sorenson said in the past 7 days there have been 87 wild land fires that burned 100 acres state-wide.
Copyright 2024 WEAU. All rights reserved.
SIREN, Wis. — Anglers will head to Wisconsin this weekend for the state’s fishing opener, where they’ll get a good idea of how the mild winter will also impact the fish bite during next week’s opener in Minnesota.
It’s a beautiful, picturesque Friday on Clam Lake near Siren, where all the talk is about the weather and the fishing opener.
Big Mike’s Outdoor Sports Shop in Siren has been selling bait for more than 30 years. While the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says fishing license sales are a little bit down after they peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, Big Mike’s Greg Dahlke says they aren’t really seeing that.
He says a lot of anglers are eager to see how the lack of ice this past winter impacts what they catch on Saturday.
“It will pick up tremendously this afternoon. We’ve been waiting a long time. The last two winters these guys missed a lot of ice fishing. You’re probably aware, the no ice, ice, then no ice,” Dahlke said. “People are excited.”
Dahlke says water temperatures should be ideal for fish like northern and bass.
Since Big Mike’s didn’t sell as much bait this past winter due to the ice issues, Dahlke says they’re hoping to make up for lost ground this weekend.
The crash happened shortly after midnight near the address of 471 N. Biron Drive.
BIRON – A 38-year-old Wisconsin Rapids woman is dead after a one-vehicle crash early Friday morning.
The crash happened shortly after midnight near the address of 471 N. Biron Drive. The initial investigation shows the vehicle was traveling north on Biron Drive at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve, according to a news release from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle left the road and hit a tree.
The Wisconsin Rapids woman was the only person in the vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Grand Rapids Police Department, Wood County Rescue, Biron Fire Department, Biron First Responders, Wisconsin Rapids Ambulance, Wood County Dispatch Center and Neiman’s Tow Service assisted at the scene.
More local news: Shoppers evacuated from Wisconsin Rapids Walgreens Thursday after store filled with haze
Wisconsin Rapids Streetwise: Hawaiian Tanning Studio relocates and more local business news
Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin elementary school teacher, 24, busted for ‘making out’ with 5th grader — three months before wedding
A 24-year-old Wisconsin elementary school teacher was arrested Wednesday for allegedly “making out” with her fifth-grade student — less than three months before her wedding.
Madison Bergmann’s alleged abuse of the 11-year-old boy came to light when the student’s mother overheard her son talk to the teacher on the phone, CBS News Minnesota reported.
The victim’s parents found alleged texts between the pair and the boy’s father then stormed into River Crest Elementary School with print-outs of the conversations.
The deranged text chain included messages from Bergmann allegedly discussing multiple encounters inside the classroom during lunch or after school.
She is also accused of telling the child how much she enjoyed him touching her and “making out,” the charging documents state.
Inside her bag, police also found a folder with the victim’s name on it containing many handwritten notes talking about how much they kissed one another, the charges allege.
In one of the letters, Bergmann allegedly wrote, “One of my cousins is in the 5th grade and I can’t imagine a man talking to her how we talk. I know we have a special relationship and I do love you more than anyone in the world but I have to be the adult here and stop.”
It’s not clear how long the abuse had been going on, but Bergmann told investigators she was given the boy’s phone number by his mother in December when his family invited who they thought was a beloved teacher with them to the Afton Alps for winter break.
That was the same month she became engaged to her longtime boyfriend, her social media shows.
According to the document, when officers asked about text exchanges between the two, Bergmann invoked her right to an attorney.
The accused pervert has since been placed on administrative leave and barred from contacting any district students, parents or staff, the Hudson School District told parents the same day as her arrest.
“Learning about a school staff member and alleged inappropriate conduct that breaches trust is deeply troubling for all of us,” the message states.
According to her social media, Bergmann was set to be married in July — less than three months from when she was arrested.
She began teaching at River Crest Elementary in 2022, a milestone she celebrated with a photo of her classroom on Facebook.
“Can’t wait for school to start!” she ominously wrote.
Bergmann now faces one count of first-degree child sexual assault. She was released on a $25,000 signature bond.
Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks Agree to Terms on Rookie Contract
7 of San Diego's Sexiest & Best Bathrooms | San Diego Magazine
Milwaukee crash kills 4-year-old girl; charges filed
Son charged in Atlanta music producer's shooting death
Why hasn’t dilapidated Minneapolis property gotten torn down?
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar indicted by DOJ on conspiracy and bribery charges
Meloni plans to rally Europe's centre-right in elections pledge
Katie Ledecky tells NPR about her plans for the Paris Olympics — and L.A. in 2028
Video: Tanker Fire Shuts Down I-95
House COVID committee calling for criminal probe into gain-of-function virus research in Wuhan
-
News1 week agoLarry Webb’s deathbed confession solves 2000 cold case murder of Susan and Natasha Carter, 10, whose remains were found hours after he died
-
News1 week agoFirst cargo ship passes through new channel since Baltimore bridge collapse
-
World1 week agoHaiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns, transitional council takes power
-
World1 week agoSpanish PM Pedro Sanchez suspends public duties to 'reflect'
-
World1 week agoUS secretly sent long-range ATACMS weapons to Ukraine
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoHumane (2024) – Movie Review
-
News1 week agoAmerican Airlines passenger alleges discrimination over use of first-class restroom
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Johnson Condemns Pro-Palestinian Protests at Columbia University