Around Town
VEHICLE BREAK-IN UPDATE: According to the Iola Police Department, there has been one break-in of a vehicle in the village. Police ask residents to lock their vehicles, not leave any valuables in them, and be on the lookout for suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
SHINING AND POACHING SENTENCE: An 18-year-old involved in a November poaching incident in Waupaca, Wisconsin, pleaded no contest to multiple charges, including hunting deer out of season. He was found guilty, lost hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for two years, and was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
T-BIRD BASEBALL: The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds will face the Bonduel Varsity Bears on Thursday, April 30, in a matchup that could hinge on aggressive base running. The Thunderbirds average 5.6 steals per game, while the Bears swipe 6.2, led by Joe Felhofer’s 11 steals. Wyatt Wolberg paces Iola-Scandinavia with nine. The Thunderbirds will enter after a 14-9 win over Rosholt, with Mason Morfey riding a two-game hitting streak, going 2-for-6 with four RBIs. Morfey has also thrown first-pitch strikes to 38 of 71 batters this season, setting an early tone on the mound.
Around the County
ENDANGERED MUSSELS: The 2024 failure of the Manawa Dam on the Little Wolf River damaged habitat for endangered snuffbox mussels, Mayor Mike Frazier reported. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cites habitat destruction, sedimentation, and pollution as key threats contributing to the species’ ongoing decline across its range. Read the Waupaca County News story here.
NEW SCAM ALERT: It appears there is a scam hitting many people’s cellphones in the area that has to do with the DOT (Department of Transportation). The DOT would not contact you this way. Do not follow the directions in the text message. If you are concerned, go to the DOT’s official website to check on your vehicle registration and driver’s license expiration. Delete and report it as spam.
HORRIBLE HUNDRED BREEDERS: An Ogdensburg, Wisconsin, dog breeder is cited in a news story based on the Humane World for Animals annual Horrible Hundred report, detailing 100 problematic puppy mills. Fourteen of the Horrible Hundred dog breeders hail from Wisconsin. Read the WQOW story here.
FREMONT FLOODING: Town of Fremont and Weyauwega residents are asked to be aware that Waupaca County Zoning may be conducting inspections of floodplain properties and assessing damage. If damage is found to exceed 50 percent of your property’s value, they may face major limits on rebuilding.
Around the State
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP: A judicial panel dismissed a challenge to Wisconsin’s legislative map, citing a 2022 Supreme Court ruling barring partisan gerrymander claims in state courts. Another panel recently upheld the map, which favors a 6-2 GOP supermajority, stating they must follow prior decisions. Plaintiffs sought to separate their challenge. Read the Wisconsin Institute For Law & Liberty posting here. Read the Wisconsin Examiner article here.
