Around Town
STUDENT MEAL DEBT ERASURE: Iola-Scandinavia’s community-wide effort to pay $6,000 accumulated in student lunch debt was beautifully covered by Bethanie Gengler of the Waupaca County Post. Read it here.
LOCAL BUSINESS EXPANSION: This week Gritline Equipment Service announced new small engine operations in Iola. The provider is now offering specialized small equipment tuning, diagnostics, and repair services for machinery owners across the Iola-Scandinavia area.
Around the County
MANAWA — Police Chief Jason Severson asked the Manawa Common Council on Monday to formally terminate the city’s contract with Flock Safety. Severson cited breach of contract and privacy concerns after the countywide law enforcement association suspended the automated license plate reader system earlier this month. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
WAUPACA — The Waupaca County Planning and Zoning Committee rescheduled a public hearing to define data centers and solar farms at the Waupaca Recreation Center. The rescheduling follows high attendance at a previous meeting where local residents raised concerns regarding a proposed 1,500-acre solar project. (Source: FOX 11)
NEW LONDON — State and local agencies are investigating a fatal fire at the Franklin Park Apartments. The blaze left one person dead, a suspect in custody, and dozens of residents displaced from the complex. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or specific charges. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
CLINTONVILLE — The School District of Clintonville approved a new memorandum of understanding for its police school liaison officer. This marks the first formal agreement for the district’s liaison position in several years, helping ensure continued student safety and security in schools. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
CLINTONVILLE — The School District of Clintonville received a $20,000 grant from the ThedaCare Medical Center-New London Quasi Endowment Fund. School officials confirmed the funding will support the Clintonville Schools Strength and Conditioning Program to improve student wellness. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
A WISCONSIN worker has filed a proposed class action against Olympic Companies and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 7, alleging dues deductions continued after she resigned from the union in writing. Caryn Johnson, represented by the National Right to Work Foundation, previously filed NLRB charges and contends courts wrongly decided Wisconsin right-to-work rulings. (Source: The Center Square)
EDUCATION EXPERTS and advocates urged Congress Tuesday to repeal a forthcoming national school voucher program, warning it would siphon crucial funding from public schools to private institutions. Wisconsin Democratic Reps. Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan introduced companion legislation with dozens of cosponsors, though passage is unlikely in the Republican-controlled Congress. (Source: Wisconsin Examiner)
OSHKOSH NORTH High School canceled all classes Thursday after administrators discovered a student with a handgun on campus. Authorities did not report any injuries, and the student was taken into police custody as an investigation continues into how the weapon was brought inside. (Source: WBAY)
MILWAUKEE APARTMENTS were abruptly evacuated Wednesday night after city inspectors discovered tampered electrical systems and major fire alarm safety issues. The Department of Neighborhood Services declared the building unsafe, displacing dozens of residents who are now seeking temporary housing assistance. (Source: FOX6)
TWO PEOPLE were arrested by police in connection with the fatal shooting of a local basketball star in Racine. Investigators tracking leads over the past 24 hours took the suspects into custody, while the community continues to honor the victim’s local legacy. (Source: WKOW)
PEWAUKEE RESIDENTS received an official warning from Waukesha County officials regarding increased levels of PFAS chemicals detected in the city water supply. Municipal engineers are testing additional wells to determine the source of the contamination and evaluate potential long-term remediation efforts. (Source: TNJ4)
A MOTORCYCLIST was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries Wednesday evening following a severe traffic crash in Oshkosh. Local police closed the intersection for several hours overnight to reconstruct the scene and determine what caused the collision between the motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. (Source: NBC26)
HEALTH OFFICIALS confirmed two new human cases of West Nile virus in southern Wisconsin. The separate cases were identified in Dane and Sauk counties on Tuesday, prompting public health departments to urge residents to take strict precautions against mosquito bites overnight. (Source: WISC-TV)
A COMPLAINT was formally filed against a Madison police officer regarding the fatal shooting death of Corey Ruiz. The filing demands an independent administrative review of the officer’s use of force during the incident, intensifying local scrutiny on department training protocols. (Source: Channel3000)
WISCONSIN HIGHWAYS will receive nearly $370 million in federal funding earmarked for 195 local road and bridge projects. State officials announced the infrastructure package, which will target structurally deficient bridges and high-traffic municipal corridors starting next construction season. (Source: WSAW 7)
Today in History
Here are 10 notable moments from Today in History:
1789—PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON signed the Judiciary Act of 1789 into law, establishing the federal judiciary branch of the United States. The landmark legislation created the Supreme Court with six justices and structured the system of lower federal district and circuit courts.
1896—AMERICAN NOVELIST F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fitzgerald became one of the definitive literary voices of the Jazz Age, earning enduring fame for classic novels including “The Great Gatsby” and “This Side of Paradise.”
1948—THE HONDA Motor Co. was officially incorporated in Hamamatsu, Japan, by co-founders Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. The manufacturer initially produced auxiliary engines for bicycles before expanding into a global leader in motorcycles and passenger vehicles.
1960—THE WORLD’S first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, was launched at Newport News, Virginia. The massive naval vessel revolutionized maritime technology, powered by eight nuclear reactors that allowed the ship to operate for years without refueling.
1968—THE CBS television network broadcast the debut episode of “60 Minutes,” introducing a new newsmagazine format to American audiences. Created by television producer Don Hewitt, the pioneering program became the longest-running primetime show in TV history.
1979—THE COMPUSERVE Information Service launched the first commercial electronic mail service for personal computer users. The groundbreaking digital network marked a major milestone in technology, allowing consumers to send text-based communications over phone lines nationwide.
1988—THE POP-ROCK ballad “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The iconic single, featuring Slash’s distinctive opening guitar riff, became the band’s first and only number one hit in the United States.
1991—SEATTLE ROCK band Nirvana released its second studio album, “Nevermind,” through DGC Records. Powered by the hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the influential record popularized the grunge music movement and transformed the alternative rock landscape globally.
1991—AMERICAN CHILDREN’S author Theodore Seuss Geisel, widely known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, died at age 87 in La Jolla, California. Geisel wrote and illustrated more than 60 books, including beloved literary classics like “The Cat in the Hat.”
2014—INDIA’S MARS Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, successfully entered orbit around the red planet. The historic achievement made the Indian Space Research Organisation the fourth space agency to reach Mars and the first to succeed on its maiden attempt.
