WRCO Afternoon Obituaries

Welcome back to the news at noon in the case of city of richland center v richland county at all on wednesday october 7th judge daniel g wood of adams county found in favor of the city of richland center in its writ of mandamus petition against richland county the court determined that the city had met its legal burden

prompting Judge Wood to sign the writ, which will now be served on the respondents.

Richland County will have 14 days following service to either accept the city's reimbursement demand or contest the writ in court.

The dispute centers around county funding for the maintenance of 1,495 veterans graves across Bowen Cemetery and Richland Center Cemetery for the period spanning July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026.

Wisconsin Statute 45.85 Chapter 2 mandates that municipalities submit grave reporting and locations to the county clerk by September 1st annually.

However, because the City of Richland Center delivered its documentation on September 14th, County Clerk Jeffrey Harrison initially denied the $17,859.83 reimbursement request due to the missed deadline, noting that no extensions were permitted and pointing to 2027 for the next eligibility cycle.

In response to the denial, the city filed its petition in Richland County Circuit Court on October 1st with Richland County,

The Board of Supervisors Chair Carrie Severson and Clerk Jeffrey Harrison, named as respondents.

Severson and Harrison are named strictly based on their official capacities.

The city maintained that the September 1st statutory deadline is directory rather than mandatory, arguing that procedural delays should not invalidate the county's core legal obligation to cover veterans' grave care costs.

particularly since the submission contained all the necessary data and presented no prejudice to the county.

A writ of mandamus, mandamus being Latin for we command, is an extraordinary court order that compels a government official, public agency, corporation or lower court to perform a mandatory duty required by law.

Authorities in Tomah have identified the suspect in an October 6th attempted homicide as 38 year old Derek Johnson of Rockford, Illinois.

According to the Tomah Police Department, Johnson was taken into custody following the incident.

Investigators discovered that Johnson had an active full extradition warrant through the Illinois Department of Corrections, which carried armed and dangerous caution indicators.

The police department noted that the investigation into the attempted homicide remains ongoing and further updates along with formal charges will be provided as more details become available.

The Vernon Crawford chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union will hold a candidate town hall and harvest dinner Friday from 5 until 8 p.m.

at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center.

The Nonpartisan Informational Forum brings together candidates running for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, 17th Senate District, 49th Assembly District, and 96th Assembly District to discuss key agricultural and rural policy issues.

Doors open at 4.45 p.m.

with the evening commencing at 5 p.m.

with a local harvest dinner catered by maybe Lately's Restaurant.

Dinner tickets are available for $10 for Wisconsin Farmers Union members and $40 for non-members.

While attendees can purchase tickets at the door or register in advance, space remains limited.

Following the dinner, the Town Hall program will run from 6 o'clock until 8 p.m., providing candidates an opportunity to present their platforms and address questions from both the Vernon Crawford Farmers Union and audience members.

As an educational forum hosted by a 501C3 organization, all candidate invitations and discussions will center strictly on matters essential to local farmers, rural residents, and the broader community.

Following severe storms and tornadoes July 27,

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is now available to support state and local recovery efforts in Wisconsin.

The Presidential Declaration unlocks federal funding for affected residents across forest, out of gamey, virus, and Winnebago counties.

Eligible individuals and families can access grants for temporary housing and essential home repairs

as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

Residents with disaster-related losses are advised to file insurance claims before applying for federal relief.

Applications for assistance can be submitted online at disasterassistance.gov through the FEMA mobile app or by phone at 800-621-3362.

In addition to individual assistance, public assistance funding is being provided on a cost sharing basis to state, tribal and local government entities as well as eligible private non-profit organizations in Vilas and Winnebago counties for emergency work and facility repairs.

Hanna Penn has been appointed as the federal coordinating officer to oversee recovery operations with further designations possible as additional damage assessments are completed.

Agricultural health officials in Wisconsin have confirmed a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting a backyard poultry flock in Racine County.

Following standard safety protocols, the affected birds were depopulated to prevent any entry into the commercial food supply.

The virus, which has persisted across North America since late 2021,

poses significant risks to domestic birds due to its highly contagious and often fatal nature.

Transmission occurs through contact with infected poultry, wild bird droppings or contaminated clothing and equipment.

In response, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection advises all animal owners to enforce enhanced biosecurity protocols.

such as routine sanitation, restricting site entry, keeping birds sheltered indoors, and isolating new animals for at least 30 days.

To manage potential outbreaks without imposing unnecessary restrictions, DatCap evaluates risk factors for backyard cases and may establish a 10-kilometer surveillance zone.

Producers are encouraged to use the department's online mapping tool to verify control boundaries.

Additionally, state law mandates that all livestock and poultry owners register their premises to ensure swift communication during health emergencies.

Any suspected illness or elevated mortality in domestic

species should be reported immediately through DATCAP's online resources.

Representative Derek Van Orden enlisted the aid of House Speaker Mike Johnson on the campaign trail in Sparta following visits from more than 10 administration officials, including President Donald Trump.

The appearance comes as Johnson and Van Orden seek to address criticism surrounding legislative efforts that impacted healthcare coverage and provided tax incentives for data centers and high-earning individuals.

In response to the visit, candidate Rebecca Cook criticized Van Orden for relying on national political figures pointing to Speaker Johnson's past remarks and legislative record.

Cook emphasized that current policies have hurt local families, particularly regarding health care access, trade tariffs affecting farmers, and foreign policy decisions.

Wisconsin manufacturers and commerce and BMO announced the top eight products advancing in the 11th annual coolest thing made in Wisconsin Contest.

The top contenders include the electric robe shovel made by Komatsu in Milwaukee,

The ZTHD Stealth 60 from Aaron's company.

The Smart Privacy Glass from Cardinal IG and Tomah.

Melt away candy bars made into pier.

Joining them are Giddings and Lewis Vertical Turning Centers.

And the Aspects Printed Wall Protection, made in Muskego, also custom pool cues.

and Small Arms Fire Control, the M157 Small Arms Fire Control.

These eight products were determined through head-to-head matchups in manufacturing madness, the tournament portion of the contest.

Following an initial round of over 100 nominated products showcasing the state's $73.8 billion manufacturing industry.

Voting for the next round to determine the top four begins at 8 a.m.

today and continues through 5 p.m.

Tuesday.

Participants can cast one vote per day per email address at madeinwestmadeinwis.com with the ultimate winner crowned at WMC's business day event in Madison, October 27th.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has taken a firm stand against proposed federal changes to the Head Start program, joining a coalition of state attorneys general in opposing a rule change that could reshape early childhood education across the nation.

The proposed rollbacks target long-standing performance standards designed to ensure low-income children receive comprehensive health, nutritional, and educational support before entering elementary school.

Critics of the proposed HHS changes point to key provisions that would significantly cut administrative funding allocations, lower staff qualification thresholds, and introduce strict new instruction mandates.

Advocates emphasize that Head Start serves as a critical bridge for vulnerable families, providing vital access to early learning opportunities in communities facing severe childcare shortages.

As some Wisconsin communities drop contracts with licensed plate reader company Flock Safety, experts are raising concerns about the future of surveillance technology.

Texas Christian University criminal justice professor.

Professor Johnny Naan says license plate readers could eventually be linked with artificial intelligence, facial recognition and automated drone technology, creating powerful tracking networks.

Meanwhile, researcher Steven Keener of Christopher Newport University says studies show the cameras are now more heavily concentrated in higher poverty and predominantly black neighborhoods.

Both experts say local policymakers will play a key role in setting limits and oversight.

as the technology continues to evolve.

Domestic violence deaths remain high in Wisconsin.

A new report from End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin shows 82 people died in domestic violence related homicides in 2025, down from a record 99 deaths the year before.

Milwaukee County accounted for 42 of those fatalities, about half of the statewide total.

According to the report, men committed 86% of the homicides,

Firearms were used in nearly three quarters of the deaths.

Advocates note Wisconsin saw 40 to 50 domestic violence deaths annually a decade ago, highlighting how elevated the death toll has increased across the state.

Minor Hill Trails Park, also referred to as Tower Hill, overlooks the city of Richland Center with many panoramic pictures taken historically.

And now for a Richland County Historical Society history moment.

Here's the rest of the story.

According to Richland Center, government parks and rec pages Minor Hill Trails Park featured in the achy breaky newsletter of April 2016 volume number eight issue number one.

You can find that on our website.

Minor Hill Trails Park, known as Tower Hill, has walking and hiking trails that encompass 50 acres of scenic wonder.

It's revealed along that trail that wanders past visibly five overlooks.

It's through the woods, through an open meadow, and past an old quarry site.

Travel to the top of the bluff with a panoramic view of the city of Richland Center.

Surrounding is the countryside spreading out in the valley below.

All trails overlook what are now railed.

The trails are complete with signs and picnic areas.

There are six trails to choose from ranging from one and a fifth mile to four and a fifth mile distances.

Strickland Trail, the one fifth of a mile, begins at the base of Strickland Park with parking and playground equipment located near the hospital.

You can also park and connect with Tower Drive Trail if you follow Court Street East.

Here and there along the way, hikers will find resting and picnic spots for a leisurely pause on the trails.

This route has a trail's head located at Court Street, connecting Pearl Street and Ithaca Road.

However, parking is limited as each of those locations are thereabouts.

All the trails on what would be a website can be found on Tower Drive Trail and the Northwoods Trail.

And how about those winter months?

Well, it won't take long before there's snowshoeing in the Forest Trail.

A Facebook post provides a bit of a more historical detail to what is the abandoned mine on the top of the hill.

It's open to the public.

It's a walking trail and it's an area that you can get to even now.

The main trail is graveled.

It's at the top of what would be the cell towers as you look at the east side of the city.

And another has what would be the city water reservoir.

The mine park is abandoned.

It's open as a mine, but there's no machinery left.

It was thought to be used for lead ore.

And then there's Strickland Park.

It's located at the base of that minor hill trail to the west on 391 North Pearl Street nestled in the small East neighborhood near the Richland Hospital and Medical Center.

Listen in three weeks to a history moment on October of 2026 for Judge David Strickland.

Listen next week for the history of Richland County about McGrew.

It was a ghost town in a town of

Marshall.

Today's history moment is a service of the Richland County Historical Society.

Members of the Historical Society enjoy reminiscing with the Aki Breaky newsletter.

A strong membership base keeps the Historical Society viable and active by promoting the study and appreciation of local history, the sponsorship of programs devoted to local history, and the maintenance and access to the Aki School Museum.

Annual memberships are just $10 for an individual or family, $20 for a business, or $100 for a lifetime individual or family membership.

Memberships can be mailed to Richland County Historical Society, 213 South Central Avenue, apartment number 1, Richland Center, Wisconsin 53581.

You can also learn more at richlandcountyhistoricalsociety.weebly.com.

Thank you, as always, Ken Thied.

Get into the Halloween spirit with a free showing of the legendary 1922 silent vampire film, Nosferatu, at the City Auditorium Friday, October 30th.

Moviegoers age 14 and older who arrive in costume can enter a special costume contest prior to the film.

Contest registration begins at 6.15pm with prizes awarded after the movie in two distinct categories, scariest and most creative.

Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event.

The U.S.

Department of Agriculture Rural Development

has awarded a $749,400 distance learning and telemedicine grant to Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10, CESA 10, in Chippewa Falls.

Announced by Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson, the investment directly supports educational access across 12 counties.

Through CISA-10's Distance Learning Consortium, the grant will upgrade aging distance learning infrastructure to bridge educational gaps.

Modernizing these systems enables participating districts to address local teacher shortages and offer an expanded curriculum, including advanced placement, post-secondary, career and technical education, and college preparatory coursework.

In rural Wisconsin, distance learning isn't a luxury.

It is a vital tool to ensure our students get an equal shot at success and sees a 10 distance learning operations manager, Jamie Kampf.

Securing this USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant allows us to replace failing infrastructure and level the playing field for over 14,000 students across our member districts.

This funding will reduce geographic barriers and open doors to pathways.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions in partnership with the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy and Capability announced today they have awarded $296,000 to schools and community-based organizations across the state to enhance personal financial literacy education.

A total of 29 financial literacy innovation grants were awarded to local institutions.

Funding for the program is provided by the DFI through settlement dollars, designated for financial education initiatives.

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly emphasized the broader impact of the funding, noting that financial literacy equips students with essential practical skills to navigate life after graduation.

The grant initiative directly supports classroom implementation of the Wisconsin Standards for Personal Financial Literacy and helps school districts align with Wisconsin Act 60.

This law mandates a half-credit personal financial literacy course

for a high school graduation, starting with the class of 2028.

In addition to student instruction, many recipient organizations plan to engage parents and community members through family-focused financial wellness events, fostering multi-generational financial capability.

DFI Secretary Wendy K. Baumann commended local educators and partners for introducing creative learning models that prepare young adults for sound decision-making.

As the only flying mammals on Earth, bats

play an extraordinary and vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems across the globe.

Beyond their unique nature, these nocturnal creatures provide irreplaceable environmental, economic, and public health benefits.

Insect-eating bats such as natural pests act as natural pest controllers, consuming vast quantities of agricultural pests each night, and saving farmers and forest owners billions of dollars annually.

In Wisconsin, bat populations include eight distinct species, though four are state threatened, including the federally endangered northern long-eared bat, and another is listed as a species of special concern.

The primary threat facing Wisconsin's hibernating bats is White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease that disrupts their winter hibernation, depleting their critical energy stores before spring insect supplies arrive.

Although population numbers plummeted following the disease's arrival in 2014, recent survey counts bring hope, showing encouraging signs of recovery among little brown bats.

at key hibernation sites, because a handful of historic mines serve as the winter shelter for a significant portion of the nation's Little Brown Bat population.

Protecting these habitats during winter is essential to keeping local insect populations in check every summer.

Every homeowner and community member can take actionable steps to safeguard backyard bats and foster safer environments.

Building and mounting bat houses provides crucial shelter while planting native vegetation creates foundational support for local food chains.

Landowners can eliminate burdock plants to prevent bats from becoming dangerously entangled, avoid harmful chemical pesticides and herbicides, and keep unused buckets flipped upside down in basements or outbuildings to prevent accidental trapping.

Wisconsin in the Autumn offers a breathtaking display of vibrant fall foliage rolling hills and charming countryside views.

One of the most enchanting ways to experience this seasonal transformation is by taking a scenic journey on one of the state's historic heritage railways.

Riding a vintage train allows travelers to relax and take in the natural beauty from classic passenger cars or open-air observation platforms.

whether you're looking for family-friendly pumpkin excursion, romantic dinner trains, or relaxed tours through colorful state parks and river valleys, Wisconsin's fall rail adventures offer something unforgettable for every traveler.

Key historic railways across the state include the Mid-Continent Railway and North Freedom, Riverside and Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin-Dell, Osceola and St.

Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, and the Wisconsin

Northern Railroad in Trago and the East Troy Electric Railroad.

Today is October 9th.

These are today's vital statistics.

Mary Waslik, 76 of Casanovia, died Wednesday, September 30th at the Sock County Health Care Center in Reedsburg.

Visitation will be held today from 4 until 7 p.m.

at the Casanovia Chapel.

The Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg is assisting the family.

Mary Waslik, 76 of Casanovia.

Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscaday, died September 25th peacefully in his sleep.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Saturday October 10th at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Church in Muscaday.

Visitation will be held today at the Pratt Funeral Home in Muscaday from 6 p.m.

until 8 30 p.m.

and again tomorrow from 11 a.m.

until 11 45.

Also at the Pratt Funeral Home in Muscaday.

immediately following the funeral mass will be held at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Muscaday.

A luncheon will be served after the burial at St.

John the Baptist Catholic School Gymnasium next to the church.

Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscaday.

Don Terry Winch, 83 of Maisa Manning, died at home September 30th.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 10th at 1 p.m.

at the Curtis Street Bible Fellowship in Maisamani, a celebration of life and lunch to follow at the church until 3 p.m.

The Richardson-Stafford funeral home is assisting the family.

Don Terry Winch, 83 of Muscatay.

Todd A. Deckert, 59 of Richland Center, died Wednesday, September 16th at Schmitwilden Hills following a battle with a rare disease.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 11th at the Boaz Community Center from 1 p.m.

until 3 p.m.

Todd A. Deckert, 59 of Richland Center.

Carol Ann Michaelsberger, 95 of Plain, died October 4th.

A funeral mass will be held Monday, October 12th at St.

Luke's Catholic Church in Plain.

Visitation begins at 9 a.m.

with service at 11.30.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The Richardson Stafford funeral home is assisting the family.

Memorials are appreciated in her name to St.

Luke's School or a local non-profit of your choice.

Carol

and michaelsburger 95 of plain estella m roan 86 of muscaday formerly of ridgeway died sunday october 4th at saint mary's hospital in madison visitation for estella will be held thursday october 15th from 4 p.m until 8 p.m at the gorgon mcginley and ayer's funeral home in dodgeville private family and

Eastside Ebenezer Cemetery in Ridgeway at a later date.

The Gorgon, McGinley and Ayers Funeral Home in Doddville is assisting the family.

Estella M. Rowan, 86 of Muscaday, formerly of Ridgeway.

Friday's roundup.

Brought to you by Richland Hospital, Badgerland, Florine, Cardinal Glass CG, Crystal Clean Storage, and Reedsburg Farmers Cooperative.

Join Hank and Phil for Friday laughter bigger than a raccoon in a snack aisle.

And twice as

unpredictable.

We've got cooking with Hank, where recipes are more of a suggestion and the smoke alarm is basically a sous chef.

And medium heat.

That's just a bad choice.

And don't miss the word of the day.

Freshly invented on the spot by Hank with zero approval process.

Wrap up your week with chaos and just enough nonsense to make Monday

nervous.

What's going on, Hank?

Well, my goal is to join the corn dogs, Marty and the corn dogs.

That's my goal.

I don't know if that'll be a, we've had offers since we, since we sang on Saturday, we've had offers to sing on a hill far away, you know, or somewhere, you know, or solo, or solo.

Right.

Exactly.

Ten or 12

miles from here.

I was wanting to know if I could be on, be the helicopter.

Yeah.

You could probably do that.

You know what I'm saying?

Helicopter.

But I

just want to sing.

I mean, you want to sing?

Okay.

I don't know.

I mean, I suppose we could go back on tour.

So many of these groups, you know, people quit or leave or die, right?

And they come back and it's like, Oh, so-and-so.

And you're like, really?

And you start looking.

Oh, okay.

Well, this like third generation, he was a guitar player back in 1985, not an original member,

but for Martin, the corn dog.

Yeah, they call him

that.

So, so we've got two original members of the, you know, six or seven.

So

I guess

you could probably join.

Right.

Keep time on your chest.

Oh, boy.

Phil, did you know the colder the room you sleep in, the better chances you are that you'll have a bad dream?

Really?

That's what it says.

I better tell June that because she's all about, oh, it's going to leave the window open.

It's healthier.

You know, and I like it.

I like a cold room.

I cannot stand a sweat.

Oh, it's cold, you know, but yeah.

So we've been, we've been leaving the window open, although it's not these nights are, you know, it's.

Really a nice

night to leave open.

Yeah, I'm beautiful.

So we're, so your windows open and kind of just like, Hey, Phil.

Yeah.

No, no,

Phil.

Hey, there's

something wrong at

the station.

That would be a nightmare.

I'd

be like, he's right.

When

it is cold, you have a

nightmare.

Wow.

Your question of the day, sir.

Yeah.

What's the worst seat in the vehicle?

Oh, probably in the back somewhere back there, you know, mine.

Drive in your vehicle.

Oh, well, yeah.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

If I, if I, if I, if I didn't have to drive, I think the back behind the driver.

Yeah.

I don't like that.

I don't like that either.

But in your car, in my car, the driver seats, the one that's open.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Without question.

Nothing wrong with that.

Somebody went by your mini Cooper and said, he must sleep in there.

He must be homeless or something.

Close.

Oh, what do you do?

Yeah.

So it's a big weekend, you know, Packers and Bears.

Yeah.

And I haven't talked that much about it because the Brewers are overshadowing everything.

Yes.

You know, it's like, I haven't even really thought much about the game because I'm thinking about the Brewers and the Dodgers

and what time they play on seven, seven o'clock.

Okay.

Yeah.

So I hope the Brewers get that first win.

That would be huge.

It would be.

It would be huge to get that first

one

against the high paid Dodgers.

What is it?

Two people on

Is it a toy or whatever?

What is the the big show show?

Hey, hold on.

And then there's the other guy that

their two salaries are more than the whole Brewer's salary.

Is it

Freeman?

It's one of

those things.

Isn't it crazy?

Oh yeah, yeah.

Well, and the thing of it is, case in point, and I don't really follow the American League, but the Tampa Bay Rays, their salary was much, much, much lower than the Yankees.

Yankees, and the Yankees aren't as high paid as the Dodgers, but still the Rays are about what the Brewer's salary is and the Rays won.

So

it

shows you, you can't necessarily buy

championships,

you

know,

it's just the brewers are so scrappy.

Yeah, they are.

They're scrappy.

Didn't the didn't the rays actually give the brewers a tough time this year?

I think they did.

Yeah.

Right.

Well, you might be from Arkansas, Phillip.

If your family tree has more stories than branches.

Yeah, that's probably true.

Many of our families probably do,

you know.

Yeah, I'm not talking about, I'm talking about stories, you know.

Oh, okay.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Straight branches not good for a family tree.

Oh, okay, you know, we just call them stories interesting at 2 30 in the morning Here's your hillbilly breakfast quesadilla also known as the henhouse hot pockets.

You like hot pockets don't

hot pocket.

Yes.

Yeah,

I do so did

Dr. Evil, isn't it?

Dr. Evil, I got pockets.

I have a hot pocket.

It's early in the morning.

You're standing in front of the fridge right where in one sock, your good old underwear and a John Deere t-shirt filled up with one big hole enough to check your blood pressure.

You.

Yeah, you.

You just had a visual, didn't you?

My bad.

You ain't hungry enough to cook breakfast, but you are hungry enough to make some terrible decisions.

So grab a skillet tonight.

I'm cooking are also known as Skeeter in the kitchen.

Oh, here's what you need.

You need a half a cup of shredded cheese or more, two eggs beaten like they owe you money, salt and pepper, a big flour tortilla, half a cup of cooked breakfast sausage and two slices of bacon, optional hot sauce, ketchup or whatever bottle in the fridge ain't expired by more than 12 months.

Ketchup's all right.

It can expire a year or so.

It's all good.

It's not refrigerated.

It's

good.

All right, here's your first step.

Let's see here.

There we go.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium low heat.

Throw half of that cheddar directly in the skillet.

No butter, no oil, just cheese hitting the hot metal.

If somebody asks what's cooking technique, just tell them it's Appalachian Teflon.

Now, step two, add the chicken juice.

Where did the chicken juice go?

I don't know.

Did you miss a step?

I missed a step somewhere.

Huh.

Anyway, you got chicken juice, chicken juice.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Huh.

I think something like that.

Right.

And then, uh, uh, see here, the chicken juice is the eggs.

Oh, chicken juice, eggs.

Yeah.

Should I just stop this?

Beat those two eggs and pour them right over that cheese.

Add some salt and pepper.

How much?

Until your ancestor whispers, that's plenty.

Now slap a tortilla right over the eggs.

Right over the top.

And gently press down.

Don't mash it.

This ain't a fence post.

Step three, the hillbilly flip.

Once the eggs are set, you're gonna flip the whole thing over.

Now listen carefully, there are two possible outcomes.

Number one, it flips perfectly.

Congratulations, you're now Gordon Ramsay.

Number two,

Half of it lands on the stove.

Congratulations.

Scrape it back in the skillet.

The five second rule, don't start until it hits the floor.

Yeah,

that's a good point.

It's all right.

Load that sucker.

Step four, load air up.

Put the rest of the cheese on the one half, then add your sausage, then the bacon.

If you've got one lonely piece of sausage left over, throw that in too.

We're not putting one sausage crumb back in the fridge or it's gonna feed somebody tomorrow.

And remember, every third piece of bacon goes directly to the cook.

That's not snacking, that's a bacon tax.

Did you guys know that?

No, I didn't.

That's a bacon tax.

Step five, you're going to fold her.

Philip, you're going to fold her.

Fold that tortilla in half, cook it for a minute or two on each side until it's golden brown crispy and the cheese is melted through enough to cause permanent damage to the roof of your mouth.

Now you're supposed to let it cool.

You won't.

So yeah, you'll bite it into immediately burn your mouth and start breathing like a radiator.

I Somehow blame the case that case idea.

I hate

that.

Yeah, but we know you do it when we do it You know, I'm saying we know it's gonna happen But we as humans good.

I got that can't wait.

Yep.

Can't wait step six Here's your presentation Philip put it on one of your finest paper plates if you're feeling fancy use one that hasn't had an already had a hot dog on it

China

Yeah, whatever.

I don't even think I can afford to try that.

It's just a regular paper, you know, like you get us here.

Cut it.

You have to have six of them to hold.

Only the best.

You have to have six of them to hold the string cheese off.

I know it.

Cut.

Cut into triangles if you've got company.

Otherwise, stand over the kitchen sink, eat the whole thing while staring out the window, wondering why the neighbor's porch light is on, and there you have it.

It's the 2.30 a.m.

Hillbilly breakfast quesadilla.

Eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, all folded into one tortilla because this early in the morning a fork is just another dish you have to wash and remember, Phillip, if the rooster wakes up while you're making breakfast, you've either gotten up way too early or stayed awake way too late.

Either way, save him a bite.

Oh, you

think he'd eat it?

Maybe.

I don't know.

They do that or not.

I don't know.

Never know.

Your dogs will probably roll on it.

They probably.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Interesting.

Anyway, yeah.

It doesn't sound too bad.

No, it's not

bad.

But you didn't have crushed up potato chips on top of it.

Oh, you could.

But this is a breakfast so.

Oh, I see.

Yeah.

But, you know.

it's really good rolled up in eye.

If you take sausage, eggs and roll it up in a pancake, it's really

good.

Oh, in a pancake?

I bet that would be good.

Huh?

Did you notice the freezer?

There's frozen waffles in the freezer.

Yeah, only the best.

Where'd you get those?

I don't know, but they're frozen.

Then someone brought butter

and... Generic frozen waffles.

Yeah, they look good though.

Then there's butter and syrup in there.

Really?

Yeah.

And Pepto-Bismol too, I saw that.

Yeah, it's all in one shell.

Oh well.

What do you got for us today, buddy?

It's time for poor old grandpa Phil's attic logic sponsored by Salt Weedle Store in downtown Casanova since 1946.

Now

going into their 81st year by

the way,

Salt Weedle Store, I guess they had

quite a party

last Saturday.

Well, everybody had parties last week.

They

did, absolutely.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

I hate hearing that from my mother.

That is how life goes.

That's the way the cookie

crumbles.

I've heard that many more than once.

Uh-huh.

Mr.

Yes.

She, she would usually have, you know, comma, Mr. And then another, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

We spent our hard-earned

out.

Yeah.

Or

you, you talk about maybe going to somebody's house or hanging them.

Well, I don't think they've got many scruples.

Scruples.

Is that

smarts?

Um, food.

I think there might be a morality issue.

Maybe

I don't know something like that.

I don't

know.

Okay.

That's, but there was a game in the eighties called scruples.

And it was like, it was kind of the person that was playing that was most likely to, I don't know, break something and not tell somebody or, you know, those kinds

of things or be a

DJ.

Exactly.

Ain't got, ain't got many scruples.

Oh well.

He spent our hard earned milk check on what?

Dead skunk in the middle.

He ought to be ashamed.

He ought to be ashamed.

I'm telling you.

Jim, we should have just raised chickens.

What are you doing?

But you're just beating up all of us and you're still just doing it.

I know it.

We should have just raised chickens.

We

just should have raised chickens instead.

That is

freaking hilarious.

Well, Speckled

Pete wasn't very well behaved either.

You know, I mean, they raised him too.

I don't even know what to say.

Jim, we

should have just raised chickens.

Well, well, here we got the word of the week.

All right, we're ready.

The word of the week is sponsored by Oakwood Fruit Farms.

Oh, yeah.

All right, here we go.

Euphrates.

Euphrates.

Yeah.

Yeah.

To be in fear of bodily harm from a male.

Oh,

yeah.

Here we go.

What's the matter?

What's the matter, Timmy?

Euphrates is going to hit you again.

Oh boy.

You have a good weekend.

I even said it right.

Yeah.

You know how long it took me to say Euphrates and I had to get it right.

I'm afraid he's going to say something wrong

here.

So

anyway, anyway, one last thing.

Yeah, one last knowledge off my head.

Cat urine glows under a black light.

I hope everybody has a great weekend and be kind.

Today's Vital Statistics are sponsored by Krause Monument.

Krause Monument Company designs and produces granite headstones, gravestones, grave markers, monuments, and memorials.

Today is October 9th.

These are today's Vital Statistics.

Mary Waslik, 76 of Casanovia, died Wednesday, September 30 at the Sock County Health Care Center in Reedsburg.

Visitation will be held today from 4 p.m.

to 7 p.m.

at the Casanovia Chapel.

The Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg is assisting the family.

Mary is survived by her husband Kenneth, her children Terry Waslik and Jenny Meacham, Tracy and Larry Fanta and Kenneth Waslik.

Seven grandchildren

for great grandchildren.

Mary Waslik, 76 of Casanovia.

Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscaday, died September 25th peacefully in his sleep.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Saturday, October 10th at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Church in Muscaday.

Visitation will be held

Today at the Pratt Funeral Home in Muscaday from 6 p.m.

until 8 30 p.m.

and again tomorrow from 11 a.m.

until 11 45 a.m.

Also at the Pratt Funeral Home in Muscaday burial immediately following the funeral mass will be

held at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Muscaday.

A luncheon will be served after the burial at St.

John the Baptist Catholic School Gymnasium next to the church.

Joe was survived by his siblings, Donald and Sandra McEvec and Anna Marie Fuller.

His children, Deborah,

and Jose Lucas Nader, Susan and Bill Rogers, Barbara and Terry Pliner, Lisa and Thomas Buell, Nancy and Mark Kramer, and Joseph and Caitlin McEvec, 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscatay.

Don, Terry, Winch, 83 of Maisa Mani died at home September 30th.

A memorial service will be held Saturday October 10th at 1 p.m.

at the Curtis Street Bible Fellowship in Maisa Mani.

A celebration of life

and lunch to follow at the church until 3 p.m.

The Richardson Stafford funeral home is assisting the family.

Don is survived by his wife Deborah, his daughters Sarah Winch and Carrie and Kent MacArthur, his stepchildren Amanda Miller and Lee Eggleston, Brandon and Sarah Miller, Ryan Andretti and Dana Bladle, his brothers Marvin Winch and Tom and Sybil Winch,

Father-in-law Gary Chippwood, sister-in-law Brenda Wallace, one granddaughter, two step-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends, Don Terry Winch, 83 of Maiselmanie.

Todd A. Deckert, 59 of Richland Center, died Wednesday, September 16 at Schmidt Woodland Hills following a battle with a rare disease.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 11 at the Boaz Community Center from 1 p.m.

until 3 p.m.

Todd A. Deckert, 59, of Richland Center.

Carol Ann Michaelsberger, 95, of Plain, died October 4.

A funeral mass will be held Monday, October 12 at St.

Luke's Catholic Church

in plain.

Visitation begins at 9 a.m.

with service at 11 30.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The Richardson Stafford funeral home is assisting the family.

memorials are appreciated in Carol's name to St.

Luke School or a local non-profit of your choice.

Carol is survived by her daughters Jane and Tim Prouty, Ruth and Fred Schreiner and Mary and Bernie Andrews, her sons Jeffrey and Mary Michaelsberger, Rory and Tracy Michaelsberger and Michael and Laurie Michaelsberger.

Her sisters Mary Jane Hull and Liz

Torgerson, brother-in-law John and Josie Michaelsberger, and sisters-in-law Yvonne Legal and Pearl Michaelsberger, 15 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, Carol and Michaelsberger, 95 of Plain.

Estella M. Rowan, 86 of Muscaday, formerly of Ridgeway, died Sunday, October 4th at St.

Mary's Hospital in Madison.

Visitation for Estella will be held Thursday, October 15 from 4 p.m.

until 8 p.m.

at the Gorgon McKinley & Ayers Funeral Home in Dodgeville.

Private family internment will be held at East Side Ebenezer Cemetery in Ridgeway at a later date.

The Gorgon McKinley & Ayers Funeral Home in Dodgeville is assisting the family.

Estella is survived by her children, Melvin and Marie Rowan Jr., Matthew and Anna Lynn Rowan, Teresa Rowan, Mark and Kelly Rowan, Michael Rowan and Marvel Rowan III.

Many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Estella M. Rowan, 86th of Muscaday, formerly of Ridgeway.

The annual Richland County 4-H medallion hunt has officially come to an end.

Richland County 4-H Extension Educator, Carlene Craddock, contacted WRCONews to confirm that the medallion has been found at the kayak landing area in the park at Rockbridge.

Sponsored by the Richland County 4-H Leaders Association, the popular medallion hunt serves as a highlight during the week-long observance of National 4-H Week.

bringing community members together to celebrate local youth programs and agricultural traditions.

Excitement is building across the Riverdale area as the Riverdale School District marks its annual homecoming celebration.

A full schedule of events is lined up for today offering plenty of opportunities for community involvement.

Highlights begin in the afternoon with the homecoming assembly at 1.30 bringing students together to kick off the main events.

Shortly after the homecoming parade will step off at 2.30 p.m.

The homecoming football game takes place tonight as the Chief Dents take the field against Iowa Grant.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

And in Riverdale, the Drama Club is set to participate in the upcoming WISDAA District 10 One Act Festival Saturday, October 17th.

Hosted by Riesberg Area High School, the festival will showcase three local productions performing live for the public with no admission fee required.

The festival lineup features Riesberg taking the stage at 2.30 p.m.

followed by Riverdale at 3.30 and Barnabelle concluding the performances at 4.30 p.m.

For this year's festival, Riverdale will present Horror Town, an entertaining comedy that spoofs classic themes from iconic horror films.

Three schools, Reedsburg at 2.30, Riverdale at 3.30, and Barnabelle at 4.30.

We'll each perform their shows for the public.

The Hub City 2026 diesel truck challenge, presented by Hub City dirt drags is being held today and tomorrow at the Richland County Fairgrounds.

The diesel truck challenge class dyno is currently underway, and then in the evening at five o'clock will be the Friday Night Lights Truck Show.

There will also be more great competition and excitement on the schedule throughout the weekend.

Lacey Steffis is with Hub City Dirt Drag.

We're going to do two sessions of truck and tractor pulling, one at 6 p.m.

Friday night and then at 11 a.m.

on Saturday.

We'll be doing four of our big classes of trucks, so they're going to get two hooks out there.

So we heard that the community really wanted to see some more truck and tractor pulling.

So we thought we'd throw in two sessions of that.

And then at three o'clock on Saturday, we will kick off with our diesel truck challenge, which not only includes our challenge class, our series that we've been running all summer, as well as 13 other drive race classes.

So that'll go well into the evening on Saturday night.

Also, tonight at 9 o'clock, there will be live music.

Along with the racing and polls, there will be a variety of activities the whole family will enjoy.

One of the fun things, just a little sprinkles on the ice cream that we're doing, we just signed a contract with a face painter.

So on Friday night, we're going to have free face painting for the kids.

So we've got some checkered flag designs.

We've got our hub city logo.

So that's super fun.

We really want to create an environment that's very family friendly.

There's always that risk.

We're at a motorsports event.

So things might get wild for a minute, but creating that safe experience.

So we've got face painting.

We have a gal that's coming that will be branding doing custom brands on boots and truck seats.

We have tons of food vendors that are coming.

So I think

13 food trucks will be on property.

So really, for me, it's about the experience.

The racing is great, the burnout road is fun, show and shine, but the experience that everybody, all of our guests get to experience when they come in, they see all the action and then get to eat the yummy food and maybe play some carnival games while they're watching the drag racing.

Admission is $30 per day or you can purchase weekend passes for $40 each at Mattesnik Power Sports.

Jones Chevrolet and at Chetz, Feed, Seed and such.

Camping will also be available.

More information and details about the Hub City Diesel Truck Challenge can be found at the Hub City Dirt Drags website.

Richland Center Police Chief Billy Jones reports the Richland Center Police Department has received some recent concerns about downtown parking.

So they wanted to give everyone a friendly heads up before they start writing tickets.

Over the past several months due to staffing changes and other demands on our officers, two hour parking limits in the downtown area have not been checked on a daily basis.

Officers have continued to address parking violations when they were observed, randomly checked or

when complaints are received.

Beginning Monday, October 12, RCPD will be stepping up enforcement of the posted two-hour parking limits throughout downtown Richland Center.

If you or someone you know has gotten a little comfortable taking advantage of the limited enforcement in certain areas, now is a good time to reconsider those parking habits.

The goal is not to make anyone's day more difficult.

The two-hour limits are there to help make sure customers, visitors, residents, and people who need to access downtown businesses and services have a fair opportunity to find a parking space.

So before you leave your vehicle downtown for the day,

Take a quick look at the signs and remember the two-hour limit.

A little parking courtesy goes a long way in keeping downtown accessible for everyone.

Thanks for your cooperation and for helping us keep Downtown Richland Center moving, Richland Center Police Chief Billy Jones.

The Richland County Courthouse Security and Facilities Committee will meet on Monday, October 12th at 10.30 a.m.

in the county boardroom at the courthouse in Richland Center.

The agenda includes a presentation on the E3 security system, as well as feedback on continued staff instruction.

The committee will review incident reports and key issues before taking action on several items, including quarterly updates on courtroom security, a quarterly report on duress alarms, and a continued review of physical risk assessments.

Members will also evaluate long-term goals such as small courtroom improvements and renovations to the current facility, address specific security requests and work on developing general court security and facilities policies and procedures.

An 18-year-old man was arrested after deputies responded to a reported disturbance in the village of Arena.

According to the Iowa County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa County Communications Center received a report of a disturbance taking place in the 300 block of Dallagassa Drive.

Iowa County deputies were dispatched to the scene to investigate.

Following the on-scene investigation, deputies arrested 18-year-old Jacob Verdick.

Verdick faces several charges, including disorderly conduct with a domestic enhancer, resisting or obstructing an officer, intimidate victim dissuade reporting with a domestic enhancer, false imprisonment with a domestic enhancer, and misdemeanor bail jumping.

Verdick was subsequently transported to the Iowa County Jail, where he was booked on the charges.

A fatal two vehicle collision led to a secondary crash that injured a law enforcement officer in Dodge County Thursday morning.

Emergency responders were dispatched around 6.58 a.m.

to a serious crash at the intersection of State Highway 16 and 60 and County Road BB in the town of Elba.

According to initial findings by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, a southbound semi-tractor trailer failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with a westbound GMC SUV.

The driver of the SUV identified as a 77-year-old man from Jefferson, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Semi, a 28-year-old man from Waterloo, Wisconsin, was transported to Prairie Ridge Hospital with minor injuries.

State Highway 16 and 60 was closed for nearly three hours, while members of the Dodge County Crash Investigation Team processed the scene.

During the closure, a Dodge County Sheriff's Office community service officer managing traffic control at State Highway 16 and 60 and County Highway T

was struck by a passing motorist.

The CSO's emergency vehicle, which had its lights activated, was hit and subsequently pushed into the officer.

The CSO was taken to Prairie Ridge Hospital with suspected minor injuries.

The secondary crash is currently being investigated by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Authorities emphasize the importance of staying focused while driving and avoiding distractions.

particularly near emergency scenes.

Both crashes remain under active investigation.

This week marks fire prevention week, a crucial reminder that protecting your home and loved ones from fire hazards requires consistent preparedness and everyday vigilance.

So far in 2026, Red Cross disaster teams across Wisconsin have responded to 606

home fires, highlighting the urgent need for families to prioritize key safety practices throughout their living space to minimize risks and ensure a rapid escape.

Creating and practicing a dedicated home fire escape plan at least

twice a year ensures that every household member knows how to evacuate safely.

In addition, working smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home and tested monthly to provide critical early warnings.

Everyday habits in the kitchen and living areas are equally vital.

Never leave cooking food unattended.

Keep flammable objects at least three feet away from heat sources and always turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.

We Energy's customers will get a bill credit this fall.

According to the utility, the credits are because of lower than expected fuel costs.

A typical residential customer will receive about $13 to $14 back for electricity used in October

part of a $32 million refund being returned to customers.

The credit equals about two cents per kilowatt hour and will automatically appear on October or November bills depending on the customer's billing cycle.

No action is required to receive the refund.

Sheriff Roy Torgerson released the latest summary of law enforcement activities and narrative excerpts

for the week ending October 3rd.

For the past week, local law enforcement officers and deputies responded to a diverse series of incidents across Vernon County.

ranging from domestic disputes and trespassing complaints to property damage and financial crimes.

The week began September 27th with responses to a disorderly conduct incident involving broken dishes and an unauthorized vehicle in Ontario alongside a trespassing and loose livestock complaint in Reedstown.

September 28th deputies made an arrest on North Elk Run Road in the town of Webster

for domestic disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.

Midweek calls included reports of cattle in the roadway in Coon Valley, a false burglar alarm in the town of Greenwood, a domestic noise investigation in Westby, and ongoing investigations into juvenile trespassing and property vandalism on Asbury Road in Verroqua.

October 1st, deputies and detectives faced several significant reports, including an ongoing online investment fraud investigation involving a loss exceeding 100

$66,000 and a report of juveniles causing damage and tampering with a vehicle in Hillsboro.

Authorities also responded to wandering livestock on Muncie Road in the town of Union.

A welfare check was conducted for a toddler found alone outdoors in Stoddard.

The child was unharmed and reunited with caregivers.

The week concluded with an arrest following a fight on West Decker Street in Verroqua, October 2.

and a response to an automated crash notification on US Highway 14, October 3rd, where emergency responders located a discarded cell phone, rather than a vehicle collision.

Ed and Linda Chitwood have announced the Milk Into Cheese program was a big hit again this year, with donations purchasing 10,000 pounds of milk, which will produce 1,000 pounds of cheese for distribution to food pantries.

The milk into cheese hayride will take place this Sunday at 1pm at 1-6-0-2-5 Eddie's Lane in Blue River.

If you plan to attend, please call the Chip Woods at 6-0-8-5-3-7-2-3-4-0 to let them know you're coming.

Expect the hayride to take one to one and a half hours.

There will be a scavenger hunt.

There are porta-potties on site.

There will be coffee and lemonade and pumpkins for the kids.

Donations are always accepted at the Eddie's Lane address.

Thank you to everyone for your generous donations.

Partners for Prevention and the Richland Center Police Department are encouraging community members to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications during Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Richland Center Police Station.

The event provides a free, convenient, and secure way for residents to remove unwanted medications from their homes.

Proper disposal helps prevent prescription drug misuse, accidental poisoning, and environmental contamination.

Many people have medications they no longer need, sitting in medicine cabinets, where they can be misused or accidentally accessed by others, said Sam McEvac, drug-free and community health coordinator at the Richland Hospital and Clinics.

Drug take-back day is an easy way for community members to safely dispose of those medications and help keep our families and neighborhoods safer.

Community members are encouraged to gather unused or expired prescription medications and bring them to the Richland Center Police Station during the event.

No appointment is necessary.

Permanent drop boxes are available year-round at the following locations, the Richland Center Police Department Municipal Building, the Community Pharmacy at the Richland Hospital and Clinics, the Richland County Sheriff's Department, Center Pharmacy, and the Viola Village Hall.

The Brewer Public Library will host a free educational workshop on estate planning Tuesday, October 20th, beginning at 6pm, led by UW Extension educator Sarah Kubiak.

The session is designed to help community members navigate the essentials of preparing for the future.

Attendees will gain valuable information on protecting personal assets, preparing wills or trusts, and managing long-term care needs.

The event is open to the public at no cost, but advanced registration is requested.

To reserve a spot call 608-647-6444 or email richlandscenterpl at gmail.com.

Governor Tony Evers announced today that Wisconsin is leading a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal government's decision to abruptly terminate millions of dollars in grant funding.

The funds were originally allocated to improve state unemployment insurance systems and combat fraudulent claims, despite multiple formal letters from Governor Evers urging the administration to restore the funding.

Including communications sent directly to President Trump, federal officials have left these inquiries largely unanswered.

Following the severe strain placed on Wisconsin's legacy UI infrastructure, during the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials made modernization a top priority.

Overhaul efforts included deploying modern software to streamline claims, prevent overpayments, detect fraud, and increase processing speeds.

Under the Evers Administration, Wisconsin's UI program underwent rigorous oversight, passing nine audits over three years.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Petschach highlighted the severe impact of the cuts, noting that the sudden cancellation

forced the state to terminate its vendor contract before work was completed.

The loss of resources directly halts plans to build a web and mobile employer portal, upgrade written customer communications, integrate identity verification tools, and strengthen overall cybersecurity defenses.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S.

Court of Federal claims

seeks to restore approximately $29 million out of $45 million in total coalition grant funding originally granted through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

According to federal officials, the grants were cut because they no longer align with agency priorities.

However, the state coalition argues that the unilateral termination violates expressed contractual terms and statutory duties, leaving states without the critical infrastructure promised to maintain integrity and access in public benefit systems.

This fall, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invites visitors to experience the vibrant colors and cool evenings of the season through a series of special events across state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas throughout October.

Park goers can look forward to illuminated nocturnal hikes, cozy bonfires, fall festivals, and family-friendly activities designed to make autumn in Wisconsin memorable for all ages.

The seasonal lineup kicks off Saturday, October 10th, featuring candlelit hikes at Governor Dodge State Park and festive gatherings like the Wildcat Mountain State Park Fall Fast and Leaf Stop at Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit and Potawatomi State Park's Run Wild event.

The following week brings sunset strolls at Lakeshore State Park on Friday, October 16th, followed by a busy Saturday

filled with outdoor adventures.

Visitors on Sunday can enjoy the 400 state trail spooktacular bike or hike.

Mirror Lake State Park's Halloween mystery candlelight hike.

New Glarus Woods State Parks Fall Bonfire, Lake Cagonsa State Parks Candlelight Hike, or Hartman Creek State Parks Pumpkin Hike.

Mid-month festivities continue with the Tree, Trunk, or Treat event at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit Sunday, October 18th, Halloween Beach Bonfire at Lakeshore State Park Wednesday, October 21st, and Haven Woods State Forest Autumn Adventure Day Friday, October 23rd.

The weekend of Saturday, October 24th, offers additional fall celebrations, including Buckhorn State Park's Fall Fest, Devils Lake State Park's Halloween extravaganza, and Straight Lake State Park's Fall candlelight hike.

As October draws to a close, Newport State Park hosts a Halloween nature hike Thursday, October 29th.

The seasonal festivities wrap up on Halloween,

Saturday, October 31st with a Halloween Nature Trivia Walk at Devil's Lake State Park and a Spooktacular Nature Adventure at Kettle Marine State Forest's Northern Unit.

Attendees are encouraged to verify vehicle admission requirements and check parking availability prior to visiting.

In an effort to bolster American agriculture and support working lands, the U.S.

Department of Agriculture has announced the issuance of roughly $1.8 billion in conservation reserve program payments for 2026.

This funding targets agricultural producers and landowners participating in key conservation initiatives across the country, aiming to stabilize farm incomes while protecting critical natural resources.

Central to this year's disbursements are the Grassland CRP payments, an integral component of the Ranchers First initiative.

The initiative focuses on revitalizing the great American cattle herd and re-establishing ranchers at the core of the national food supply chain.

Through the Farm Service Agency, USDA accepted offers covering nearly one million new acres of grassland CRP,

offering rental payments and cost share assistance that allow ranchers to keep rangeland and pastureland active for grazing.

With these additions, Grassland CRP acreage is set to represent over 40% of total and rolled lands.

Leadership officials emphasize that these payments provide crucial financial stability while advancing voluntary land stewardship by incentivizing long-term vegetative cover and sustainable working lands practices.

The program helps mitigate soil erosion, enhance water quality, and foster wild

life habitats.

Looking ahead to fiscal year 2027, total CRP enrollment is projected to reach 26.8 million acres following the acceptance of 2.2 million acres, further strengthening rural economies and environmental conservation nationwide.

Good evening, everyone, for WRCO News.

I'm Todd Copernall.

Richland County Clerk Jeffrey Harrison reports as Election Day approaches, community members across Richland County are receiving an influx of voter registration and absentee ballot request mailings from various third party organizations.

Local officials are urging residents to rely on trusted official resources rather than external advocacy mailers for accurate information regarding their voting status and options.

While third-party mailings often aim to encourage civic participation, county and municipal clerks emphasize that the official myvote.wi.gov website and local municipal clerk offices remain the most reliable sources for election guidance.

Residents looking to register to vote request absentee ballots or check the status of their registration are encouraged to reach out directly to their local clerk to ensure all information is up to date and correctly processed ahead of November 3rd.

The annual Richland County 4-H medallion haunt has officially come to an end.

Richland County 4-H Extension educator Carleen Craddock contacted WRCO News to confirm that the medallion has been found at the kayak landing area in the park at Rockbridge.

Sponsored by the Richland County 4-H Leaders Association, the popular medallion hunt serves as a highlight during the week-long observance of National 4-H Week, bringing community members together to celebrate local youth programs and agricultural traditions.

The Riverdale Drama Club is set to participate in the upcoming WIS-DAA District 10 One Act Festival Saturday, October 17th.

Hosted by Reedsburg Area High School, the festival will showcase three local school productions performing live for the public with no admission fee required.

The festival lineup

Features, Reedsburg taking the stage at 2.30 p.m., followed by Riverdale at 3.30, and Barnabelle concluding the performances at 4.30 p.m.

For this year's festival, Riverdale will present Horror Town, an entertaining comedy that spoofs classic themes from iconic horror films.

Again, three schools, Reedsburg at 230, Riverdale at 330, and Barnabale at 430 will each perform their shows for the public.

The Richland County Courthouse, Security and Facilities Committee will meet Monday, October 12th at 10.30 a.m.

in the County Boardroom at the Courthouse in Richland Center.

The agenda includes a presentation of the E3 security system as well as feedback on continued staff instruction.

The committee will review incident reports and key issues before taking action on several items, including quarterly updates on courtroom security,

a quarterly report on duress alarms, and a continued review of physical risk assessments.

Members will also evaluate long-term goals such as small courtroom improvements and renovations to the current facility, address specific security requests, and work on developing general court security and facilities policies and procedures.

An 18-year-old man was arrested after deputies responded to a reported disturbance in the village of Arena.

According to the Iowa County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa County Communication Center received a report of a disturbance taking place in the 300 block of Dela Gassa Drive.

Iowa County deputies were dispatched to the scene to investigate.

Following the on-scene investigation, deputies arrested 18-year-old Jacob Verdick.

Verdick faces several charges, including disorderly conduct with a domestic enhancer, resisting or obstructing an officer, intimidate victim, dissuade reporting with a domestic enhancer, false imprisonment with a domestic enhancer, and misdemeanor bail jumping.

Verdick was subsequently transported to the Iowa County Jail where he was booked on the charges.

The Richland Hospital and Clinics alongside local community response partners recently completed a comprehensive functional emergency operations exercise to evaluate and refine its emergency response capabilities.

The exercise tested key operational areas including patient flow, resource allocation, real-time communications and multi-agency coordination.

Volunteer victim actors participated to create realistic clinical and operational scenarios for staff and first responders.

Hospital leadership operated under the hospital incident command system throughout the event.

Insights gathered from the exercise will be integrated into future safety planning and staff training programs to ensure continued community resilience.

This November, the 5th annual Great Midwest Crane Fest, themed Celebrating Community and Conservation, returns to Baraboo November 14th and 15th, hosted jointly by the International Crane Foundation and the Elda Leopold Foundation, the festival marks a beloved autumn tradition bringing together nature lovers, families, artists, and conservationists from across the region.

The featured lineup of headliners for this year's event highlights notable authors, filmmakers, and conservation pioneers.

Attendees will hear from Ethan Tapper, Forester, an award-winning author of How to Love a Forest, who is releasing his latest book, The Forest Year.

Additionally, Dr. George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, returns to celebrate over five decades dedicated to protecting all 15 global crane species.

The centerpiece of the weekend remains the breathtaking gathering of thousands of sandhill cranes roosting along the sandbars and shallows of the Wisconsin River near the historic Leopold Shack.

Once feared to be on the brink of extinction when Elder Leopold penned his famous essay, Marshland Elegy in 1937, the thriving local crane population stands as a testament to successful long-term environmental stewardship.

Full schedules, ticket options, and registration details for specialized crane viewing tours are available online at greatmidwestcrainfest.org.

U.S.

Senator Tammy Baldwin is pressing Verizon CEO Dan Schulman regarding the telecommunications giant's proposal

to transition away from copper-based voice service.

Baldwin expressed strong concerns that thousands of residents, particularly those in rural communities, could lose crucial phone connectivity without an adequate replacement in place.

The transition plan involves retiring copper facilities across 136 Wisconsin wire centers and fully discontinuing traditional landline offerings.

While acknowledging the broader industry pushed to modernize aging infrastructure, Baldwin emphasized in a letter to Shulman that many affected Wisconsinites rely on traditional landlines for emergency communications during power outages or cellular blackouts.

To protect consumers, Baldwin requested that Verizon guarantee no customer loses existing copper service until a functional, tested, and reliable alternative is fully activated.

Local communities remain wary of the shift due to geographic limitations, high equipment costs, and recurring gaps in cellular service across rural regions.

In her letter, Baldwin outlined key questions demanding detailed customer breakdowns by county and wire center, specifics on replacement technologies like fiber or fixed wireless, and details on how serviceability will be verified.

She also questioned how dispute resolution will function for consumers, what emergency battery backup safeguards exist for 911 access, and how new pricing models compare to existing landline service costs.

Music enthusiasts and community members are invited to a fun and entertaining evening as Richland Center High School presents its Fall Choir Concert Monday, October 19th at 7.30 p.m.

Held in the school's newly upgraded RCHS auditorium, the event offers attendees a chance to experience the sound and talent of both high school choirs in a newly enhanced venue.

Admission for the evening is $5 at the door.

This year's choirs feature a robust roster of talented student vocalists delivering a powerful and impressive collective sound.

The performance will highlight a challenging and varied repertoire that spans dynamic ensemble numbers alongside individual soloist performances.

With a thoughtfully curated selection of entertaining songs and exceptional vocal talent on display, the Fall Choir concert promises an engaging experience for audiences of all ages.

The students and faculty look forward to welcoming the public and sharing their dedication to musical excellence.

And I'll leave you with this legendary rock guitarist Slash from Guns N' Roses has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Les Paul Spirit Award during an intimate event at the Les Paul Recording Studio at Universal Master Recordings in Hollywood.

presented jointly by the Les Paul Foundation and Gibson Gives.

The award celebrates Slash's remarkable musical achievements, creative influence, and innovative contributions to the world of rock guitar.

The celebration brought together music industry figures, artists, and friends to recognize a guitarist whose career deeply aligns with Les Paul's own legacy of technical curiosity and musical expression beyond their artistic

parallels, Slash and Les Paul maintained a close personal friendship and performed together on numerous occasions throughout Les Paul's lifetime.

Reflecting on the honor, Slash shared that Les Paul was not only an extraordinary musician, but a true visionary who changed how instruments and recordings were made.

He noted that having known and jammed with Les Paul, made receiving an award in his name especially meaningful.

Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation, praised Slash for embodying the curiosity and standard of excellence

that defined Les Paul's life.

Each Les Paul Spirit Award is a custom physical piece crafted directly from hand-carved acoustic panels from Les Paul's personal home studio, making every physical award unique.

Vital statistics right after this.

Today's vital statistics are being sponsored by Krause Monument.

Krause Monument Company designs and produces granite headstones, gravestones, grave markers, monuments, and memorials.

Today is October 9th.

These are today's vital statistics.

Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscaday, died September 25th peacefully in his sleep.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Saturday October 10th at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Church in Muscaday.

Visitation will be held Friday October 9th at the Pratt Funeral Home in Muscaday from 6 p.m.

until 8 30 p.m.

and again Saturday October 10th from 11 a.m.

until 11 45 also at the Pratt Funeral Home

in Muscatay.

Burial immediately following the funeral mass will be held at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Muscatay.

A luncheon will be served after the burial at St.

John the Baptist Catholic School Gymnasium next to the church.

Joseph Joe B. McEvec, 92 of Muscatay.

Don

Terry Winch, 83 of Maisa Mani, died at home September 30th.