Good morning, everyone.
For WRCO News, I'm Todd Copernall.
It's 53 degrees right now and Richland Center forecast says today's high.
will be 64.
In the news, David Grant of Civic Media reports, multiple people have died in a plane crash in the town of Delona, according to the Sock County Sheriff's Department.
The Sheriff's Department says the crash happened Tuesday night at approximately 9.31.
The Sock County Dispatch Center received multiple reports of a downed aircraft in the area of Park Wayne.
in the town of Delona.
When authorities arrived on scene, the aircraft was located, and five adults and one child were confirmed deceased.
The Sauk County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Lake Dalton Police Department, Dalton Fire Department, Dell's Dalton EMS,
Sock County Coroner's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol.
The scene remains secured as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be assisting in the investigation.
As construction on US Highway 14 nears final completion, two additional intersection closures are required to finish the remaining concrete and traffic signal work.
Beginning Monday, October 19th at 6 a.m.
The intersection of US 14 west of State Highway 80 will be closed until approximately November 13th.
During this period, traffic will be directed along a signed detour using Main Street and 6th Street.
A second closure at County O will take place starting Tuesday, October 20th and will remain in place until the following Tuesday, October 27th.
Drivers on US 14 will need to navigate using the posted detour route on County RC.
However, northbound traffic on RC will maintain access to eastbound US 14.
Additionally, project officials are anticipating a temporary week long closure of the Bowman Drive intersection starting October 22nd.
Final confirmation for this closure will be provided next week as it remains subject to crew productivity
and weather conditions.
The Richland School District is celebrating homecoming this week.
The theme this year is Hornets in Paradise.
Friday, the parade will be held starting at 255 in downtown Richland Center.
The 2026 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal will be Police Chief Billy Jones.
Following the parade, the traditional duck races will be held.
In the evening, Richland Center will face Dodgeville in the homecoming football game at seven o'clock.
More information about this week's homecoming celebration can be found on the Richland School of District website.
Weston Schools is holding their 70th homecoming celebration this week in Casanovia.
Tomorrow there will be a FFA pork feed from 5 o'clock until 7.
Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for students.
At 7 o'clock there will be a distinguished alumni plaque presentation before the varsity volleyball match against Ithaca.
Friday, the homecoming parade will be at 2.30.
The Weston Silver Eagle Foundation induction ceremony will be held in the cafeteria at 4.45.
And Jacob, featuring basic age, Weston alumni Jacob McCluskey, Cody Bell, and Tucker Arneson will also perform starting at 4.45.
There will be food trucks, face painting, and bounce houses before Friday's six o'clock homecoming game versus Neceda.
and the Weston Silver Eagle Foundation Alumni Social at Hill Point Hideaway will follow the game at eight o'clock.
Saturday, back to the Nest, Weston Retired Staff Social will be from one o'clock until five.
The community is invited to help Weston School District celebrate.
The Evoca Police Department has cited two men in connection with ongoing incidents of disorderly conduct at an apartment complex on Market Street.
The response follows a message received Tuesday, October 13th, alerting officers to the individual's presence in the area.
According to authorities, the subjects match the description of two individuals who have been harassing apartment residents since April.
The pattern of behavior, which included late night screaming and tapping on windows, caused significant distress and fear among the building's residents, many of whom are elderly.
Officers located and identified the two men at the scene.
Both individuals received citations for their disorderly conduct and were formally banned from returning to the apartment property.
Police Chief Chad Canable credited the resolution of the month's long issue to active community involvement, thanking local residents for reporting the activity and cooperating with the police department.
Authorities in Iowa County have arrested a semi-truck driver following a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a motorcycle Tuesday morning near Mineral Point.
According to the Iowa County Sheriff's Office, emergency personnel responded to a 911 call at approximately 6.08 a.m.
regarding a collision at the intersection of State Highway 23 and Northbound US Highway 151
Exit 40 ramp, a semi-truck exiting US Highway 151 allegedly failed to yield entering the intersection and striking a self-bound motorcycle that had the right of way.
The driver of the semi truck then fled the scene, continuing northbound.
The motorcyclist, identified as 60-year-old Bartholomew L. Shabbat of Mineral Point, was operating on 1992 Harley-Davidson.
First responders performed life-saving measures at the scene before Shabbat was transported to Upland Hills Health, where he was pronounced deceased.
Investigating deputies located video footage from another semi truck parked in the area, providing key details and a vehicle description.
Hours later at around 11.45 a.m., a detective sergeant spotted a matching 2022 white freight liner traveling southbound on US Highway 51.
near Ridgeway.
Deputies initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as 49-year-old Ahmed Mustafa Denetto of Iowa City, Iowa.
Denetto was taken into custody and booked into the Iowa County Jail on a felony charge of hit-and-run involving death.
Sheriff Michael Peterson expressed gratitude to the numerous responding emergency agencies and law enforcement partners for their assistance.
offering condolences to Shabbat's family and loved ones.
The incident remains under active investigation by the Iowa County Sheriff's Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Iowa County District Attorney's Office.
The Richland School District Board of Education will hold its regular monthly governance meeting Wednesday, October 14th, today, commencing at 7 p.m.
in the Richland Center High School IMC.
Board members will address key administrative
operational and financial business vital to the district's ongoing governance.
Strategic planning and district policies take center stage during the discussion portion of the meeting, followed by an overview of the draft budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
In action items, the board will deliberate on a measure regarding state mandated private school voucher funding transparency on property tax bills.
Before entering,
entertaining a motion to adjourn.
A fatal motorcycle collision occurred in the town of Christiana Saturday evening, October 10th.
Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson and Coroner Betty Nye released details regarding the incident which took place around 6.30 p.m.
on County Road P just east of Carlson Ridge Road near rural Westby.
According to officials, 68-year-old Steven Howard Peterson of rural Lafarge was driving a 2001 Harley-Davidson eastbound when his vehicle
struck a deer.
Peterson, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, suffered severe injuries from the impact.
Emergency personnel responded swiftly to the scene, including the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, Westby-Christiana Fire Department, Westby Emergency Medical Responders, and Gunderson Tri-State Ambulance.
Peterson was airlifted by Gunderson Air to Gunderson Health System La Crosse for critical care.
Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries early Monday afternoon.
Richland County is gearing up to host its second annual career fair Wednesday, November 18th at the Richland Center High School Campus Gymnasium.
Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, local organizers, schools, employers and community partners are coming together once again to help area students explore future career, educational and training opportunities.
Event coordinators have made several key updates based on feedback from previous participants.
The schedule has been streamlined with vendors set up, taking place from 8 a.m.
until 9 a.m.
followed by the main career fair running from 9 a.m.
to 1.30 p.m.
A working lunch will be provided to maximize engagement while ensuring vendors can conclude their day promptly at 1.30.
To foster deeper connections, organizers have also reduced the number of required questions for students, placing a stronger emphasis on open, organic dialogue.
With nearly 50 vendors anticipated across various industries and pathways, the FAIR aims to encourage meaningful conversations regarding careers, internships, youth apprenticeships, and college programs.
Vendors and regional organizations interested in participating are encouraged to reserve their spots by
contacting Tom Martin with the CESA 3 career and life ready team.
Today is October 14th.
These are today's vital statistics.
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 15th from 4 p.m.
until 8 p.m.
at the Gorgon, McGinley and Ayers funeral home in Dodgeville.
Private family internment will be held in East Side Ebenezer Cemetery in Ridgway at a later date.
Estella M. Rowan, 86 of Muscaday, formerly of Ridgway.
Lorena Grace Delagrave, 90 of Richland Center, died Sunday, October 11th after battling cancer.
A funeral mass will be held Friday, October 16th at 11 a.m.
at St.
Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Richland Center with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday at the church from 9.30 a.m.
until the time of mass at 11.
The Stafford Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Loretta Grace Delagrave, 90 of Richland Center.
Kenneth.
Ken Scott Ledman, 65 of Fond du Lac, formerly of Richland Center, died Tuesday, September 22nd at Aurora Medical Center in Fond du Lac, after a battle with cancer.
And Lawrence Larry Darwin Ledman, 91 of Fond du Lac, formerly of Richland Center, died September 26th in hospice care.
There will be a combined celebration of life for both Ken and Larry.
Sunday,
October 18th from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
at the Phoenix Center banquet hall in Richland Center.
Food will be provided eulogy at 1 p.m.
Kenneth Ken Scott Ledman 65 and Lawrence Larry Ledman 91 both of Fond du Lac and formerly of Richland Center.
Diane Baumkamp, 85 of Muscaday, died Sunday, October 11th.
Grave side services will be held Friday, October 23rd at 1 p.m.
at St.
John's Catholic Cemetery.
The Pratt Funeral Anchormation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Diane Baumkamp, 85 of Muscaday.
Law enforcement authorities are asking for the public's help in locating Jesse Yanski, formerly of Richland Center and Evoca, who went missing April 17, 2025, in Taylor County.
Yanski had recently moved to the village of Oghema, Wisconsin, just two weeks prior.
to live with his girlfriend.
According to a family member, the couple went out to a nearby bar that evening and got into an argument on the drive home.
Yansky exited the vehicle to take a walk and cool off, leaving both his phone and wallet inside the car.
Multiple witnesses reported seeing Yansky walking along Highway 13 later that evening.
A call to authorities also reported a man matching his description at the Highway 13 wayside near Westboro.
No one has heard from him since.
Family members say his prolonged absence is highly out of character.
His sister, Brianna Jansky, fondly described her brother as a complete mama's boy, emphasizing that he would never go more than a few days without contacting their mother.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Jesse Jansky, please contact law enforcement immediately.
The family has decided to hold a celebration of life Saturday.
October 24th at 1 p.m.
at the Village of Ivoka Municipal Building in Ivoka.
Bring fun stories and a snack to share.
Refreshments will be provided.
This is a casual affair and if you have Jurassic Park attire, please feel free to wear it.
Jesse James Jansky, born March 6th, 1993.
It's the Midweek Roundup.
Wednesday's Roundup brought to you by Richland Hospital, Cardinal Glass CG, Badgerland Flooring, and by Julie Kieran State Farm.
Today, it's Hanco or Facto.
Hank's got the questions, and Phil, he's got the final say on whether it's fact or something cooked up over a cup of bad coffee.
Confidence?
Absolutely.
Accuracy?
That's where things get adventurous.
Play along and see if you can out-guess Phil, because the truth is out there, and Phil is doing his best to find it.
Wednesday's Roundup, where factos, Hankos, and Phil, all collide.
Move them on.
It's time for the Roundup.
There
he is.
Good morning, young man.
How are you doing?
I'm doing really well.
You've been busy this
morning, you have?
Always,
always.
You
know, it goes to the territory.
It's good for the brain health.
You think it is?
Oh, well, I think so.
You know, when you've got two or three screens to look at.
You've got them all going.
You've got like four.
Yeah.
Yeah, good luck buddy.
Right.
Anyway, yeah, try to cut
down on my screen time.
Yes.
And you, you do on your phone and then this here, you just like, it's all there.
Yeah.
Right.
A good game last or a good ball game last night.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We were at Richland Center for volleyball.
Congratulations to the Hornets.
Yeah.
And Jamie Johnson.
Yeah.
Homecoming week this week.
Big game on Friday for them.
Also homecoming for Weston Ithaca.
Yeah, right.
Weston's having a whole bunch of things
because it's
70th birthday of
their
school.
First homecoming was back in 1956.
Saltwater store is 10 years older than them.
Yeah, there you go.
Never thought about that.
Put it all together.
Yeah.
So that's awesome.
So what's your plans for tonight?
Are you going to mow?
Are you going to mow one last
time?
Oh yes, I will.
I should.
But I think I'm going to wait till Sunday.
Oh really?
It sounds, the forecast for Sunday sounds pretty nice.
Does it?
What's the high then?
High on Sunday is 65.
Okay.
It's gonna
be cold Friday night.
Ooh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm looking for a replacement.
I'm very grateful and thankful that Richland Center provides me with a booth.
They have a nice booth.
They do.
Along with River Valley.
Yep.
And
that's in my elderly plans.
When I do go cover games, I any more go where I know I've got a roof over my head.
You
have to.
The days of sitting out in the bleachers.
That's over in
there.
Well, unless I absolutely have to.
Unless Hank's with you.
Hank, you sit down there.
Hank,
you block the wind.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks a lot.
Not
breakwind.
You block the wind.
Block the wind.
Yeah.
But the other thing is it's hard to see, you know, you've got paper and the stadium lights and you're sitting there.
That was number.
What is it?
You know, I want to be inside if I'm going to do a game.
Yeah.
Could you actually carry a little lamp with you?
I do.
Well, there's a lot of, a lot of places where they don't want the lights on because they don't want the glare when they're looking out.
You know,
I get that.
So, so I bring my little spotlight with me.
You know, we actually use it at the baseball at the state baseball.
I think we did.
Yeah.
Cause it was a great booth.
It's just, you had to have a little dark.
So anyway, your question of the day.
So are you doing anything constructive?
Well,
probably trying to get the brewers another win.
Yeah.
It's, it's tough because I like to listen to them and watch them.
But these games, have you noticed like every single pitch is excruciating?
I mean, it's
like,
Oh my, they follow it off.
They follow
it
off.
Oh,
come on.
You know, in game two, did you notice the pitchers, how fast they worked?
They have to because I understand it, but they were extremely fast.
Yes, they were.
They really were.
But every at bat.
Oh, yeah.
Jake Bowers bat.
They said the one with the 12 pitches, seven minutes.
Seriously for his at bat, right?
So
that's that's
what I mean.
It's
like the games don't move that fast because the batters are fouling off every pitch and things like that.
But yeah, every out and even the other night, you know, even though they had a lead like every, it's like
six,
six hours to
go.
Yes.
Come on.
My chain gang, I was an Iowa grant.
My chain gang were telling me every pitch is three to three to.
Top eight.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
And you
know, it's just like, come on guys.
I know.
They do that in the regular season too, but it isn't as
no,
like, like when you're playing the Dodgers and you know that there's not a lot of room for error.
It's like, and one
swing of a bat can really hurt you.
It can.
It can really, really hurt
you.
And I did this for the whole brewer regular season.
I do it now, you know, like the.
Dodger score runs like, oh, no, well, we're not going to do it tonight.
We're done.
We're not going to do it tonight.
Then all of a sudden, wait a minute.
Oh, we're tying, aren't we?
They just don't quit.
No, I talked to Fred Dylan yesterday and he says they're just a gritty bunch of kids.
Yeah.
Unlike Phil Nee.
Is that what he said?
That's not what he said, but I threw the last part in there.
I was more witty than gritty.
Yeah, right.
But no, he said they just never stopped.
He goes, it doesn't matter if they're down.
He goes, they just keep playing.
No.
He goes, they have fun.
And it's
a team.
Yeah, 100%.
So anyway, your question of the day.
What is one disturbing fact I should know about you,
Phil?
You need to give me more time on some of these to think about it.
You know, that's no fun.
Disturbing facts.
I don't know.
I like to sleep all day, maybe.
Would you sleep all day if you could?
Sure.
Okay.
Stay up all night.
You might be from Arkansas, Phillip.
If recounting your marital history takes both hands.
Oh boy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Not going to say anything.
No, not saying words.
What do you got elsewhere?
Well, anyway, things that make us on Wednesday, things that makes the older generation
feel good.
Right.
It's like
the, it's like the commercial about, you know, acting like your parents.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
So, um, seeing the utility bill is lower than expected.
Oh, yes it is.
I,
here's one for me.
Okay.
You get a new box of checks in the mail.
Yes.
They're finally here.
I got money now.
Well, wait a minute.
Well,
you got to have money in the bank too.
Oh,
okay.
But it's one of those things you don't have to worry about.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
It's like paranoia.
You know, you get down to the, oh, you ignore that, that thing that said you should place your order now.
And it's like you use server like, wait a minute.
I didn't order checks.
Oh no.
What am I going
to do?
Yeah.
You know, carry my checkbook in the front
pocket.
Here's a good one for me because I will go through 15 of these to find the right one.
I find in the grocery cart with four working wheels.
That is true.
The other day I was at the local store and I seriously went through 11 of them and I go, what's wrong with them?
I said, they either squeak or you can't push them or they need an alignment.
There's one wheel that's kind of wonky.
You guys are a multi-billion dollar store.
Get some carts that work.
Yeah.
Well, you should just take a can of WD-40 and no, but some of them you just, some wheels are leaned in like this and he's like, you're, you're always trying to push to the right.
Yeah.
It's embarrassing when you're making noise.
It's like, it's not my fault.
Oh, what do you do?
How about coupons for something you actually
need?
Yes.
Yes.
That's another one that excites me in my old age.
Yes, it does.
It's special like candy bars.
Oh, there you
go.
They never have it from Allocup.
So that's the, oh man, that just
gets.
I don't think you've bought a Mallocup in 20 years.
People donate them to the cause.
I usually donate them to you.
Yeah.
So yeah, let's see here.
finding or getting the snowblower started on the first pull.
Ooh, that's a good one.
That is a good one.
Because mine, if it don't start the first time, I just plug it in.
You know how that was electric?
Oh yeah, right.
And it's like, I do not want to get out the extension cord.
Especially like, I should get it ready now.
You should.
But I'm going to wait till it snows and take it to Walsh's and see if they
can have it.
That's what I always do.
Yeah, why be proactive?
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
And last but not least, the thing that excites me,
Going to bed before nine o'clock.
There you go.
Actually sleeping before nine.
Yeah, bed sleeping.
Right.
Yeah.
It used to be when I was younger, I would, you know, be up till 10 or 10 30, even though I had to get up so early.
But now it's like, I kind of cherish those times.
Yes.
Sometimes maybe I don't go right to sleep, but it's nice.
You have a
TV in your room.
I do.
Okay.
I do, which is probably not a good thing either.
It is what it is.
Right.
So.
Hanked
on
phonics.
Oh, yeah, Hanked on phonics today.
Let's see.
What word am I going to get to here
is your word?
Oh boy.
That's a tough one
The word is ex a c e r b a t e exaberate Exat Exab ace ace rebate exaberate.
I don't know what it how far am I off?
No Exacer bait
exacerbate exacerbate
a
problem or bad situation worse
yeah
that's a tough one yeah and it's easy to focus on it and say it you know right there but it's in if it's in a sentence uh-huh sometimes it's like it'll it'll trip you up
yeah I guarantee I'd be tripped on that one
another one now this one is one okay that uh I'm I've probably said this wrong over the years it's an Italian delicacy it looks like ganache gn o
I wouldn't even say that.
That's what I would say, but it's not.
The American pronunciation is gokey.
Where would you get that?
I've never said it like that.
Maybe you've even said it wrong on the ear.
I don't know, but it's a Italian.
It may have been me with potatoes.
I'm not sure, but it's a Italian dish.
It won't be on it won't be on cooking with Hank Friday.
No, no.
If I can't say it, it ain't going.
And what about here?
That's a guy rope
guy roll.
Is that right?
No.
Okay.
You're
all you're all that one, though.
Lots of people say that one.
Can I get a gear?
Oh, yeah, girl.
Yeah, exactly.
Get on out of here.
Right.
So I have.
five questions for you oh boy yeah let's see what did we do with them Philip oh here we go set one here we go what household chores deserves hazard pay
the
cat litter box okay yeah which appliance would complain about you the most oh refrigerator he's always opening me and
never shutting me
and he never cleans me
yeah and he spills soy sauce
Yeah.
That would probably be the future.
Yeah.
What's your most ridiculous reason for keeping an empty jar?
Oh, maybe that it's decorative and I could, I could put some flowers in it
or some, some change.
You know what?
I kept a, a urine, you know, those urine things that you use at the hospital, those plastic things.
I was going to plant a flower.
I finally threw it away.
I'm glad you weren't going to.
Put your iced tea in there.
What should nobody attempt before eight o'clock in the morning?
Boy, nobody should attempt before eight o'clock.
Waking up.
Yeah.
Well, that's true.
Probably, you know, starting an argument.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Maybe, maybe.
What would you
name a robot that cleans your house?
Oh
boy.
Well, I would probably name it in honor of the Jetsons.
You know Rosie the robot.
What would you say your name at Rosie?
Rosie
probably.
Okay.
Yeah.
Not bad.
Not bad.
Those are questions now a couple of Hanker factos.
The Grand Canyon is the deepest gorge in the US.
True or false?
Hanko are true.
I say it is.
No, it's false.
It's actually Hell's Canyon, also known as the Snake River on the border of Idaho and Oregon.
Oh, that's the one that Evil Knievel tried to
jump.
Snake River.
The Canary Islands were named for Canaries.
No,
no, no, it was actually the other way around.
Really?
Yeah.
But, but the Canary Islands were actually named, um, can, canidious,
So, you know, I'm messing that one up, but, uh, the, the ancient Romans found it.
Okay.
And they were nasty dogs on the island.
Seriously.
They were very mean dogs.
And they named it.
It used to be called dog Island.
Dog Island.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
Huh.
So I know where
dog hollow is.
Yeah.
Canary Islands used to be called dog Island.
And that's all I've got.
Yeah.
Well, that's, that's enough.
Is that enough?
A lot of knowledge that no one's going to keep buddy.
Right.
Hinkle.
But you bet there, Truth Oh, I hope you have a great day.
Everybody out there, be kind.