Law Enforcement Headlines

Education - Wisconsin hunter safety education program fares well in legislative audit

MADISON – The Wisconsin hunter safety education program, which has reduced the hunting accident rate 90 percent since the program started in 1967, fared well in an audit released today by the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), Department of Natural Resources officials say. (read full news release)

Public Safety - Tornados Strike Southern Wisconsin

Tornado destruction near Stoughton Wisconsin

STOUGHTON – After a two-day effort to mobilize volunteers to aid residents of the tornado-stricken area north of Stoughton, more than 1,700 people have carried debris from fields and lawns piling it for removal along roadways.

Warden Mitch Groenier directs traffic
Waukesha County Conservation Warden Mitch Groenier (left) works with state patrol to direct traffic in an effort to allow only residents into and out of the damaged area. Their work helped protect individual property that was spread out over the miles of disaster zone.

The volunteer clean-up based at the high school closed at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, with the last busload of workers returning during the early evening.

Town of Dunn officials are accepting volunteers on a limited basis. Volunteers should report to the Dunn Town Hall at 4156 County Highway B. Town officials are also seeking volunteers with donated heavy equipment. Those with heavy equipment can call 608-255-4219. People interested in providing donations can call town officials at the same number.

Wahington County Conservation Warden Robert Lee (left) works with volunteers from the American Red Cross. The coordinated effort helped keep citizen volunteers safe and able to lend assistance to the cleanup.

Town of Pleasant Springs officials said there is no need for volunteers in the township until Thursday, Aug. 25. Those interested may call the town hall after Wednesday. Persons interested in volunteering or donating to the township can contact officials at 608-873-3063.

Volunteers forming teams at the high school, to be taken to work by Department of Natural Resources’ division supervisors, were from California, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. A check list of volunteer addresses reads like the map of southern Wisconsin with people from Madison, McFarland, Janesville, Oregon, Sullivan, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, Beloit, Verona and a dozen other communities.

area wardens respond to the stoughton area tornado
Consevation wardens assemble to receive a briefing and to plan the days assignments. Pictured from left to right: Wardens Dale Hochausen, Jason Roberts, Nate Kroeplin, Dave Holmes, Regional Warden Barb Wolf, Deputy Chief Karl Brooks, Dane County Sheriff's Deputy.

One hundred eighty McFarland school teachers, parents and students, many wearing Spartan shirts, came to the Stoughton Viking gymnasium today to help the people of Stoughton.

Red Cross and Salvation Army volunteers pitched in to provide water and supplies to other volunteers working in fields.

Local businesses donated equipment, tarpaulins and nails to cover torn-apart homes, provided boxes, power cords, shovels, brooms and rakes for cleaning-up, along with buckets, gloves and hard hats. <.p>

DNR staff mobilized Friday from Antigo, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Dells, Necedah, Friendship, Dodgeville, Fitchburg and other communities throughout the state to help volunteers in their work.

Stoughton school administrators and employees cruised halls to make sure volunteers and the teams had adequate equipment.

Today the noise of the crowd, most weary from work but glad they could help, is filling the halls of the high school.

Monday will be different. The school halls will be quiet once more. The DNR Incident Management Team members will have returned to their home stations.

Last Revised: Friday December 15 2006