County

MADISON–Everyone agrees, something must be done to improve the conditions at the Dane County Jail, and after years of discussions and planning, those improvements are still up in the air. 

At a press conference on Valentine’s Day, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne were joined by Dr. Bill Greer, who worked at the jail facility, Allison Owens, a formerly justice involved community member and members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies Union to support the original plan for a 922 bed jail with mental and medical care services on site. 

The conference came on the heels of RES-320, which would add an addition $24 million to the $200 million project, citing increased costs and the project stalling out for the past two years due to COVID-19. 

DANE COUNTY–Public Health of Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) announced on Monday that face coverings will no longer be required in Dane County beginning March 1 at midnight. The decision comes after a surge in COVID-19 cases plummeted in recent days, reaching a seven-day peak of 1,491 new confirmed cases on Jan. 12.

On Feb. 14 cases we down to 340, less than 25 percent of the peak. In addition, the seven-day average of hospitalizations has fallen 44 percent in the same time frame. Currently 110 people in Dane County are hospitalized due to the Omicron variant of the virus.

In addition, the high number of cases did not translate to as high a spike in hospitalizations as they did prior to vaccinations being readily available. PHMDC continues to encourage vaccination to prevent serious illness.

DANE COUNTY–Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is issuing Face Covering Emergency Order #7, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 1, immediately after the current order expires. The Dane County Order mirrors the previous order and requires face coverings among people ages two and older when in most enclosed spaces open to the public where other people are present, with certain exceptions. The order will expire after 28 days.

While current rates of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in Dane County may be starting to decrease, they remain very high. Over the past several weeks, the highly infectious Omicron variant has driven up the seven-day average of people testing positive to 1,258 per day. There are currently 181 hospitalizations and 36 in the ICU with COVID-19.

DANE COUNTY–Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is supporting DHS-contracted private testing provider, Accelerated Labs, to open an additional mass testing clinic in Dane County to help meet the demand for testing with a sustainable solution amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. 

The walk-up clinic, located at the Alliant Energy Center, will open in three phases, beginning on Jan. 10, with a testing capacity of about 500-750 tests per day, five days a week. On Jan. 17, capacity will increase to 1,000 tests per day and will expand to weekends as soon as possible. It is not a drive through style clinic. Hours of operation will be 10:am-6 p.m.

“This addition will have a huge impact for folks who are anxious about getting a test right now,” said Ken Van Horn, testing director, PHMDC. “It will increase the total testing capacity in Dane County by 12.5 percent right away on week one, 25 percent on week two and 33 percent when weekends are added to the mix.”

CROSS PLAINS–A Cross Plains man has pleaded not guilty to multiple child sex offenses allegedly involving three Cross Plains minor girls.

Logan G. Schultz, 21, has been charged with:

• One count of repeated sexual assault of a child

• Two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years old

• Three counts of exposing genitals

The offenses were alleged to have occurred between August 1, 2018 and July 11, 2020.

The charges total five felonies and one misdemeanor. If convicted on all counts, Schultz faces maximum penalties of 126 years and nine months in prison.

Not guilty pleas were entered in Schultz’s behalf on Dec. 6 and he was released on $10,000 cash bond with conditions including no contact with three individuals, identified only by initials, and their families.

According to the criminal complaint based on information gathered by Cross Plains and Madison police, and a Dane County Sheriff’s deputy:

CROSS PLAINS–The Cross Plains Village Board Monday “regretfully accepted” Village Administrator Bill Chang’s resignation as he will take a similar position with the Village of DeForest next month.

“I want to thank all of you (on the board), the community and all the staff for a wonderful time working here. There’s been some growing pains, but for the most part we’ve made it through them, and the village is pointing in the right direction,” Chang said.

Chang’s last day with the village will be Jan. 21.

Village President Jay Lengfeld said that Chang will be missed, and he valued his service to the village.

“We will miss you, but I must say that it’s been an absolute joy working with you and the village is better off than when you came on. I certainly appreciate your hard work and leadership and wish you the best at DeForest,” said Lengfeld.

Other trustees also thanked Chang for his service and wished him good luck in his new job.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The Town Board Monday renewed an offer to buy an out lot in the Stone Brook Estates for a storm water detention pond.

The $36,000 offer for approximately two acres generally has the same conditions that residents of the 66-lot north side subdivision rejected last year. However, this time it has the full backing of Homeowners Association (HOA) President Ed Pardon, who thanked the town board for the renewed offer.

“I think it would be an ideal resolution to what has been…a choppy three or four-year period, it seems like dealing with this issue,” he said during the virtual meeting.

The HOA board favors the offer and intends to recommend to the membership, said Pardon. He hopes it resolves the matter that has generated some stiff resistance and one candidacy to the town board.

CROSS PLAINS–Farmers in the Black Earth Creek Watershed, already using cover crops and contouring their fields, can make their soil conservation practices more effective by joining like-minded neighbors, said Dane County and Sand County Foundation conversationists.

It takes just five producers to organize and be recognized by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) as a farmer-led watershed group. Farmers with shared goals of improving soil health and water quality can find technical and financial assistance to achieve those goals, said Amy Piaget, a conservationist with the Dane County Land & Water Resources department.

State money, administered by the county has recently been boosted to $750,000 and is available to members of watershed organizations. Some programs provide money for cover crop seed and others help with equipment acquisition, she said.

DANE COUNTY–The Omicron variant has been detected in Dane County, Public Health of Madison Dane County (PHMDC) announced on Dec. 16. The agency is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get a booster if they’re eligible.

“As we work to learn more about the Omicron variant, including how easily it spreads, remember that the best protection against COVID-19, including the Omicron variant is for people ages 5 and older to get vaccinated,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. “For those who are already vaccinated, this is the best time to bolster your immunity with a booster dose as soon as possible. Vaccination greatly reduces risk of severe illness or death.”

TOWN OF BERRY–Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dane County Executive Joseph Parisi and Janel Heinrich, Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) Director, were roundly criticized Monday by 100 or more unmasked persons who turned out in the Town of Berry to voice their opposition to the county’s mask order.

Packing the town hall and overflowing to an adjacent viewing area, ironically created a potential “Super Spreader” event where the indoor mask order was openly defied by all and encouraged by some attendees.

County Board Supervisors Jeff Weigand, of Marshall and Tim Rockwell, of Sun Prairie, organized the hearing to allow residents frustrated by being shut out of the decision to again extend the mask order, this time to Jan. 3.