Motorists should plan for overnight full freeway closures at the I-41/WIS 60 interchange on Thursday, June 4 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and Friday, June 5 from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and follow the posted detour routes during these closures, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

On June 4, I-41 northbound between 145 and Highway 60 and I-41 southbound between WIS 33 and 145 are scheduled to close overnight while crews remove the median from the Highway 60 bridge. The northbound entrance ramp to I-41 from 145 is scheduled to close from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents statewide to be aware of bears. With over 24,000 black bears in Wisconsin, early summer is the peak season for bear sightings as young bears step out on their own. Male bears are searching for mates and will travel up to 30 miles in the process.

Black bears are commonly found in northern Wisconsin, but their territory is expanding. The DNR says bear populations and sightings are increasing and expanding southward. They could show up in unexpected areas, which was the case on Tuesday, June 2 in Slinger. Black bear sightings have also been reported in Waukesha. Bears walking through residential neighborhoods are not out of the ordinary.

The DNR says black bears are naturally cautious animals that normally avoid contact with people. Bears can quickly learn to associate humans with food. 

If a bear finds food, such as bird feed or garbage near your home or cabin, it will likely return for more. Bear visits are more likely to stop when food is no longer available. Bears will periodically check sites where food was once available, so it may take several days or weeks after a food source has been removed for a bear to move out of the area.

The Washington County Humane Society recently took part in a national effort to remove beagles from a testing facility in Blue Mounds Wisconsin, Ridglan Farms.

It has served as a large beagle breeding facility. The beagles have been bred for scientific research.

Washington County Humane Society Director of Engagement Joe Poczkalski told WTKM that the dogs are adapting.

"There has been a national effort to rehome these pets. A big rescue out of Texas purchased many of them and are dispersing them among Wisconsin shelters. The Washington County Humane Society was able to take two of them. They are two females, including an adult beagle. We have named them Blue and Frannie." 

Their first Ridgeland Farm beagle has been adopted, according to the Washington Count Humane Society. Blue is off to her forever home. 

They are welcoming four more beagles. They’ll be going straight into foster homes and will be available in the coming weeks, depending on how they adjust.

Poczkalski says one thing they are concerned about is that the beagles have been living in wire crates their whole life. The dogs have spent some time outside for the first time in their lives. They are stepping into a new phase of their life.

The dogs were picked up from the Dane County Humane Society and seemed a bit stressed, until they arrived at the Washington County Humane Society where they had a chance to settle down. 

An event at the Hartford Municipal Airport will bring up to 60 navion aircraft from all over the U.S. and Canada.

It’s happening on Saturday, June 6 through Saturday, June 13.

Owner, Operator and Flight Instructor of Cub Air Flight school in Hartford Steve Krog told WTKM all about it.

"The National Navion Association, an aviation wing representing the navion airplanes, is holding their annual national fly-in here. Each day, they have some kind of an event planned.                                                   

The navion is a single-engine, retractable-gear, four to five seat civilian and military aircraft originally designed immediately after World War II.

They feature an iconic sliding canopy on earlier models or a traditional cabin door.

The West Bend Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at a single-family residence on Saturday, May 30. Initial reports indicated flames were burning on an exterior wall and extending into the basement, with a resident reportedly inside attempting to extinguish the fire.

West Bend Public Safety Dispatchers requested a Full Still assignment through MABAS Card, which dispatched all West Bend Fire Department stations and designated automatic aid companies.

Battalion 1 found light smoke coming from the open garage door of the residence, and bystanders were attempting to extinguish the fire on the east exterior wall with a garden hose. West Bend Police officers had already assisted all occupants from the home and confirmed everyone was safely accounted for. 

Fire crews initiated an offensive interior attack in the basement, quickly bringing the fire under control and checking for extension into concealed spaces. The fire likely originated in an exterior wall behind the siding and extended into the floor cavity above the finished basement, causing damage to several floor joists.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Additional personnel from the West Bend, Jackson, and Kewaskum Fire Departments assisted with overhaul, ventilation, and air quality monitoring. EMS personnel evaluated two police officers and three residents for smoke inhalation.

The Washington County Farm Bureau Food Stand is a popular spot at the Washington County Fairgrounds every summer.

It's a busy stand and it's not uncommon for them to serve around 5,000 burgers and 3,200 orders of fries in a given week at the Washington County Fair.

Operating the food stand at the fair is the primary source of fundraising for the Washington County Farm Bureau. The food stand is over 25 years old and is in need of expansion and upgrades. A few contractors are lined up to do an addition on the stand.

They are adding on to the south end of their building. They will take the cooking hood and fryers that are in the main building right now and move it out to the addition. It will help to get some of the heat away from their volunteers.                                       

Donations are being accepted for this expansion and upgrade project for the Washington County Farm Bureau Food Stand, which costs $85,000. Due to the past successes, the board has allocated $40,000 for the project. The goal is to have funds raised and the improvements completed by this year’s Washington County Fair.

Donation forms are on the Washington County Farm Bureau Facebook page, or mail it out to:

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Washington County Farm Bureau Food Stand Fund

P.O. Box 5550

Madison, Wisconsin  53705 

Get ready for Action in Jackson. This annual event is Friday, June 5 along with Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7 at Jackson Park.

It’s back as a three-day event, according to Jackson Parks and Rec Director Tyler Mentzel. 

"Action in Jackson, historically has been a three-day event when it was born. It moved to a two-day festival. The interest and the amount of people that come out, and some of our vendors expressed interest in doing it for three days. We are all about serving the community. When we have an event like Action in Jackson, we never want it to end.   

It begins on Friday with a fish fry, and then music bingo and a softball tournament.

Saturday will feature the car show, carnival and live entertainment. Saturday night is the John and Marian Kruepke family fireworks show.

Mentzel told WTKM about who puts it on. 

"We have four groups that put it on. They work together to do so. We have our team at Jackson Parks and Recreation, we have the Greater Jackson Business Alliance, we have the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary team. They come together to form Jackson Festivals Inc. and they put this awesome event on."  

There will also be wood carving and an auction, sweet corn and great food.

Dodge County Sheriff's deputies responded to the area of State Highway 49 and Panzer Road in Leroy, for a report of a two-vehicle crash. It happened on Tuesday, June 2 around 4:05 p.m.

An SUV, driven by 73-year-old man from Phillips, Wisconsin was westbound on State Highway 49, crossed the centerline and was struck by a pickup truck that was operated by a 33-year-old man from Menasha. As a result of the crash, both vehicles caught on fire.

The 73-year-old man was transported from the scene to a hospital with serious injuries. The 33-year-old man was not injured. He was arrested for operating while revoked. He was transported to the Dodge County Jail.

Assisting at the scene were Mayville EMS, Brownsville Fire Department, Brownsville First Responders, Flight for Life, Dodge County Emergency Response Team and the Dodge County Highway Department.

The case remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Team.

Making hay involves cutting, drying and storing grass or other plants to create fodder for livestock. Weather conditions and timing are key with quality hay production.

Dodge County Dairy Ambassador Brenda Conley of the Dodge County Dairy Promotion Committee told WTKM how the hay is looking on her family farm.
"We have our first crop hay rockin' and rolling right now, so the weather is really good and we are enjoying the sunshine while doing the hay. My husband said it's really good quality hay, so he is happy with it. There is nothing like that great smell of the fresh cut hay and it's all bailed upstairs in the barn."

A dry weather forecast is important with hay making. The "best" time to cut hay is never a single date on the calendar. It's a strategic decision based on who will be eating it.

Rain can promote the growth of mold on hay.

First cutting is usually done in late spring and is usually the highest-yielding cut.    

The Division Street Bridge in the City of Watertown will close temporarily beginning on Monday, June 8 for repairs. 

The repair work involves removing the existing east approach slab, backfilling a large void underneath the slab, and constructing a new approach slab. This project will be completed by the City of Watertown Street Division and is anticipated to take two weeks to complete. 

A detour will be in effect for the area during the construction. 

While this repair is underway, additional rehabilitation work will occur on the rest of the bridge. It will include concrete spall repair, crack sealing, and concrete deck sealing. These routine maintenance items serve to extend the life of the bridge.

During the closure, traffic is expected to increase along N. Fourth Street and Labaree Street according to the City of Watertown.

Photo by the City of Watertown. 

The Newburg Firemen’s Picnic is June 5^th 6^th and 7^th at Newburg Firemen’s Park.

Newburg Fire Chief Brad Karnitz told WTKM that it's important to the department.

"It is, it means a lot to us being a nonprofit. We are able to support the community with these fundraisers that we have. It keeps the costs of operation lower and we can use these funds toward other items. We are going to have to buy new air packs soon and all of the money goes toward equipment."                                            

It’s a fun weekend with live music, carnival rides, miniature bowling on Saturday along with a kid’s fishing derby.

The parade begins at noon on Sunday.

This year’s theme is “250 Years of Local Heroes.”

Chief Karnitz says they receive great community support.

Hartford's Schauer Arts Center announced its upcoming Family Series at the Courtyard, a summer-long celebration of film, theater and community fun. It's thanks to a generous grant from the West Bend Foundation, all events in this series are free and open to the public. This grant is made from the West Bend Insurance Company's Charitable Fund, an affiliate fund of the West Bend Community Foundation.

It's cinema under the stars, with Movies in the Courtyard at 7 p.m. This is a free, non-ticketed event. Outdoor seating is limited.

They will show The Goonies on Wednesday, June 24, The Princess and the Frog on Wednesday, July 29 along with Happy Feet on August 19.

On August 16, the Schauer Center will transform into a hub for all things Shakespeare. Optimist Theatre, the producer of Milwaukee's celebrated Shakespeare in the Park, is bringing their touring titles to Hartford for the very first time. The weekend will feature The Merry Wives of Windsor: Falstaff's Tale and Richard III.

This all-ages event is designed to make the Bard accessible and fun for everyone.    

An accident was reported by Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze. It happened on Saturday, May 30 at 7:03 p.m. on Little Coffee Road, in Watertown.

A vehicle was found in a creek, off the roadway. Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies located two subjects outside of the vehicle and one subject still inside. All of the subjects suffered serious injuries. 

Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. Two of the subjects were transported by ambulance and the other subject was transported by Med Flight. A passenger from the vehicle was later pronounced deceased at a hospital. 

The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve and struck a ditch. 

The incident remains under investigation.

Beaver Dam police officers responded to North Spring Street, in Beaver Dam for a report of a man who was struck by gunfire. The incident happened on Saturday, May 30 at 12:53 a.m. Officers started the intial first aid until the Beaver Dam Fire Department arrived.

The victim was transported to a medical center and then to UW Hospital, in Madison in serious, but stable condition.

The witness was last seen fleeing on foot.

There is no threat to the community, according to the Beaver Dam Police Department.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office assisted.  

Hartford Common Council recently approved the capital construction of a second fire house in Hartford.

The second fire station would be a satellite station in Hartford. It will be located on four acres of land on Highway K, near the Town of Hartford Hall. The location was purchased to strategically reduce emergency response times and cover the city's east side.

Hartford Fire and Rescue Chief Tony Burgard discussed the strategy with Hartford's Common Council.

"Everything that we have with response time is built on what if situations, whether we have personnel coming out of the station and what if we are using paid on call members responding from home to the station. Our hot spot map that we developed shows around fifty percent of our call volume was east of North Wilson. So everything on that side could easily be serviced by a station located at this proposed site."

An $800,000 grant for the construction of the second fire house was approved. It will add to the total reduction in cost, along with a $144,000 grant from Washington County and the estimated sale of Engine 1660 for $90,000. The total reduction is $1,034,000.         

Graffiti was found on the Lisbon Village Hall and the 9/11 Memorial. Spray paint was located on both the building and the memorial. The graffiti included phrases and Bible references. The vandalism is believed to have occurred sometime overnight between Friday, May 8th and Saturday May 9th.

 The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the crime and needs the public's help to identify those responsible. Crews used chemical agents to clean the historical stone while preserving the monument. 

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying those responsible for this vandalism.

Anyone with information related to this incident, including suspicious activity observed in the area during the overnight hours, is encouraged to contact Detective Stilling at 262-246-5228 or submit an anonymous tip through Waukesha County Crime Stoppers.

A scam has been reported. Winning the lottery and Publishers Clearing House winner letters are still circulating.

If you receive a letter, email, text, or phone call claiming you won a huge prize from a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered — it’s almost certainly a scam.

The Jackson Police Department had a community member stop by  with a letter that also included a fake check which he was instructed to cash to "help cover the cost of the taxes."

Washington County Sheriff’s Office Detective Andy Meier told WTKM that the Publishers Clearing House scam comes up quite often.

"It's the most popular one. The scammers will call through a chatbot or a spam call. They tell the victim that they have won a prize, usually cash or cars. They want the victim to send funds for taxes and other fees before they claim their prize. The scammers will initiate fee after fee after fee in this case until the victims can't pay anymore. Unfortnately, the victims never claim their prize."  

Scammers often use fake logos, official-sounding language, and urgent deadlines to pressure people into sending money or personal information.

Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not require upfront payments to claim their winnings.

Hartford’s outdoor pool, the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center, is scheduled to open on Saturday, May 30.

Aquatic and Fitness Supervisor Zack Stupnik told WTKM that preseason hours will be in effect until June 10, with open swim from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. 

"All preseason means, is that on weekdays we only have open swim. This is while the younger kids are still in school. They go a little later than the high school. We make sure we have staff there when people come."

Morning hours begin on June 8. It's the start of water walking, which is popular. Toddler swim starts June 11.   

Hartford’s outdoor pool is fully staffed again this year, according to Hartford Parks and Rec Director Randy Wojtasiak.

"They are fortunate to have one of those positions. They are hard to come by, we have a lot of returnees. It's not an area where we have struggled to bring people in. We feel really fortunate, especially in aquatics, where we are one of the very few facilties in the area and state that doesn't struggle to bring staff in."

The hours will adjust to 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from June 11 to August 23. The pool will be open Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.                                            

We saw what an impact the Hartford Union High School Day of Service had on area nonprofits, businesses and other areas on Wednesday, May 20.

President of the Wisconsin State FFA Officer Team Amalia Draxler told the Midwest Farm Report that this summer’s state convention emphasizes serving the community.

"The Day of Service is going to take place and kickoff our convention. We have over eleven different sites that students will go out to across the Madison area. Our sponsors have helped us put together an amazing service project, which is a food packaging project."

They are hoping to package over 10,000 meals that will go across the community.            

The 97th Wisconsin State FFA Convention and Expo will take place June 15 to June 18 at the Alliant Energy Center, in Madison. 

This three-day event brings together students, agricultural educators, and industry leaders from across the state. 

The Dodge County Fair Association is excited to announce the successful completion of the March "Round Up at the Register" campaign, hosted by Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly stores in Beaver Dam and Mayville. Thanks to the incredible generosity of local shoppers and the dedicated support of Fox Brothers staff, the initiative raised a fantastic total of $3,735.61 to support ongoing improvements at the Dodge County Fairgrounds.

"We are deeply grateful to Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly and everyone in the Beaver Dam and Mayville communities who chose to round up their change this March," said Fair Association Treasurer Sharon Keil. "Every cent contributes directly to keeping our fairgrounds a safe, vibrant, and modern space for families to gather."

The Dodge County Fairgrounds are maintained entirely by the nonprofit Dodge County Fair Association. The fairgrounds rely heavily on community donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers like the Round-Up campaign to fund essential upkeep and capital improvements.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Fair Association has developed a robust, long-term improvement plan. The funds raised during the March campaign will be directly funneled into these projects, ensuring the fairgrounds can continue to serve as a premier regional event venue that supports youth education, community events and local commerce.

The photo features a check presentation that marked the occasion. Tyia Kemnitz, store director of the Mayville location (R) proudly presented the donation to Sharon Keil, and Fair Association Vice President Dale Norenberg. 

The West Bend Police Department received a call from the St. Vincent de Paul store regarding a concerning device discovered among donated items that employees believed could potentially be a grenade. It happened on Tuesday, May 26 at 1:29 p.m.

Officers worked with members of the store staff to temporarily close the business while the item was evaluated. The Milwaukee County Bomb Squad responded to assist and ultimately determined the item to be a “flash bang” device, which is designed to create a bright flash of light and loud noise as a distraction device when deployed.

The West Bend Police Department is still investigating how this particular item was added to the local donation pile. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the West Bend Police Department at (262) 335-5000.

If members of the public encounter a suspicious device or unknown military-related item, they should not touch or handle it. Instead, they should contact their local police department, which can assist in determining the safest and most appropriate course of action for disposal, according to the West Bend Police Department. 

Farmers are facing planting season under growing financial pressure, as the Iran conflict drives up diesel and fertilizer prices.

Mike Strupp of the Washington County Dairy Promotion Committee works on a family farm in partnership with his brother and told WTKM that it is affecting their operation. He says diesel fuel, at the time of this writing, off-road is going for $4.93 a gallon. 

"Oh yes, definitely. Our bottom dollar, and right now with diesel fuel it's way out of hand. It's bad enough we are dealing with low commodity prices, especially with the grain farming end of things. Beef is way up there yet. Economics are tough right now in the industry. Hopefully this war gets over sooner than later. And fertilizer prices, if you didn't book your fertilizer early in the year you are paying quite a bit more."                                    

Rising fuel and fertilizer costs are driving up food prices and straining rural economies.

70 percent of farmers can’t afford the fertilizer they need, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has investigated numerous incidents where individuals have entered unlocked vehicles in Lomira, and thefts from the vehicles have occurred.

Bicycles from within the village have also been stolen.

These thefts have occurred during the overnight hours from Monday, May 18 to Wednesday, May 27.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to  remove any valuables from your vehicles, lock your car doors and secure bicycles.  

Several residents have provided information to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. 

If you have information or video surveillance of anyone suspicious, you are encouraged to contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 920-386-3726.

The City of Hartford’s Memorial Day Ceremony was held at Sawyer Park on Monday, May 25 which followed the Memorial Day parade.

The ceremony began with Hartford Mayor Dennis Regan's welcome address.

"We are gathered to pay tribute to those who died in service to our country. On a day like this, we also think about those we knew who aren't with us anymore. Who they were, what they meant to us."                                                

The Parade Marshall Franklinn Tennis was recognized during the ceremony. He is a member of the American Legion Post 19.

"We are here to pay tribute to all of our Veterans, from all wars past and present. Who lost their lives in events of our nation. We are here to salute those heroes today. We must also remember all of our Gold Star Mothers who sent their sons or daughters into war to save our wonderful country."                                               

Tennis enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954.

Hartford Post Commanders were introduced, including United Vietnam Veterans of Hartford Dan Kutzke, American Legion Post Mary Millikin and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8834 Rod Lehl.  

Music from each military branch was performed by the Hartford City Band.

The guest speaker yesterday was the Washington County Veterans Service Officer Kurt Rusch, who addressed the crowd with a powerful message.

"On Memorial Day, we want people to recognize the weight of this day and what it represents. We want them to feel the loss and the grief. The personal cost that so many families have endured. Over time, that feeling has changed for me. And the more I talk with Veterans and Gold Star Families and the community in general, the more I've realized that this day is not meant to shut out joy. Remembering the fallen with gratitude honors them. It's a day to be thankful. A day to recognize what they fought for. Our families, our communities, our freedoms and our future."  

Rusch served in the United States Marine Corps.

Hartford’s Community Chorus performed "God Bless the U.S.A."

The Benediction was presented by the American Legion Chaplain Jeff Warner and the Placement of the Flowers was presented by Cub Scout Packs 3741 and 3794.

Echo Taps was performed at the end of the City of Hartford's Memorial Day Ceremony.

The entire Memorial Day Ceremony is available on WTKM's podcasts, "WTKM on Demand."