Saturday, December 18, 2021
Racine Police arrest 2 juveniles after threats at 3 different schools
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Racine Police Photo by: Racine PD |
RACINE — Two juveniles were arrested in Racine Friday after threats at three different Racine-area schools, police say.
According to a news release, officers responded to threats of violence at the three schools on Friday. Working with Racine Unified officials, they found that the threats were not credible.
Two juveniles were arrested in connection to the threats.
"The Racine Police Department is aware of the threats being circulated nationwide today on social media and are working with the Racine Unified School District to continue to provide a safe learning environment for the students," the department said in the release.
Several area school districts emailed parents on Thursday night about threats circulating on popular social media platform TikTok, though none of those threats have been found to be credible.
Hamilton School District in Waukesha County closed its schools on Friday due to "inappropriate posts" on social media, though they did not specify if the posts were on TikTok.
TikTok threats results in canceled classes and arrests in southeast Wisconsin
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Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved Photo by: Kiichiro Sato/AP |
SUSSEX, Wis. — A dangerous trend that started on TikTok is causing real problems for school, law enforcement and parents around southeast Wisconsin. Rumors of violence at schools started on the social media site and spiraled out of control.
It caused the Hamilton School District to cancel classes Friday. In Racine, police even took two kids into custody for alleged threats to three schools. But so far no credible threats have been found.
“Thankfully I've not heard that we've had issues here, although law enforcement has been aware of them and is prepared, if necessary,” said Joel Urmanski, the Sheboygan County District Attorney.
Out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement stepped up patrols around some schools, and some parents kept their kids home. The Racine Unified School District said there were 2,900 absences in the district, or 35% of students. That is more than double the amount of normal absences.
The head of the school psychology program for University of Wisconsin River Falls, Scott Woitaszewski, says school threats in general tend to follow each other.
“We do know there appears to be a contagion effect in some cases, when an act of violence such as the Michigan school shooting a few weeks ago, when something like that happens, there tends to be more threats that follow that,” Woitaszewski said.
He says although most threats are not credible, that can be the way a student having issues asks for help.
“Sometimes a threat is a last-ditch effort to have somebody recognize me. Have somebody understand what I'm going through, even if it seems illogical. It's a way of lashing out and perhaps maybe gaining someone's attention,” said Woitaszewski.
However, the Sheboygan County District Attorney's Office warns there can be real-world consequences in making that threat or sharing it.
He says the lowest charge could be disorderly conduct, which might mean jail time if the person convicted is a minor or an adult.
“Everyone needs to remember that at 17 you're considered an adult,” said Urmanski.
The most serious is the charge of making terrorist threats, which is a Class I felony. He says even if you are convicted as a juvenile of that crime, you can lose your ability to own a gun for the rest of your life.
“There's a lot of ramifications that can come, and oftentimes people are just watching TikTok and they think it's cool or think it's funny and they don't realize,” said Urmanski.
Wisconsin mother dies, saved son from dog attack
BOWLER, Wis. - Relatives of a northeastern Wisconsin woman say she has died of injuries suffered when saving her 4-year-old son from an attack by the family's dog.
Heather Pingel was rushed to Aspirus Wausau Hospital following the Dec. 8 attack at the family’s home in Bowler. Her sister, Shannon Pingel, says Heather suffered extensive injuries and died on Thursday.
Her son, Damion Bernarde, received about 70 stitches to his leg after he was attacked, but is back home from the hospital.
"She is the bravest, strongest mother I know to do that for her child; she risked her life to save him," Shannon Pingel said. "She is a hero."
A Shawano County sheriff's report says when Damion's father, Shane Bernarde, returned home that afternoon, he found the family's pit bull attacking Heather in the bathroom, Wausau Daily Herald Media reports.
After locating their son in the living room, Bernarde grabbed the dog, pulling it outside and fatally shot it. The father was bitten as well.
Shannon Pingel says her sister suffered kidney failure and both of her arms were amputated, among other health issues. She was unable to say what may have triggered the attack. But, family members theorize that because the dog was skittish when loud noises happened, the animal likely attacked after Damion fell down some stairs and started crying.
They believe Heather found the dog attacking her son and pulled it into the bathroom.
The sheriff's report said it wasn't the first time the dog had shown signs of aggression. Shannon said her sister had a fondness for animals and couldn't let the dog go.
"My sister has the biggest heart for animals and just couldn’t get rid of it ... her heart was too big and they thought they could fix him," Shannon said.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-mother-dies-saved-son-from-dog-attack
J.M. Smucker
And so it begins:
Friday, December 17, 2021
COVID hospitalizations: Wisconsin requests FEMA help
MILWAUKEE - Ninety-seven percent of Wisconsin's intensive care unit beds are taken as state hospitals report being inundated with COVID-19 patients.
Gov. Tony Evers has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help out as Wisconsin hospitals worry.
"They are very, very full. ICUs are getting to the stress point of being maxed out," said Eric Borgerding, president of the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
The Wisconsin Hospital Association reports that only 3% of ICU beds are open statewide – that is 45 available right now out of more than 1,300 beds.
"We have about 1,700 people in the hospital right now due to COVID, just a few months ago, it was about a hundred," Borgerding said.
Gov. Tony Evers
Now, Evers is looking for federal help.
"I personally was on the phone with leaders from the White House talking about getting help through FEMA," said Evers. "We think we will be in a position to accept some of that help in the near future, but we monitor it on a regular basis. If we have to go back to the drawing board, we certainly will."
The governor told FOX6 News he is certain that FEMA will help Wisconsin, but they are hammering out the details of who might come.
"(To) expand intensive care-type capacity regionally, that can free up some beds in regions," Borgerding said.
What about the alternative care facility at Wisconsin State Fair Park? It was activated in October 2020, and the state reports that the facility treated roughly 200 people. As COVID-19 hospitalizations declined in March 2021, the state closed down that site.
"If we want to keep it open, likely we wouldn't have the State Fair this last summer," said Evers. "We had a much better situation, and closing it was the right move – so we will continue to monitor this.
COVID-19 alternate care facility at Wisconsin State Fair Park
A FEMA spokesperson confirmed to FOX6 that the agency has received Evers' request. Other states are also asking for assistance.
Froedtert Hospital said the majority of its COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.
In December 2020, before vaccines, Wisconsin had roughly 1,800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 complications. The statewide average dropped as time went on, but is now back up to more than 1,600 patients.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-covid-hospitalizations-governor-fema
3 Racine schools virtual due to power outages
RACINE, Wis. - Due to power outages, three Racine public schools have transitioned to virtual learning for Thursday, Dec. 16.
Those schools include:
- Gilmore Fine Arts
- Wadewitz Elementary
- All programs at the Community Pathways Campus
Milwaukee Public Schools also announced that 14 schools with move to virtual learning due to the overnight high winds that have caused power outages through the city. Learn more about that city's closings.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/3-racine-schools-virtual-due-to-power-outages
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Windstorm spreads over Wisconsin and is expected to continue into Thursday morning
A powerful December storm system raced across Wisconsin Wednesday night, bringing the bizarre threat of winter tornadoes over snow-covered acres.
Once the storms passed, gusty winds moved in and were expected to stay well into Thursday.
The winds downed trees and power lines across central and western Wisconsin. A gust of 69 mph was reported in Viroqua while gusts hit 54 in Marshfield, 62 in Viola, 69 in Wisconsin Rapids and 67 in Eau Claire.
It was a historic storm, according to the National Weather Service. Wednesday set the record for the most hurricane force (75+ mph) thunder wind gusts in a day since at least 2004. The previous record was set August 10, 2020 with 53. There were 55 such gusts across the nation Wednesday as of 9 p.m.
The first tornado warning in Wisconsin was issued just after 8 p.m. for Whitehall and an area southwest of Eau Claire. It expired at 8:45 p.m. Thunderstorm warnings were issued for western Wisconsin from La Crosse to the Rice Lake area.
A second tornado warning was issued for Clark and Taylor Counties at 9:07. This storm was moving into Loyal and Greenwood by 9:20. It expired at 9:45.
As the night wore on, the storm lost some of its energy, but the winds behind it will last all night and into the morning.
The Milwaukee area was expected to miss the worst of the storm, but will have the high winds into the morning. Just before 9 p.m., the temperature at Mitchell International in Milwaukee was 65 with winds gusting to 45 mph.
Aaron Rodgers' doppelgänger speaks, talks about newfound popularity
MILWAUKEE - A man who lives in Munich, Germany has been overwhelmed by media interview requests – all because of a few fleeting moments that unfolded during the Green Bay Packers game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 12.
The man in question is named Frank. During the NBC broadcast of the Packers game, a camera spotted him among the thousands of fans of the green and gold – and commentators noted how much he looked like Aaron Rodgers. The rest has taken Frank on a wild ride.
Frank told FOX6's Carl Deffenbaugh during an interview that he is originally from Montreal, Canada – and was in Green Bay with his sister and father. His dad has always been a fan of the Packers but he had never been to Lambeau Field.
While walking about the fabled stadium, Frank said he only had the knit cap on – and people were commenting on how much he looked like #12.
"Are you not supposed to be on the field, man?" Frank said they asked him.
Frank's sister said he then had to go buy a #12 jersey – and so he did.
After that, Frank said people were asking to have pictures with him, he was invited to have a few beers, and everyone was just being very friendly. Somewhere along the way, people started pointing out to Frank that he was trending on Twitter.
"After the game, like I tried to gather a bit of attention, to see if Aaron Rodgers would come and maybe sign my shirt, my jersey. Then nothing happened," Frank said.
But ever since Frank made it home to Germany, he said he has been inundated with requests to speak online, on-camera, etc. He said he's relishing this moment.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/aaron-rodgers-doppelganger-speaks-talks-about-newfound-popularity
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Aaron Rodgers’ doppelgänger heads back to Germany
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| Photo by: National Football League |
GREEN BAY, Wis. — What are the odds that you look just like one of the most famous quarterbacks in the NFL? What are the odds that you’re from Munich, Germany, and by chance go to a Green Bay Packer game while you’re in the area and then become a national sensation?
That’s what happened to Frank as he attended his very first Packer game this past Sunday.
According to his interview with 620WTMJ, when he first arrived in Green Bay, a number of fans let him know he looked a lot like Aaron Rodgers. His sister, who he attended the game with, encouraged him to get a #12 jersey.
Frank was making friends with the people all around him.
“People bought me beer,” he told 620WTMJ.
Frank was in the area to take his father to the Packer game for his birthday. It wasn’t in his plans to flood the feeds of Twitter users or even to appear on national television.
“The next day when I saw millions of views on Twitter, it was unreal.”
Frank posted on his Twitter, now with his newfound viral fame, that he was safely back home in Munich.
From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/aaron-rodgers-doppelganger-heads-back-to-germany
Vos: Wisconsin GOP election probe to go longer, cost more
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Photo by: Scott Bauer/AP |
MADISON, Wis. — Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the investigation he ordered into the 2020 presidential election will spill into next year and cost more money, factors he blamed on Democrats who are fighting subpoenas.
The current contract Vos signed with former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to lead the investigation runs through the end of this month at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $680,000.
Vos said in an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday that legal fights over Gableman's subpoenas of mayors and the state election administrator will prolong the investigation indefinitely. He says any additional costs are "on the Democrats, not on us."
From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/vos-wisconsin-gop-election-probe-to-go-longer-cost-more
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