Frozen fruit sold at Walmart, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Target, Whole Foods recalled over possible listeria contamination

 

 Sunrise Growers has recalled frozen fruit products sold at chain stores nationwide over possible listeria contamination, the US Food and Drug Administration says.

The products were distributed to Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Aldi and AWG across the country between fall 2022 and this week. The full list of recalled brands and package codes is available on the FDA’s website.

The fruit is linked to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier, the FDA said.

No illnesses have been associated with the recall. Listeria generally causes short-term symptoms like fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea in healthy people, but it can cause serious and even deadly infections in children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Infection may trigger stillbirths or miscarriages in pregnant women.

The FDA advises consumers who shopped at these stores to check their freezers for recalled fruit. If you have any, throw it away or return it to the store for a full refund.

Correction: A previous version of this report misstated the name of Sunrise Growers.

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Sparta superintendent confident school district will 'find a way' to cover approved 5.75% staff wage increase

( SPARTA  Wisconsin) All staff in the Sparta Area School District will see a significant pay increase this coming academic year.

But how the district plans to pay for it is up in the air.

Last month the school board and Sparta Education Association went back and forth in negotiations before landing on a 5.75% increase to base pay for all district staff.

That raise is on top of the existing pay scale that rewards staff for years of service and teaching credits accrued.

It's a big decision for a district that closed an elementary school last year after a $2 million operating referendum failed.

Sam Russ, said the district will face tough decisions depending on the next state budget, but said they need to make the wage increase work.

"We may have to put off some capital improvement projects for another year. We may have to delay this, delay that, we have to prioritize some other funding," said superintendent Sam Russ.

Russ said he's not worried about finding the funds to pay for the higher wages because of his confidence in the district's ability to make smart decisions that move them forward.

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Winona Steamboat Days continue this weekend

 Winona is celebrating the 76th annual Steamboat Days through this weekend.

The event is a yearly week-long community party featuring live music, a kiddie parade, and fireworks.

Saturday features the BK/5K road race from 8-11 a.m., as well as a craft fair, cornhole tournament, little warrior drumline, carnival, and the 22nd annual car show.

For more information on events, click here. 

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Arcadia teenager with disability receives car

GALESVILLE, Wisconsin. Getting around will now be easier for Caden Dahl. The 16-year-old today came to Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville, thinking he was getting a bike but instead was surprised with a 2017 Dodge Journey.

"I've been kind of bugging my mom about it. And just the thoughtfulness of them getting it for me makes me speechless," Dahl says.

The teenager was born without a right arm and only a short-left arm with two fingers. The car was donated by The Gilbert Brown Foundation, a nonprofit that helps children's charities statewide.

"He's a special kid. He's, my rock. I mean the things that we take for granted that he has to deal with, it blows my mind seeing a kid like that with a disability that he has, and he takes it with stride and gets along with his day," Brown tells News 8 Now. 

Even before donating the car, The Gilbert Brown Foundation has helped Dahl. 

"They've kind of always had my back and my family's back," Dahl explains. I've had like ten surgeries so helping me through all those, giving me gifts like these, just always being there. Gilberts like a big brother. He's always there."

Dahl's family couldn't be happier.

"Driving has been difficult so far so this is a big step in the right direction for sure," his father Rob says. 

Dahl plans to use the car in his daily life and hopes to eventually take it on a road trip.

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Onalaska art teacher brings home grand prize from ART 64 painting tournament in Wauwatosa

An Onalaska artist and teacher won big at a competition, bringing home a $20,000 check.

Lori Ehlke is an art teacher.

She entered in the second annual ART 64 tournament in Wauwatosa.

ART 64 is a bracket-style competition, where artists have an hour to create their masterpieces.

Ehlke's acrylic painting of a sailboat got the most public votes, winning her the grand prize.

She says she took a photo of the boat when she was pregnant with twins, thinking it would make a great painting someday.

Ehlke has four kids, who are hoping she spends the cash on "candy, a swimming pool, a puppy, a guinea pig, and more," but she says she's leaning towards getting a nice sunroom studio built.

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Mayo Clinic physician shares how air quality from Canadian Wildfires impacts your health

 

As the smoke moves through the upper Midwest there are some steps you can take to reduce the effects on your health.

According to Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn the particles from the smoke can affect how our lungs function. 

Vanichkachorn says this can make it difficult for our lungs to get rid of pieces of debris or viruses in our body. He recommends avoiding exposure as much as possible and wearing a mask.

"It's really only the N95 and N100 masks that are effective. Smoke involves particles that are quite small usually about 2.5- 10 microns," the physician tells News 8 Now. "You really need to have those N95 and N100 masks. You need to have them fitted properly as well too in order to protect yourself."

he air quality is impacting people including Maria Romero Dojan. 

"I have noticed a little bit with my seasonal allergies. I feel like this year they kind of started spiking up and once I heard about the air quality, I thought maybe it had to do a little bit with that," Romero Dojan says. 

Doctors say that anyone with a pre-existing lung condition is the most vulnerable to wildfire smoke. Children, elderly with poor immune systems and pregnant woman are also vulnerable.

Some long-term effects include Ashma attacks and worsening lung functions. Doctors are studying whether this can lead to cancer in the future. 

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Children's Museum of La Crosse opening auto center exhibit June 16

 A new exhibit at the Children's Museum of La Crosse is geared to inspire future mechanics.

On June 16, kids can test their skills at the new Dahl Express Tire and Auto Center exhibit, where children can use pint- sized tools to fix a car on a lift.

One of Dahl's leaders said he knows how important it is for kids to learn by doing.

"I see how my kids learn, with hands-on, tactile exhibits, where they can really get in, use their hands, and experience how to work with tools and how to work on a kids-sized car," said Dahl Holdings V.P. Jansen Dahl. 

The exhibit has kid-safe wrenches, lug nuts, and oil changing supplies.

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La Crosse area hospitals in urgent need of blood donations

 ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) -- La Crosse area hospitals are running low on blood supply. 

Versiti Blood Center, which supplies Gundersen Health System, is hosting blood drives on Wednesday and Thursday to stock up. 

Versiti officials say donors are essential right now. 

"We're in an emergency appeal for blood where we're less than a days supply currently. We're hosting a blood drive to make sure we have a stable and ready blood supply for community hospitals," said Emalea Cogdill, an account representative for Versiti. 

Donors can go to Gundersen's clinic in Onalaska from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can find more information on Versiti's website. 

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Wisconsin State Patrol holds open house hoping to fill vacant positions

 

SPARTA, Wis. (WKBT)-- The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking for more people as it grapples with a workforce shortage. 

With a number of vacant positions, the agency is doing what it can to fill them including having an open house. 

The open house gives aspiring troopers the opportunity to learn what's required to patrol.

"Our requirements are a minimum of sixty college credits," says trooper sergeant Erica Ballweg-Larsen. "Before you start our academy, we actually encourage people to have a diverse degree rather than something in the criminal justice career field."

Next year, it hopes to fill a class of up to 50 people. The academy begins in January and runs for six months. But the state agency looks for more than just college credits and a degree.

"We like people who like the outdoors, people who like to work independently and people who are very self-motivated," Ballweg-Larsen tells News 8 Now. 

It's at least a few months before troopers are working independently. 

"Once they get out in the field, they have a 12-week field training officer program where they're riding with another officer," says Ballweg-Larsen. "And once they successfully complete that, they're on their own and they work alone by themselves."

Once they complete their two-year probationary period, troopers are eligible for other positions within the agency including honor guard and working in its  K-9 and motor units.  

The application closes July 16. Anyone interested in applying can click here. 

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84-year-old broadcaster hit in the face with foul ball while calling the game

Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges he illegally kept classified documents at Florida estate

 Donald Trump became the first former president to face a judge on federal charges as he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom Tuesday to dozens of felony counts accusing him of hoarding classified documents and refusing government demands to give them back.

The history-making court date, centered on charges that Trump mishandled government secrets that as commander-in-chief he was entrusted to protect, kickstarts a legal process that will unfold at the height of the 2024 presidential campaign and carry profound consequences not only for his political future but also for his own personal liberty.

Trump approached his arraignment with characteristic bravado, posting social media broadsides against the prosecution from inside his motorcade en route to the courthouse and insisting — as he has through years of legal woes — that he did nothing wrong and is being persecuted for political purposes. Inside the courtroom, he sat silently, scowling and arms crossed, as a lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in a brief arraignment that ended without him having to surrender his passport or otherwise restrict his travel.

The arraignment, though largely procedural in nature, was the latest in an unprecedented reckoning this year for Trump, who faces charges in New York arising from hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign as well as ongoing investigations in Washington and Atlanta into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 race.

Always in campaign mode, he swiftly pivoted from the solemn courtroom to a festive restaurant, stopping on his way out of Miami at Versailles, an iconic Cuban spot in the city's Little Havana neighborhood where supporters serenaded Trump, who turns 77 on Wednesday, with "Happy Birthday." The back-to-back events highlight the tension for Trump in the months ahead as he balances the pageantry of campaigning with courtroom stops accompanying his status as a twice-indicted criminal defendant.

Until last week, no former president had ever been charged by the Justice Department, let alone accused of mishandling top-secret information. The indictment unsealed last week charged Trump with 37 felony counts — many under the Espionage Act — that accuse him of illegally storing classified documents in his bedroom, bathroom, shower and other areas at Mar-a-Lago and trying to hide them from the Justice Department as investigators demanded them back.

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Air Quality Alert Issued Also For Monroe County WI

 

MonroeAlerts: 1 

Air Quality Alert issued June 14 at 8:34AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Affected Areas

Taylor; Clark; Buffalo; Trempealeau; Jackson; La Crosse; Monroe; Juneau; Adams

Status

Actual

Issued

6/14/2023, 8:34:00 AM

Ends

6/15/2023, 12:15:00 PM

Severity

Unknown

Certainty

Unknown

Urgency

Unknown

Description

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory for PM2.5 which will remain in effect until noon Thursday. This advisory affects people living in the following counties: Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Taylor, and Trempealeau counties Smoke originating from Canadian wildfires has entered northwest Wisconsin and will move southeast today into Thursday morning. We will continue to monitor PM2.5 concentrations closely and adjust the air quality advisory area or timing as needed. The air quality index is expected to reach the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS level. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. For more information on current air quality, please see: https://airquality.wi.gov

Source: WKBT News8000 or Please CLICK HERE

Air Quality Alert Issued For Lacrosse WI

 

La CrosseAlerts: 1 

Air Quality Alert issued June 14 at 8:34AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Affected Areas

Taylor; Clark; Buffalo; Trempealeau; Jackson; La Crosse; Monroe; Juneau; Adams

Status

Actual

Issued

6/14/2023, 8:34:00 AM

Ends

6/15/2023, 12:15:00 PM

Severity

Unknown

Certainty

Unknown

Urgency

Unknown

Description

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory for PM2.5 which will remain in effect until noon Thursday. This advisory affects people living in the following counties: Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Taylor, and Trempealeau counties Smoke originating from Canadian wildfires has entered northwest Wisconsin and will move southeast today into Thursday morning. We will continue to monitor PM2.5 concentrations closely and adjust the air quality advisory area or timing as needed. The air quality index is expected to reach the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS level. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. For more information on current air quality, please see: https://airquality.wi.gov

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Registration open for adaptive water ski day in La Crosse

 

LA CROSSE, Wis. 

 Registration is open for a day of adaptive water skiing in La Crosse.

The River City Water Show Ski Team and the North American Squirrel Association are holding two adaptive ski days this summer.

The first day is this Friday, June 16.

Volunteers will help people ski at Airport Beach.

There will be multiple ski sessions, each with a max of six people.

You can find more information about the day and sign up for free on the Eventbrite event page.

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Waupun baby's life saved with surgical procedure following birth at UW Health

WAUPUN, Wis. -- A high-risk procedure for a Waupun mother and advanced treatment from doctors at UW Health saved a newborn baby's life. 

If you look at nearly 5-month-old Layla Maderle today, it would be very hard to know what she went through. She's a happy and healthy baby.

But when Andy and Ashley Manderle of Waupun were referred to the Center for Perinatal Care at UnityPoint Health–Meriter by their OB-GYN at UW Health due to abnormalities on Ashley’s 16-week ultrasound, they were nervous about what would happen to their child.

"The situation just seems so bad at the time," Andy Manderle recalled.

On February 1, the UW Health Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center team performed a surgery to save the life of the couple's baby.

The surgery is called ex-utero intrapartum treatment, or EXIT, which enables the team to partially deliver the baby via cesarean and establish a safe airway before completing the cesarean delivery.

Ashley Manderle said she was very nervous about the procedure but trusted the doctors at UW Health. 

"As a mother, you do what you have to for your kids," she said. "If that meant putting my life on the line, then that's what I had to do."'

"It was scary," Andy Manderle added. "I think the worst part of it was saying goodbye in the pre-op room, not knowing if I was going to see my wife and kid later that evening."

Doctors delivered the head, neck, one arm and the 17-centimeter tumor blocking the baby’s airway, while Ashley Manderle was under anesthesia. They had 30 minutes to establish an airway around the tumor while keeping the rest of the baby supported by her mom via the placenta, which provides oxygen and blood flow. After 30 minutes, placental support would run out and the baby would need to be fully delivered.

The expert team completed the procedure in just 12 minutes.

A three-dimensional model was created from Layla’s fetal MRI to help doctors plan for the surgery and counsel the Manderles, according to Dr. Inna Lobeck, pediatric and fetal surgeon and director of the UW Health Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center. The fetal MRI and surgery took place at American Family Children’s Hospital.

“Our fetal diagnosis and treatment team met Ashley at 20 weeks, and we developed a game plan with experts from maternal-fetal medicine, ear, nose and throat, plastic surgery and neonatal intensive care,” Lobeck said. “The tumor was growing quickly and was by far the largest one we’ve seen at our center.”

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Gov. Evers signs contract on WIS 162 bridge repair project near Bangor

BANGOR, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a contract for a bridge repair project south of Bangor.

Work on the WIS 162 bridge over Dutch Creek is scheduled to begin Monday, June 19. 

The governor signed the contract with Lunda Construction Company as the prime contractor. 

The bridge will get a new concrete overlay, as well as an abutment repair, replacement of beam bearings, and guardrail repair.

WIS 162 will be closed near the bridge and detoured.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation expects the project to be finished by mid-August.

Story Source: WKBT News8000 or CLICK HERE

Body recovered after a truck crash caused the inferno that toppled part of I-95 in Philadelphia, official says

 

A body has been recovered from among the wreckage of Sunday’s Interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State Police told CNN on Monday afternoon.

The body was turned over to the Philadelphia County Medical Examiner. “Authorities are in the process of identifying the remains,” Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Myles Snyder said.

Authorities did not provide any additional information.

The inferno began after the tanker driver took an off-ramp and crashed into a wall while trying to go around a curve around 6:20 a.m. Sunday, state officials said Monday. A stretch of northbound I-95 fell on the truck, authorities said.

The truck “landed on its side,” and the crash into the wall ignited the fire, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said Monday.

The truck was carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Officials will not launch a criminal investigation into the collapse, Pennsylvania State Police said Monday.

The company that owns the truck has been in contact with officials and is complying with state police, officials said. State police would not identify the company.

Authorities have not identified the driver.

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Wisconsin State Patrol stops driver caught going 122 mph

 

(Pictured above) is of the Wisconsin State Patrol Officer from Konosha WI over by Green Bay WI of his dashboard displaying his radar.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is reminding the public of the dangers of speeding after stopping a driver who was observed going 122 miles per hour.

In a post on Facebook, the Wisconsin State Patrol says a trooper was going north on 1-41/94 in Kenosha County when the trooper reportedly saw a vehicle coming up behind him at a high rate of speed.

By using a same-lane directional radar unit, the trooper clocked the speeding car going 122mph. The driver was then pulled over, cited, and released.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is taking using this incident to remind the public about the dangers of speed. Authorities say, “High speeds are extremely dangerous and can be deadly for everyone on the roads.”

The Wisconsin State Patrol asks that everyone please slow down and put safety first when they are behind the wheel

  

Wisconsin's alcohol industry gets behind update, greater enforcement of laws

 Wisconsin’s smallest craft brewers, large retailers and other producers, wholesalers and retailers are getting behind a rapidly moving proposal that would overhaul the state’s alcohol laws and lead to stricter enforcement efforts

Wisconsin's smallest craft brewers, including the maker of the popular Spotted Cow beer, large retailers like the Kwik Trip convenience store franchise and other producers, wholesalers and retailers are getting behind a rapidly moving proposal that would overhaul the state's alcohol laws and lead to stricter enforcement efforts.

The measure, hammered out in secret the past five years largely between Republican lawmakers and the multi-billion-dollar alcohol industry, is moving quickly through the GOP-controlled Legislature. It was introduced on Friday and was scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday. The Legislature is expected to pass it in two weeks.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration has also been involved with negotiations.

Most of the changes would not be noticeable to average alcohol consumers in the state, those who worked closely on the bill said.

But the creation of a new division to oversee liquor laws could lead to the enforcement of largely ignored current laws, like a ban on the shipping of liquor or beer directly to a customer made popular through “beer of the month” clubs and nationwide mail-order catalogs that feature hard-to-get bourbon or other spirits.

“The public will have a better sense that the laws governing alcohol will be enforced uniformly and fairly,” said Scott Stenger, a lobbyist for the Tavern League of Wisconsin.

The fact that all tiers of the industry are welcoming greater enforcement “sends a very powerful message” about the need for more clarity, Stenger said.

Those who worked on the measure with Republican legislative leaders say now is the time to update laws in a state that saw the birth of beer-giant Miller in Milwaukee and in recent years has seen an explosion of smaller craft brewers, like New Glarus Brewing Co. which makes Spotted Cow and other beers available for sale only in Wisconsin.

The bill affects every level of the state’s alcohol industry governing the licensing, producing, selling and distribution of beer, wine and liquor. The so-called three-tier system, created in the 1930s, has been eyed for changes for years, but policy makers and the alcohol industry have been unable to reach agreement.

The three-tiered system was designed to prevent monopolies so the same entity could not produce and sell alcohol at the wholesale and retail levels. But the system has been criticized for years for not keeping up with changes in the industry, including the explosion of smaller craft breweries, the popularity of wedding barns and other innovations.

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National donuts day is helping many pastries raise money for Salvation Army

( WEST SALEM, Wis.) Last Friday, National Donut Day brought many customers to bakeries across the Coulee Region. 

Linda's Bakery in West Salem donated 50 cents to Salvation Army for each donut sold. 

The store sold over 2,200 donuts in a single day, raising over $1,000 for the Salvation Army of La Crosse.

They also put together housing baskets for the Salvation Army to give to people living unsheltered in the area. 

"They funded 23 of the baskets. The baskets include things that folks would need, hygiene items, plastic wear, silverware. The things that folks would normally take for granted, when they move into permanent housing," said Michael Quam, the development director of the Salvation Army. 

From June 23 to June 25, Linda's Bakery will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. 

Customers can grab some cake and coffee during those days. Linda's Bakery will also have door prizes to show their appreciation to the community they call home.

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Artspire returns to La Crosse for its tenth year

 (La Crosse Wisconsin Story) 

The 10th annual Artspire art event begins on June 9, regardless of rain or shine.

Artspire is a free event in La Crosse that engages the community through the arts. 

Visitors will get to see various local artists and musicians, be able to buy local artist's work through Artspire's art sale and enjoy cuisine from local food trucks.

Art fans will also be able to hang out with their friends while grabbing a beer at the on-site beer garden. 

Artspire will have an interactive tie-dye art installation.

"Be prepared to get a little messy, but we have a hose so you can clean off," said Allison Krztch, the executive director of the Pump House Regional Arts Center.

Artspire will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Due to the possibility for thunderstorms in the area during the event, Artspire will post an update about the event schedule and location on their website.

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La Crosse Lions Club hosts 9th annual 'Fishability' kids event

  The La Crosse Lions Club hosted its 9th annual “Fishability” kids fishing event for kids that are challenged to experience the great outdoors.

Around 26 kids came out and caught fish at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery using an accessible dock donated by Dairyland Power Cooperative. For the participants, everyone received a commemorative hat and medal to remember the day.

"This is my first time being a part of fishability. I thought it was very fun and it was cool to see a lot of people came here," said Paige Pugh, a participant at fishability.

Organizers from the Lion’s Club said they enjoyed the event because it’s a chance for kids with special needs just to enjoy a day on the water, and that it’s great to see their reaction.

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Friends gather for Madeline Kingsbury benefit (UPDATE) From Story Earlier That I Posted In This Blog

 WINONA, Minn. Friends of Madeline Kingsbury and volunteers gathered in Winona Saturday to honor her memory.

The community is coming together in the Witoka tavern and reception hall in Winona for a benefit for her two children.

The event was originally planned while Kingsbury was missing.

Since the news of her passing-- the goal shifted.

Kingsbury's loved ones say they're raising awareness of the situation and coming together to support one another in a difficult time.

"She didn’t deserve this, nobody really does but especially not Maddy. She was thrown away and instead of living her long happy life with her children that was taken from her, and it’s not fair. Justice will be served, but that main goal is never forget her, never forget how amazing she is,” said Holly Stamschror, a friend of Madeline Kingsbury.

The event includes a raffle, banquet and silent auction.

The money raised will be set aside for her children.

Story Source: WKBT News8000 or Click on this LINK