Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday 1/20/21
20 January 2021 News
Older Adults Prioritized For COVID Vaccine In Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services Tuesday announced that adults over the age of 65 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning next Monday. Currently, frontline health care workers, residents in long-term care facilities and police and fire personnel are eligible. There are approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites who are 65 and older and Wisconsin currently receives around 70,000 first-dose vaccines per week from the federal government. It will take time to vaccinate this population in Wisconsin. Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm says, “Older adults have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritizing this population will help save lives.
Mega Millions Nears $1 Billion Jackpot
No one had all the numbers needed to win the Mega Millions jackpot last night, which means the drawing on Friday night will be worth an estimated $970 million, the biggest jackpot in three years. Tonight’s Powerball jackpot isn’t far behind it is worth an estimated $730 million. Last night’s Mega Millions numbers were 10, 19, 26, 28, 50, and the Mega Ball was 16. It is the first time both jackpots have been over $700 million at the same time. The biggest prize won was a $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016. The area wasn’t totally without lottery winners yesterday. Someone in Oshkosh purchased an All or Nothing ticket for the midday drawing that had none of the 11 numbers, which was good for the $100,000 top prize.
Sixth OWI For New Lisbon Man
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department arrested a 68-year-old New Lisbon man early Sunday morning for his 6th operating while under the influence offense. A motorist called the Sheriff’s dispatch center to report a driver that was “all over the road.” A description of the vehicle was given and a deputy caught up with it on the I-39 entrance ramp from State Highway 33. The driver, Dennis Greene, appeared to be intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests. Sheriff Roger Brandner says they have seen a drastic increase in impaired driving throughout the county. Last year deputies made 435 arrests for impaired driving.
COVID Legislation
State Senator Joan Ballweg says there were some differences in the bills the State Assembly and Senate came up with for the state’s COVID-19 response. She says the Assembly bill had 44 items in it and the Senate’s version 35. The state lawmaker from Markesan says one of the important items was to prohibit employers from mandating that employees get the COVID vaccine, which goes against a current state statute. “Right now we do have in a state statute people can be excused, call it that, excused from that kind of a vaccine mandate for medical, religious, personal reasons.” There is also a liability waiver for businesses and employers that protects them from lawsuits filed by someone who claims they contracted the coronavirus in their location. Ballweg says that does not waive liability for a place of business that is neglectful in protecting the public and employees. The legislation is currently before the State Assembly and will go to the Governor after that.
Congressman Grothman On Impeachment Vote
Congressman Glenn Grothman says he was not going to vote to impeach President Trump based on accusations that Trump incited the rioting at the U.S. Capitol. In fact all five of Wisconsin’s Republican Congressmen voted against impeachment. Grothman says the people that rioted and caused damage aren’t the type of people you usually see show up at a Trump rally and Trump shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions. “There is some mean spiritedness going on there. President Trump did not incite this so-called riot. It’s well known that he was still speaking when people got into the building. It’s well known that some of the people that got into the building were bragging that they were going to go into the building on their social media days before this.” The three Democrats that represent Wisconsin in Congress did vote in favor of impeachment.
Winkler Announces Run For State Senate
An Oconomowoc woman recently announced her run for the 13th State Senate District. Melissa Winkler has been an educator for 18 years and a family business owner. Her husband is a firefighter. The Democratic candidate says, “I’m running for State Senate because we deserve a leader that will listen to the needs of our small towns and communities in the district.” Winkler ran unsuccessfully to represent the 38th State Assembly District. A special election for the 13th State Senate District seat is being held during the Spring Election on April 6th. Scott Fitzgerald, who represented the 13th State Senate District, won election to the 5th Congressional District seat last November. The Senate District encompasses portions of Jefferson, Waukesha, Dodge, Columbia, and Dane counties.
Ripon Senior Center Hosting Drive Thru Event Today
The Ripon Senior Activity Center will host another drive through event in their parking lot today. With the pandemic the center has hosted a few drive-thru events including one last month that featured Santa and Mrs. Claus and horse-drawn carriage rides. Center Executive Director Noreen Johnson says they will be handing out toilet paper decorated to look like snowmen and hot chocolate or hot chocolate packets depending upon your preference. The drive-thru event will be from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm following the distribution of senior meals from the county.
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