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Sharon Gibbs McIlquham, a Chippewa County attorney has announced her candidacy for the Chippewa County Circuit Court Branch 3 judge’s seat. McIlquham has experience in family, criminal and civil law since her admission to the Wisconsin Bar in 1992 and has a focus on community service, currently serving her first term on the Chippewa Falls School Board and serving on the Lafayette Town Board since 2005, a position in which she succeeded her father, the late Howard Gibbs. She seeks

A vigil is held for a man who died in an Eau Claire house fire.  Friends and family of Jaime Thayer-Vega gathered in the 600 block of Congress Street over the weekend where Thayer-Vega was found dead on October 19th.  Thayer-Vega is believed to have been an intruder in the house when it caught fire.  Everyone inside made it out safely except for him.  Police are still investigating what caused the fire and why Thayer-Vega couldn’t get out.

The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a deputy impersonation scam.  T he sheriff’s office said over the weekend it got three calls from people who were contacted by someone falsely claiming to be a member of the sheriff’s office.  The sheriff’s office says the scammer told victims to go to Walmart to post bond on arrest warrants.  The sheriff’s office says it would never have someone go to a retail store to post bond.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking for more troopers.  The state patrol says they’re holding a hiring event in Wausau this afternoon for people who are interested in working for them.  Job applicants don’t need law enforcement experience to apply.  Applications will be accepted until early January.

The man who police say ran down three Girl Scouts from Lake Hallie last fall doesn’t want a jury to hear his case. Colten Treu’s lawyers last week asked the judge to hear the case instead. Prosecutors in Chippewa Falls want the case to go before the jury. The judge says he’ll make a decision soon. Treu is due to go on trial early next year.

A Eau Claire man will spend less than a week in jail for stabbing his roommate’s dog to death. A judge last week sentenced William Geiger to five days in jail and two years of probation. Geiger pleaded guilty back in September to killing the dog last year after it bit him. The judge also banned him from drinking and owning any animals.

There are going to be a lot of new faces in and around western Wisconsin this week. The state’s gun deer season begins on Saturday. It runs through the next Sunday. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is reminding everyone to be safe, and look out for hunters in blaze orange. DNR says hunters need to remember to be safe, particularly in their deer stands, this year.

Some of Wisconsin’s National Guard units will get a little piece of home while on deployment in Afghanistan. Family members of the troops deployed with the 128th Infantry over the weekend packed boxes full of gifts, snacks, and mementos. The packages will be sent to the troops in time for Christmas. In all, the families sent over 100 boxes to their soldiers.

Not enough people are going to school to be teachers, not enough young teachers can pass the test to get a license, and once teachers get a job they often leave in a few years.  Wisconsin’s Association of School Board says there are a number of reasons for a teacher shortage in the state. The Association released a letter last week detailing the problems. Many schools started this year without enough teachers, and many teachers say they simply don’t make

The good news is that it won’t be freezing cold. But that means Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley will see some rain, some sleet, and some snow this week. Forecasters say there are two rounds of wintry mix that could make things slick. The first hits late tonight and into tomorrow morning. The second comes late Wednesday. Besides that, forecasters say western Wisconsin will see milder temperatures this week.