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A vote on Eau Claire’s proposed veterans park is expected at today’s City Council meeting.  The park’s trail design, amenities, and site plan were addressed in a public discussion last night.  It will be located north of Madison Street and west of Forest Street with the cost estimated and nearly one-and-a-quarter million dollars.   

Some Chippewa County board members are calling for Chairman Jared Zwiefelhofer to step down.  Last week, Zwiefelhofer was convicted of three hunting violations in Burnett County.  This caused Supervisors Steve Gerrish and Glen Sikorski to call for Zwiefelhofer to step down.  Gerrish warns that if Zwiefelhofer doesn’t willingly step down the board may vote to remove him. 

Governor Tony Evers is including a dental access initiative as part of his two year budget plan.  A spokeswoman for the governor tells the Leader-Telegram that the lack of access to dental health, especially in rural communities, is prompting the governor to take action.  The proposal totals over 43-million-dollars in both state and federal funding.  The largest component is increasing the Medicaid dental incentive payment for providers. 

The City of Menomonie is using the cold weather to raise money for the Special Olympics.  On Saturday, the city held its annual Polar Plunge event at Lake Menomin where teams braved the frigid water temperatures to raise money that will all stay local. Eau Claire will be holding its Polar Plunge on February 24th. 

On Friday, February 8, 2019, at 8:06am the Barron County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a three vehicle accident on Hwy 48 just east of Cumberland. Deputies from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the Cumberland Police Department, Cumberland Fire Department, Cumberland Ambulance and Life Link Helicopter all responded to the scene. Initial reports show a vehicle traveling westbound driven by 64 year Harry Skirm, from Puyallup, WA, crossed the center line and stuck a truck traveling

All lanes are back open after a 40-vehicle pile-up near mile marker 85 on I-94 in Eau Claire County.  The crash happened yesterday afternoon and involved seven semis and 33 automobiles.  Seven injuries were reported, including one life-threatening injury.  Slippery conditions are believed to be a major factor in the pile-up.  The State Patrol Eau Claire Post is reporting a large number of crashes and run offs.  Troopers responded to nearly 50 run offs, 25 crashes, and 15 vehicle assists

Jayme Closs’ family is celebrating a milestone in her return.  Yesterday marked one month since Jayme escaped her captor and found help that got her safely home.  The Facebook page Healing for Jayme Closs showed a post Saturday saying that she is doing well and asked people to wear something blue yesterday or change their profile picture to a blue butterfly in honor of Jayme. 

Leinenkugel’s is adding its first new brewmaster in nearly 25 years.  John Hensley is the eleventh brewmaster in the family brand’s more than 150 year history.  Hensley oversee the brewing process from start to finish, ensuring a quality product.  

Governor Tony Evers wants to borrow millions of dollars to replace lead pipes in older neighborhoods across the state.  The governor wants to allow the Department of Natural Resources and the state’s ag department to borrow the money over the next two years.  Evers campaigned on a pledge to clean-up the state’s drinking water.  No one is saying where the money will come from to repay the loans.  

Many Chinese students at UW-Eau Claire are still celebrating the Chinese New Year.  The Chinese Students and Scholars Association hosted a celebration yesterday with music, food, and dance.  Many students brought their host families along to teach them about Chinese culture.