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Some members of a neighborhood in Dunn County are concerned after a sex offender was released from jail.  Thirty-three-year-old Jamie Stephenson was released into the Village of Wheeler yesterday after serving a sentence for three separate sexual assault crimes.  A woman who lives in Wheeler says she’s concerned because she has little girls and that they’re afraid.  Police say Stephenson will be closely monitored at all times. 

Police in Vernon County say they don’t believe there was criminal intent in a shooting that injured two people.  The county sheriff’s office was called to a home in the Village of Coon Valley on Wednesday about the shooting and took two people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  An investigation has led police to believe there was nothing malicious about the shooting and that it was accidental. 

Barron native Chris Kroeze is announcing his first concert since finishing runner-up on NBC’s The Voice.  Kroeze will play a concert at The Barron Area Community Center on February 22nd where he first performed as a middle schooler.  Tickets will cost 15-dollars and go on sale tomorrow at noon. 

Two kids from Granton are being recognized for their bravery during a home invasion.  Twenty-eight-year-old Noah Whitegull broke into a home on November 9th and threatened a small boy that lived there while his sister and parents slept.  The sister soon got up, jumped out a window, and ran down the street to call for help, leading to Whitegull’s arrest.  At the end of the kids’ Christmas program at Granton Elementary they were both honored with badges from the Clark

A University of Wisconsin-Stout student who went missing this week has been found safe.  Campus police say 23-year-old Devon Jenkins-Joshua was reported missing on Wednesday after he hadn’t been seen since early Tuesday morning.  He left with no belongings and his cell phone was inactive but he was located in Minnesota yesterday.  He has since been reunited with his family. 

Chippewa Humane Association is the latest organization chosen to receive a gift from Markquart Gives Back 2018.  The program is sponsored by Markquart Motors and Markquart Toyota dealerships in Chippewa Falls.  Recipients were chosen by a community vote that took place between November 12th and December 14th.  The top five organizations receiving votes each received a ten-thousand dollar gift from the dealerships.  

Two Eau Claire bank robbery suspects are facing probation and community service.  Jessica Ness and Daniel Reeves are accused of stealing tools, computer equipment, and ten-dollars in change from Winona National Bank in March.  Ness was also charged in seven other cases and received seven years probation.  She must also remain sober and pay restitution to the businesses.  Reeves was sentenced to 40 hours of community service. 

Governor-elect Tony Evers is tapping Craig Thompson to lead the state Department of Transportation.  Thompson currently leads the Wisconsin Transportation Development Association.  He is a vocal advocate for higher funding for transportation projects.  Evers is expected to formally announce the pick today, along with additional cabinet appointments. 

You won’t be going to the joint for a joint in one County. Marijuana is still illegal in Racine, but no one is going to jail for it. Racine’s city council ordered the city’s police chief not to push for criminal charges against anyone for marijuana possession.  Instead, the city will treat pot possession as a civil matter.  Instead of jail, people will face a ticket that could cost them as little as one dollar. 

The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department, Augusta Police Department, and Augusta School District are working together to spread holiday cheer.  Those participating in the Secret Santa effort pulled people over yesterday, not to give tickets, but to hand out Christmas hams.  An anonymous Augusta resident raised the money for the project as a way to spread cheer in the Chippewa Valley.