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You are invited to the Farewell Open House for outgoing Altoona Police Department Police Chief Jesse James! This event will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Altoona Emergency Services Building (1904 Spooner Ave.) from 2 – 4 PM. 

The former treasurer of the Eau Claire firefighters union is facing embezzlement charges after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars in union funds.  A criminal complaint claims 54-year-old William Drath used over 18-thousand dollars in union money for personal expenses from 2011 to 2016.  It also claims Drath admitted to the new treasurer that he stole about three-thousand dollars, although police say he stole much more.  Drath is facing up to seven years in prison on three felony charges. 

Outgoing Governor Scott Walker is planning to stay in politics after he leaves office next week.  Walker said in a statement yesterday that he and his wife will stay in Wisconsin and that he will be involved in multiple organizations including being part of a speakers bureau.  He said he also plans to help advocate for the re-election of President Donald Trump. 

The partial government shutdown is having little impact in northwest Wisconsin.  The Chippewa Herald says in Chippewa Falls only the local Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is closed with its employees being granted a leave of absence.  The National Resource Conservation Service is remaining open as well as the post office.  A board member for the Farm Bureau says USDA program shutdowns are temporary and that the programs will reopen as they always do. 

No injuries are being reported after a fire at a house on the north side of La Crosse.  The La Crosse Fire Department says the fire broke out on Liberty Street around 4:20 yesterday morning.  Firefighters were able to limit damage and confine the flames to the attic and the interior walls of the second floor of the house.  Investigators determined the cause of the fire was an electrical problem. 

One of Eau Claire Police Department’s senior K-9’s is officially retired after seven years of service.  The Leader-Telegram reports K-9 Duke had been paired with Officer Jason Rupert since 2011 helping apprehend suspects, search buildings, and find drugs, but he worked his last shift last night.  Rupert says he’s going to make sure Duke enjoys his retirement.  Rupert now plans to help officers with the department’s two remaining K-9’s Jake and Manso. 

An Eau Claire teen is in custody after allegedly stabbing her ex-boyfriend at the YMCA.  Police say it happened shortly after 1 p.m. on December 30th.  Seventeen-year-old Ashley Gadke is accused of stabbing her ex with a box cutter when they met up in the parking lot to return each other’s things.  Police say the victim was stabbed in the head, torso, back, and face. 

A Cornell man is accused of stealing welding equipment from a construction company in Chippewa County.  Larson Construction Company first reported over six-thousand dollars in equipment was stolen from their facility back in October.  James Cooley has since been charged in connection to that theft.  Authorities say they were investigating Cooley for possession of meth when they found he sold some of the stolen equipment to his stepfather. 

Only two people are facing charges for drunk driving after celebrating New Year’s Eve.  Eau Claire Police say they arrested only two at the end of 2018, half as many as the last day of 2017.  There were extra officers on duty as the new year began.  Still, officers say they see about the same amount of people driving under the influence on a normal weekend in Eau Claire.  And on that note, now that 2019 is here, and that

Parents are grateful for a healthy baby girl that happened to be the first born in Eau Claire in 2019.  Magdalena Ortiz was born at 4:28 a.m. at Marshfield Medical Center.  She wasn’t expected until January 11th, but ended up being the first baby born in the new year for the area.  The second to be born in Eau Claire in 2019 was Penelope Brinkman, at Mayo Clinic Health System at 12:52 p.m.