Latest news with #DunnCounty
CBS News
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Western Wisconsin crash closes down part of Interstate 94 in Dunn County; 1 injured
A crash involving two commercial vehicles in western Wisconsin Monday morning has closed down part of Interstate 94. The Wisconsin State Patrol says a commercial vehicle motorist was driving slowly on the shoulder of eastbound I-94 in Dunn County, near Menomonie, around 11 a.m. when it was struck from behind by another commercial vehicle. One of the vehicles then caught fire. A passenger in one of the vehicles reported minor injuries, though it's unknown how many people were in each vehicle. Both vehicles were seriously damaged, according to the state patrol. As of 2 p.m., all lanes on eastbound I-94 in the area of the crash are closed, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and motorists are being rerouted.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
2 killed in 2 separate crashes in western Wisconsin within minutes of each other
Authorities in western Wisconsin are investigating two separate deadly crashes that happened Saturday within minutes of each other. The Dunn County Sheriff's Office says the first crash happened at approximately 9:25 p.m. on 960th Street, south of 1010th Street in Spring Brook. Upon arrival, deputies found a 1961 Keep in the ditch that had struck a tree and caught on fire. Bystanders were able to put out the fire, authorities say, and only a tire had been damaged by the flames. The Jeep sustained significant damage and the driver, a 36-year-old from Durand, had been trapped inside the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office. First responders determined he was already dead by the time they arrived. Authorities say a preliminary investigation shows the Jeep had been southbound on 960th Street when it appears to have had a mechanical failure, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle entered the ditch on the northbound lane of the road, partially rolled and struck a tree. Two minutes later, the Dunn County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to a head-on crash on state Highway 79 north of 790th Avenue in Sherman. Deputies arrived to find a 2015 Chevy Silverado in the southbound ditch and a 2006 Pontiac G6 in the northbound ditch. The driver of the Pontiac, a 36-year-old woman from Boyceville, had been entrapped in the vehicle and died, authorities say. The lone occupant of the pick-up truck was transported by helicopter to the hospital. His condition is unknown. Investigators believe the Pontiac had been traveling northbound on Highway 79 when it crossed the center line and hit the Chevy head-on. The two crashes occurred about 25 miles apart from each other. The identities of the deceased will be released after the families are notified.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Dunn County delay postpones Eau Claire child pornography proceeding
EAU CLAIRE — Developments in a local child pornography prosecution show how entanglements in other counties can affect proceedings. Branden Molinaro, 24, faces five counts of possession of child pornography, along with single counts of exposing a child to harmful material and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. Those charges are in Eau Claire County, where a hearing had been scheduled for Monday. But the court postponed the hearing at the request of the defense, which wanted the hearing delayed until after Molinaro's sentencing in another case in Dunn County. The catch? The Dunn County case was reactivated by the prosecution in Eau Claire County. In January 2023 Molinaro reached a deferred acceptance of guilty plea agreement involving charges of second degree sexual assault of a child and sexual intercourse with a child 16 or older when the offender is age 19 or older. He pleaded no contest to the latter charge in exchange for a deferred sentencing on the sexual assault charge. Under the agreement, Molinaro could have seen the charge expunged had he stayed out of trouble for three years. The Eau Claire County charges, filed slightly more than two years later, prompted prosecutors to ask the court to revoke Molinaro's release. Judge Luke Wagner agreed in March, sending Molinaro to the Dunn County Jail. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 24. The sexual assault charge is a Class C felony, which could carry a penalty of up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. That sentencing, in turn, could have an effect on the Eau Claire County case. Molinaro's attorney wants to see what the outcome is in Menomonie before the other case proceeds. She asked for a hearing 45-60 days after the sentencing. Court records show Judge John Manydeeds approved the request. So why, knowing the sentencing could affect the Eau Claire County case, was a hearing set for July? At the time of scheduling that fit the sentencing, which was originally scheduled for June 9. A May motion saw it pushed back by more than three months. The criminal complaint in the Eau Claire case says authorities got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about someone using Snapchat for child enticement and child pornography. Investigators linked the account to Molinaro, who they say posed as a teen when communicating with the victims. In one conversation he sent a photo of his genitals and received the reply 'WTF IM 13.' He responded with a claim he was 15. In all, investigators said they found more than 30 cases in which Molinaro sent pornographic images and videos to 'individuals who made comments stating they were under 18.' When investigators spoke to Molinaro, he immediately asserted his right to an attorney. He was subsequently arrested.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dunn County door-to-door bus service to start operations in June
MENOMONIE — A monthly bus service for rural residents in Dunn County is set to launch in June. The service, named Rural Doorstop, is being created through a collaboration between Dunn County Transit and the Dunn County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Dunn County Transit Commission Manager Austin Witt said this service is partially an extension of a door-to-door service they have with Menomonie residents. 'For out of town, there is a lot of Dunn County that the doorstop service was not able to cover,' he said. 'After feedback from several of our Dunn County board representatives, we are trying to figure out a way to get service to these rural zones.' The service is designed to meet riders who call ahead a day early at their door. This helps with ridership, as the service does not have to utilize resources when no riders are using it. Additionally, Witt said, 'The problem with the fixed route service is that a lot of times our riders need ADA accessible vehicles. They would still need to be driven and transported to a city center with an accessible vehicle. Doing a doorstop service like this, coming right to their door with our bus eliminates that need and creates better ridership.' Rural Doorstop operates by rotating between four zones in Dunn County and connecting with residents once-a-month on a Tuesday depending on your zone. The boundaries for the zones are divided by Highway 25 and I-94. Zone one, in the northeast corner of Dunn, will be picked up the first week of the month. The following week, Zone Two in the southeast corner would be picked up. Zone Three in the southwest quadrant would then receive transport the third week and Zone Four in the northwest quadrant would receive transport the fourth week. 'This takes care of a lot of that need,' Witt said. 'It is only one day a month in these areas, but it is a start. If ridership really flows on, we can definitely look at more dates.' The bus fare is expected to be $15 per ride, but rides will be free as the service starts in June. Riders would be picked up at 10-11 a.m. and taking return trips from Menomonie between 1-2 p.m., giving residents a chance to shop, attend medical appointments or whatever they need. 'Finding specialized transportation — ADA accessible vehicles — is hard enough for our in-town residents,' Witt said. 'We have 40 riders a day that take that service alone. It is even harder for our rural residents, even getting into town just once I think will be a huge step forward. 'The idea for this is to be continuous. We started this idea as kind of a pilot trial program, but there is no reason that it can't continue on with it being a service where if people call ahead the day before, we map out the route and we go into that zone.' Residents are asked to call a day ahead to schedule their ride. Seats can be reserved by contacting Dunn County Transit at 715-235-7433. For more information on Rural Doorstop, visit
