News

Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports on Saturday morning, July 19, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified of a motorcycle crash on State Highway 33, in Wildcat Mountain State Park, rural Ontario, WI, in the Town of Whitestown. Patrick John Madigan, age 63, of Vadnais Heights, MN, was operating a 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle, traveling south, attempting to turn left into the main park entrance.  The operator lost control, and the motorcycle overturned.

The operator and a passenger, Barbara Jean Madigan, age 60, also of Vadnais Heights, MN were injured. Both were transported to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital (Emplify), one by Ontario Ambulance and the other by La Farge Area Ambulance.  Both were wearing helmets and protective clothing.

Assisting the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Police, Ontario Fire Department, Ontario Ambulance, and LaFarge Area Ambulance.

The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger announced today
that Shane Slater, 48, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Monroe County Circuit Court
Judge Mark Goodman for homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. After Slater’s
release from prison, he will be supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for
an additional 10 years.
The conviction and sentence are in connection with a 2024 wrong-way crash on
Interstate 90 near Tomah. On September 16, 2024, at approximately 10:10 P.M., Slater
drove westbound in the eastbound lanes before he crashed head-on with a vehicle driven
by a 32-year-old man, killing the man at the crash scene. Slater’s alcohol concentration
was 0.228 g/100 mL, nearly three times the legal limit. Driving records indicated Slater was
previously convicted of three drunk driving offenses.
Monroe County Chief Assistant District Attorney Sarah Skiles, who handled the case
for the prosecution, praised the sentence, “We are grateful for Judge Goodman’s sentence.
It recognizes the immense loss the victim’s family deals with everyday because of Shane
Slater’s selfish choices to drink and drive. This sentence also protects our community from
Slater, a repeat drunk driver, for the next 20 years.”
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin State Patrol with on-scene assistance
from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Skiles noted, “”This sentence would not have been
possible without the work of the men and women of the Wisconsin State Patrol who all too
often witness the devastating consequences of drunk driving firsthand. Their work directly
led to our community being safer for the next two decades. They should be commended
for that.”

Area law enforcement, fire departments and emergency services staff throughout Monroe County will continue a 22- year tradition when the 2025 edition of National Night Out takes place Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Winnebago Park in Tomah.

More than thirty not-for-profit organizations will have various exhibits, information booths and displays in Tomah.

Food and refreshment sales will be available, and there will be children’s activities, including a bounce house provided by Tomah Health.

The Tomah Police Department’s Bike Safety Expo will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the door prize drawing to follow (must be present to win).

An informational Mock Crash is schedule at 6:30 p.m.

New this year, Tomah Health Women’s Health staff will provide complimentary car seat safety checks in the Tomah High School parking lot. Look for the Tomah Health pop up tent.

Officials ask residents to park in the Tomah High School parking lot along Butts Avenue and walk to Winnebago Park.  Introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out is a nonprofit crime prevention event that puts the spotlight on crime while building relationships that create safe communities.

Juneau County will also host a national night out that same day from 4-8pm at Lions Park on Harvey Street in Necedah.