State News

7/20    A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to speak with a cyclist regarding a dark colored SUV that had driven unnecessarily close to a group of cyclists traveling on County Road SS.  The incident was captured on a cyclist’s taillight video camera. Investigation is ongoing.

7/21    A sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on US Highway 14 in the Town of Franklin after radar indicated a vehicle was traveling at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver was cited for speeding.

7/21    Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Hillsboro Police Department responded to a residence on Pine Avenue in the City of Hillsboro after receiving a report of child abuse. The child was evaluated by EMS at the scene and released. The suspect was processed for Child Abuse-Recklessly Cause Harm, Strangulation and Suffocation, and Criminal Damage to Property and transported to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

7/22    A minor two-vehicle crash was reported to have occurred on County Road P in the Town of Clinton. Both vehicles were able to drive from the scene and reported no injuries.

7/22    Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received report of a horse with a halter running loose near the 5600 block of State Highway 82 in the Town of Franklin. The owner was located and the horse was returned.

7/22    A traffic stop was initiated in the 3300 block of State Highway 56 in the Town of Harmony for a vehicle traveling 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver was cited for speeding.

7/24    Theft of a package delivered to a residence on East Main Street in the Village of La Farge was reported. Investigation is ongoing.

7/25    Deputies responded to a residence in the Town of Sterling after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance.  The incident did not rise to the level requiring an arrest and the persons were separated. 

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM 

7/13     Deputies responded to a call regarding the report of a passenger in a vehicle

pointing a gun at a motorist on US Highway 14 near Three Chimney Road.  The vehicle was

stopped, and the driver and passenger were issued citations for Disorderly Conduct.

7/14    Dispatch received a call about suspicious activity in the Town of Sterling.  The caller stated a person drove up to their shed and then took off.  The caller identified the person as a male with medium build wearing a black hat that covered most of his face.  It was reported others in the area have also noticed a male walking around.  A deputy responded and checked out the area but did not locate anyone suspicious.

7/15    A deputy responded to a call regarding an individual sleeping in a driveway on South Creek Road in the Town of Genoa.  The individual was located walking with her dogs a short time later.  She was provided with a ride back to her residence.

7/16    A downed tree blocked both lanes of traffic on County Road F in the Town of Forest.  Highway Department personnel were called, and the tree was removed from the roadway.

7/17    The sheriff’s office received a call about unauthorized entry into an unlocked home in the Town of Viroqua.  The owner stated they had been away from home most of the day and when they returned about five hundred dollars missing from inside the residence. The call remains under active investigation and anyone with information, or whom may have experienced a similar situation are urged to call the Sheriff’s Office or Crimestoppers.

7/18    Dispatch was notified of a vehicle that was swerving into oncoming traffic heading northbound out of Soldiers Grove. A deputy located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near on West Kickapoo Street in the Town of Kickapoo and the driver also received a warning for Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign.

7/19    A deputy was sent to speak with campers at Blackhawk Park after report of a disturbance there. The campers were notified of quiet hours within the campground and apologized.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM 

SHERIFF ROY TORGERSON REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ONGOING ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR AND NARRATIVE EXCERPTS FROM THE WEEK ENDING JULY 12, 2025.

7/6       Dispatch received an automated crash detection notification from a cell phone but was unable to make voice contact with anyone. A deputy went to the location and found a cell phone in the road. The owner was contacted to retrieve their phone.

7/6       Deputies responded to County Road O in the Town of Harmony for a motorcycle versus deer crash. The operator, Justin Lange, Friendship, WI was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries. The motorcycle was later towed from the scene.

7/6       A vehicle came to rest at the bottom of an embankment on Old Highway 14 in the Town of Viroqua after technical difficulties with power steering. The driver and sole occupant reported no injuries and had a family member pull the vehicle out.

7/7       A sheriff’s deputy and a Westby Police officer responded to Main St in the City of Westby for a burglar alarm. The building was found secure and it was determined to be a false alarm.

7/7       A deputy responded to County Road F near Kraemer Road in the Town of Hillsboro after a vehicle struck a deer. The driver, Aiden Lemmons, Richland Center, reported no injuries. The deer was injured and dispatched.

7/9       A traffic stop was initiated and a speeding citation was issued to the driver of a vehicle found operating at 76 mph in a 55 mph zone on US Highway 14 in the Town of Franklin.

7/10    A deputy initiated a traffic stop in the 2100 block of State Highway 35 in the Town of Bergen. The driver received a citation for speeding 79 mph in a 55 mph zone.

7/10    A sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop and officers with the Viroqua Police Department also responded to the scene at Chicago Avenue in the City of Viroqua. During the stop a K9 was deployed and gave a positive indication on the vehicle. A male party was processed for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and transported to the Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

7/11     Deputies initiated a traffic stop on State Highway 35 in the Village of Stoddard after fireworks were seen being thrown from the window of a vehicle.

7/12    A driver encountered a male laying on the side of the road on US Highway 14 near the 10-Mile Hill. The driver transported the male to a business in Coon Valley where they were met by sheriff’s deputies and officers from Coon Valley Police. It was later determined that the male had removed an ankle monitor so a probation hold was placed. The male was evaluated at a local hospital and then transported to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM 

Madison – During a State Assembly floor session that commenced Wednesday, Representative Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah) voted to support the Legislature’s 2025-2026 biennial budget and released the following statement:

“I was happy to again support a responsible, two-year fiscal plan that funds state governmental obligations and prioritizes areas of importance for residents of the 70^th Assembly District. Furthermore, I was happy to support a biennial budget that doesn’t dramatically grow state government and exorbitantly raise taxes and fees on hard-working individuals and families throughout the state as the governor and Legislative Democrats would prefer to do.

“I stated earlier this year that I looked forward to working with my colleagues to once again deliver a responsible budget for taxpayers throughout our state that promotes taxpayers keeping more of their own money, invests in infrastructure, prioritizes public safety, increases access to health care, and more, and this budget does that. There’s a lot to like for a number of my friends and neighbors in the West Central part of the state, namely, a middle-class tax cut, retirement income tax exclusion and prioritizing our rural economy and infrastructure with $150 million invested in the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) with $30 million targeted to bridge and culvert repair.”

As passed by the Joint Committee on Finance, the retirement income tax exclusion for filers at least 67 years of age is applicable on the first $24,000 of retirement income for individuals and $48,000 for married-joint filers.