Western Wisconsin Roundup: Four-year-old child dies in snow-plow accident in Star Prairie

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A four-year-old child was killed yesterday in a snow-plowing accident in far western Wisconsin. Saint Croix County sheriff’s deputies said a relative was apparently moving snow with a pick-up truck, when the vehicle struck the youngster. The child died later at a hospital in New Richmond. The incident was reported just before noon yesterday in the town of Star Prairie. Other details were not immediately released, as deputies continue to investigate. Until now, no deaths had been reported in Wisconsin as the direct result of the snowstorm from Sunday and early Monday. The region where the snow-plowing mishap occurred had 12-to-16 inches of snow – the most in the Badger State.

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There are bell-ringers – and then there are hard-core bell-ringers like Derek Gilbert and Jeremy Lilyquist. They’re manning the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles for a 30-hour marathon outside the County Market grocery store in Hudson. They started at three yesterday afternoon, and they plan to keep going until nine tonight. Last year, the pair raised 37-thousand-dollars – and they hope to get at least that much this time. Linda Lewis is also joining the effort with a 30-hour stint at the Walmart in nearby New Richmond. The wind-chill factor was 11 degrees in New Richmond at seven this morning – but Lilyquist says it warms his heart to see people giving to help others. Helen McCombie ran a similar Red Kettle marathon for several years – and Gilbert and Lilyquist decided to carry on tradition. Salvation Army officials say they’re extremely grateful. The funds provide emergency help for those in need – including utility payments, transportation, and medicines.

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Just because there’s snow on the ground does not mean it’s cold enough to go on the ice. That’s what officials in Eau Claire County said, after a man fell into an icy pond and died. Sheriff’s officials were called to a farm near Augusta around seven last night. Relatives said the man was missing – and he may have fallen on thin ice on a pond behind the farm. Rescuers found the man in the pond about an hour later – and he died a short time after that. Sheriff’s officials said the victim was from a large Amish family, and was apparently in his 50’s. His name was not immediately released.

Tags: news, wisconsin, accidents