Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to the report of a large outdoor fire originally reported near 5840 Highway 60, on Monday, May 4 at 12:47 p.m. Hartford units were updated by dispatch that the fire’s location was closer to or behind 6000 Hwy 60 at the Hartford Conservation and Gun Club, which the Hartford Police Department also located. The first arriving incident commander found a large grass fire that was being lit and tended to by a person at the Gun Club property. Upon further assessment, there were fires located adjacent to and downwind of the current controlled burn fire area. Dispatch was able to confirm that the fire had been reported to their online controlled burn log, but that information was not immediately available at the time of the fire department activation and deployment.

The following apparatus was deployed from Hartford Fire & Rescue to begin
extinguishment efforts: two brush trucks, an off-road UTV, three fire engines, two water
tenders, two ambulances, two SUV’s for personnel movement, and the incident command post. Under direction of the incident commander, a coordinated fire attack deployed the initial brush units to operate off-road and begin extinguishing the fires. Due to the very high wind conditions pushing burning embers through the air and landing in other dry areas from very low relative humidity (RH) at the time of the fire, crews needed further assistance from surrounding fire departments, which was requested through the MABAS system at the Working Still level. Spreading fires were also located by crews behind UFP Packaging at the extreme North end of Franklin Drive, just South of the railroad tracks. An additional growing fire was also found to be just North of the railroad tracks and spreading toward Hilldale Drive. The growing locations of the fires required three different operational areas and multiple types of resources. Additional assistance was requested to the 1st Box level to ensure enough personnel and apparatus were on scene to handle the growing fire areas.
Fire burning in a heavily wooded area with a large amount of dead trees, along with the high wind conditions, created serious hazards as tree branches and tree tops were snapping off and falling to the ground. This prevented ground crews from safely advancing in and extinguishing all of the fire that was burning at the base of an up the trees. Marsh area in and around the wooded area prevented any heavy apparatus from being able to drive any closer to the fire. Brush truck crews and UTV crews worked quickly and carefully to extinguish any fire they could reach, with tenders supplying water to refill their tanks. 

No citizens or fire or EMS personnel were injured during this incident.

Assistance was provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with dispatch services and Deputies for traffic control, and Hartford Police Department with law enforcement assistance. Mutual Aid assistance was provided by St. Lawrence Fire Company, Slinger Fire Department, Neosho Fire Department, Allenton Volunteer Fire Department, Richfield Fire Department, Iron Ridge Fire Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Jackson Fire Department who provided an engine at change of quarters, Lifestar EMS who provided an ambulance and responded to the simultaneous EMS call, and Germantown Fire Department who provided an ambulance at change of quarters to cover Hartford’s EMS service area while Lifestar was on assignment. Hartford Water Utility assured that there were no water supply concerns.

The Village of Slinger has a lot going on and a lot to look forward to in the future.

2025 continued to see new businesses open. 

This year, it will be even more exciting with the expected completion of the new police station, which will then allow them to begin the remodeling of the library and Slinger Village Hall. Additionally, construction of the new "Reiser Center," which will be a public gathering space bridging the two buildings and funded by private donations.

When completed in 2027, their reimagined Village Campus will be the place to go to meet, share and learn.

Village of Slinger President Scott Stortz told WTKM about some of the growth.

"We are happy with the growth, our population is just shy of six thousand seven hundred and our residential growth has increased by more than twenty-six percent in the last ten years. Percentage wise, the Village of Slinger continues to be the fastest growing community in Washington County. Our net new construction last year was healthy and manageable." 

The Slinger Village Board approved an architectural design agreement with Plunkett Raysich Architects, setting plans in motion to remodel the existing Village Hall and Library buildings. These updates will include construction of the new Slinger Center. When complete, the Slinger Library and Village Hall will be connected through the Slinger Center which will feature flexible space with rooms for everything from civic events and business meetings to community programs.   

More pancakes please!

It's a popular request every year at the Dodge County Dairy Promotion Committee's Dairy Brunch. And there will be enough for everyone on Sunday, June 7 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. Brunch will be served from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dodge County Dairy Ambassador Brenda Conley told WTKM that all of the funds raised from the brunch stay in Dodge County.

"It's a big fundraiser for us and all of the funds from this stay in the community. It goes for dairy promotion, my Dairy Ambassador Program where we teach the public, especially the youth in the classrooms. It also goes to organizations that need it and the committee's annual scholarship program."

The Dodge County Dairy Promotion Committee also is a big supporter of 4-H.

The menu includes scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, pancakes, cheese curds and assorted cheeses. Ice cream, milk and juice will also be served.

A community church service will begin at 8:30 a.m. and everyone is welcome. Educational booths in the Dairy Youth Barn will provide the opportunity to learn about dairy farming and other areas of agriculture. The Cheese Pairing Tent is back by popular demand along with local vendors from Dodge County.   

Tickets are sold at the door, with a $10 charge for adults and $5 for children ages five to 11. Children ages four and under are free. 

The City of Hartford's Avenue of Flags is sacred. It's also a beautiful sight.

This solemn, patriotic display features 100 casket flags, each honoring a specific veteran. The row of flags are on display at Sawyer Park, 111 Branch Street, from sunrise to sunset for national holidays and special events.   

The Avenue of Flags was added to the park in 2017, when the VFW Post 8834 had holes installed along the pathways with the addition of flag poles. Hoisting the flag is a meaningful moment, conducted by members of the VFW, American Legion, United Vietnam Veterans and volunteers. Each flag has a veteran’s name embroidered, and the war they fought in. 

Hartford's VFW Post 8834 and Avenue of Flags Chairman Ron Schnorenberg told WTKM that the Avenue of Flags is growing.

"We are now up to one hundred and ten. The families of loved ones give us the flags and we embroider their name on it, what branch they had and what war they were involved with. We just ran out of room, so we were able to invest some money in it to expand it. It means a lot to many people."

The flags are scheduled to be raised on Friday, May 15 in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day dedicated to honoring law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The Avenue of Flags will also fly proudly on Saturday, May 16 for National Armed Forces Day which honors all personnel currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.

The 75th annual National Day of Prayer will be observed on Thursday, May 7.

The theme is “Glorify God Among the Nations - Seeking Him in All Generations,” based on 1 Chronicles 16:24. Millions are expected to gather nationwide for prayer, coinciding with the U.S.A.'s 250th anniversary celebrations.

WTKM's National Day of Prayer program is Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m.

Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church, in Hartford says days of prayer have been called for since 1952.

"Throughout the years, days of prayer for our country have been called for. In 1952, the National Day of Prayer was established by an act of Congress. Since then, every president has proclaimed a National Day of Prayer." 

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance designated by the United States Congress. People are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation.    

Participants pray for the nation, families, schools, and leaders.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources asks the public to check fire conditions. So far this year, 283 wildfires have burned 704 acres of land.

Spring is the most critical fire season in Wisconsin, and warm, windy weather can allow fires to easily escape control. Even a few days between precipitation can dry out grasses, pine needles and leaf litter, creating hazardous conditions.

A high temperature of 77 degrees on Monday, May 4 with strong winds and dry air could result in elevated fire concerns. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Clouds will increase in the afternoon with showers possible. Warm temperatures, low relative humidities and breezy winds will combine to make for elevated fire weather conditions on Monday. 

The Hartford Fire and Rescue Department reminds residents to use caution if grilling, or using equipment that causes sparks.  

Officers with the Germantown Police Department conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of suspected drug paraphernalia, suspected controlled substances, including cocaine and fentanyl.

Offices initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near County Line Road and Falls Parkway due to the vehicle not having any visible registration plate displayed. During the traffic stop, officers identified the driver as a 31-year old man from Sullivan, and a passenger as a 37-year old woman from Milwaukee.

During the investigation, a police K9 conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics inside, including cocaine and fentanyl, according to the Germantown Police Department.

While searching the vehicle, a Germantown police officer was exposed to a substance suspected of being fentanyl. The officer began experiencing adverse side-effects resulting in the officer being administered Narcan. The officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment and has since been released and has returned to duty.

The 31-year old man faces multiple charges, including felony possession of narcotic drugs, several counts of felony bail jumping, and additional drug related offenses.

This case has been referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation safety and pavement improvement project for the interchange at Highway 60 and I-41 continues in Slinger.

A $6.8 million safety improvement project was approved by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers at the I-41 and Highway 60 interchange in Washington County.

The planned improvements include:

- Reconstructing the Highway 60 on-ramp to I-41 southbound to address merging conflicts.

- Widen and realign the right turn lanes at the I-41 southbound off-ramp to improve visibility.

- Addition of traffic signals at the southbound ramp terminal and extension of the westbound Highway 60 left turn lane.

- Partial deck removal

- Pavement resurfacing, new pavement markings and signage.

This project will require a combination of long-term and overnight closures along Highway 60 and the on and off-ramps to and from I-41. Detours will be posted. Single lane closures on I-41 will be limited to off-peak hours for bridge improvements.

Access to local businesses and residences will be maintained.

Work is scheduled for completion this fall.

The fourth annual Wine Walk in downtown Hartford is Saturday, May 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Hartford Business Improvement District joins the Hartford Rotary Club for a chance to visit 20 local businesses and sample wines and snacks. You can enter to win valuable prizes.

The theme is country hoedown, so dress in your best western attire. 

"This is a great event," said Hartford Business Improvement District President Jason Wix. "It's great to visit and support the businesses, you see friends and family. It's fun and there is a map with all of the participating businesses on it. All of the proceeds stay in the community." 

Tickets are available at Infinity Design and The Local Collective, or online at hartfordrotary-wi.org.   

It's a special weekend with the Hartford Community Chorus.

"We Lift Our Voice" Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America. 

"I kiddingly say that the audience will leave feeling red, white and blue," Hartford Community Chorus' Artistic Director Mark Weller teased.

The patriotic performances will include dedications to those who have served in preserving and maintaining our country's freedom. The "Unsung Hero" will be performed, recognizing the POW-MIA, American prisoners of war and missing personnel, featuring the slogan "You Are Not Forgotten." 

Weller told WTKM that an American Flag folding ceremony will be conducted, with the 13-fold procedure.

"We will have one person telling what each fold means. Then I'm going to have those people in the audience who have family members who have died in combat, in service to come forward from their chairs to stand in front of the stage. The folded flag will be presented to them as we sing the song, "Folded Flag." 

The performances include Saturday, May 2 at Holy Hill beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 at the Schauer Arts Center, in Hartford at 3 p.m.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a 911 call on Thursday, April 30 at 5:40 p.m. regarding a vehicle that ended up in a ditch and overturned on County Trunk M, in Farmington. The caller and additional bystanders made their way to the car and found the driver unresponsive. The Newburg Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene.

The driver was extricated from the vehicle and additional life saving efforts were attempted with the assistance of the West Bend Fire Department. The driver, a male in his 70’s from Trenton, was declared deceased at the scene.

The initial investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling southbound on Cty Tk M when it went onto the southbound shoulder and then across the northbound lane and into the east ditch.

The Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team responded to complete further scene documentation, and the investigation is still open.

A portion of Cty Tk M was closed for three hours. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026  on April 30, with a 224-200 vote, reauthorizing agricultural programs through 2031, according to Congress.gov. It's 800 pages long, $390 billion deep with 12 different titles. 

The bill proposes a $60 billion increase in farm subsidies while implementing roughly $187 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), alongside new regulations for industrial hemp.

The Farm Bill boosts funding for risk management tools, crop insurance, and farm subsidies. Implements significant cuts to SNAP, including changes to benefits and stricter eligibility, while allowing recipients to purchase hot, prepared foods. Reauthorizes voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs and introduces a state soil health program. 

The bill must still be reconciled with the Senate's version before becoming law.