Sept. 20, 2026
VIROQUA, Wis. — From Emplify Health’s proposal for a new outpatient campus in Viroqua and Viroqua Area Schools outlining its $1.8 million operational referendum to Sheriff Roy Torgerson defending automated license plate surveillance and county public health officials responding to local measles cases, VernonReporter.Com highlighted a wide array of critical issues across Southwest Wisconsin over the past week. Our reporting captured the Driftless Area in motion, tracking revelations of half a million dollars in past county budget calculation errors, federal oversight demands regarding patient care at the Tomah VA, state regulatory milestones for the Vernon County Landfill expansion, and local community stewardship and educational initiatives. Here is a comprehensive look back at the news we brought you over the past week.
Tune into WPR’s September “Chapter a Day” in preparation for McIntosh’s Memorial Library’s Book Club
McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua invited area residents to tune into Wisconsin Public Radio’s daily “Chapter a Day” broadcasts throughout September to prepare for upcoming community book club discussions. The initiative offers local readers an accessible way to engage with selected literature and participate in shared literary conversations at the library.
New barn quilt unveiled at the Vernon County Fair
A colorful new barn quilt was officially unveiled at the Vernon County Fairgrounds, celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage and vibrant folk art traditions. The installation adds to Vernon County’s extensive barn quilt trail, highlighting the intersection of local history, art, and farming culture.
Couleecap becomes home energy assistance provider in Vernon County
Couleecap, Inc. has officially taken over as the administrative provider for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) in Vernon County. The non-profit agency is assisting income-eligible residents with heating and electric bill support, furnace repairs, and emergency energy crisis intervention as winter approaches.
Incident near Westby Schools causes temporary lockdown
An off-campus law enforcement incident near the Westby Area Schools campus prompted school administrators to place district facilities on a temporary precautionary lockdown. Local law enforcement quickly resolved the situation off site, allowing normal school operations to resume safely with no direct threat to students or staff.
Vernon County Over 50 offers a class to reduce senior falls
The non-profit advocacy group Vernon County Over 50 is offering “Stepping On,” a free, seven-week evidence-based fall prevention program at the Bethel Home Day Room in Viroqua. The course teaches strength, balance exercises, and hazard identification strategies, which have been proven to reduce falls among older adults by 31 percent.
Left to right front row: Ryan Kocian VT, Alycann Taylor VT, Steve Thompson (VFW), Troy McKay (VT) – Vernon Trails photo
VFW and Vernon Trails announce two-year partnership to keep VFW property open to the community
Viroqua VFW Post 3032 and local recreation advocacy group Vernon Trails announced a two-year collaborative agreement to keep 40 acres of VFW-owned land open for public trail access. The partnership allows community members to continue enjoying hiking and outdoor recreation while local stakeholders explore long-term conservation and preservation options for the historic property.
Vernon County Finance Committee gets blunt report about budget errors, 2027 budget hole
Administrative Coordinator Nate Torres and Finance Director Annie Lockyer delivered a sobering financial update to the Vernon County Finance Committee, revealing that over $500,000 in clerical and calculation errors were discovered in 2026 budget worksheets. The mistakes included omitted capital expenses for the county’s new emergency storage building and double-counted revenues across several operating departments, creating an unbudgeted baseline deficit.
Combined with departmental funding requests, the preliminary draft 2027 budget sits $1.262 million over the state levy limit. To resolve inherited accounting discrepancies and ensure accurate fund balances as the county transitions away from a legacy 1980s computer system to Tyler Technologies software, the committee voted to engage the forensic accounting firm Johnson & Block.
Vernon County Landfill expansion clears key state hurdle as public comment deadline approaches
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued an official letter of completeness for Vernon County’s feasibility report regarding its proposed 15-year Eastern Expansion of the county landfill on LF Road. The determination opens a mandatory 30-day public comment period ending Sept. 25, during which residents and local municipalities can submit feedback or request a public hearing.
The proposed 15-acre expansion plan would enlarge the existing landfill footprint horizontally and vertically, adding approximately 427,355 cubic yards of capacity to secure long-term waste disposal for county residents.
Vernon County Health Department confirms two cases of measles, urges precautions and vaccination
The Vernon County Health Department confirmed two local cases of measles, prompting public health officials to urge residents to review their immunization records. The local cases follow a broader regional outbreak in neighboring southwest Wisconsin counties that has infected dozens of unvaccinated individuals.
To counter persistent local vaccine hesitancy, the Vernon County Board of Supervisors approved accepting a $2,400 state mini-grant to launch a targeted public education campaign, including countywide billboards and clinic educational materials encouraging conversations with healthcare providers.
Dairyland Power employees take on environmental stewardship project at Old Settler’s Overlook
Volunteers and employees from Dairyland Power Cooperative gathered at Old Settler’s Overlook along the Mississippi River for a hands-on environmental stewardship event. The cleanup and habitat restoration project aimed to preserve scenic natural areas and enhance public recreational spaces along the river corridor.
Emplify Health explores new outpatient campus in Viroqua Business Park following healthcare split
Representatives from Emplify Health presented preliminary plans to the Viroqua Common Council outlining a proposed 80,000-square-foot outpatient medical campus in the Viroqua Business Park. The proposal follows the decision by Vernon Health’s board to remain independent rather than enter a full merger with Emplify.
The conceptual campus is designed to accommodate roughly 50,000 patient visits annually and could house primary care, laboratory services, imaging, urgent care, and outpatient surgery suites, with development discussions currently referred to the joint Viroqua Business Park Commission.
Sen. Baldwin demands federal probe of Tomah VA Center over patient neglect claims
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin sent a formal letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins requesting an immediate federal investigation and an independent probe by the VA Office of the Inspector General into the Tomah VA Medical Center. The demand follows confidential disclosures from facility employees alleging severe patient care lapses, including medication delays, choking incidents, pressure injuries, and falls.
Baldwin’s request also cited recent criminal charges filed against a former Tomah VA nurse accused of felony patient abuse for intentionally withholding oxygen from a hospice patient who later died.
Sheriff Torgerson defends use of Flock cameras in Vernon County
Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson delivered a detailed defense of his department’s four automated license plate reader (ALPR) Flock cameras during a presentation to the Vernon County Board of Supervisors. Addressing public privacy concerns and contract cancellations in other Wisconsin communities, Torgerson emphasized that the cameras are strictly reserved for investigating major crimes, missing persons, and Amber or Silver Alerts rather than minor traffic stops.
Torgerson explained that deputies are required to enter a specific case justification for every database query, which is subject to supervisor auditing, while board members discussed vendor contract language and data privacy guardrails.
Vernon County community development director answers criticisms of Driftless Bound workforce recruitment initiative
Vernon County Community Development Director Amy Oliver addressed county supervisors to clarify the structure of ‘Driftless Bound,’ a workforce recruitment program offering up to $12,500 in relocation incentives to out-of-state workers moving to Vernon County. Responding to social media pushback questioning why resources were targeted toward newcomers, Oliver explained that the $100,000 grant from the state is legally restricted to worker recruitment and cannot be repurposed for existing residents.
Oliver stressed that attracting working households helps fill severe local job vacancies, boosts school enrollment, and strengthens the tax base, functioning alongside the county’s existing grant and loan programs for local businesses.
Viroqua Area Schools outline referendum needs at public information meeting
District Administrator Dr. Jeremy Hill and Business Director Chris Rozeske hosted a public information session detailing the Viroqua Area School District’s proposed four-year, $1.8 million annual non-recurring operational referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. The funding request replaces an expiring $1.3 million referendum and provides an additional $500,000 annually to address structural operating deficits, protect academic programs, and fund minor facility maintenance.
School leaders noted that flat state funding formulas and rising voucher payments—which will exceed $1.2 million locally this year—force public school districts across Wisconsin to rely on local operational referendums to maintain basic operations.
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