Feb. 19, 2026
STODDARD, Wis. — Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports that just before 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received multiple calls reporting that two people on an all‑terrain vehicle had gone through the ice on the Mississippi River near the Stoddard Boat Landing.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived and determined that both individuals — James D. Borski, 64, and Scott J. Borski, 62, both of Wisconsin Rapids — had made it safely to shore. Members of the Stoddard Bergen Fire Department and Tri‑State Ambulance/Gundersen Ambulance evaluated them at the scene. They were wet and cold but did not require hospital transport.
Fire and rescue personnel responded prepared for a water rescue, though one was ultimately not needed. A member of Genoa‑Harmony Fire & Rescue also assisted, and a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper in the area offered support.
The ATV owner made independent arrangements to have the machine removed from the water.
“Our community is truly blessed by the dedication of our first responders, and today was no exception,” Torgerson said. “These folks spend time away from their families to faithfully serve the community. I am so thankful that our rescuers train so diligently and come prepared for whatever emergency they face.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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