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• DNR seeks public input about upgrades at Ellsworth bio-solids facility
• Only one serious accident during weekend's Flood Run
• Fire that claimed three UW-Stout students ruled accidental

Managers at the West Central Wisconsin Bio-solids Facility at Ellsworth are awaiting approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to replace and upgrade their treatment system.

DNR officials would like public input on the upgrades before they make a decision on the plan. May 2 is the deadline for public comments.

The facility processes liquid municipal sludge for 23 municipalities and the upgrade will increase user costs by 3 to 5 percent, according to the DNR.

Officials say that the bio-solids facility will likely use replacement fund monies to help pay for the modifications and the upgrade is expected to cost $954,100.

The end-product of the processing is class A bio-solid, which officials say has many beneficial land-spreading and soil treatment uses.

Proposals include replacing the existing CementTech sludge processing equipment with a new Schwing-Bioset system. Both of these systems use a lime-stabilization process that produces a class A bio-solid.

Comments about the upgrade can b may be mailed to Scott Boran, DNR, Box 7921, Madison, Wis., 53707; or call him at 608-266-7385.

Only one serious motorcycle accident was reported during this weekend's 43rd Annual Flood Run around Lake Pepin.

The accident occurred at around 3 p.m. Saturday on Highway 35 just north of Stockholm, according to a Wisconsin State Patrol spokesman.

A motorcycle driven by Richard Sprandel, 59, Walker, Minn., left the roadway and then hit the guardrail, sending Sprandel down the embankment.

According to an official with the Plum City-Maiden Rock Ambulance Service, Sprandel was airlifted by Mayo One to a hospital in Eau Claire.

Sprandel's condition is not known as it is the policy of both Sacred Heart Hospital and Luther Hospital not to report on a patient's condition.

However, a State Patrol spokesperson said that he had talked with a state patrol official on Monday morning.

The accident remains under investigation.

There were several minor accidents in Pierce County, according to Sheriff Nancy Howe of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

"Most of them weren't even big enough for us to do a report on," said Howe.

She did note that there were three accidents that did have reports on them, but none involved injuries.

Howe said that participation in this year's Flood Run was less than last year.

"It was very quiet, only about one-third of the people from last year," she said. "I think the wet weather had a lot to do with it."

The April 5 fire that claimed the lives of three University of Wisconsin-Stout students in Menomonie has been ruled accidental by authorities.

The fire took place in a two-story structure at 1415 8th St. E. and was called in at around 3:30 a.m.

Scott Hams, 23, Hayward; April Englund, 21, West St. Paul, Minn.; and Amanda Rief, 20, Chaska, Minn., all died in the fire.

An investigation of the fire was conducted by the Menomonie Police and Fire Departments along with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation - Arson Bureau.

Their investigation found that the fire originated in the living room area, primarily related to a love seat.

However, investigators were not able to discover what caused the fire to start.

Officials did discover used cigarettes in the living room area, but are not sure if they had a role in starting the blaze.

The Menomonie Police Department conducted numerous interviews to re-create the activities prior to the fire.

The Dunn County Medical Examiner's Office has determined that the three individuals died as a result of smoke inhalation.

Preliminary information shows that all three had been consuming alcoholic beverages.

Officials say that final blood alcohol levels are pending tests results from the State Hygiene Lab and caution that it has not yet been determined what role alcohol had in the victims' deaths.