The Broadsheet
Headlines from the Barron News-Shield May 6, 2026 edition, plus some extra, newsy recommendations from the editor.
Headlines
A driver was killed in a collision between an SUV and a commercial farm field sprayer Tuesday afternoon in the Village of Cameron. According to the Cameron Police Department, the Barron County Dispatch Center received an automated crash detection notification at approximately 3:58 p.m. on May 5, at the intersection of Hwys. 8 and SS south on the south side of the village. The crash remains under investigation. Officials have not released the name of the deceased pending notification of next of kin.
Two people were hospitalized Saturday morning, May 2, after an apparent carbon monoxide exposure at a residence north of Rice Lake, according to the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the home at approximately 10:45 a.m., along with the Rice Lake Fire Department and the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. Responders located two individuals inside the residence, both suffering from symptoms consistent with poisoning.
A major methamphetamine distribution operation was allegedly discovered Monday afternoon, May 4, 2026, when a large number of squad cars and Barron County Sheriff’s department personnel executed a search warrant at the Canoe Villa mobile home park in rural Cameron. An eight-page complaint filed Monday, May 4, 2026, in Barron County Circuit Court, identifies four defendants who were arrested in connection with the case, including Justin W. Godfrey, 51, a Canoe Villa resident, Shelby J. Hegna, 32, town of Sumner, Daniel W. Thompson, 41, rural Chetek, and Lillionna S. Wickware, 26, of Rice Lake.
Continued complaints about misuse of Barron County’s public gun ranges has county officials considering further restrictions. Reduced open hours, higher fines, residency restrictions, more cameras, costly sound-proofing upgrades, fees and even outright closure are all on the table. Neighbors of both ranges have complained in recent years of increasing use and noise from high-caliber ammunition and Tannerite. County officials indicated that the ranges were established with the intent of being places for hunters to sight in their rifles, not to be used as shooting galleries.
Schuman Cheese-Lake Country Dairy is celebrating a major milestone for longtime team member Justin Willcox, who has earned the distinguished title of Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker® for Parmesan and Romano, as well as the company’s success at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest. Overall, the Turtle Lake facility earned three prestigious medals, including a first place finish for its Cello Extra Aged Asiago, and second place finishes for its Cello Asiago and Cello Madagascar Vanilla Mascarpone.
IN THE NEWS: At a meeting this morning of the Barron County Executive Committee the primary topic of discussion was the burden of open records requests, particularly on the sheriff’s department—look for an article on that next week. For this week, check out the latest installment of Your Right To Know, where Tom Kamenick offers some perspective on How to solve high record costs and long delays.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.
—Ryan Urban