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The Elmwood Wolf Pack turned out in full force for Friday’s Homecoming parade through downtown. Students (per class) made signs cheering the Wolves on against their Homecoming foe, the Glenwood City Hilltoppers. The littlest Wolves could be heard howling as they walked down Main Street, waving at parents and family members who gathered to cheer them on.

GALLERY:

Elmwood students took to the streets (with some howling involved) to rally the community for Homecoming 2026 festivities on Friday, Sept. 25. 

Mayo Clinic Health System announces 2026 Impact Grant opportunity

LA CROSSE ― Mayo Clinic Health System is accepting applications for its 2026 Impact Grant program, which provides competitive funding to support initiatives that address community and social …

Former Plum City principal celebrates 70 years as vowed religious

A former Plum City principal is celebrating her diamond jubilee with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), marking 70 years of service as a vowed religious. Sister Dorothy …

St. Croix EDC opens nominations for 2026 Business of the Year Awards

ST. CROIX COUNTY – St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Business of the Year Awards, honoring local businesses and organizations that have …

EFD responds to Recycling Center fire

Ellsworth Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a commercial structure fire at 1:02 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Pierce County Recycling Center (707 N. Maple St.) Staff evacuated the …
Government

City exploring increase to permitted driveway width

RIVER FALLS — The first reading of an ordinance change that would change the maximum driveway width at the right-of-way line in R-1 zoned districts from 25 feet to 30 feet was heard by the River …
Crime

RF man charged with child porn possession

Roman Serbesku
A man found living in the woods in River Falls is accused of possessing hundreds of child pornography images on a cell phone. Roman James Serbesku, 35, homeless, River Falls, was ordered to pay …
Local sports

Around the County: Golf conference meets, cross country team title steal the show

Girls Golf Prescott won the Middle Border Conference title and Ellsworth finished fourth of eight at the conference championship meet in Amery. Seniors Layla Salay and Macy Reiter of Prescott …

First Vino in the Valley cross country meet a hit

Pierce County’s rolling hills and valleys offer a lot, but new to the mix is a middle school cross country meet hosted by Vino in the Valley. The inaugural Tuscan 2 miler welcomed Elmwood/Plum …

Eight seniors paving the way for Ellsworth tennis’ smashing results

ELLSWORTH — The end of the season has arrived, and the Ellsworth girls tennis team is preparing for battle in the Middle Border Conference Tournament and beyond. Thursday marked a special day, …

Shots From the Hip: Dix rewrites XC record book

Congratulations to Chad Salay and the Prescott girls golf team on winning their seventh consecutive Middle Border Conference Championship last week with an impressive 31 shot victory over …

Prescott wins seventh consecutive MBC title

Prescott is back on top of the Middle Border Conference for a seventh consecutive season, River Falls took second and is peaking at the right time in the Big Rivers Conference and Ellsworth secured a …
Ellsworth had about as good of a meet as a team could ever have Thursday in Durand-Arkansaw. The boys team won the title, the girls finished third and senior Adolfo Mendez and sophomore Mackenzie …
ELLSWORTH — Two teams hungry for a conference rivalry win stepped into the Ellsworth High School gym Thursday for some electric volleyball action, and only one would go home victorious. Ellsworth …
Brava to the Prescott volleyball team on their crucial victory over St. Croix Central last Thursday. After dropping game one by a score of 25-14, Head Coach Geoff Snyder’s charges came roaring …
RIVER FALLS — River Falls soccer had a great night Thursday, getting the team’s first goal of the season and eventually the first win of the season 1-0 over Osceola. With seven losses and a draw, …
Community
Eight-year-old Georgia Jones, of Ellsworth, was crowned MAC Victory Sweetheart at the Miss American Coed National Pageant in Orlando. She also won five Optional National titles.

Ellsworth’s Georgia Jones wins national pageant titles

Eight-year-old Georgia Jones of Ellsworth recently traveled to Orlando, Fla., to compete in the Miss American Coed National Pageant, where she proudly represented Miss Great Lakes Sweetheart. …

Spend your fall with Staying Put!

Staying Put, Inc. (S312 McKay Ave. PO Box 193, Spring Valley) offers an array of non-medical volunteer services to help seniors and adults with disabilities maintain their independence in Spring …

Leonard Place receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Leonard Place, of Oshkosh, has received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW).  President Steve Sample noted: “Leonard’s …

Growing Connections invites older adults to create fall centerpiece

ELLSWORTH – Older adults are invited to get creative and connect with others at the next Growing Connections program at the Ellsworth Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. …

Meet nature photographer Amy DeLong at Artist Reception Oct. 1

ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Public Library invites the community to meet River Falls nature photographer Amy DeLong during an artist reception for her exhibit, “The Symphony of Wild Places,” from …
Education
Neil May is the Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Sept. 30, 2026.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Neil May

The Student of the Week for Sept. 30 is PHS junior Neil May, nominated by English teacher Tania Novak. “Neil has started the school year off strong in English and has demonstrated a positive …

Features
Pierce County resident Wendy DiPeso was a featured speaker at the “No Blank Check for Big Tech” rally in River Falls Sept. 23.

Rally in RF demands end to data center tax exemption

RIVER FALLS – The ‘No Blank Checks for Big Tech’ rally in Veterans Park Wednesday, Sept. 23 demanded an end to Wisconsin’s state sales-and-use-tax exemption for qualified data centers and …

Opinion
Columns

Woodworking Again: The thrashing adventure, Part II

Last week I recorded my family’s preparations to revert to an old-fashioned way of harvesting oats, a real adventure for me and a pain in the neck for my dad back in 1943 when gas was rationed and …

From the editor’s desk: One step forward and two steps back

Last week I wrote about putting one foot in front of the other and how my rheumatologist believed we were on the right track in treating my Ankylosing Spondylitis. AS is an autoimmune disease, an …

Barth column: Respect roles that serve American freedom

Sometimes life leads to what might seem unlikely pen pals. Wait. Is that still a recognizable phrase in the age of social media? It harkens to a time when people put thought into words that …

Woodworking Again: Thrashing time Part I

“I’LL THRASH YOU, IF YOU’LL THRASH ME BACK!” Whenever I hear the rumble of a giant John Deere combine about to blow me off the highway, my thought goes back to 1943 when my father and …

From the editor’s desk: One foot in front of the other

There is one topic that I hate talking about, or even thinking about, and that is my weight. I don’t think any woman likes thinking about her weight, but I really, really hate it. So why write …

Woodworking Again: Prescient writers

As I toiled through a battery of lit courses at Minnie Creek, also known as Eau Claire State College, I was constantly reminded by my profs that the stories and poems I was poring over meant …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Look under the hood
To the editor, In the market for a used car? You wouldn’t buy a “previously owned” car unless you did your research — no matter what the seller told you. You’ll want to see the …
Letter to the editor: You had your chance
To the editor, I was reminded of the old adage, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” when I heard that Vice President J.D. Vance had recently appealed to voters to …
Letter to the editor: Are you pro-life and voting Democratic in November?
To the editor, I am pro-life, especially in the personal sense of having held my sister’s and my two small, second trimester, miscarried and dead, but precious baby boys in my hands. I vote …
Letter to the editor: Facts are stubborn things
To the editor, Paul Hambleton's recent letter, written as chair of the St. Croix County Democrats, deserves important factual context. Yes, Rep. Shannon Zimmerman authored legislation …
Letter to the editor: Dark money
To the editor, Of late it is hard to watch TV or listen to the radio without a political ad. It amounts to a constant flow claiming, counter claiming, and a whole lot of defaming. It is …
Obituaries
Mary Wiskerchen
Mary Lynn Wiskerchen, 85, of River Falls, Wis., passed away peacefully surrounded by her family following a nine-month battle with cancer. Mary Lynn was born Nov. 24, 1940, in Durand, Wis., to …
Patrick 'Rob' Sullivan
Patrick “Rob” Robert Sullivan, 56, of Hager City, Wis., passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at his home. He was born Aug. 12, 1970, in Baldwin, Wis., to Jerry and June (Fandrich) …
Matthew 'Matt' Koderick
Matthew “Matt” Koderick, age 34, of Belle Plaine, Minn. passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Matthew Joseph, the son of Michael Koderick and Rebecca (Roesler) Koderick was born …
Charlotte Eaton
Charlotte (Fiedler) Eaton, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 13, 2026, at the age of 98, surrounded by loved ones. She lived a full and rich life with her husband, Harley. They were married for …
Betty Brenner
Betty Ann Brenner, age 89 of Ellsworth, Wis., passed away on Sept. 26, 2026 at her own home. A Mass of Christian Burial for Betty will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at St. Francis …
Web Extras
Rediscover the lost secrets of history, one mystery at a time
(BPT) - Where is Alexander the Great really buried? What led to the disappearance of the dodo? And how much do we truly know about the Neolithic cultures that shaped the earliest chapters of human …
5 Meaningful Holiday Gifts That Give Back All Year
(BPT) - The holidays are approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about what you'll give your loved ones. This year, go beyond traditional presents and give your friends and family a …
How to stay healthier this year: Schedule your flu shot
(BPT) - It's that time of year again: Temperatures are dropping, kids are heading back to school — and cold and flu season isn't far behind. To help you and your family stay healthier this fall …
5 Insurance Company Tactics That Could Shrink Your Injury Claim
5 Insurance Company Tactics That Could Shrink Your Injury Claim
(NewsUSA) - After a car crash, dealing with injuries, medical appointments and vehicle repairs can be overwhelming enough. Then comes another challenge: dealing with insurance companies.While …
Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent?
Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.