More local news

Former Hudson businessowner charged with felony fraud

A River Falls resident is on the hook for more than $50,000 in charges her friend racked up without her knowledge or permission on her credit card. Mary Jane Cincotta, 62, Deer Park, posted a …
The added new space at River City Stitch allows for double the machines and half the production time.

River City Stitch reveals brand new addition

The Prescott Chamber of Commerce usually holds their monthly "Coffee and Chat" at Ptacek's IGA in Prescott. "It's a time to come and chat with members and have some donuts and coffee,” …

Plan Commission considers changes to residential building height limits

At the June 2 Prescott Plan Commission meeting, City Administrator Matt Wolf briefed members on development challenges tied to zoning regulations in high-density residential areas. He explained that …

CAPITOL REPORT: Review finds 2024 lawmaker travel worth more than $200,000

Outside groups reimbursed Dem and GOP lawmakers for more than $200,000 in expenses to attend events in the United States and abroad last year, according to a WisPolitics review. Lawmakers listed …
Ellsworth Middle School Principal Olin Morrison was a willing participant in the EMS Color Run May 30. He takes off from the finish line with students.

GALLERY: EMS Color Run is a hit!

The Ellsworth Middle School Parents Club Color Run, held Friday, May 30, is an annual fundraiser that helps pay for school field trips, classroom materials, special speakers and more. 
Government

Stafsholt and Moses testify on Wisconsin Farmland Protection Act

MADISON – Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R – New Richmond) and Rep. Clint Moses (R – Menomonie) testified June 4 in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue on the Wisconsin …
Crime

St. Croix County Jail: June 2-9, 2025

Monday, June 2 Carlos A. Perez Morales, 25, Emerald, by SCSO, probation hold. Bradley A. Kuehn, 45, Roberts, by SCSO, probation hold. Morgan Ann Moreno, 32, Somerset, by SCSO, …
Local sports

Shots from the hip: Prescott 4x100 relay team breaks state record

Those familiar with high school track and field in western Wisconsin know the reputation of Prescott High School relay teams. What happened last Saturday did little to change that. Not only did …
Olivia "Goose" Doerre (pictured) scored a hat trick (three goals) against Altoona last Tuesday in River Falls, as the Wildcats led 3-0 at the half and cruised to an 8-0 victory in the first round of the play-offs. The Wildcats outshot the Railroaders 25-2 during the match. Elliott Bell and Nathalie Rotsaert each scored twice and Hannah Cook netted one goal for River Falls.

Around the County: Spring sports enter final chapter

Track and Field Prescott’s 4x100 relay team of Andrew Lesso, Andrew Russell, Wyatt Budworth and Ethan West broke the State record with a 42.00 time to win the event. West chased down a …
Strong play in the field helped Prescott navigate a high-scoring affair June 4.

‘We all had a little feeling:’ Prescott beats odds in 7th inning comeback for Regional title

PRESCOTT — After falling behind 9-6 with six outs remaining to mount the comeback, Prescott dug deep, tuned out the noise and simply believed they could do it. The Cardinals pulled off the wild …

Prescott heads to State after winning first Sectional Championship

Prescott boys golf continued to make program history, winning the team’s first ever Sectional title at the Division 2 Hayward Sectional to head to State as a team. “It’s a big, …
Sophomore Grace Ptacek takes a cut at Sectionals on June 4.

Titans collide: Prescott’s season ends at the hands of Fall Creek

FALL CREEK — No sales pitch was needed to fill the seats Thursday for a Sectional matchup between Prescott and Fall Creek. The Crickets were 2024 Division Four State Champions and have not lost …
It's easy to see the "Karate Kid" connection watching a River Falls High School baseball game this season. River Falls Sports Broadcasting play-by-play man Kevin Westhuis is all over it, similar to …
Last year at the WIAA state track meet, things didn't go quite as planned for the Prescott boys' relay teams. "It seemed like it was one thing after another last year at state," said Prescott …
The WIAA State Track and Field Championship is the oldest state high school track meet in the country. It was first held at UW-Madison's Camp Randall in 1895. It has been held at Veteran's Memorial …
Track and Field Maleah Petersen had a performance to remember for Ellsworth at Sectionals, qualifying for State in both the shot put and discus. Petersen broke the school record shot put by two …
Community

Pierce County Fair entries due by June 18

ELLSWORTH – County Fairs are a timeless tradition, preceded by years of community, education, and a friendly dose of competition. Entering exhibits in your local county fair is a great way not …

Art Beat: What inspires you?

The Community Arts Base Show currently at the Art’s House Gallery started May 22 and will run through July 12. Our Meet the Artist Opening was held 6-8 p.m. May 31 with sweet guitar music by …

Senior Gathering Place activities: June 11-18, 2025

PRESCOTT – It may not be official but summer has started. Schools are out but the Senior Gathering Place is still open and will be all summer. Summer schedules are available for pick up at the …
This little girl and her llama were one of many entries at the Elsie’s Barnyard Uptown Animals Fashion Show June 1. Thanks to ticket sales, sponsorships, and a robust silent auction, Elsie’s Barnyard raised over $17,800, helping to ensure that all their programs and services remain free for the families they serve.

GALLERY: Fashion, Fur & Fun at Uptown Animals

Elsie’s Barnyard is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the hearts, minds, and souls of children and families facing medical and developmental challenges through meaningful interactions …

Join the Pierce County Fair Placemat Challenge: A creative day for a caring cause

ELLSWORTH – Calling all quilters, sewists, and creative community members! The Ellsworth Public Library invites you to participate in a heartfelt and hands-on event — Fair Placemat …
Education

EHS celebrates final honor roll of 2024-25

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth High School is pleased to announce the fourth quarter honor roll for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations students! Seniors Aliza Acker, Kendra Aufderhar, …

Features
River Falls native Elise Foley had severe health issues for close to three years, including speaking with a Russian accent. She found the road to health through natural treatments.

Traditional vs. natural medicine told with a Russian twist

Nature is the perfect combination of beauty and brutality. Every action has reaction. The formula may feel ferine, but the result is always an infinite circle of solution measured in millennia and …

Opinion
Columns

Woodworking again: When success reeks

HOUSEHOLD HINT: If it’s springtime once again and the voice of the turtle is heard in your Pierce County garden plot, do not, DO NOT, purchase your onion sets at the local grocery store! Last …

Letter to the editor: Growth of the arms industry

To the editor, President Trump’s military parade scheduled for Saturday, June 14 should give us pause to consider the message this event is broadcasting to our country and to the world. …

From the editor's desk: Summer in the garden

Going to an interview for a story, I always wonder what type of interview it will be. Obviously, the hope is the person I’m meeting with will have a lot to say. There’s nothing more …
Collected lawn clippings will be used as garden mulch.

Back Home: Threads of springtime stories

Storytelling is like weaving, with words serving as the fabric. Sometimes you take one thread and weave it into a full story. Sometimes your thread comes in small pieces and you end up with a …

Ask Andrew: Presence through presents

After the box office hit/New York Time’s Best Seller that was my Valentine’s Day column, I have taken the wheel to drive you, yes you, to a successful future. I will be writing a monthly …

Village President column: Legal notice vs. keeping you in the loop

Every so often, questions come up about how the village shares information with residents, especially when it comes to legal notices versus general communication. It’s a great reminder that …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Eye of the needle
To the editor, I'd like to know what version of Christianity Republicans in Congress are following. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these …
Letter to the editor: The best Memorial Day program
To the editor, Hats off to the very best Memorial Day program. I had the privilege to attend an outstanding Memorial Day Program in my hometown of Ellsworth, because of the committee of …
Letter to the editor: The library brings community together
To the editor, Libraries of today are not the same as when we were children. We should not expect them to be. No more than we expect the local police station to function like Andy Taylor and …
Letter to the editor: RFPL is the community’s jewel
To the editor, Recently, Myron Medcalf wrote in the Minnesota Star Tribune (May 14 issue), quoting Karen Fisher, professor at the Information School, Washington University, that “Public …
Letter to the editor: The US Constitution is a hill worth dying on
To the editor, You do not need to ask the founders whether they thought the rights of due process and restrictions on government overreach were worth dying on. They spilled their blood for those …
Obituaries
Donna Christiansen
Donna Marie Christiansen, 94, of Red Wing, died Friday, May 16, 2025 at Deer Crest. She was born March 18, 1931, in St. Paul, Minn. to Clarence and Bertha (Fink) Erickson. At age 16 her family moved …
Ferris Landaal
Ferris Landaal, age 91 of New Richmond, formally of River Falls, passed away peacefully May 17, 2025 at Our House in New Richmond. Arrangements are pending with the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes …
Margaret 'Margie' Kariesch
Margaret “Margie” Kariesch, age 93, lifelong resident of Prescott, died May 17, 2025 at United Hospital in St. Paul. Funeral service for Margie Kariesch will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 23 at Prescott …
Patricia Ann (Freier) Peterson
Our beautiful Patricia Ann (Freier) Peterson passed away on May 14, 2025, from a brief illness, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minn.. Patty passed with her husband by her …
Stephen Mountain
Stephen (Steve) Allen Mountain, 41 years old, of River Falls, Wis. passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025 due to injuries sustained in a single car accident near Prescott, Wis. He was accompanied by his …
Web Extras
Gen Z is worried about paying for mental health care. Is AI the answer?
Wysa explains why chatbot support is gaining ground as Gen Z turns to AI for mental health support and what users need to know.
The coaching secret behind Tyrese Haliburton’s rise to NBA Finals stardom
Athletes Untapped reports on Tyrese Haliburton's rise to NBA Finals stardom, highlighting the impact of early coaching and mentorship on his success.
A variety of pain-relieving drugs are available both over the counter and by prescription.
How do painkillers actually kill pain? From ibuprofen to fentanyl, it’s about meeting the pain where it’s at
Different painkillers provide relief in different ways. The most effective medication is the one that best targets the type of pain you’re experiencing with minimal side effects.
Siccar Point, photographed by the Curiosity rover, is near Mars' Gale Crater.
Is Mars really red? A physicist explains the planet’s reddish hue and why it looks different to some telescopes
Mars isn’t a bright, fire-engine red, but the iron oxide in its rocks makes it appear redder than other planets, especially from afar.
These 'pez diablo,' or devil fish, are actually guitarfishes that have been caught, killed, dried and carved into exotic shapes.   Bryan Huerta-Beltrán, CC BY-ND
Trade in a mythical fish is threatening real species of rays that are rare and at risk
They look like devils and hence are called pez diablo in Spanish, but these demonic objects are dried and mutilated versions of living rays known as guitarfish.