More local news

CAPITOL REPORT: Lawmakers filed for more taxpayer-paid expenses in 2023 than 2021

Lawmakers spent more time in the Capitol than they did two years ago as per diems were up in 2023 compared to the last time they hammered out a budget, according to records from the Senate and …
UW-River Falls student Katelyn Marano studies tiny matter that is three million years old as part of her Research in the Rotunda project. Marano and other students from Universities of Wisconsin schools presented their research at the state Capitol Wednesday to lawmakers, university officials, and others.

UWRF students showcase academic, presentation skills at Research in the Rotunda

RIVER FALLS – In the weeks leading up to the 20th annual Research in the Rotunda event, as she worked on her research studying tiny materials dating to the age of dinosaurs, Katelyn Marano …

Gov. Evers signs into law tuition reciprocity change that will benefit UWRF

RIVER FALLS – University of Wisconsin-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo joined others Wednesday at the state Capitol in Madison as Gov. Tony Evers signed into law a change in …

Superintendent’s column: History will record public investment

There are times in life when our individual and collective actions change the course of history. In the case of voter support for our two referendum questions, history will record this as a time of …

Active Minds, Mental Health Mondays addressing mental health needs at UWRF

RIVER FALLS – Two years ago, as one aspect after another of her life unraveled, Brandi Weiland felt like she hit rock bottom.  Her brother died in 2020, and that incident seemed to …
Government

Future condo development in Prescott at impasse over parking

PRESCOTT – The March 4 Prescott Planning Commission focused on challenges of the proposed Riverfront Mixed Use Development at 214 Front St. and 20 Orange St. including the inadequate sized turn …
Crime

Speeding stop turns into cocaine, meth bust

Daryale D. Harris
A Minnesota man pulled over for speeding in Prescott failed to hide his cocaine and meth stash after being arrested and taken to Pierce County Jail. Daryale Donte Harris, 28, Apple Valley, …
On the calendar
Business

Ooh Ahh Massage & Spa owner persisted in chasing dreams

Alexi Schommer followed her dream and opened Ooh Ahh Massage & Spa at 1380 North Acres Road in Prescott.

PRESCOTT — Alexi Schommer, owner of Ooh Ahh Massage and Spa, was born and raised in Prescott. "My dream was always to open something in Prescott, nowhere else, always something in …

Local sports

Memorable Wildcat season ends in sectional finals

The River Falls Wildcats beat the Wausau East Lumberjacks in the semifinal sectional round of the playoffs on Thursday in Eau Claire by a score of 75-65 and then lost in the sectional finals to the …
Freshman Asher Larimore was one of only two River Falls powerlifters to make it to the state level of competition held in Appleton last weekend.

RFHS powerlifter heads to nationals

The River Falls powerlifting team had two representatives at the state competition in Appleton last weekend with one athlete finishing third in the state and qualifying for national competition next …
Former Spring Valley Cardinal runner Breanna Sieracki competing at the Olympic marathon trials after qualifying by finishing Granma's Marathon in Duluth in under two hours and 37 minutes.

Local runners compete in Olympic trials

Annie Frisbie of River Falls and Breanna Sieracki of Spring Valley are two local marathon runners who competed in the Olympic trials in Orlando in February, with Frisbie finishing 10 th in the …
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls women's hockey team defeated the Gustavus Adolphus Gusties 2-1 in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament in River Falls on Saturday.

UWRF women’s hockey heads to the Frozen Four

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls women’s ice hockey team competed in the NCAA Tournament in the quarterfinal round on Saturday in River Falls, defeating last year’s national …
Ian Leask goes over the top for two points in Prescott’s victory over the Somerset Spartans on Thursday night at the neutral site in Hudson.

THE CARDINALS ARE HEADING TO STATE!

The Prescott Cardinals punched their ticket to the state tournament with back-to-back wins this week, first against three-seed and conference rival Somerset in Hudson by a score of 55-50, and then …
Prescott will play Milwaukee Thomas More in the opening game of the WIAA State Tournament on Thursday. This will be Prescott’s fourth appearance at the Kohl Center. The second semi-final will …
River Falls River Falls had six wrestlers earn first team all-conference honors this season. Included in the six are four first team qualifiers. They are freshman Oliver Larson with an …
If you melt dry ice, and try to swim in it, do you get wet? That stunning question came from a comic named Stephen Wright. Scott Sekelsky, newly hired Falcon athletics fundraiser, may not be able to …
Senior Dallas Wallin played the last game of his high school career in a Prescott gymnasium. With his 21 points in Saturday's regional final victory over Osceola, Wallin has scored 1,677 career …
Community

18th It Takes A Village Ecumenical Concert: A Triumph of Community Spirit

The Haitian Relief Services Board transition pictured (from left): Jeanette Juetten, Curt Larson, Pat O'Malley, Joy (O'Malley) Richards.
RIVER FALLS – Sunday, Feb. 25, Ezekiel Lutheran Church became a haven of harmony and goodwill as it hosted the return of “It Takes A Village Ecumenical Concert.” After a hiatus …

Senior Gathering Place activities for March 13

PRESCOTT – Even though Prescott schools are on spring break there are a couple events still going on, one of which is pickleball from 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14 at the Intermediate School …

Ellsworth Public Library March schedule

Check out the following events at Ellsworth Public Library (388 W. Main St.) in March. On Display now at the library and in the Local History Vault: Ellsworth Community School District …

Ellsworth Public Library receives national grant

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth Public Library has been selected as one of 310 libraries to participate in round two of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an …

Kiss Me Once: Stories from the Homefront

HASTINGS, Minn. – The Hastings Concert Association Board of Directors will be hosting a Food and Fund Drive to benefit Hastings Family Service at a concert on March 14 at the Hastings Middle …
Education
Barry Cain

Superintendent’s column: Physical education areas at EHS

The high school's current physical education fitness area and weight room lack the space needed for our physical education program and athletic programs. In addition, the current gymnasium lobby and …

Features

St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity to break ground on new home in Ellsworth

ELLSWORTH – St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity (SCVHFH) will break ground March 27 on the first of three properties purchased in Ellsworth last year. Current Ellsworth resident Taylor …

Opinion
Columns

Allen Wilkens

Allen Ray Wilkens, age 70 of Hager City, Wis., died on Saturday evening, March 3, 2024 surrounded by loved ones. Allen was born Jan. 25, 1954 in Ellsworth, Wis. to parents William and Anna (Owen) …

Donna Blue

Donna Mae Blue, age 84, of Ellsworth, died peacefully on March 5, 2024 at her residence. She was the daughter of Rochelle (Parmeter) Cook and was born on September 9, 1939 in Beldenville, Wis. Donna …

Jens Gunelson

Jens Otto Gunelson of River Falls, Wis., passed away at the U of M East Bank Campus in Minneapolis on Jan. 31, 2024, at the age of 79, after multiple battles with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Jens was …

Woodworking again: Book titles

“The best laid plans of Mice and Men aft gang agley”—Robert Burns You got that right, Bobby, m’lad, especially when it comes to figuring out how to create a title for …

From the editor: The restaurant biz

Lately our family has been obsessed with watching “Bar Rescue.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a restaurateur named Jon Taffer who uses his 40+ years of knowledge in the …

Rep. Warren Petryk: Governor vetoes continue to ignore needs of Chippewa Valley

It must be Groundhog Day again in Madison. Only instead of anticipating spring, we are caught in a loop where local Democrats and Gov. Evers keep voting against and vetoing necessary tax relief …
Letters
Letter to the editor: The liberal playbook
To the editor, I would like to thank Jacqueline Murray Brux for at least attempting to rationalize (however poorly) her ultra left-wing perspective. Disparaging brilliant African American …
Letter to the editor: Van Orden supports border security
The following information was submitted to the letter to the editor information form on www.piercecountyjournal.news: first name: Jordan last name: Briskey address: 215 Neitzel Dr …
Letter to the editor: Van Orden gives veterans a voice
The following information was submitted to the letter to the editor information form on www.piercecountyjournal.news: first name: Ty last name: Klatt address: 1701 Charles St city: La …
Letter to the editor: The only hope is Jesus
To the editor, Psalm 50 clearly states who land and times and seasons and its final outcome belongs to God. When I read the article about nitrates and Prescott's well #3, again the attack on …
Letter to the editor: Farmer Angel Network speaker
Farmer Angel Network speaker To the editor, Farmer Angel Network of Western Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin Health, Ellsworth FFA, and Ellsworth FFA Alumni hosted a lunch and mental health …
Obituaries
Dolores Sears
Dolores “Mama D” Gloria Sears, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at her home in River Falls, Wis. A visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2024 at O’Connell Family …
Howard Meier
Howard L. Meier, age 100, a lifelong resident of Prescott, was welcomed home on March 5, 2024, at the Prescott Nursing and Rehabilitation Care Center. Howard was born on a cold morning in January …
Richard Zimmer
Richard Zimmer passed away at home March 1 at the age of 87. He was born in Dunn County, Wis. to Evelyn (Brehm) and Reynold Zimmer. He attended Elmwood schools and after graduation entered the U.S. …
James Michael Roy
James Michael Roy, retired UW-River Falls professor of music, 74, of River Falls, Wis., died on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The son of James Eberhard and Lila Mary (McRae) Roy, he was born Oct. 30, 1949 …
Allen Wilkens
Allen Ray Wilkens
Allen Ray Wilkens, age 70 of Hager City, Wis., died on Saturday evening, March 2, 2024 surrounded by loved ones. Allen was born Jan. 25, 1954 in Ellsworth, Wis. to parents William and Anna (Owen) …
Web Extras
How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight
U.S. airlines carry more than 800 million passengers per year. Lasha Kilasonia/iStock via Getty Images Plus Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If …
San Francisco's burning question: Are we ready for Waymo Google cars?
After an incident with one of Google's driverless vehicles in San Francisco, Way.com explores whether the city is ready to adopt these vehicles for service.
Can background checks show whether your identity was stolen?
Money.com offers tips and information to consider when conducting a background check on yourself.
Safest and most affordable cities in the US
MoneyGeek analyzed cost data from the Census Bureau's one-year American Community Survey and MIT's Living Wage Calculator, focusing on the top cities from our safest small and mid-to-large city studies.
Tobacco imagery rising in top entertainment, including among the 2024 Best Picture winner and nominees
(BPT) - To find a smoke-free setting among this year’s Oscar Best Picture nominees, you’d have to go to Barbie Land. Of the 10 films nominated for the Oscars top prize — including …