More local news

THE CAPITOL REPORT: Conservative Justice Bradley to run again as liberals take over chief's position

The April 1 election of Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court already is making waves on the high court. Liberals, upon maintaining 4-3 control, quickly moved to install Ann Walsh Bradley as …

Principals recap annual goals as school year enters late stages

ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth School Board heard updates from leaders of all three of the district’s schools, with some success stories and other goals shining a light on areas to improve. …

St. Croix County Jail: April 7-14, 2025

Monday, April 7 Cody James Franck, 36, Eau Claire, by Baldwin police, possess drug paraphernalia, probation hold. Cameron August Brown, 36, Houlton, by SCSO, sentenced, serving 12 days. …

River Falls Police Department reports: March 4-9, 2025

The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department March 4-9, 2025. Tuesday, March 4 Police responded to a one-vehicle crash at 9 p.m. on Highway 35 seven-tenths of a …

Prescott Police Department reports: April 5-11, 2025

The following incidents were reported to Prescott Police Department April 5-11, 2025. Saturday, April 5 Braden Reed Hill, 22, Stillwater, Minn., was cited for public …
Government

Pierce County Land Transfers: April 4-11, 2025

The following property transfers were recorded by the Pierce County Register of Deeds April 4-11. Friday, April 4 Feyereisen Enterprises Inc. to June A. Johnson, 276 Sylla St., Lot 64, …
Crime

Pierce County traffic & forfeitures: April 16, 2025

Mariano Anastacio Diaz, 20, Red Wing, Minn., operate without valid license, $200.50. William Robert Anderson, 41, Forest Lake, Minn., possess drug paraphernalia, $263.50. Tawni Gerilyn …
Local sports

Hoolihan family rejoices long-awaited track approval

SPRING VALLEY — With the passing of the School District of Spring Valley’s two referendum questions, the district’s wait for a track is coming to an end. While the exact date the …
Preston Johnson was selected to play in both the football and basketball Wisconsin all-star games.

Preston Johnson to play in football and basketball state all-star games

Preston Johnson, a River Falls senior and Minnesota State University Moorhead football signee, was named to both the football and basketball Wisconsin Coaches Association All-Star games. …
Ptacek has been the ace in the circle for the Cardinals, going 3-1 to date.

Prescott softball is bringing the ‘GRRR’

The Prescott Cardinal softball team had their wings clipped in preseason for practice. The rust has showed in the field with 13 team errors in the first six games, but the Cardinals have brought the …
Cardinal senior Rory Zuehlsdorf said of Leah French, "It's crazy how good her swing is." Photo

Fly Cardinals fly: Prescott is a softball town

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Water is the driving force of all nature." If this is true, then people can be described in one of two categories. They can either be a fountain or drain. Prescott …
Sophomore Logan Auth (pictured) and senior Sean Sagini were the two EPC players with multi-hit games.

Wolves knock on door in conference opener, fall just short

DURAND — Elmwood/Plum City took Durand-Arkansaw to the wire, but the Panthers scratched a run across in the sixth to win 3-2 Thursday. “All-around tonight I’m really proud of …
The comedian Rodney Dangerfield said in an online clip to Johnny Carson, I saw recently, that he had had a bad day. He explained that he picked up his shirt and a button fell off. Then he picked up …
The defending WIAA Division 3 softball team has exploded offensively out of the gate this season. Head Coach Nick Johnson’s club has scored 61 runs in five games and is hitting over .400 …
Spring Valley softball has gotten off to an 0-2 start, but they are beginning to establish a consistent routine and play to their strengths. The Cardinals opened the year with a 10-0 loss to …
In his first varsity start, outfielder Deitrich Eich went 2-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored in Prescott’s 13-3 season opening victory over Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau. The …
Community
Mark Moran, of Iola, brings over 30 years of experience with antiques and other collectibles to Prescott Public Library on April 12 for an appraisal event. Limitations apply, and more information can be found on the library’s website.

‘Antiques Roadshow’s’ Mark Moran coming to Prescott

PRESCOTT – Prescott Public Library (PPL) will host an antique appraisal event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 in which participants can get family heirlooms and other possessions …

‘Fiesta de Libros’ to be held at EPL

Ellsworth Public Library can’t wait for you to join us for a fiesta celebrating children, books and literacy! The event will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 and features …

Ellsworth Senior Center weekly events: April/May 2025

The Ellsworth Senior Center would like to invite all senior citizens aged 50 and greater to the following events to be held at the senior center: Come and join the  Pool Players …
Will Fesenmaier chases after a loose egg during Ellsworth’s egg hunt hosted by the Ellsworth Funsters.

GALLERY: Egg-citement abounds!

ELLSWORTH - The Pierce County Fairgrounds were full of excited children searching for Easter eggs at the annual Ellsworth Funsters Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12. 

Plum City Care Center enjoys a busy spring week

And just like that, it was Monday again and Noel had a great group of residents out for Monday Movers! We moved and grooved, working up a sweat while exercising in our chairs. After a little …
Education

Plum City HS releases 3rd quarter honor roll

Plum City High School is pleased to share the names of students who made the third quarter honor roll for the 2024-25 school year. A honor roll Seniors: Carter Fetzer, Yoselin Gea, Daisy …

Features
Sylva Anderson (left) and Betty Larson (right) both turned 101 in February, and the two have been long-time friends.

‘The spectacular two’: Larson and Anderson celebrate 101st birthdays

SPRING VALLEY — Betty Larson and Sylva Anderson went from neighbors growing up to next-door best friends at the Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, celebrating their 101st birthdays …

Opinion
Columns

Op Ed: Investing in our children’s mental health

National concern for the mental health of children and youth as well as that of their parents and caregivers is growing at a time when our traditional system of clinically trained providers continues …

Woodworking Again: Keeping her down on the farm, after she’d seen Eau Claire

Last week I related tales of my beloved late mother, Florence, as her fortunes transported her from the family farm to the “Towers of Zenith” [Chicago], and back to the bucolic existence …

Letter to the editor: Memorial Day is coming

To the editor, As a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 121 I hold a special place in my heart for the parents, siblings, spouses, and friends of those who served. I can’t help but …

Rep. Kreibich column: UW System President should fire UW-EC professor

It isn’t often a UW-Eau Claire English professor puts a western Wisconsin university in the national spotlight. But this occurred on April 1, which happened to be the primary election day in …

From the editor's desk: A tough decision

Life is full of tough decisions, some harder to make than others. I recently had to make a really hard one, leaving my heart feeling bruised. My daughter has been in 4-H since she was 5 years …

Bill Barth column: Wisconsin voters’ declaration of independence

Like former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said of pornography, “I know it when I see it.” Or, to deploy another aphorism, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Is RFSD anti-American?
To the editor, This past April 7, the Education Committee of the River Falls School District unanimously moved forward a revision to Policy 361.2 dealing with the selection of library material …
Letter to the editor: This is just a taste
To the editor, How is everyone liking all the manure hauling in Pierce County - the large number of trucks and the pervasive manure smell, even through the Village of Ellsworth? This is what …
Letter to the editor: Partisan hypocrisy
To the editor, Early last year, a local pastor and I maintained a vigil in River Falls in opposition to the Biden Administration's illegal and immoral participation in the genocide in Gaza. …
Letter to the editor: Sliding into full dictatorship
To the editor, It was only a matter of time. The White house Press Secretary confirmed the president was not joking when he said he wants to illegally deport US citizens to foreign prisons …
Letter to the editor: Climate change is not a hoax
To the editor, Question? What is it that protects all life on Earth? With it, there is life; without it there is no life. Answer: Earth’s atmosphere. Since the start of the …
Obituaries
Gloria Richardson
Gloria Jean Richardson, age 78, of River Falls, Wis., formerly of Ellsworth, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2025, at Comforts of Home in River Falls. Born on Jan. 16, 1947, in Eau Claire, …
Mary Holden
Mary was born Sept. 20, 1939 to Otto and Dalla Hove. She was one of 10 children. On Jan. 3, 1959, she married Dean Holden and together they raised three children. She was employed by the Pierce …
Arlene Snoeyenbos
Arlene Snoeyenbos, age 90, of Ellsworth, Wis., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Preferred Living in Ellsworth, where she had resided for the past several years. Arlene was born …
Gerald Jerry Christiansen
Jerry (Gerald) Christiansen, 83 of Ellsworth, Wis., passed away on March 27 at the Western Wisconsin Health hospital in Baldwin, Wis. Jerry was born on Jan. 20, 1942, at St. John’s Hospital in …
James Nelson
James J. Nelson, of Hudson, Wisconsin, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 27, 2025, at the age of 85. Born on April 7, 1939, in Red Wing, Minn., James lived a life devoted to his …
Web Extras
How to effortlessly elevate outdoor entertaining
(BPT) - Whether it's a backyard gathering, a park picnic or a casual evening on the patio, spring and summer offer countless opportunities to entertain in the fresh air.Bezel, the newest addition to …
In an age of social isolation, here's the surprising way education shapes friendships
Spokeo used data from the American Social Capital Survey to examine how friendships differ between Americans with and without a college degree.
How law firms can adapt marketing content to attract more clients via AI search
Consultwebs explains how AI tools can help law firms improve how they connect with potential clients.
How prevalent is the use of IVF, and what does the future of access to it look like?
Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to examine recent attempts to limit access to ART and its potential future in the U.S. using government data and other sources.
Six ways to get ready for a national park trip
(BPT) - From the geysers of Yellowstone to the granite cliffs of Yosemite, America's national parks remain a premier destination for outdoor exploration. For many travelers, visiting national parks …