More local news

The Capitol Report: Lawmakers’ 2022 travel totals nearly $113,000

Statements of economic interest show lawmakers reported $112,850 in travel expenses paid by outside groups last year, a WisPolitics review found. The travel included events organized by groups such …

Registration open for Farm and Industry Short Course at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS – Registration is open for the popular, longstanding Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall. The program had been held at …

Rocky Branch teachers retire after 32 years with school

RIVER FALLS – The school bell rang as students headed to their class at Rocky Branch Elementary. It did not matter if you attended in the 1990s or 2023, physical education teacher Karl Erickson …

RF City Council eliminates monthly environmental fee

RIVER FALLS – The River Falls City Council May 9 unanimously elected to reduce an environmental impact fee to $0 that helped fund the city’s former landfill. Households were paying …

Innovation Center celebrates 5-year milestone

RIVER FALLS – The five-year anniversary of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center (SCVBIC) was marked Monday, May 22, with a celebration that allowed the businesses who rent in the …
Government

Prescott Daze detour takes the scenic route

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council didn’t waste any time approving a detour for the upcoming Prescott Daze at the council meeting on Monday, May 22. To deter residents from driving …
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Business

Pierce Pepin Cares awards second quarter grants

ELLSWORTH – Pierce Pepin Cares, the charitable foundation of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS), recently awarded second-quarter grants to five nonprofits. The Pierce Pepin Cares board …

Crime

Both drivers flee the scene after head-on crash

RIVER FALLS – A head-on crash in River Falls April 28 resulted in both drivers fleeing the scene – one in his truck and the other on foot. Officers responded at 9:30 p.m. April 28 to …

Local sports

River Falls, Ellsworth boys’ golf advance to team sectionals

The River Falls and Ellsworth High School golf teams were the only two local programs that posted a top-four score at their respective regional tournaments last week, which qualified them for the …

RF softball’s 15-win season is its most since 1981

This year’s River Falls High School softball team has done what no other Wildcat squad had accomplished in more than four decades. When River Falls recorded the final out of its 9-0 …
River Falls, Ellsworth, Prescott and Elmwood/Plum City all sent at least three individuals or relay groups to this year’s state track and field championships, which are slated for Friday, June …
Hudson may have swept River Falls in this year’s regular season series, but the Wildcats got the last laugh in the Division 1 regional semifinal on Tuesday evening.  The ninth-seeded …
There appear to be just three consistencies in life: death, taxes and the Prescott Cardinals softball team winning a Division 3 regional championship. Prescott won its fifth consecutive D3 …
Prescott’s girls’ track and field team has utilized the roster’s size and well-dispersed talent to make winning a Division 2 regional championship a seemingly annual tradition. …
Community

Memorial Day observances in Pierce County

American Legions in Pierce County will host Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a day for remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. According to PBS, …

Senior Gathering Place summer calendar released

PRESCOTT – Due to Malone Intermediate School undergoing asbestos removal and parking lot rehab this summer, the building and parking lot will be closed. The Senior Gathering Place Programming …

All-terrain wheelchairs provide outdoor experiences for all

PRESCOTT – All-terrain outdoor wheelchairs were the sight to see as Prescott community members gathered at Senior Gathering Place May 23 to test out the adaptive equipment. With the motto …

Support education at Taste of Tuscany on June 2

ELLSWORTH – The 12 th annual Taste of Tuscany fundraising event has a few surprises for guests this year. You are invited to Vino in the Valley Friday, June 2 for an evening of live music, …

Local United Way announces new executive director

RED WING, Minn. – The United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha, & Pierce (UWGWP) Counties is pleased to announce that Nicolle Mechelke has been selected as Executive Director. Her first day will be …
Education

EHS students work together to assemble golf cart

ELLSWORTH – A group of Ellsworth High School students got to try their hand at automotive work, as the school stripped apart and rebuilt a golf cart for local auto shop Courtesy Auto. The …

Features

The untold story of the Pottstown Five

Editor’s note: Local author Dan Woll has been itching to tell the story of the Pottstown Five, a tale of five young men who served together and were prisoners of war in World War II. How does …

Opinion
Columns

Ellsworth softball comes up short in regional championship game

The Ellsworth High School softball team, which was the No. 2-ranked Division 2 program in the state earlier this year, had its postseason run extinguished much earlier than those in and around the …

Ellsworth baseball eliminates rival Prescott in D2 regional quarterfinal

Ellsworth baseball eliminates rival Prescott in D2 regional quarterfinal The Ellsworth Panthers baseball team has not only embraced playing as the underdog, but they’ve relished in knowing …

Sen. Jeff Smith: Save lives, stop prohibition

Wisconsin is in a rapidly-shrinking minority of states that have not legalized marijuana,  one of only ten in the country . Our immediate neighbors are way ahead of us.  Illinois has …

Petryk column: Historic investments in helping ‘skill up’ our future workforce

One of my responsibilities as Chairman of the Assembly Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Committee has been to ensure that our local businesses have access to the talent they need to …

Op ed: Frivolous bans or conscientious objections?

Certain segments of our society insist that minor children have a constitutional right to read or view whatever they choose in public schools.  And that educators know better than …

Woodworking again: Titles and things

When my wife told me that Pierce County Health Department employees had picked “branding” as one of their top priorities for the next two years, I felt very nervous for all the patients …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Clarification on sea level claims
To the editor, Wow! Science debated in our local paper! Space doesn't allow me to address all of Mr. Pazdernik's points from last week's Journal, but I do have a few comments, as I struggle …
Letter to the editor: Education vs. intelligence
To the editor, According to the so-called climate scientists the Antarctic has lost about 149 billion metric tons of ice per year for the last 25 years. That sounds like a lot of melted ice but …
Letter to the editor: Focus on facts, not vitriol
To the editor , First, a note of thanks for the fine explanation regarding rising sea levels as it relates to current climate trends provided by Dr. Cordua in the May 17, 2023 Journal letters. …
Letter to the editor: We either have character or we don't
The following information was submitted to the letter to the editor information form on www.piercecountyjournal.news: first name: Jaclyn last name: Wahlquist address: city: River …
Letter to the editor: Truth is slowly coming out
To the editor, "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they prescribed to rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of the people, …
Obituaries
Marvin Janisch
Marvin E. Janisch, age 92, of Ellsworth, died on Friday May 12, 2023 at the Ellsworth Care Center. He was born on Jan. 26, 1931, with his twin brother Melvern in El Paso Township, the son of Victor …
Colleen Reichert
A Memorial Service for Colleen V. Reichert of Prescott, Wis., will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Road, Prescott, WI 54011. Visitation …
Minnie Davidsaver
Minnie E. Davidsaver, age 85, of Ellsworth, died May 10, 2023 at the River Falls Area Hospital. Minnie was born on July 29, 1937 in Whitehall, Wis., the daughter of Norman and Tilda (Norby) Kolve. In …
Mary Koblauch
Mary Ellen Knoblauch, age 89, lifelong resident of Prescott, Wis., passed peacefully on May 6, 2023. Mary Ellen Knoblauch, daughter of Blanche and Clarence Knoblauch, was born on April 17, 1934 in …
Robert Lansing
Robert Harold “Bob” Lansing, age 75, of Solon Springs, Wis., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Superior Health and Rehabilitation in Superior, Wis. He was born on May 18, …
Web Extras
How do college refunds work? Learn how to protect your investment
(BPT) - It's graduation season! If you have a high school senior, you're probably busy planning a party or vacation to celebrate the end of their high school years. Last year, more than 20 million …
The Show Must Go On: Actor and father Taye Diggs on how he combats insomnia
(Family Features) Joining more than 25 million Americans who struggle with insomnia, esteemed actor and father Taye Diggs found the lack of adequate sleep left him tired during the day and took a toll on him on-stage as an actor and off-stage as a parent. He learned a lot about managing his insomnia and wants to help others who may be struggling with these tips.
5 tips to stay organized during the shift to busy summer schedules
(BPT) - As another school year ends, families everywhere are shifting gears to start preparing for their summer schedules. Between daily activities and playdates, summer classes, camp and family …
Top 10 colleges with the most students enrolled in popular STEM programs
EDsmart has developed a list of 10 schools with the largest share of students enrolled in STEM programs, using 2020 College Scorecard enrollment data.
New to Medicare? Here are 5 Medicare Mistakes you don’t want to make when enrolling in a Medicare plan
(BPT) - As you approach the Medicare golden age of 65, the pressure to choose the right Medicare coverage is a real concern. So many things to keep in mind when choosing a plan. Will your doctors …