More local news

RFHS students earn national awards for community service impact

RIVER FALLS – Twelve River Falls High School students have been recognized by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and InnerView in the Eighth Annual Community Service Impact …

Plan Commission gets housing update, talks proposed development

RIVER FALLS — The River Falls Plan Commission heard about a proposed Powell Avenue housing development and received a presentation on national, state, regional and local housing markets. …

CAPITOL REPORT: Liberal leaning court rejects calls for new congressional district lines

Republicans in general score a win when the state Supreme Court rejected requests to redraw the state’s congressional map. Insiders see the Janesville Republican as perhaps the biggest …

Floodplain study tabled, Kwik Trip passes another hurdle

ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Village Board tabled a proposed floodplain study in the East End Industrial Park, with board trustees citing too broad of a cost estimate and a lack of information. …

Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association honors Ellsworth woman

CLINTON – The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association (WCA) recognized outstanding leaders and contributors to the state’s beef industry during its 2025 Summer Tour in southeastern …
Government

Pierce County Land Transfers: June 27-July 4, 2025

The following property transfers were recorded by the Pierce County Register of Deeds June 27 through July 4. Friday, June 27 Rene L. Stark to David H. Bondeson, 110 Vine St. N., NW …
Crime

St. Croix County Jail: June 30-July 6, 2025

Monday, June 30 Joshua Thomas Shea, 43, Lakeland, Minn., by SCCC, warrants. Rachel Leigh Ulwelling, 36, Fall Creek, by Hudson police, resisting or obstructing an officer, operating while …
Local sports

Garner celebrates 55th birthday at the ballpark, ready for Blues’ final month

The Plum City Blues may have a young team, but after the first half of the season was loaded with one or two-run ball games, they have started to grow up in a hurry. “We’re pretty …
Aaron Froelich pitched seven shutout innings to move to 3-0 on the mound on the year.

Guthrie boys each find the seats in Hawks’ shutout win

SPRING VALLEY — The Guthrie boys, Garrett and Blaine, each crushed home runs while Aaron Froelich tossed seven shutout innings to lift Spring Valley to a 5-0 win over the New Richmond Millers. …

Shots from the hip: Leah French named Division 2-3 First Team All State

Congratulations to Leah French on being named Division 2-3 First Team All State. The Concordia St. Paul catcher recruit wraps up her prep career as among the most decorated Cardinal softball players …

Extreme heat keeps Hubber bats nice and warm

BAY CITY — The Ellsworth Hubbers and Bay City Bombers got some St. Croix Valley Baseball League action over the weekend despite the sun showing no mercy, bringing 90-degree heat to the diamond …
Wildcat senior Hannah Cook is emotional after the Wildcats fell to Pewaukee in the WIAA state semi-finals in Milwaukee on Friday.

Rollercoaster ride of emotions for Wildcats at State Soccer

The River Falls Wildcat girls soccer team was making their second trip in two years to the WIAA State Soccer Tournament this past weekend in Milwaukee. It was Head Coach Charles Conley's fourth trip …
This year’s Prescott Cardinal sports officially ended two weeks ago. However, returning student-athletes have already begun prepping for the fast approaching 2025-26 seasons. During …
Congratulations to Dain Pechacek on receiving a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Academic Scholarship. The award puts quite a bookend on the senior season for the Middle Border Conference …
Prescott Head Baseball Coach Jeff Ryan said earlier this season during a post-game interview, "The greatest gift we can give anybody is our time." If that is true, the Prescott Cardinal baseball …
Congratulations to Dain Pechacek on being named the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Northwest District Division 2 Player of the Year. Pechacek will now be considered for Division 2 State …
Community

GALLERY: Diamond Bluff comes together for another Independence Day bash

The Diamond Bluff Fourth of July parade brought out people of all ages to stroll through the streets to toss out candy.
DIAMOND BLUFF - Diamond Bluff is a great place for families to celebrate the 4th of July, with a parade, kids' activities, food and community togetherness.

Senior Gathering Place activities: July 9-29

PRESCOTT – Looking forward to good weather this Thursday as members embark on the river cruise Thursday afternoon. Please join us for other activities this week as there are several options to …

Mark your calendar for RiverFest

Hudson’s 13th annual St. Croix RiverFest celebration is set for July 22-26. Hudson will celebrate the St. Croix River with this annual summer “Party with a Purpose” with …

Plum City Care Center: A week of games and fun

Residents were ready to try their hand (and luck!) at Monday’s Card Club. We had two tables of players, with several residents engrossed in an independent game of Euchre and Noel at the next …

Senior Gathering Place activities: July 2-10

PRESCOTT – Wow! Six months of 2025 have passed and we are well into summer! Soon we will start hearing about Back to School sales, which of course won't bother any of us. That just tells us we …
Education
Chris Holtkamp, associate professor of community and environmental planning at UW-River Falls, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. Beginning in January, he’ll spend five months in Reykjavik, Iceland developing a graduate course at Agricultural University.

UW-River Falls associate professor receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award

RIVER FALLS – Chris Holtkamp, an associate professor of community and environmental planning at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to …

Features
The theme for River Falls Days 2025, voted on by the community, is “Kinni in Bloom.”

RF Days 2025: ‘Kinni in Bloom’ set to blossom July 10–13

RIVER FALLS – Downtown River Falls will transform into a vibrant landscape as River Falls Days 2025 brings four days of celebration, community connection, and unforgettable entertainment July …

Opinion
Columns

Kenneth 'Ken' Eugene

It is with heavy hearts to announce the peaceful passing of Kenneth “Ken” Eugene Knight on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, where he was surrounded by the love of his immediate family and through the …

Kenneth Wilson

Kenneth Leslie Wilson, age 74, of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2025, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. Ken was born on Jan. 11, 1951, in New Richmond, Wis., to …

Bonnie Peterson

Bonnie J. Peterson, of Ellsworth, died Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus, on her 79th birthday. Bonnie was born in Red Wing, Minn., to Clarence and Inez (Halverson) …

Woodworking again: ‘Cap Evans’ revisited

Funny, you’re a stranger come here/come from another town. Funny I’m a stranger myself here/Small world, isn’t it? That’s for sure, Johnny Mathis. I just received a …

Rep. Kreibich column; Wisconsin passes 2025-27 budget

The 2025-27 state budget was approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature and signed by the Governor early Thursday morning, securing several bipartisan wins for Wisconsinites. Though the budget is …

From the editor's desk: 45 trips around the sun

As I write this, the clock is about to strike midnight, turning the calendar to July 8, my 45 th birthday. It’s hard for me to realize that I am 45 years old. Some days I feel like I’m …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Anti-democratic policies
To the editor, It seems there’s no limit to our current president’s cruelty and lack of human decency.  Now he gloats over the establishment of an “Alligator …
Letter to the editor: Tax Bill
To the editor, Rep. Van Orden (R) has been running political ads to justify his vote on Trump's tax cut bill currently being passed by congressional Republicans. Van Orden's ads refer to it …
Letter to the editor: Ellsworth community – thank you!
To the editor, On behalf of the Ellsworth American Legion Auxiliary, I want to thank the Ellsworth community for supporting the Ellsworth American Legion Auxiliary. On May 22 and 23 and various …
Letter to the editor: Not on the left
To the editor, Live not by lies: And therein we find, neglected by us, the simplest, the most accessible key to our liberation: a personal nonparticipation in lies. I think Thomas Sowell …
Letter to the editor: Live not by lies
To the editor, That was said by the great Thomas Sowell. In reply to Mr. Proue, I don’t believe you answered my question. How did President Obama deport over 3 million illegals with due …
Obituaries
Charles White
Charles E. White, son of Kenneth and Helen White, was born on Nov. 10, 1928, in River Falls, Wis. He passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on June 20, 2025. Charles was a 1945 graduate of River …
Kenneth Wilscon
Kenneth Leslie Wilson, age 74, of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2025, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. Ken was born on Jan. 11, 1951, in New Richmond, Wis., to …
Robert Stroupe
Robert C. Stroupe, 92, of Bay City, Wis., died Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus, in Rochester. He was born Sept. 30, 1932, in Red Wing, to Floyd and Elizabeth …
Delores Lund
Delores V. Lund, 91, of Woodbury, Minn. (formerly of Ellsworth, Wis.) passed away peacefully on May 21, 2025, surrounded by her children. Delores was born April 5, 1934 in Winona, Minne. to …
Carol Hubanks
Carol Ann Hubanks, age 93, of River Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2025, at Hudson Hospital, surrounded by her family’s love. Born on December 10, 1931, in Spring Green, …
Web Extras
African women are key to fighting climate change – these are the green skills they will need
There’s a long list of green skills that women across Africa need so that they can get jobs and start businesses that help the world adapt to climate change.
The U.S. is the only advanced economy that doesn't legally mandate a minimum number of vacation days.
Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they’ve earned?
As vacations approach, anxiety often mounts: What if you’re seen as a slacker – or, worse, replaceable?
The planet and the way we live on it are constantly changing.
What will the Earth be like in 500 years?
The Earth is constantly changing in natural ways, but most of those changes are very slow. Humans are speeding up other changes with global warming.
The Tour de France is one of the most physically taxing sporting feats imaginable.
Tour de France: How many calories will the winner burn?
Riders in the 2022 Tour de France will ride more than 2,100 miles (3,400 km) over the 21 flat and mountainous stages of the race. And they will burn an incredible amount of energy while doing so.
A 1915 edition of ‘Treasure Island’ illustrated Long John Silver with iconic pirate features.
Who was the first pirate?
The first mention of a pirate by name may be in a Greek book from 2,500 years ago. But sea-raiding has been around since the very first boats traversed the world’s waterways.