More local news

Fiscal Facts: Forum identifies five keys to the next state budget

As state lawmakers begin deliberations on Gov. Tony Evers’ proposal for the 2023-25 state budget, a record projected surplus of $8.8 billion hands them an historic opportunity to make …

RF FFA members advance in speaking contest

The River Falls FFA Alumni are proud of all students who competed and are excited to report the results of our chapter FFA students at local level speaking competition, which took place Feb. 21 at …

Hokkanen named 2022 RFPD Officer of the Year

RIVER FALLS – River Falls City Council members and Police Chief Gordon Young recognized Derek Hokkanen as the 2022 River Falls Police Officer of the Year at the March 14 meeting. Hokkanen …

Overland is Prescott Kiwanis Student of the Week

The Prescott Kiwanis Student of the Week for March 22 is Prescott High School junior Abby Overland, who was nominated by English teacher Bonnie McNary. “Abby is an exceptional writer in AP …

Police chief wants Prescott Daze moved from Broad Street for safety concerns

PRESCOTT – Prescott Police Chief Eric Michaels is advocating for the main Prescott Daze activities to move from Broad Street to Front Street and the Mercord Mill parking lot because of safety …
Government

Inspection of Prescott Lift Bridge to result in lane closures on US 10

PRESCOTT – Motorists on US Highway 10 crossing the Prescott Lift Bridge, which carries traffic over the St. Croix River between Wisconsin and Minnesota, will encounter lane closures between 7 …
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Business

FNBRF donates $2,500 toward Prescott outdoor pickleball courts

RIVER FALLS – First National Bank of River Falls donated $2,500 towards creating dedicated outdoor pickleball courts for the Prescott community. Lisa Johnson, Prescott Branch Officer of …

Crime

Sex offender arrested for enticing teen in RF

A registered sex offender is in custody after picking up a juvenile girl in River Falls on Dec. 10 and taking them to his home in Unity. Jason J. Lull, 44, was ordered to pay $25,000 cash bond …

Local sports

Powerlifting: River Falls’ fastest-growing high school sport

When Ulice Payne III began working as a personal trainer in downtown River Falls in 2017, he had no idea that less than five years later he’d be the head coach of a team competing in one of the …

Three Ellsworth wrestlers etch names into Panthers history

All three of Ellsworth’s qualifiers for the 2023 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament in Madison earned a top-six spot on the podium, which meant they will have their names etched into Panthers history upon their return to Ellsworth.
After winning a pair of regional titles and sending more than half a dozen athletes to the state championships in La Crosse last season, the Prescott Cardinals track and field team is looking to …
After a 2022 season in which the Ellsworth baseball team went 5-12 overall, now second-year head coach Brandon Voelker has targeted a .500 record as the major goal for 2023. For Voelker, getting …
Both the River Falls girls’ and boys’ track and field programs have set their sights on the 2023 Big Rivers Conference championship, which would be their first titles since 2015 and 2019 …
The Big Rivers Conference is one of more than a dozen high school leagues in Wisconsin that will undergo realignment, which is slated to be implemented in the fall of 2024, according to recent WIAA …
Community

Elmwood Fire battles night-time garage blaze

ELMWOOD – A garage fire lit up the night sky in the wee hours of Sunday, March 19 in Elmwood but luckily no one was injured. Elmwood Area Fire Department responded to a garage fire at 3:30 …

RF Senior Center/Wellhaven has full schedule in April

RIVER FALLS – April is National Humor Month; start the month off right with April Fool’s Day on April 1. A smile can make a difference in your day and to someone else! The River Falls …

Stage and Screen Productions to present ‘Alice in Wonderland’

RIVER FALLS – Stage and Screen Productions at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls will present “Alice in Wonderland” March 30-April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and April 1 and 2 at noon in …

Governor’s Tourism Rising Star Award goes to Prescott resident

PRESCOTT – The Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to recognize the winner of the 2023 Governor’s Tourism - Rising Star Award, Megan Langer. This statewide award is presented …

Village of Ellsworth Candidate Forum set for March 29

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and Pierce County Journal have teamed up to provide Village of Ellsworth voters with a virtual candidate forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 …
Education

Math Masters represent Ellsworth Middle School

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth Middle School had 16 sixth graders compete at the Math Masters competition March 3 at St. Croix Central Middle School with great success. According to co-coaches Liz …

Features

Kelvin Pooler helps Renaissance students open up, succeed

RIVER FALLS – When Kelvin Pooler received a Wildcat Pride award at the River Falls School Board meeting Feb. 20, it came as a complete surprise. He was seated in the audience but had no idea …

Opinion
Columns

4 things U.S. workers need to know about beating inflation if disability strikes

(BPT) - The Social Security Administration implemented their highest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four decades earlier this year. This annual COLA is based on increases in the Consumer Price …

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Another harbinger of spring

I can’t forecast the weather for this week, but I do have a warm weather topic and given our crazy long winter, that’s the best I can offer. I spent a few hours at the Minnesota …

Letter to the editor: Stop blaming the pandemic

Is it true that Wisconsin students performed poorly, even worse than those of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan? "Not Proficient" is a term that should frighten students, parents and educators …

Woodworking again: Whitehall visit with Celina

The great southern novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote a book called “You Can't Go Home Again.” I for one am glad I ignored his warning, although I must agree for a time I thought he was right. …

From the editor's desk: Outnumbered by teens/tweens

The day I’ve been dreading since giving birth to my precious daughter is already here: She knows everything and I am the dumbest, uncoolest human being on the planet. That might be an …

Woodworking again: In a pickle

I'm sad to report that we've run out of the home canned pickles we've been gnawing on since canning season. For a sandwich hound like me, that's bad news, because there's nothing like a kosher dill …
Letters
Letter to the editor: Why your vote matters
To the editor, Political pundits across the country discuss Wisconsin’s April 4 Supreme Court election as “the most important election in the country,” as though the …
Letter to the editor: District rating can be misleading
To the editor, This is in response to the parent comment made last week about the upcoming school boar election. I wonder how much the public knows that the DPI changed the scale for measuring …
Letter to the editor: Make up your own mind
To the editor, Wendy DiPeso’s letter motivated me to check out the non-partisan guides. vote for information about the two candidates who are running for Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. …
Letter to the editor: Final Five Voting is the way to go
To the editor, Another election season lies before us. Don’t you dread those awful campaign commercials? I do. Why do they try to make us fear our neighbors? The Political Industrial …
Letter to the editor: Trust data, not hearsay
To the editor, The Wisconsin Supreme Court election happening April 4 will determine how the court rules on cases involving: access to reproductive health care, nonpartisan redistricting, voting …
Obituaries
Dorothea Olson
Dorothea Alice Olson, age 90, of Ellsworth, Wis. passed away March 19, 2023 at her residence surrounded by family. Dorothea was born Feb. 28, 1933 in Stockholm, Wis. to Lawrence and Violet …
Charles Giefer
Charles “Chuck” Giefer, age 80, of Sequim, Wash., died Nov. 12, 2022. Chuck was born on May 27, 1942 in Farmington, Minn., the son of Eugene and Mary Giefer. He was raised in Hampton, Minn. …
Daniel Gilles
Daniel Walter Gilles, age 74, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at his home in Plum City, surrounded by his family. Dan was born on July 21, 1948, to Lyle and Betty Gilles. Dan lived his entire …
Mary "Sis" Seidl
Mary K. (Biskupski) “Sis” Seidl, age 94 of Grantsburg, Wisconsin and formerly of Hastings, died peacefully at the Burnett Medical Center in Grantsburg on Sunday evening, March 19, 2023. Mary …
Butch Davies
Donald "Butch" Davies, age 75 of Denmark Township, died suddenly but peacefully on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. Butch was born May 23, 1947, in Prescott, WI to Vernal and Beth (Norton) …
Web Extras
Most liberal colleges in America
Stacker used data from Niche to determine the 50 most liberal universities and colleges in America.  
7 common types of anti-transgender legislation that have passed or failed in the last 10 years
Stacker investigated seven common types of anti-transgender legislation that have passed or failed in the last 10 years using data from the ACLU.
20 popular international snacks you should try if you can find them
Stacker tracked down some of the most delicious, must-try snacks from different countries.
Metros where homes are selling for the most over asking price
Stacker analyzed data from Redfin to see which metros had the most homes sold over asking price across the United States in the month of February 2023.
Metros where homes are selling for the most under asking price
Stacker analyzed data from Redfin to see which metros had the most homes sold under asking price across the U.S. In the month of February 2023.