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Celebrating lifelong learning in River Falls with Community Education

Nov. 13, 2025, is National Community Education Day, and a time to reflect and celebrate our community and our strong River Falls Community Education program. The day offers a special opportunity to …

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Lanie Matzek

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Nov. 5 is Prescott High School freshman Lanie Matzek, nominated by teacher Mrs. Wachter. “She is kind and respectful to everyone she …
This option shows an at grade pedestrian crossing at Campbell Street, with the east portion of Orrin Road turned into a cul-de-sac that no longer connects with Campbell.

Prescott City Council favors Orrin Road closure

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council approved a proposal to turn Orrin Road into a cul-de-sac east of Campbell Street as part of an application for a WisDOT Transportation Alternatives Program …

THE CAPITOL REPORT: A rematch brewing for 2026 attorney general's race

Next year Wisconsin voters will see the first open governor's race since 2010 with Dem Gov. Tony Evers opting against a run for a third four-year term. But contrary to conventional wisdom just a …

Ellsworth Chamber kicks off Small Business Season

ELLSWORTH – As the holiday season begins, the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce is once again encouraging residents to shop small and local throughout Small Business Season, Nov. 1 through …
Government

Pierce County Recycling Center changes start Dec. 1

ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Recycling Center gates will start being locked again in the evenings, on weekends and holidays starting Dec. 1, 2025. You will no longer be able to bring your …
Crime

St. Croix County Jail: Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 2025

Monday, Oct. 27 Chandra Ann Helton, 27, River Falls, by SCSO, warrant. Moises Gomez Ruiz, 31, Hudson, by NSA, warrant issued by District Corut of Wisconsin. Nicholas Dion Johannsen, …
On the calendar
Business

Diamond Bluff veteran turns love of hunting into a career

Harley Hotchkiss of Diamond Bluff owns and operates Premium Plots LLC, which specializes in growing strong food plots, tree removal, stump grinding, lawn services and snow removal.

DIAMOND BLUFF – Diamond Bluff native and Prescott High School Class of 1999 graduate Harley Hotchkiss comes from a long line of veterans, which inspired his path to join the service at age 17. …

Local sports
Prescott junior Kyra Dix was the lone county runner to make the State podium, finishing seventh individually in Division 2.

Ellsworth XC boys soak in State experience

Ellsworth’s boys cross country team competed at State in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 1. While they finished 16th of 16 as a team in Division 2, the team worked around an injury and …

Wildcats come up one set short of return to State

River Falls had little time to react to an injury to junior kill leader Amelie Pankonin going down just days before the Regional Final. Despite practicing just briefly with major lineup changes, …
Former River Falls Wildcat volleyball sisters Abby Doerre (#6) is all smiles pointing to her younger sister, Maddy (#13), at the WIAA State Volleyball Tournament in 2019.

RF Volleyball: A decade of Doerre comes to an end

The volleyball defensive position term "libero," is an Italian word meaning "free." Liberos may be free to substitute without restriction, but there is a price to pay on the back row. Libero currency …

RF takes three titles home at Conference Swim & Dive meet

River Falls took fifth in the girls Big Rivers Conference swim and dive meet over the weekend, winning three events and scoring a 271, 40 points better than a year ago. The winners of the day …

RF run to remember comes to end at hands of New Richmond

NEW RICHMOND — No. 6 seed River Falls saw its run of miracle comebacks end after a 3-0 loss to No. 1 New Richmond in the Sectional semifinals, but there was no shortage of memories made, …
Prescott junior Kyra Dix placed seventh out of a field of 150 runners at the WIAA Division 2 State Cross Country Meet last Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids. Dix, who placed 18th last year, ran an 18.52, …
RIVER FALLS — Division 2 No. 1 seed River Falls once again asserted its dominance in the level two playoffs, scoring 41 points in the first half to beat La Crosse Central 50-24. On the …
Congratulations to Kyra Dix on qualifying for the WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Wisconsin Rapids. This is the second consecutive year the Middle Border All Conference harrier has advanced …
Ellsworth boys cross country is headed back to State for the first time since 1992, showing out at Rice Lake to the tune of a second-place finish. “It’s pretty significant …
Community
James Louis Asher was born Aug. 28, 1949 to John Asher and Doris Miller. A 1967 graduate of Elmwood High School, he served as a CPL in the US Army as part of Company A, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. He died at age 19 in Bình Dương, Vietnam on June 11, 1969. Father Brickle conducted services on July 1. He has a headstone at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Farm Hill and was later honored on the National Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.

PCHA’s Huebel to highlight 14 KIA/MIA in Elmwood

ELMWOOD – Join Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 for the School District of Elmwood Veterans Day Program as they honor the14 KIA/MIA soldiers from Elmwood whose names are inscribed on the …

Scout Troop 9054 Open House set for Nov. 8

RIVER FALLS – Scout Troop 9054 is hosting an open house from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Scout House on (206 Vine St., River Falls). There will be a skills relay, fire building, …

RF Senior Center releases December schedule

Follow us on Facebook (River Falls Senior Center) to learn what’s happening and to be alerted of any additional activities, changes, corrections, or cancellations. All events are subject to …

Art Beat: UWRF students showcase work at Art’s House

Art’s House Gallery in River Falls hosted UWRF art students Wednesday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Nov. 1. The Falcon students brought new faces and Halloween themed witches, Draculas, skeletons, …

Senior Gathering Place activities: Nov. 5-13, 2025

PRESCOTT – I hope you all enjoyed your extra hour of sleep Sunday morning. Of course that means sunset is now one hour earlier! Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I go to bed earlier! …
Education
Caleb Cornelius

CVTC district board approved tax rate, levy

EAU CLAIRE –  On Monday at its regular board meeting, the Chippewa Valley Technical College District Board approved the tax rate for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. CVTC district residents will …

Features
Terry Budworth, a veteran and Prescott American Legion member, is the featured speaker at the Prescott Veterans Day program.

Budworth is Prescott Veterans Day speaker

PRESCOTT – Veteran Terry Budworth’s message is simple yet powerful: “I think everybody has a duty to do something for their city, and mine is the American Legion. You …

Opinion
Columns

Woodworking again: How my Jazz Age kin survived the Great Depression

Last week I regaled readers with songs my father sang, songs he learned in those glorious years of the Jazz Age when stock prices went up and moral behavior went down. I once asked him to give me his …

Letter to the editor: Van Orden looks out for billionaires

To the editor, Last weekend millions of Wisconsinites and Americans sat on pins and needles wondering how they were going to feed their families and pay their medical bills due to the government …

Letter to the editor: A mass exodus

To the editor, Why are millions of young people fleeing the Democrat party and sprinting to the Republican party? Explaining this mass movement is both understandable as well as multifaceted. …

From the editor’s desk: It’s a small world

This is my favorite time of year, but a twinge of sadness sneaks in from time to time. As I’ve mentioned in past columns, the cold of fall is woodcutting weather. And it’s when I miss my …

Barth editorial: Public or private, taxpayers get the bill

The late State Sen. Tim Cullen and I used to get together now and then, off the record, to kick around political and policy affairs. He’s gone now and no confidences are violated by writing …

Sustainability Matters: In praise of the humble water bottle

Many of us rarely think twice about the water we drink. We are lucky to live in the St. Croix River Valley where most of us can trust that our water is fresh and clean. Yet, despite this abundance, …
Letters
Letter to the editor: AAUW Book Sale was success
To the editor, The River Falls Branch of AAUW held its annual book sale this past month. This fundraising event has been a community staple for over 50 years and in this time, has provided …
Letter to the editor: A shutdown that hurts those who can least afford it
To the editor, As I write this, the federal government has been shut down for a month—far too long for the 42 million Americans, including 700,000 Wisconsinites, who rely on the …
Letter to the editor: An American nightmare
To the editor, It’s hard to know what to say about a president of the United States who publicly fantasizes about being a king in a jet plane dropping excrement on crowds of his fellow …
Letter to the editor: Democracy is worth the fight!
To the editor, Can’t we all just get along? The division in our country is exhausting, but it’s also serious and has trickled down into our very families and communities. We can no …
Letter to the editor: IDEA impacted by federal cuts
To the editor, Sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education have gutted key offices that hold accountable and enforce IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Section 504. …
Obituaries
Jerome 'Jerry' Serverson
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Jerome (Jerry) Severson’s peaceful passing. He left us at the Kinnic Nursing & Rehab in River Falls, Wisconsin on Oct. 26, 2025. Jerry was born …
Adeline Florness
Adeline Ambernette Florness, age 95, passed away on Sept. 24, 2025 at Preferred Senior Living in Ellsworth, Wis., with her daughter Patty at her side. She was born on March 7, 1930, in Stockholm, …
Nelda Harvey
Nelda Delila Harvey was born on Nov. 23, 1928 in Cornell, Wis. to Philip and Alma (Warnberg) Stokes. She was a 1946 graduate of River Falls High School and attended WSU-RF for two years. She …
Earl Kinneman
Earl Willard Kinneman, age 92, died Sept. 19, 2025, at the Ellsworth Care Center. He was born Oct. 6, 1932, to Walter and Ellen (Dahl) Kinneman. He attended country school through eighth grade. …
Bradley Hovland
Bradley David Hovland, 60, of Maiden Rock, Wis., passed away Oct. 20, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus. Born on July 20, 1965, in Mason City, Iowa to David and Kay (Haugen) Hovland, …
Web Extras
Is AI powering the next wave of financial scams?
Finder.com reports AI is increasingly used in financial scams, including deepfakes. Protect yourself by verifying identities and avoiding suspicious requests.
Meet the U.S. Army Soldier-athletes on a mission to compete for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics
(BPT) - The United States' top athletes are aiming to secure their spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This group includes 15 Soldier-athletes and coaches from the U.S. Army's World Class …
Beyond the diagnosis: What people with diabetes wish you knew
(BPT) - Diabetes is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide.1 Daily management is tough, but one of the biggest challenges for those living with diabetes is confronting stigma, …
Are STIs truly declining, or is our data just not very good? What the 2024 CDC STI report really shows
Healthbeat reports a 9% decline in STIs in 2024, but data limitations suggest caution in interpreting this trend. Congenital syphilis cases rise.
10 most common full names in America and their effect on online persona
Anywho reports on the top 10 most common full names in the U.S. and how sharing a popular moniker can affect searchability, privacy, and lead to mistaken identity in the digital world.