More local news

SDRF crafting 2028-33 strategic plan

RIVER FALLS — The School District of River Falls is in the early stages of creating its 2028-33 strategic plan. The Board of Education was presented with the coming steps and ways for the community …

Council hears budget proposal, votes to terminate Flock contract

RIVER FALLS — The River Falls City Council heard the first reading of the budget proposal at the Oct. 27 meeting, showing an average increase of $20-25 to the city portion of residential tax bills. …

City of River Falls earns national award for organizational culture

RIVER FALLS, – The City of River Falls was named the national champion for organizational culture as part of Polco’s Best in Governance Awards . River Falls was one of six finalists in the …

Artist Swoon to speak at UW-River Falls Nov. 11

RIVER FALLS – Internationally acclaimed artist Caledonia Curry, known professionally as Swoon , will visit the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as the fall 2026 Wyman Visiting Professor in Art. …

Final phase of Fairy Wonderland receives DNR grant

PRESCOTT – A set of approvals made at the Oct. 28 Prescott City Council meeting will advance the next and final phase of Fairy Wonderland Park.  The council approved two resolutions: a …
Government

Council approves development agreement for ‘The Collective’

PRESCOTT – The proposed project called “The Collective” at 216 Broad St. continues to take steps toward becoming reality with another pair of approved city resolutions. The Prescott City …
Crime

Hager City man arrested after leading police on chase

Randy Ray Wilkens
TOWN OF OAK GROVE – A high speed pursuit winding through Oak Grove township resulted in the arrest of one Hager City man during the early morning hours of Oct. 25. Randy Ray Wilkens, 41, was …
Local sports

Shots from the Hip: Dix closes out amazing XC career

Senior cross country runner Kyra Dix finished second at last weekend’s WIAA State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids, ending a truly remarkable high school career. Since joining the team as a sophomore in …
Ellsworth senior Adolfo Mendez took fourth place in Division 2 at the WIAA State Championship Cross Country Meet.

XC trio posts impressive State times to close season

Prescott senior Kyra Dix took second, Ellsworth senior Adolfo Mendez took fourth and River Falls sophomore Micaiah Black placed 13th in what turned out to be an excellent State cross country meet …
Freshman libero Brielle Dusek serves in front of the River Falls student section.

Wildcat season ends in heartbreak to conference foe

RIVER FALLS — The Wildcat volleyball season was an excellent one in 2026, finishing second place in a stacked Big Rivers Conference with just one conference loss. River Falls entered Sectionals …
Senior linebacker Nolan Hoepfl makes an open field tackle in the first half of the playoffs Friday.

HS football season comes to an end after pair of playoff losses

Spring Valley and River Falls saw their football seasons come to a close Friday night, each dropping games in the second round of the postseason. Both teams rode strong senior classes into battle …

Shots From the Hip: Dix qualified for State XC

Kyra Dix turned in an outstanding performance at Saturday’s WIAA Division 2 Sectional Meet in Rice Lake, winning the individual title and qualifying for next weekend’s state meet in Wisconsin …
  Phenomenal Sectional performances have landed Prescott’s Kyra Dix, Ellsworth’s Adolfo Mendez and River Falls’ Micaiah Black spots in the Halloween State meet at Wisconsin Rapids. …
County teams secured seven playoff volleyball wins with three teams reaching the Regional Final, but River Falls was the lone Pierce County squad to push through to Sectionals. River Falls …
RIVER FALLS — With UWRF defensive coordinator Jake Wissing stepping into the head coaching role on a team looking to defend a National Championship, the team is using its championship mentality to …
A Spring Valley win that came down to a two-point conversion, a perfectly executed River Falls drive and Elmwood/Plum City sending off its senior class summed up a dynamite playoff Friday night. …
Community
Guest baristas Patty Brenner and Carol Huppert will prepare complimentary mocktails Nov. 12 at Ellsworth Public Library.

Ellsworth Public Library invites community to Mocktails & Appetizer Tasting Party

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Public Library invites adults to a free Mocktails & Appetizer Tasting Party from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Enjoy an evening of delicious treats, refreshing …

AAUW Book Sale begins Nov. 12

RIVER FALLS – The River Falls Branch of AAUW will hold its 2026 Book Sale at 111 Locust St., River Falls, on Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays …

Senior Gathering Place activities: Nov. 4-12, 2026

PRESCOTT – Well it's here, Daylight Savings Time! I sure don't need an extra hour of daylight each morning and do not like sunset at 5 p.m. But November is here and time change is …
In years past, Prescott held many masquerade balls in which people would dress up, sometime in a mock wedding, and march down Broad Street before heading to one of the local dance halls for a party.

Head on over to an old-time Masquerade Ball

PRESCOTT – The Prescott Area Historical Society is hosting a Costume Ball from 6-9 p.m. Saturday Nov. 7 at 235 N. Broad St., Prescott. All are welcome and there is no entry fee. There will be live …
The dedication plaque on the new Post 61 Pavilion in Prescott honoring Jerry Klasen.

Prescott American Legion dedicates new Post 61 Pavilion

PRESCOTT – The Prescott American Legion Post 61 continues to improve its facilities to better serve its members and the Prescott community. Following the recent completion of a beautiful flag …
Education

SVSD budget approved, childcare proposal presented

SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley School Board approved the district’s annual budget and levy at the Oct. 28 board meeting. The district will levy $4,500,015 with a $7.15 mill rate. That number …

Features
Winners from the costume contest included, from left, grand prize winner Nova Valorshon, of Hager City, dressed as a Mushroom Queen (ages 9-17); Jill Halvorson, of Hager City, and Layla Ingli, of River Falls, dressed as Dumb and Dumber (group costume); Christy Aufderhar, of Beldenville, as Little Shop of Horrors (adult category); and Sydney Hove, of Ellsworth, as a giant Dachshund (ages 8 and under). Not pictured: Zach Sloan, of Beldenville, dressed as Freddy (ages 9-17 finalist).

GALLERY: First Haunted Fairgrounds is ‘spooktacular’

ELLSWORTH - The inaugural Haunted Fairgrounds Festival, the brain child of Melissa and Gregg Nelson of Ellsworth, drew thousands of visitors to the Pierce County Fairgrounds Saturday, Oct. 31 for a …

Opinion
Columns

Woodworking Again: A ‘Wimseycal’ dinner party

One of my favorite fictional movie characters is the not so dashing Lord Peter Wimsey, best performed by Ian Carmichael. He’s often portrayed dining at the Savoy and consuming an inordinate amount …

Remember their service, honor their sacrifice, and be worth it

Every Veterans Day, we pause to recognize the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces. We attend ceremonies, display our flags, thank veterans for their service and remember …

Guest column: To the living, to the fallen

No U.S. Mail delivery. No in-person banking. Federal offices are closed. States observe holidays differently. Ever think about how a national holiday came to be? Glancing at this month's …

From the editor’s desk: Veterans Day 2026

With Veterans Day approaching, I’d like to encourage you to attend one of the many ceremonies honoring veterans in our communities. They are always moving and remind me what being an American is …

Woodworking Again: Wanna be a badger?

QUESTION: WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PERSONALITIES HAVE IN COMMON? Otis Redding, Little Richard, Eudora Welty, Georgia O’Keefe. Joyce Carol Oates, Hattie McDaniel, Rodney Dangerfield, Jackie …

From the editor’s desk: Moments I cherish

This weekend was a busy one for our family and a great reminder to cherish each and every moment. My husband is the defensive coordinator for the Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks football team, and …
Letters
Letter to the editor: The Democratic Socialists of America
To the editor: The great Thomas Sowell once said, “It doesn’t matter how smart you are, unless you stop and think.” Democrats are endorsing the individuals running as Democratic Socialists …
Letter to the editor: Voting matters
To the editor: Politics matter. Voting matters. If you have not yet, go to myvote.wi.gov. check out your ballot. Study your candidates and investigate the three constitutional amendments on the …
Letter to the editor: Unmasking our political reality
To the editor, At this point, I am done with disingenuous political commercials and chicken littles who write in to the PCJ to twist facts and cherry-­pick data to sway public opinion across …
Letter to the editor: We need honest representation
Rebecca Cooke has our vote for Congress. The Third District of Wisconsin has not been well-represented for the past four years.  Rebecca was raised on a dairy farm near Eau Claire, and six …
Letter to the editor: Ads are mostly lies
After weeks of political ads, attacks and claims, and some face-­to-­face candidate forums, voters have been of­ fered a few truths and a whole lot that isn't. However, a few things do ring true. …
Obituaries
Dale Strom
Dale Norman Strom, age 83, of Spring Valley, Wis., passed away peacefully on Oct. 30, 2026, at Spring Valley Nursing and Rehab, surrounded by the love of his family. Dale was born on March 14, …
Leslie Waxon
Leslie Eugene Waxon, age 89, of River Falls, Wis., died on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at his home in River Falls. Les was born on Dec. 29, 1936 in Hudson, Wis. He grew up in River Falls, graduating from …
Joanne Denzer
Joanne Denzer, age 88 of River Falls, formerly of Martell Township, died Oct. 23 at Region’s Hospital in St. Paul. A Celebration of Life is being planned. Please see oconnellfuneralhomes.com for …
Casey Follansbee
Casey Alex Follansbee, age 40, of River Falls, Wis., passed away on Oct. 21, 2026. He was born on Sept. 13, 1986, in Red Wing, Minn., to Clinton and Cindy Follansbee. The youngest of four siblings, …
Bernice Mary Gruber Schneider-Kiene
Age 94 of Oak Park Heights, died peacefully on Oct. 15, 2026. Bernice is survived by her husband, Ernest Kiene; her children Gary (Lynn) Schneider, Mark (Jeanne Fink) Schneider, Leanne (Scott) …
Web Extras
The Thanksgiving NFL archive: 5 statistical anomalies that defy decades of football logic
SBD reports on five Thanksgiving NFL statistical anomalies, highlighting remarkable performances, odd trends, and historical records from Turkey Day games.
5 ways to manage minor aches and pains to keep running this fall
(BPT) - Fall is arguably one of the best seasons for running. The crisp, cool air brings runners a much-needed reprieve after a summer of sweaty miles and serves as a reminder to make the most of the …
American AI Models Must Become the Global Default
American AI Models Must Become the Global Default
(NewsUSA) - Leadership in artificial intelligence may come down to adoption: technological leadership matters only if American AI becomes the default choice for governments, companies, and …
4 retro-fueled room designs for fresh inspiration today
Houzz reports on four retro-inspired room designs blending past styles with modern touches, showcasing 1920s Art Deco, 1950s charm, 1960s Space Age, and vibrant 1990s aesthetics.
What causes a food coma, and how to beat it this Thanksgiving
Naturepedic reports that food comas, or postprandial somnolence, occur after large meals, causing drowsiness.