Business - Pierce County Journal

Dave Schmelter and his wife Jill in front of The Goldsmith in River Falls as they prepare to close their doors.

The Fixer of the Unfixable: The Goldsmith to close its doors after owner’s retirement

RIVER FALLS -- After 17 years running a store in River Falls and several more years running them elsewhere, Dave Schmelter has decided it is time to close shop and retire from The Goldsmith. The … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/27/24

Shoot 360 in Woodbury uses the same technology as many NBA teams to provide instant feedback.

Prescott brothers open basketball training location with pro-level technology

Brothers Brock and Trevor Steger of Prescott have always had a love for the game of basketball, so when the opportunity came to run a business dedicated to it, they knew they could not pass up the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/20/24

Charity Lubich, PPCS vice president of member relations and human services (left), and Barb Bee (center), PPCS senior accountant, presented Ellsworth Fire Department’s Kellen Langer (right) with a $1,000 check to purchase a battery-powered cut-off saw.

PPCS members boost local food shelves and community programs

ELLSWORTH – Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) members have once again demonstrated their commitment to the community by supporting local food shelves and other vital programs … more

11/13/24

Blue Sky Self Storage, located at 1563 US Highway 63, will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers and towing equipment.

U-Haul Services now available at Blue Sky Self Storage

HAGER CITY — U-Haul Co. of Wisconsin, Inc. is pleased to announce that Blue Sky Self Storage signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Hager City community. Blue Sky … more

11/6/24

CJ Pedersen of Country Fit in Ellsworth leads fitness classes for all abilities. She and Angie Whelan want everyone to have access to class options, regardless of income level.

Fitness for all income levels, abilities: Ellsworth women want everyone to feel welcome

Getting fit doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, thanks to two small business owners in Ellsworth. Angie Whelan of YB Urban? and CJ Pedersen of Country Fit Nutrition have made it their … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/30/24

Business owners Kayleen Jakes, Megan Gooselaw (not pictured), CJ Pedersen and Angie Whelan are raising money in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month for gas cards for those who must travel for treatment.

Local businesses raise funds to help cancer patients with fuel costs

ELLSWORTH – Four local business owners are raising awareness about breast cancer, a cause close to these women’s hearts. Brush Strokes Art Supply/East End Gifts, Country Fit … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/16/24

PPCS staff welcomed Governor Tony Evers to the Trenton Solar at Truttmann Field solar array on Monday, Sept. 23, as part of National Clean Energy Week activities.

PPCS celebrates Clean EnergyWeek with visit from Gov. Evers

As part of National Clean Energy Week, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers stopped in Hager City on Monday, Sept. 23, to visit Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services' (PPCS) new solar array, Trenton Solar at … more

10/2/24

Speedway closes in Ellsworth, Holiday rebrands to Circle K

Speedway in Ellsworth was officially boarded up on Monday, Sept. 30. Crews onsite were boarding the windows and removing items from the store. Travelers through Ellsworth might notice … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/2/24

Paul Bauer, former CEO of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

Bauer let go from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Board of Directors announced that as of Sept. 3, 2024, CEO Paul Bauer is no longer employed with the company. The board declined to give a reason … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/11/24

Lauren Highfill has been named the new Pierce County Economic Development Corporation director, succeeding Joe Folsom who is retiring.

PCEDC welcomes new executive Director

ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) welcomes Lauren Highfill as its new Executive Director. Highfill comes to the EDC from the city of West Concord, Minn. … more

9/4/24

Sarena McCarthy performs a nail trim on Maui. McCarthy is the proud owner of Sarena’s At Home Pet-A-Cures, a mobile pet care business.

Mobile pet care business brings pet-a-cures to homes

PRESCOTT – If you’re a pet owner, this might be a familiar scenario to you: It’s time for your pet to have a nail trim and they hate it. They shake, they try to hide or they become … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/4/24

Hundreds of citizens packed the Elmwood Auditorium during a public DNR hearing about Ridge Breeze Dairy's expansion application on July 11.

DNR sends permit application back to Ridge Breeze

PIERCE COUNTY — This month, Pierce County locals are applauding a DNR decision to require Ridge Breeze Dairy to produce signed waste spreading agreements with local landowners to back their … more

8/28/24

Creamery detects ammonia leak, evacuates plant/store

The Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery experienced an ammonia leak at its Ellsworth production facility shortly after noon on Monday, Aug. 19. CEO/Manager Paul Bauer released a statement shortly … more

Pierce County Journal newsroom | 8/21/24

Kyle, Crystal, John and Tyne are some of the family members that help the farm and store run. John’s son Shane (not pictured) also plays a key role in the farm.

Faith, family and farming: Udder Hills Meats

MAIDEN ROCK — Small meat stores, butchers and processors are a popular stop in western Wisconsin, and Pierce County is no different. Udder Hills Meats of Maiden Rock is a family farm-owned … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/14/24

USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Basil Gooden spoke at the Plum City American Legion post to discuss a grant JM Watkins received and the nation’s food supply chain.

USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development speaks on JM Watkins grant, food supply chain in Plum City

PLUM CITY — A grant that will help JM Watkins Meats and Meat Processing construct a new facility that will triple processing capabilities brought USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/8/24

Momentum West, Dunn County and Pierce County EDC launch Single Family Housing Toolkit

RIVER FALLS – Pierce County residents and homebuilders can now use a unique “housing toolkit” designed to make it easier to buy and build homes in the county. Through a joint … more

8/1/24

The shelves of the Prescott Area Food Pantry filled with food for those in need throughout the community.

Prescott Area Food Pantry hosts variety of fundraisers with fun and food for all

PRESCOTT — Through noticeable increases in visits and demand for food, challenges with food sourcing, reductions in donations and decreasing volunteers, food pantries in the state of Wisconsin … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/25/24

Sisu Play Café Jessica Nevalainen is passionate about sustainability and quality. She carefully chose the items in her retail shop to reflect those values.

Sisu Play Café opens downtown River Falls

RIVER FALLS – Every child needs a place to play where they feel comfortable, whether that’s a neighborhood park or a smaller setting such as downtown River Falls’ new Sisu Play … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/10/24

The flyer for a Community Concert being put on by Quinn Motors of Ellsworth on Wednesday, July 17.

Quinn Motors of Ellsworth to celebrate 105th anniversary with first-of-its-kind community concert

ELLSWORTH – Quinn Motors of Ellsworth is celebrating its 105th anniversary on Main Street in Ellsworth on July 17, 2024. The car dealership that Matthew Quinn opened with Alfred Larson in 1919 … more

7/3/24

The interior of Beav’s Restaurant and Tavern in Plum City, after a fire gutted the building on June 29.

Beav’s Restaurant & Tavern burns, owner says she’ll reopen

PLUM CITY – More than 80 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to a restaurant fire in downtown Plum City early Saturday morning. While no one was inside at the time or hurt, the restaurant … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/3/24