Business - Pierce County Journal

River Falls Area Hospital recognized in patient survey

RIVER FALLS — Allina Health River Falls Area Hospital is proud to be recognized as one of the top Wisconsin hospitals patients would recommend to family and friends. River Falls Area … more

9/4/24

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News Editor Dana Kelroy, left, presents an award of excellence in the category of Photography to Liz Gunderson, communication coordinator at Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services.

PPCS wins statewide magazine award

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services recently won an award of excellence for presentation of local news in the Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News , the voice of the state’s rural electric … more

9/4/24

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

New housing cooperative will address affordable housing shortage in western WI

HUDSON – A groundbreaking initiative has been launched to tackle the housing shortage in western Wisconsin, focusing on Dunn, Pierce, Pepin, Polk, and St. Croix counties. The new Housing … 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

Brad Ristow (second from right), PPCS vice president of operations, and Todd Olson, operations administrator, display the plaques PPCS received from the Arbor Day Foundation recognizing PPCS as a Tree Line USA utility for the 20th year in a row. The PPCS line crew pictured are (from left) Dan Jensen, Aaron Hanson, Brady Schommer, Tucker Ingenthron, Brent Paulson, Chase Reeser, (top) Jack Truttman, Brion Gilles, and Austin Manore.

PPCS recognized as Tree Line USA Utility for 20th consecutive year

ELLSWORTH – Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) is proud to announce that the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized it as a Tree Line USA Utility for the 20th consecutive year. This … more

8/21/24

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

At their July 10 monthly meeting the Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 and Auxiliary Unit 207 installed their new Officers for Fiscal Year 2025. Legion Officers (from left): David Hauschildt, Chaplain; Dean Marsh, Adjutant; Jerry Thompson, Commander/Finance Officer; Pat Hines, Vice-Commander; Jim Baier, Sgt-at-Arms; not pictured Marilyn Galoff, Historian. (Photo on right) Auxiliary Officers (from left): Colleen Flanscha, Secretary; Donette Stewart, Vice-President, Brenda Bechel, President/Treasurer/Sgt-at-Arms; not pictured Marilyn Galoff, Chaplain.

Legion Post 207 shares July news

7/16/24

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

Redaction costs threaten police video access

The bill moved with lightning speed. It was introduced last December, passed the state Senate in January and the Assembly in February, and was signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers in March. 2023 … more

Bill Lueders | 7/10/24

Maria Shea, owner of Awaken Counseling and Coaching, lives in Prescott. She has worked in mental health for 30 years.

Prescott counselor, coach has passion for helping others

Maria Shea, Prescott resident and owner of Awaken Counseling and Coaching, has been in the mental health field for nearly three decades. "I've been in the business for almost 30 years, private … more

By Riley Dorau | 7/3/24

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

Angie Whelan addresses the crowd assembled May 15 for the reveal of YB Urban?’s makeover, courtesy of the Wisconsin Main Street Makeover contest.

Future is bright for YB Urban?, Ellsworth’s East End

The atmosphere was electric in Ellsworth’s East End Business District on Wednesday, May 15 and Angie Whelan, owner of YB Urban? at 243 N. Broadway St., hopes to keep the momentum going. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 6/27/24

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services helped celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Metered, one of the first data centers in western Wisconsin. “This data center not only supports leading edge technology such as AI, data analytics, cryptocurrency mining and virtual reality, it also signifies Pierce County is open for business when it comes to being a transformational leader utilizing technology and innovation,” a press release from Pierce Pepin states.

The Metered launches data center in Hager City

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services has announced the addition of its newest member, The Metered, LLC. The Metered will launch one of the first data centers in western Wisconsin, offering cloud-based … more

Pierce County Journal newsroom | 6/26/24