Columns - Pierce County Journal

Woodworking Again: The thrashing adventure, Part II

Last week I recorded my family’s preparations to revert to an old-fashioned way of harvesting oats, a real adventure for me and a pain in the neck for my dad back in 1943 when gas was rationed and … more

By Dave Wood | 10/1/26

From the editor’s desk: One step forward and two steps back

Last week I wrote about putting one foot in front of the other and how my rheumatologist believed we were on the right track in treating my Ankylosing Spondylitis. AS is an autoimmune disease, an … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/1/26

Barth column: Respect roles that serve American freedom

Sometimes life leads to what might seem unlikely pen pals. Wait. Is that still a recognizable phrase in the age of social media? It harkens to a time when people put thought into words that … more

By Bill Barth | 10/1/26

Woodworking Again: Thrashing time Part I

“I’LL THRASH YOU, IF YOU’LL THRASH ME BACK!” Whenever I hear the rumble of a giant John Deere combine about to blow me off the highway, my thought goes back to 1943 when my father and … more

By Dave Wood | 9/24/26

From the editor’s desk: One foot in front of the other

There is one topic that I hate talking about, or even thinking about, and that is my weight. I don’t think any woman likes thinking about her weight, but I really, really hate it. So why write … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/24/26

Woodworking Again: Prescient writers

As I toiled through a battery of lit courses at Minnie Creek, also known as Eau Claire State College, I was constantly reminded by my profs that the stories and poems I was poring over meant … more

By Dave Wood | 9/16/26

Sustainability Matters: Data centers, what’s the big deal?

There’s a lot of talk these days about data centers. All over the country, people are paying attention, having conversations, and organizing movements. Locally, the discussion has reached both the … more

By Robin Boles | 9/16/26

From the editor’s desk: Learning by example

I wish I could go back in time and tell my grandparents thank you for all the things they taught me, some inadvertently, some intentionally. The older I get, the more I realize the wisdom with which … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/16/26

Back Home: A tale of taters

Most weeks this column focuses on a single topic, but sometimes it’s a mashup, blending two or more different themes into a perfect puree of prose. You never know what I will dig up or what my … more

By Chris Hardie | 9/16/26

Ellsworth Village President Becky Beissel

Village President column: A few Kwik updates

There’s a lot happening in Ellsworth right now, so let’s jump right in. First up: Kwik Trip! Last week, we celebrated the grand opening of Ellsworth’s new Kwik Trip with a ribbon … more

By Becky Beissel | 9/9/26

Woodworking Again: Praise be!

Writers and thinkers have a cruel way of damning their colleagues with faint praise, and the same may be said for just plain folks who get the same treatment. So as a service to all common Upper … more

By Dave Wood | 9/9/26

From the editor’s desk: Survival mode

This past year has been a year of adjustment and I almost feel like I’m rediscovering an old friend – me. It’s like I’ve been in mom survival mode for so long that I don’t know how to get … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/9/26

Back Home: Remembering the days of milking

The sea of fog and mist spread out before me, enveloping the farm valley and extending into the hills across the creek. Foggy mornings in August are commonplace in the Driftless Area, as the … more

By Chris Hardie | 9/9/26

Ask Andrew: The lost art of letters

The first thing people always ask me when I tell them that I write for a newspaper is, “How did you fall in love with writing?” Boy do I wish I had that answer. All through high school I … more

By Andrew Harrington | 9/9/26

Woodworking Again: By any other name

“A word by any other name might smell pretty sour.” Pardon my offense to the Bard’s immortal words, but I just couldn’t hold back when I read about the actor Karl Malden who began as a … more

By Dave Wood | 9/2/26

From the editor’s desk: More like Dolly

Last week our country lost a true American icon with the death of country music legend, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton. She died Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. What … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/2/26

Barth column: Shaking a fist at life’s little annoyances

Things that really annoy me: One , those confounded artificial intelligence robots pretending they exist to give me customer service. Rotten liars, all of them. A business trip … more

By Bill Barth | 9/2/26

Woodworking Again: Black and white

Some folks believe I’m nuts to prefer black and white movies. But I have my reasons. I recently watched such a relic, called “You Can’t take it with You,” filmed in 1938, which goes a long … more

8/26/26

From the editor’s desk: Thicker skin

If there was one thing that I could change about myself, it would be to have a thicker skin. Over the years, I have been told that I’m “too sensitive,” “take things too seriously,” or … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/26/26

Sustainability Matters: Lettuce eat locally!

I’m awfully grateful that I have access to locally grown lettuce. If you haven’t heard, on July 17, Taylor Farms, a large-scale producer and distributor of salad greens across the … more

By Robin Boles | 8/19/26