Columns - Pierce County Journal

From the editor's desk: Surviving teenhood

I’m trying to be patient and understanding, I really am. Unfortunately, patience isn’t my strong suit. My grandmother preaching to me that “Patience is a virtue” just never … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/27/25

Back Home: Spring day clears the mind

There comes a day every year in the midst of the dance of the seasons when winter allows spring a brief interlude. Since we live in Wisconsin, that day may come in late February or late … more

By Chris Hardie | 3/27/25

From Horseplay to Heroes: All Mine to Give

I'm not a psychologist, but I think grief is an emotion meant to be shared. Sharing stories and remembering loved ones can lift us up. It is love’s way of evening the score. For there can be … more

By Greg Peters | 3/27/25

Woodworking again: Band blues

One of the things I’m reminiscing about while I’m lolling in my recuperation abode is getting together with my old band buddies and having a great time while playing ridiculously bad … more

By Dave Wood | 3/19/25

Corporate America: No Friend of Sustainability

Allow me to step onto my soapbox for a moment… America is in the midst of an identity crisis. Who are we, and what do we stand for? In times past, discussions of our identity … more

By Robin Boles | 3/19/25

From the editor's desk: It's Sunshine Week March 16-22

Each year in mid-March, newspapers and media outlets across the country celebrate Sunshine Week, and this year is the 20 th anniversary. Sunshine Week, which coincides with James Madison’s … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/19/25

My View: Road tripping

My kids have changed. First of all, they aren’t kids anymore. They’re adults. It used to be at this time of the year, we’d be scheming some kind of a family trip. Now, our … more

By John McLoone | 3/13/25

Woodworking again: Cleanliness is next to ...

Until recently I was a clean guy. For years, for example, I had the routine of getting up at 6:30 a.m. to make my way to the local Y, where I was required to take a hot soapy shower before I could … more

3/13/25

From the editor's desk: Going on holiday

Last week when I wrote about my eventful spring break road trip to North Carolina, it brought back memories of other road trips I’ve been on. Heading down the highway in my vehicle is my … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/13/25

Ellsworth: A relationship worth nurturing

I spent my Sunday afternoon diving into a new book, Your City is Sick by Jeff Siegler. The overarching theme of the book is about the relationship we have with our communities; how they shape us, how … more

By Becky Beissel | 3/13/25

Woodworking again: Rosanne redux

A couple weeks ago, I pored (or was it BORED?) you with what amounted to a doctoral dissertation explaining how and why comic strips sometimes grow up and others stop in their tracks. This week … more

By Dave Wood | 3/5/25

From the editor's desk: Spring break destinations

I feel bad for my daughter. It’s her spring break and we have nothing exciting planned. After all this medical business, a trip to the grocery store seems luxurious to me. I haven’t left … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/5/25

Chris Hardie built a blazing fire in the woodstove during the cold snap, which brought back memories of cutting wood in the winter with his father.

Back Home: Fire brings warm memories

The coffee was brewing as I crumpled up some newspaper and carefully constructed the beginnings of a fire. Outside the house the battery on my outdoor digital thermometer blipped out, apparently … more

By Chris Hardie | 3/5/25

Woodworking again: Spam proofed

I’ll never forget 1945, the glorious year that my grandma went off to war and returned with vittles that lasted for months. Some folks remember 1945 as the year World War II ended. In … more

2/27/25

From the editor’s desk: A new challenge to tackle

For someone who hates going to the doctor, I’ve been to enough of them the past three years. Hopefully the merry-go-round of medical fun is coming to a close. I’d really prefer to have … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/27/25

Sustainable grocery shopping: Let’s talk local

In early February, I taught a session at the Green Skills Sampler called Sustainable Grocery Shopping. I’ve taught this class before through River Falls Community Education, local churches, and … more

By Robin Boles | 2/20/25

Woodworking again: My life in crime and adventure

Back in the Dark Ages I was still poring over comic books and Sunday newspaper cartoons like Dick Tracy and Tess Truehart, Mark Trail, and Terry and the Pirates featuring beautiful portraits of the … more

By Dave Wood | 2/20/25

From the editor's desk: The little white house

It’s funny the things you remember from your childhood. I often wonder why certain memories stand out so much, even the seemingly mundane ones, when others that were probably much more exciting … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/20/25

While packing up my mom's house Sunday, Feb. 9, we saw a hot air balloon making its way toward our field, east of River Falls.

From the editor's desk: A Sunday surprise

Sunday was a day that I’ve been dreading for a long time. My mom has been living in a nursing home since she was hospitalized in October and she’s now well enough to move to an assisted … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/18/25

Village President’s column: Investing in our heart: The vital role of downtown revitalization

It’s impossible not to feel the excitement surrounding new development across our community. From the Gerrard Apartment Building and Kwik Trip in the Crossing Meadows district to the Workhorse … more

By Becky Beissel | 2/14/25