Columns - Pierce County Journal

Big Ag lobbyists try to take money from program for small farms

Big Ag’s opposition to small farms is growing. While lobbyists try to block concerned local communities from adopting Operations Ordinances to protect themselves from the damaging impacts of … more

2/11/26

Opinion: Your right to information is under attack

Good journalism is usually unpopular, because it drags into the sunshine things those with vested interests prefer to either keep secret or spin into a favorable narrative. Yet our Framers … more

By Bill Barth | 2/11/26

Woodworking Again: Letter from Martell

When we first moved from fast-paced Minneapolis to what my wife thought of as the sleepy town of River Falls, I was frequently reminded of all the exciting things she was missing out on in this quiet … more

By Dave Wood | 2/4/26

Op Ed: Stand with immigrants in our communities

As a dairy farmer in Wisconsin, I know what's happening in the Twin Cities right now is not about immigration. Immigrants milk the vast majority of the cows in Wisconsin. Sure, there are a few small … more

By Emmet Fisher Oxheart Farm, Hager City | 2/4/26

From the editor’s desk: Loose dogs and 911 calls

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This quote has been attributed to Albert Einstein, but internet sleuths argue that it first appeared in an … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/4/26

Op Ed: Ridge Breeze oversight equals accountability

I am sure there is fatigue among many readers of the Pierce County Journal to continue to read both sides of the controversy surrounding the expansion of Ridge Breeze Dairy. I will try to keep … more

By Larry Brenner Owner of Vino in the Valley El Paso township | 2/4/26

Woodworking Again: ‘Let them eat croissants!’

My wife and I aren’t really suffering too much from the swelling price of groceries these days, perhaps partially due to the fact that in our golden years, our appetites have shrunk. But we are … more

By Dave Wood | 1/28/26

From the editor’s desk: Lead by example

Again this week I struggled with what to write about. When there is so much strife and turmoil in the world, especially in our neighboring state to the West, everything else seems a bit trivial. Much … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 1/28/26

Back Home: Treasuring life as it happens

The elevator doors opened and we stepped out onto the secured floor of the memory care unit looking for my mother. We didn’t have to look far – she was directly ahead of us sitting in the … more

By Chris Hardie | 1/28/26

Ask Andrew: The Meaning of Life

I have tackled many tough topics in my monthly advice column, but none have ever or will ever stack up to this. The final boss, the age-old question: What is the meaning of life? Some say to … more

By Andrew Harrington | 1/28/26

Sustainability Matters: Making a difference with food waste recovery

Every day from the backdoors of grocery stores, our home kitchens, and our dining tables, food that could nourish people ends up in the trash. In the U.S. alone, nearly a third of all food produced … more

By Robin Boles | 1/21/26

Woodworking Again: How the oyster cracker crumbles

“It was a bold individual indeed who was the first man to eat an oyster.” Jonathan Swift, “Polite Conversation,” (17367-1767-1845) Swift was a memorable and much-read satirist, but … more

1/21/26

EDITORIAL: The C-SPAN of Wisconsin must be saved

A bright light went out at the state Capitol last month. Lawmakers should plug it back in, with help from the public. WisconsinEye, an independent nonprofit, stopped broadcasting gavel-to-gavel … more

1/21/26

Editorial: Why we need protections from factory farms

My wife and I both serve in local government in our township of Gilman, which recently adopted an operations ordinance to address common concerns about CAFOs in our town. Several nearby towns have … more

By Tom Manley | 1/21/26

Rep. Kreibich column: Bill protecting adults at risk passes

Last Tuesday, the Assembly passed my bill which provides additional court protections for “adults at risk” and increases penalties for crimes committed against adults at risk. While crime victims … more

By Rep. Rob Kreibich | 1/21/26

Over the holidays, a glorious winter wonderland resulted from fluffy snow and freezing rain.

Editorial: What is possible when we unite?

Over the holidays at my home in the woods, we got over 8 inches of snow starting with huge wet flakes that stuck to every trunk, branch and twig. Then fluffy snow fell and a bit of freezing rain held … more

By Jenelle Ludwig Krause GROWW Co-Executive Director | 1/21/26

From the editor’s desk: Pierce County ties

Every day I feel fortunate for getting to do a job I love to do. Ever since I was a little girl publishing my own little newspapers, I have loved telling the stories of our communities. I’m doubly … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 1/21/26

Woodworking Again: What I didn’t know about the Civil War

Years ago, I was shocked to read in great grandad’s 1865 daily diary that was written on the fourth of July in 1865 in Ft. Leavenworth that he and his brother-in-law Dewey Parsons had spent … more

By Dave Wood | 1/14/26

From the editor’s desk: How we treat others matters

I struggled to know what to write about this week. As a newspaper editor, I need to remain impartial in my reporting in regard to politics and events going on in the world around us. I’ve tried to … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 1/14/26

Guest Column – First Amendment and what it means to teen-agers

If you’re looking to get jazzed up about journalism, judge a news competition for professional reporters and editors. You’ll be impressed by the talent and dedication. If you’re … more

By Rusty Cunningham WNA Foundation Board member | 1/14/26