Columns - Pierce County Journal

Sen. Jeff Smith: Healthy kids, healthy communities

With over three years between us and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to imagine a world in which vaccines are uncontroversial. In the past few years, the efficacy of vaccines has … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 8/17/23

Back Home: Cucumbers meeting the grade

There has been some sort of vegetable garden on our farm for nearly 100 years, dating back to my great grandparents. I’ve been told that my great grandmother Hilda Hardie was fond of … more

By Chris Hardie | 8/17/23

From the editor's desk: Step up or shut up

I’m sick and tired of people complaining, so I’m calling them out. I like Facebook because it allows me to keep up with goings-on of family and friends. I like the community pages, … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/16/23

Smith column: Healthy kids, healthy communities

With over three years between us and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to imagine a world in which vaccines are uncontroversial. In the past few years, the efficacy of vaccines has … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 8/10/23

Woodworking again: Harry Truman and Branson

When I was a kid growing up in Whitehall, Wis. in the late 1940s, I didn’t hear much about Harry S. Truman, the President of the United States. I was a big fan, but I only knew a few co-fans in … more

By Dave Wood | 8/10/23

Petryk column: Saving our agriculture training programs

Recently the University of Wisconsin - Madison made the decision to end the Farm-and-Industry Short Course (FISC) program, which had been operating for over 100 years to help prepare the next … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 8/10/23

From the editor's desk: Four-o-clocks are blooming

When I take our Bagle (Beagle/Bassett) hound Trapper out to do his business, I put a leash on him, even through we live in the country. If he gets wind of a rabbit, or sees a leaf, or even a … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/10/23

A photo of the Oehler Mill from its National Register of Historic Places nomination.

Back Home: Historic mill still stands

There are many highways across Wisconsin that take you to your destination, but sometimes I like to take the road less traveled. When time allows, turning off the main highways and following the … more

By Chris Hardie | 8/10/23

Woodworking again: A life well-chosen

“Death be not proud, though some have called Thee mighty and dreadful For thou art not so, for those whom thou thinks thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou … more

By Dave Wood | 8/3/23

Rep. Warren Petryk: A budget for Wisconsin – rural healthcare

Ensuring that healthcare in Wisconsin is accessible and affordable while increasing our healthcare workforce to care for our most vulnerable people remains a top priority for … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 8/3/23

Sen. Jeff Smith: How do we achieve fair political maps?

Allowing politicians to draw their own districts is like allowing a fox to watch over the chickens. So why do we keep doing it? Those in charge of changing districts are the foxes, and they like it … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith and Rep. Deb Andraca | 8/3/23

From the editor's desk: Why on deadline day?

Am I the only one looking forward to school starting? I like routine, not the chaos of kids running rampant throughout the house driving me insane. Do you know what it’s like to try to write an … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/3/23

Chris and Sherry Hardie's vegetable garden is green and growing.

Back Home: The height of summer

I woke this morning to a heavy blanket of fog and mist shrouding the valley. Soon it will burn off as we move into the heat of the day. By the solar clock we’ve already lost nearly … more

By Chris Hardie | 8/3/23

Woodworking again: Beaver Dam cookstove

My Beautiful Wife woke on a Saturday this spring to discover that our trusted kitchen stove was not as trusty as we had figured. Instead, B.W. found out that our cookstove was a P.O.J. A Pile Of … more

7/27/23

Rep. Petryk: A budget for Wisconsin – agriculture

Agriculture is one of our biggest economic drivers for western Wisconsin. It is also the main attraction at a county fair in the summer. It’s there when we visit one of the numerous … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 7/27/23

Sen. Jeff Smith: Enabling everyone for equality of access

The definition of disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities. That definition covers many conditions that might be considered a … more

7/27/23

Editorial: Local news is good for business

It’s no secret that recent years have been tough on small businesses and on newspapers. A bipartisan bill, the Community News & Small Business Support Act, that has been introduced in … more

By Dean Ridings/America’s Newspapers | 7/27/23

From the editor's desk: A bit of this and that

I’ll admit, this week I struggled a bit about what to write about. I usually write about the events that happen in my life, hoping they’ll be entertaining or even possibly show people … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/27/23

Chris Hardie's dad died a few years ago and going through his possessions has brought back a lot of memories.

Back Home: Cleaning up memories

There is nothing predictable about memories, which are sometimes as harsh as the strike of the hammer on the anvil and the next moment as soft as puffy clouds in the blue summer sky. I’ve … more

By Chris Hardie | 7/27/23

Woodworking again: My old pal Trillin

I’m happy to report that an acquaintance from years past is alive and kicking and still writing wonderful stuff. Years ago, I read my first sample of Calvin Trillin who wrote a hilarious piece … more

By Dave Wood | 7/20/23