Columns - Pierce County Journal

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Prescott, Wis. First, I spent my too brief honeymoon with my Beautiful Wife, dining at the wonderful Steamboat Inn where we celebrated many anniversaries … more

By Dave Wood | 10/8/25

From the editor's desk: Third time was not the charm

My favorite time of year is beginning: When the heat of summer gives way to the coolness of autumn and a trio of festive holidays takes center stage, one for each month. Halloween in October, … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/8/25

Back Home: A quiet goodbye to summer

The towering bluffs were shrouded with fog and ribbons of lightning flicked across the dark sky as I said goodbye to the waning hours of the summer. It was the morning of Sept. 22 and I was … more

By Chris Hardie | 10/8/25

Ask Andrew: Picking up the spatula

I found my love for cooking again. Through my four years of college, I rarely cooked anything that did not come out of a freezer. When I did, it wound up a disaster more times than not. Perhaps … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/8/25

Village President column: Truth, clips, and community

We live in a world where attention spans are shrinking, and narratives are built on fragments. A one-hour speech, a long interview, or a heated debate can be clipped down to three sentences and … more

By Becky Beissel | 10/8/25

Mayor’s Message: Bring back the basics

Well… what should we talk about? We could start with the weather — it’s been beautiful lately. The leaves are just starting to show their colors, and there’s that crisp … more

By RF Mayor Dan Toland | 10/1/25

Woodworking Again: Demoralizing changes to the Strib

I’m sorry to report that the newspaper I once was proud to work for, now named the Minnesota Star Tribune, “The Heart and Voice of the North,” is making news that is heart-wrenching … more

By Dave Wood | 10/1/25

Veterans Views: You make a difference

The Pierce County Veteran Services Office is cruising into fall and enjoying some mild weather while watching the trees transform into their beautiful fall colors. We are also taking the time to … more

By Melissa Hildebrandt and Tami MacGregor Pierce County Veteran Services Office | 10/1/25

From the editor's desk: What's on my radar

“What’s on your radar” is one of my favorite segments on the Dave Ryan in the Morning radio show on KDWB. The four show hosts take turns telling the audience things that have caught … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/1/25

Back Home: A fascination with underground life

I’ve had a fascination with caves as far back as I can remember. My first recollection was when I was maybe 4 years old living near Milwaukee. Dad said we were going to meet some friends … more

By Chris Hardie | 10/1/25

The Woods’ plan for an upgraded outhouse experience.

Woodworking Again: Outhouses revisited

One of the first customers to use the new outhouse facility mentioned in last week’s column was our friend Carl Chrislock, a distinguished professor of Scandinavian history then and author of … more

By Dave Wood | 9/24/25

From the editor's desk: Teens' toilette

Something happens to a child when they turn into a teenager. I don’t know if it’s the hormones or going through puberty or what, but they turn into a bathroom hog. They are also often … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/24/25

Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia, president of Chippewa Valley Technical College, left, and Dr. Katherine Frank, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Stout, celebrate the remodel of CVTC’s Menomonie campus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 15. The two leaders have collaborated closely to enhance educational opportunities for students.

Editorial: Reframing higher education

As leaders of institutions committed to preparing the next generation of skilled professionals, we find ourselves aligned as regional partners at a decisive moment in the evolution of American higher … more

By Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia & Dr. Katherine Frank | 9/24/25

Editorial: Unplug from the hate machine

Often credited to the French philosopher Voltaire but actually penned by his biographer Evelyn Beatrice Hall, the phrase is almost universally known: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will … more

By Bill Barth | 9/24/25

Sustainability Matters: Local action in challenging times

“All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We do not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.” - Chief Seattle, c. … more

By Robin Boles | 9/17/25

Woodworking again: Outhouses, the old 3-holer

Nowadays a fashionable academic notion asserts that public virtues such as community sharing, cooperation, and pulling together in times of trouble disappeared once all the barns were raised and … more

By Dave Wood | 9/17/25

From the editor's desk: Broken

My column will be short this week, because like many, I am feeling broken. I just have a few simple statements to make. The death of political activist Charlie Kirk is terrible. It should not … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/17/25

The Thrune Center at Norskedalen includes historical displays and exhibits explaining the Norwegian immigrants who came to the region.

Back Home: A visit to Norway close to home

Be it for the good or the bad, we are from whom we descend. While our ancestors don’t define us, we wouldn’t be here without them. My descendants and their lives were on my mind … more

By Chris Hardie | 9/17/25

Woodworking again: Poverty

I’ve been digging through my incunabula (old writings in my files) and thank goodness found a long-lost item that should help me weather the depression invoked as I browse through the morning … more

By Dave Wood | 9/10/25

My View: I've made it this far

If you’re reading this, you’re still aging. We all are. I, for one, am really starting to feel it. I’m already dreading winter, a couple months away. After the cool … more

By John McLoone | 9/10/25