Columns - Pierce County Journal

Sen. Jeff Smith: Is your healthcare at risk?

We were hit hard in west central Wisconsin with the announcement that Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) would permanently close Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, St. Joseph’s Hospital in … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 3/27/24

Back Home: A strange spring indeed

One of the benefits of starting my seventh decade of life in Wisconsin is experiencing all kinds of weather and seasons – sometimes occurring on the same day. There’s usually one day … more

By Chris Hardie | 3/27/24

American Family Field, formerly Miller Park, might be getting some company in town if the MLB chooses Nashville for their impending expansion.

Column: The MLB is looking to expand, and WI stands to benefit

As the MLB considers expansion, there is a decision to be made on what locations should be chosen. There are six main cities being considered for a new franchise: Portland, Charlotte, Nashville, … more

By Joe Peine | 3/20/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: Who wants to serve?

In the five years since taking office, Gov. Evers has offered appointments ranging from cabinet secretaries to numerous boards and commissions for confirmation in the Wisconsin State Senate. The … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 3/20/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Spring legislative update

The 93rd Assembly District's constituents have benefited greatly from the current two-year legislative session. As your State Representative, I have read and received more than 3,000 … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 3/20/24

Woodworking again: Trots

How many of you readers out there used Cliff Notes when you were in school? C’mon now! Fess up! The pamphlets were everywhere back in the 1960’s. Yellow and black. The bane of English … more

By Dave Wood | 3/20/24

Woodworking again: Book titles

“The best laid plans of Mice and Men aft gang agley”—Robert Burns You got that right, Bobby, m’lad, especially when it comes to figuring out how to create a title for … more

By Dave Wood | 3/13/24

From the editor: The restaurant biz

Lately our family has been obsessed with watching “Bar Rescue.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a restaurateur named Jon Taffer who uses his 40+ years of knowledge in the … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/13/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Governor vetoes continue to ignore needs of Chippewa Valley

It must be Groundhog Day again in Madison. Only instead of anticipating spring, we are caught in a loop where local Democrats and Gov. Evers keep voting against and vetoing necessary tax relief … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 3/13/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: Recognizing Wisconsin women

March is Women’s History Month – it’s a time for us to recognize women’s achievements, honor women's history and reflect on the work that still needs to be done. At an early … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 3/13/24

Crows mobbed this bald eagle that landed in a tree.

Back Home: Birds are bullies too

His name was Billy and he lived across the street from our family in the Milwaukee suburb of Hales Corners. He was probably three years older than me – more like my brother’s age … more

By Chris Hardie | 3/13/24

Woodworking again: The Dells revisited

Several years ago, when I was a weekly columnist for “Grit,” the national weekly that prided itself on only printing good news, I broke the rules and referred to Wisconsin Dells as … more

By Dave Wood | 3/6/24

From the editor's desk: What you never knew about SPAM

As I write this, I am sitting in a hotel room in Rochester, Minn. with my mom and daughter. I have a follow-up appointment at Mayo in the morning following sinus surgery and then hopefully … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/6/24

A car catalogue from 1976 fearing a yellow Mercury Bobcat similar to the one once owned by Chris Hardie.

Back Home: This tale stinks

I was outside at dawn recently getting some chores done when I was hit with one of the smells of the country – a malodorous whiff left by a mammal in the mephitidae family. It was the … more

By Chris Hardie | 3/6/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Spring session update

It has been my privilege to advocate on behalf of the people of the Chippewa Valley throughout this legislative session by supporting bills that will reduce taxes, fix our roads, invest in affordable … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 3/6/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: You can be a citizen lobbyist

A typical week in our Madison office includes meetings with constituents who drive to Madison to advocate for organizations spanning all sorts of topics they are concerned about. In person meetings … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 3/6/24

My View: The evolution of miscommunication

Phone calls used to be private business. When I was a kid, my earliest memories that surrounded the telephone were that we had a party line. You’d pick up the phone and one of your neighbors … more

By John McLoone | 2/28/24

Woodworking again: Finlandia!

When I was a wee lad in 1939, I listened to WEAU radio and kept hearing the name Paavo Nurmi. Finally I asked my well-informed father who Nurmi was. Answer: “Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973) was the … more

By Dave Wood | 2/28/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Supporting our children’s education and wellness

Last week, the Assembly continued to support our youth's education and wellness by passing a package of bills aimed at combating childhood obesity and truancy. These bills, like the previous human … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 2/28/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: It seems to me, don’t limit HSHS crisis funding

The announcement that HSHS was closing Both Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Hospitals by April 21 came as a surprise to everyone in the Chippewa Valley. Thankfully, all of us have … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith & Rep. Jodi Emerson | 2/28/24