Columns - Pierce County Journal

Rep. Warren Petryk: Investing in building and growing

Every day, we rely on our state’s investments in infrastructure. From driving to the grocery store to learning in high-tech school buildings, infrastructure is crucial for our personal and … more

By Rep. Warren Petyrk | 10/2/24

Green energy makes homeownership more affordable

As the ranking Democratic member on the Senate Utilities Committee, I’ve spent much of my career fighting to make utility costs more affordable for families while addressing the urgent need to … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 10/2/24

From the editor's desk: Change is tough

Change can be good, but change can also be really difficult. I am a creature of habit and am not a big fan of change. I often wonder how my grandparents handled the momentous changes they witnessed … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/2/24

My View: A different world

I was in a different world altogether on Saturday. I saw and experienced things I’ve never seen in more than six decades on this planet. It was somewhere I never intended to be. We … more

By John McLoone | 9/26/24

From the editor's desk: Taking the leap

My kids find it hard to believe that I wasn’t always “old.” They act like I grew up on Little House on the Prairie with a sunbonnet and covered wagon. I was born in the 1980s for … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/26/24

Barth column: Let them compete, with ideas, for all the votes

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, the sprint is on for the presidential campaign finish line. So I write about a topic that is passionate for me, one I’ve opined on several times over … more

By Bill Barth | 9/26/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Working to address Wisconsin’s housing shortage

Here in the Chippewa Valley, we are not immune to the housing challenges seen across our state. In River Falls a study found that the area would be short hundreds of new homes to keep up with the … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 9/26/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: Unpacking the funding gap

Over the past decade, you’ve probably noticed more and more referenda questions on your ballot to help fund your local school districts. While there are many reasons for why a school would … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 9/26/24

A box of Cortland apples picked from a tree on Chris Hardie’s farm.

Back Home: The seasons of life

I sat on the back stoop on the cusp of autumn, coffee in hand, and bade goodbye to summer. “Seems like I hardly knew you,” I said. Summer sighed, reluctant to move on. But … more

By Chris Hardie | 9/26/24

Woodworking again: Pierce County Historical Association newsletter

For the past year I’ve been laboring over my hometown’s history writing historical pieces to celebrate the town’s sesquicentennial. It’s an onerous task because until … more

By Dave Wood | 9/26/24

From the editor's desk: Why, oh why?

Sometimes I fear readers will become sick of reading about my not so exciting, work- and chore-filled life or the next episode in what seems like a medical soap opera like “General … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/26/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Helping students get a workforce credential

As Chairman of the Workforce Development Committee, I have worked to ensure that our state invests in programs and ideas that will make an impact on our workforce shortage crisis. One way I have done … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 9/26/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: Harm reduction kiosks save lives

Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is typically used to treat severe pain following major … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 9/26/24

Sustainability Matters: Why is it important?

What is sustainability? What does it mean to be sustainable and why is it so important? How might sustainability impact our lives on a day-to-day or long-term basis? What can you or I do to be more … more

By Robin Boles | 9/25/24

From the editor's desk: The Wisconsin Goodbye

Have you ever heard of the term “the Minnesota Goodbye?” It should also be called the Wisconsin Goodbye, because it’s just as prevalent here and I honestly cannot stand it. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/4/24

Woodworking again: The fabulous 'fifth quarter'

I’ve been turning stomachs lately during conversations about food favorites on my dining list. People say stuff like “ugh,” and “uff-da,’’ and … more

By Dave Wood | 9/4/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: In vitro fertilization, family and politics

Raising children is expensive, and solving infertility can be a fortune. Couples trying to conceive experience the joy of a positive pregnancy test and the horrendous heartbreak of miscarriage. … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 9/4/24

Woodworking again: Fun with words

MALAPROPISM—a confused use of words in which an appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but a ludicrously inappropriate meaning. From the French “mal a … more

By Dave Wood | 8/28/24

Rep. Warren Petryk: Continuing to invest in our community schools

In a few days, students across the 93rd Assembly District will return to the classroom. They will be greeted by our dedicated teachers, eager to help them learn and begin the new school year. And … more

By Rep. Warren Petryk | 8/28/24

Sen. Jeff Smith: Labor stats reveal gaps

We all know that Wisconsin’s minimum wage is stuck in the last century. I mean, who can actually afford to live on $7.25 an hour? That’s $1,160 a month at 40 hours a week, which is hardly … more

By Sen. Jeff Smith | 8/28/24