Features - Pierce County Journal

Bob Gilbertson diligently works on a tiling project at a shelter in Myslowice, Poland housing Ukrainian refugees.

RF residents volunteer at Ukrainian shelter in Poland

When she arrived in the refugee post of Katowice, Ludmyla Tkachenko said to a National Geographic reporter: “Half my heart I left behind, half I brought with me .” She and her … more

By Dan Woll | 10/12/23

The 2023 Elmwood Homecoming Court: (top row, from left) King Seth Loga, Queen Cori Wood and juniors Tyce Thiry and Riley Ginsbach; (bottom, from left) freshmen Allison Sauve and Brewer Link, sophomores Alayna Pazurek and Jack Steinmeyer.

GALLERY: Homecoming Weeks abound in Pierce County!

Pierce County schools welcomed back alumni and the community for annual Homecoming festivities, a tradition that signifies fall, football, and fun. more

10/5/23

UW-River Falls student Grace Johnson shows Copper, a dog she will help train to be an assistance animal, her open hand after feeding him a treat after Copper and other dogs were dropped off at UWRF Sept. 14. Johnson is one of 21 students who will work with 10 assistance dogs on campus as part of the new Falcon FETCH (Fostering Education Through Campus Hosting) program.

UWRF students begin training assistance dogs

RIVER FALLS – The 21 University of Wisconsin-River Falls students gathered outside the Lydecker Living Learning Center on Sept. 14 come from different places and have diverse future plans. They … more

9/28/23

RFHS freshman publishes first book

River Falls High School freshman Leila Dexheimer has done something many people dream of yet never accomplish: She’s written and published her own book. “The Gold King,” … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/28/23

Clarence “Pop” Armstrong operated Pop’s Corn in River Falls starting in 1958. It was fixture at Glen Park on hot summer days next to the pool, as well as downtown River Falls on Friday nights near Main and Walnut streets.

A River Falls icon, Pop’s Corn, to be restored

RIVER FALLS – Be on the lookout for a piece of history at this year’s Bacon Bash in the form of Clarence “Pop” Armstrong’s Poptcorn Wagon. According to River Falls … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/14/23

A concession stand expansion and bathroom installation are in the works at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church ball field in Beldenville. A luncheon, held in conjunction with a tractor blessing Sept. 10, will raise funds for the project.

Tractors invited to special harvest blessing

Donna Constant is a driving force and once she gets an idea, it’s like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Thanks to Constant, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Beldenville will host … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/7/23

The Prescott Best Christmas Ever team, led by Alisa and Curt Schroder, pose with Santa Claus.

Best Christmas Ever program seeks nominations

PRESCOTT – One of the best parts of Christmas is seeing others’ faces light up with joy, whether that’s when opening a gift, around a holiday goodie-laden dinner table or seeing … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/31/23

Jeanette Wheatley with husband Nigel, who died in 2021. His death pushed her to try comedy as a way to make friends and get out of the house.

Prescott native takes Cheesehead comedy show to Scotland

“You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but … well, the cheese hat isn’t going anywhere.” That sentence sums up Prescott native Jeanette (Brickner) Wheatley’s … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/31/23

Terry and Sandy Odalen have lived in El Paso nearly all their lives, raising their three children there. They will be leading the El Paso Days Grand Parade on Aug. 20.

Odalens named 36th annual El Paso Days honorary citizens

TOWN OF EL PASO – The grand marshals for the 36 th annual El Paso Days parade are longtime residents Terry and Sandy Odalen, along with former Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove. As is … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/17/23

Sunflower Steve has a wide variety of sunflowers with different shapes, colors and sizes.

Local seed company sparks from one unexpected flower

ELLSWORTH – In an old field of cut sunflowers, one sunflower randomly grew that stood out back in 2007. The multi-colored, double flowering sunflower had 12 seeds, which Steve Kaufer planted … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/10/23

Nancy Hove served as Pierce County Sheriff for four terms before deciding against running for re-election.

Hove to return to Pierce County as parade grand marshal

ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Fair is often capped off with a Sunday parade sponsored by the Ellsworth Fire Department. This time around, long-time sheriff Nancy Hove will return to the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/10/23

‘So God made a farmer:' Plum City grad knows there’s nothing else he’d rather do

Bryce Mark has earned a Supreme Champion ribbon twice in his years of showing cattle at the Pierce County Fair. The Merri Heirs member just graduated from Plum City High School. Not many kids … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/3/23

River Falls hockey player Taggart Havens, aka El Co Flo, is hoping to win the 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown in honor of his friend Coby Clark, who is fighting cancer.

‘A big mullet, a big heart:' RF hockey player hopes to win contest for friend

RIVER FALLS – Taggart Havens is a River Falls kid with not only a big mullet, but a big heart. He, like Ellsworth resident Otto Jakes, is hoping to make it to the final round of the 2023 Kids … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/27/23

Landscaping work being done as part of Rock the Block’s River Falls projects during 2019.

Rock the Block brings neighborhood revitalization to Ellsworth

ELLSWORTH – St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity has worked with some of Ellsworth’s community leaders to bring Rock the Block, a neighborhood revitalization project, to Ellsworth from … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/20/23

Four-year-old Boone Erlandson of Beldenville began growing his mullet in 2020 when he dressed up as Joe Diffie for Halloween.

Local boys compete in national mullet contest

The next USA Mullet Champ could be one of three Ellsworth area boys, if local voters have anything to say about it. The 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown is a fundraising event (online) through Jared … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/20/23

New Ezekiel Lutheran Church Pastor Steve Dow standing in front of the church’s sign in River Falls.

Steve Dow brings 22 years of pastor experience to Ezekiel Lutheran

RIVER FALLS – Ezekiel Lutheran Church of River Falls has brought Pastor Steve Dow aboard to be the next leader of the church. Dow hopes to bring stability and a familiar face to Ezekiel … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/13/23

Alex Smrekar holds the trophy of one of nine individual cheese curd eating contest championships.

Dairy dominance: Smrekar wins cheese curd eating contest for ninth time

ELLSWORTH – Crowds gathered at East End Park on June 24 for what has become one of Ellsworth’s most competitive events of the year. The cheese curd eating contest is an annual … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/13/23

Aidan Bowman, River Falls, sporting his sailor costume at his first Circus Juventas performance in May 2013.

River Falls student finds his niche performing under the Big Top

Aidan Bowman practices Russian bar this June (Aidan is the porter on left). Aidan Bowman (also known as “Aidan BB”) has been told that he was a clumsy little kid. By the time he was … more

By Beth Cedarholm | 6/29/23

An Easter toast photo of Dennis Armstrong and Judy McNall they sent to brother John Connors.

Siblings find each other after 70 years, thanks to DNA testing

DNA testing has provided people a way to find out more about their ancestors, and for 76-year-old Ellsworth native Dennis Armstrong, the discovery of two half-siblings was life changing and … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/22/23

Course designer and organizer Andrew P. Reese standing in front of the Sterling Hill Disc Golf Course map in River Falls.

Rapidly growing RF disc golf community sees another course open

RIVER FALLS – Disc golf has become a wildly popular activity over the past decade and the Sterling Hill Disc Golf Course was created in River Falls to accommodate that. The course is free … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/22/23