News - Pierce County Journal

Students walk on the UW-River Falls campus on the first day of classes, Sept. 2. UWRF has again been named to lists of best colleges by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.

UW-River Falls honored by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review

RIVER FALLS – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has once again been recognized by multiple publications as one of the top public regional universities in the Midwest, a sign of the … more

10/1/26

Community invited to Coffee with Supt. Bell

RIVER FALLS – Supt. David Bell is inviting community members to join him for a free cup of coffee and conversation this fall. Coffee with the Superintendent will include a brief update from … more

10/1/26

RF man charged with child porn possession

A man found living in the woods in River Falls is accused of possessing hundreds of child pornography images on a cell phone. Roman James Serbesku, 35, homeless, River Falls, was ordered to pay … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 10/1/26

UW-River Falls stage and screen arts major Ryan Bartley poses for a photo in UWRF’s Blanche Davis Theatre. Bartley spent part of his summer working as a full-time apprentice at Vassar College’s Powerhouse Theater in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Falcon Futures: UW-River Falls stage and screen arts major gains professional experience through prestigious summer theater apprenticeship

RIVER FALLS – Ryan Bartley of New Berlin, a University of Wisconsin-River Falls stage and screen arts major, needed to find an internship experience for the summer before his senior year. The … more

10/1/26

City exploring increase to permitted driveway width

RIVER FALLS — The first reading of an ordinance change that would change the maximum driveway width at the right-of-way line in R-1 zoned districts from 25 feet to 30 feet was heard by the River … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/1/26

UW-River Falls students and faculty enjoy their creations after taking a cooking class in Rome in January. The group spent their winter break touring Italy as part of UWRF’s Agriculture and Food Experience. The program will take students to Greece this winter.

UW-River Falls students get a taste of Italy during study abroad opportunity

RIVER FALLS – Over winter break in January, 19 students joined the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Agriculture and Food Experience on a tasting tour of Italy, visiting Milan, Reggio Emilia, … more

10/1/26

Repair work to result in overnight closure of Prescott lift bridge

The bascule (lift) bridge that carries US 10 over the St. Croix River from Prescott to Point Douglas Park in Denmark Township, Minn., will be closed overnight for up to three nights, so bridge … more

9/30/26

The City of River Falls is looking ahead to the revitalization of its historic downtown.

River Falls recognized as Gold Tier in WEDC’s Connect Communities Downtown Revitalization Program

RIVER FALLS - The City of River Falls has been recognized as a Gold Tier member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC) Connect Communities Program, an initiative that works with … more

9/30/26

Pierce County resident Wendy DiPeso was a featured speaker at the “No Blank Check for Big Tech” rally in River Falls Sept. 23.

Rally in RF demands end to data center tax exemption

RIVER FALLS – The ‘No Blank Checks for Big Tech’ rally in Veterans Park Wednesday, Sept. 23 demanded an end to Wisconsin’s state sales-and-use-tax exemption for qualified data centers and … more

9/30/26

The St. Croix Valley Innovation Center is located at 1091 Sutherland Ave. in River Falls.

St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center receives $2.2 million grant for expansion

RIVER FALLS – The City of River Falls and the River Falls Economic Development Corporation (RFEDC) have been awarded a grant of $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic … more

9/30/26

Prescott’s Bryson McGrath’s shoes at the Washington D.C. CureFest shoe memorial.

‘It’s not rare’: September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Approximately 1 in 285 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday, according to the American Childhood Cancer Association. It may sound rare, but Prescott’s … more

By Andrew Harrington | 9/30/26

Father in baby death case posts cash bond

A man charged in his baby’s meth poisoning death appeared for the first time in Pierce County Circuit Court on Sept. 23. He posted bail two days later. Taylor Jae Olson, 26, River Falls, … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/30/26

Dr. Nicole Eggers, an associate professor at University of Tennessee, speaks to one of Jeff Ryan’s Prescott High School classes on Friday, Sept. 18.

From PHS classrooms to eastern Congo

PRESCOTT – Just because you grow up in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t explore the world and experience new cultures. After all, Prescott High School alumnus Dr. Nicole Eggers, an expert on … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/30/26

Longtime Hastings sports figure charged with 13 felonies

Derrick Lee Pfeffer, a former Hastings athlete with decades of connections to the local baseball community, is facing 13 felony charges in Washington County involving allegations of sexual conduct … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/30/26

New data shows St. Croix County businesses are resilient, optimistic while dealing with higher costs

As companies continue to face economic uncertainty, St. Croix County businesses are more economically optimistic and more likely to be hiring than other businesses across Wisconsin and the broader … more

9/24/26

Purina Hager City invites pet owners to help support domestic abuse survivors and their pets through the Purple Leash Project

HAGER CITY — Purina Hager City is inviting pet owners in and around Hager City to help support domestic abuse survivors and their pets through the Purple Leash Project. From Sept. 1 through Nov. … more

9/24/26

Elmwood green-lights EPC football’s move to 8-man

ELMWOOD — Elmwood approved its half of EPC football’s move to eight-man football starting in 2028 at the school board meeting Monday night, with Plum City’s board also slated to vote on the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 9/24/26

A State Patrol inspector talking with a school bus driver.

Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association team up to promote safe driving near school buses

The Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association (WSBA) are teaming up to promote safe driving near buses during the annual Operation Safe Stop Week, Sept. 21-25. The collaborative … more

9/24/26

Laura Diez Moreno, an exchange student from Spain, is the Prescott Community Club Student of the Week.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Laura Diez Moreno

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Sept. 23 is Prescott High School junior Laura Diez Moreno, nominated by Spanish teacher Profe Jodarski. “I am excited to recognize Laura, … more

9/24/26

Prescott School Board gets update on cell phone policy

PRESCOTT – The new personal communication device policy seems to be going well, the Prescott School Board heard at its Sept. 16 meeting. Supt. Jim Reif said the district purchased lock boxes … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/24/26