News - Pierce County Journal

CAPITOL REPORT: Tale of two swing districts

Call it the tale of two swing districts. Two Republican members of Congress in Wisconsin. Two different personalities. Two very different outlooks for the fall. One is Derrick Van Orden, … more

By WisPolitics-State Affairs | 4/30/26

Road construction continues at Piety and Woodworth streets in Ellsworth, as new sewer infrastructure is installed.

Village Board faced with subbase issue in Grant/Piety project

ELLSWORTH — During the April 21 Ellsworth Village Board special reorganization meeting, the board heard that the South Grant and Woodworth streets’ subbase is “not ideal.” “It has … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/30/26

Prescott High School sophomore Nola Kiefer is the April 29 Prescott Community Club Student of the Week.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Nola Kiefer

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week is Prescott High School sophomore Nola Kiefer, who was nominated by library media specialist Joan Simon. “Nola is actively involved in several … more

4/29/26

Newly elected Mayor Mike Gerke presided over his first Prescott Common Council reorganizational meeting April 21, where he was sworn into office by Clerk Rashel Temmers. He and challenger Bailey Ruona each garnered 397 votes in the April 7 election, which resulted in a coin flip tiebreaker.

Gerke begins term as mayor, Ruona appointed to Prescott Common Council

PRESCOTT – At the April 21 Prescott Common Council reorganizational meeting, Alderperson Dar Hintz nominated Bailey Ruona to fill the at-large alderperson vacancy, which was approved at the April … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/29/26

Cindy Femling and Sarah Parkos of Afton Apple received the 2026 Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

Afton Apple wins WASDA Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award

PRESCOTT – Afton Apple, a longtime supporter of the Prescott School District, received the WASDA Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award at the WASDA Annual Educational Conference on Thursday, April 23 in … more

4/29/26

The Ellsworth High School March Students of the Month are (from left) Brielle O’Neil, Cameron Sears and Katelyn Homan.

EHS applauds March Students of the Month

Ellsworth High School is pleased to announce the March Students of the Month: Freshman Brielle O’Neil, sophomore Cameron Sears and senior Katelyn Homa. The junior class recipients wished to remain … more

4/29/26

EHS honors 3rd quarter honor roll students

Ellsworth High School is pleased to announce the recipients of third quarter honor roll status for the 2025-26 school year. Seniors Jay Ainsworth, Gabriel Albarado, Hayden Almsted, Landon … more

4/29/26

SVMS/HS proclaims Term 3 honor roll recipients

Spring Valley Middle/High School is pleased to announce the students named to the Term 3 Honor Roll for the 2025-26 school year. GPA 4.0 Honor Roll Seniors: Collin Brunner, Emma Buck, … more

4/29/26

PSD investigating staff social media comment

PRESCOTT – Prescott School District released a statement Wednesday, April 29 concerning a comment a district employee allegedly posted about the White House Correspondent’s Dinner alleged … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/29/26

Bark’s Spring Valley Bakery recently opened up at S323 McKay Ave., selling raised and cake donuts, cookies and bread.

Bark’s Bakery an instant hit in SV

SPRING VALLEY — Just weeks after Bark’s Spring Valley Bakery’s April 1 opening at S323 McKay Ave., the stop has already become a community favorite. The opening week was self-described as … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/29/26

St. Croix Valley Foundation opens Environmental Grant Program on Earth Day

The St. Croix Valley Foundation is opening its Environmental Grant Program with a record level of funding, making this the largest year of environmental grantmaking since the program began. … more

4/29/26

One of the newly constructed islands in Lake Pepin near Catherine’s Pass, part of the Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area Habitat Project.

Pierce County Board approves license plate readers, welcomes new supervisors

ELLSWORTH – During the April 21 reorganizational meeting, the Pierce County Board approved a resolution authorizing the use of opioid settlement funds to purchase four license plate reader cameras … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/29/26

One student from each grade K-12 had the honor of breaking ground for the new Spring Valley School District track facility at a ceremony Friday, April 24.

‘Our kids deserve this facility’: SV breaks ground on track project

The Spring Valley School District welcomed community members and students to the track and field groundbreaking April 24, a large portion of the approved 2025 referendum projects. “Our kids … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/29/26

Newly elected Mayor Alison Page (right) after being sworn in during the April 21 organizational meeting.

New mayor, councilmembers sworn in during organizational meeting

RIVER FALLS — Newly elected Mayor Alison Page and new Councilmembers Mei Mei Abdouch and Rose Walker joined re-elected Alderperson Todd Bjerstedt, being sworn into their positions during an April … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/29/26

The Current, a project in River Falls by Capital Investment Partners, is similar to the proposed apartment development in Prescott called The Bluffs.

Prescott City Council approves Bluffs concept plan

PRESCOTT – Prescott City Council approved a pair of resolutions related to a new apartment development proposed at 1452 Glenridge Drive at the April 13 meeting. After reviewing two new concept … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/29/26

A major win for the Village of Ellsworth this year was the groundbreaking for the Kwik Trip at Overlook Drive and Maple Street/Highway 65, set to open in August 2026.

Ellsworth State of the Village 2026: Looking to the future

ELLSWORTH – Ellsworth Village President Becky Beissel and Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Brad Roy presented the 2026 State of the Village at the April 23 Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce monthly … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/29/26

A man attempted to rob First National Bank of River Falls (104 E. Locust St.) at knifepoint, stabbed an employee and fled police Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

UPDATE: Charges filed in attempted RF bank robbery

An armed man attempting to steal money from a River Falls bank Tuesday stabbed an employee and fled the scene, though he was later arrested. According to a news release from the River Falls … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/28/26

The scene of a motorcycle crash on State Road 35 in Oak Grove township that resulted in the deaths of two people.

Motorcycle crash kills 2 people in Oak Grove

TOWN OF OAK GROVE – Two people have died as the result of a motorcycle crash in the town of Oak Grove on Wednesday. Pierce County deputies responded to a two-vehicle motorcycle crash with … more

Staff report | 4/24/26

Undergraduate math students from around Wisconsin participate in the “Math Face-Off!” competition Friday, April 10, during the Mathematical Association of America-Wisconsin Section spring meeting held at UW-River Falls. The weekend event included presentations by faculty, staff, students and guest speakers.

UWRF hosts 93rd annual Mathematical Association of America-Wisconsin Sectional meeting

RIVER FALLS — The University of Wisconsin-River Falls hosted the 93rd annual Mathematical Association of America-Wisconsin Sectional Meeting April 10 and 11. The event … more

4/22/26

Students work in the chemistry lab in the new Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) at UW-River Falls. The university’s annual Giving Days fundraising campaign runs April 23-24, supporting academics, athletics and emergency assistance.

UW-River Falls announces Giving Days April 23-24

RIVER FALLS — The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host its annual Giving Days fundraiser April 23 and 24, inviting alums, friends and community members to … more

4/22/26