News - Pierce County Journal

Season 2, Episode 10 featured Wagner’s Sugar Bush, a Wisconsin syrup producer.

Ellsworth graduate part of team producing ‘Farms of America’

Luke Cipala, a 2018 Ellsworth graduate, may come from a farming community, but that is never where he saw life taking him. When he got a job producing for Mediastash, his boss reeled him into a … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/5/26

The Geving-Keehr family operated Geving & Keehr Furniture and Funeral Service in Spring Valley for decades.

O’Connell Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services acquires Keehr Funeral Home

SPRING VALLEY – On July 15, one of Spring Valley's longest-standing family businesses began a new chapter as Keehr Funeral Home became part of O'Connell Family Funeral Homes & Cremation … more

8/5/26

Robert “Bob” Loberg is celebrating 50 years in law and Loberg Law Office recently opened a new building in Crossing Meadows in Ellsworth.

Loberg’s 50 years in law have gone by in a flash

ELLSWORTH — Robert “Bob” Loberg of Loberg Law Office may not be born and raised in Ellsworth, but after spending his entire career in law in the village, he has become a cornerstone of the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/5/26

Early in-person voting now open for Aug. 11 primary

It’s a wide-open primary come this Aug. 11. With federal level races and Pierce County Sheriff races covered in separate articles and early in-person voting as of Tuesday, July 28, the choices for … more

By Joseph Back | 7/30/26

Firefighters check test vehicles for radiation contamination as they enter the reception center practice event.

Emergency services go through nuclear power plant emergency training

ELMWOOD – Emergency service workers gathered at Elmwood High School July 23 to go through training on what would happen in case of an emergency at the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant. The … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/29/26

Students recently completed beautiful art projects inspired by the intricate silver jewelry and designs of the North African Amazigh people in Ms. Asmus’ summer school class. Through this Mediterranean Folk Art lesson, students explored another culture while creating their own unique masterpieces using bold patterns, shapes, and metallic details.

Ellsworth Community School District Summer School offers something for everyone

While summer break gives students and staff a chance to relax and recharge, the halls of Ellsworth Elementary School were still buzzing with activity during the district's 15-day summer school … more

7/29/26

Representatives from volunteer groups who worked at Cheese Curd Festival received their checks July 23 at the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce members’ luncheon.

Cheese Curd Fest gives more than $16,000 to volunteers

ELLSWORTH – To say Cheese Curd Festival takes a village is an understatement. Cheese Curd Festival, held the last weekend in June, wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers who make … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/29/26

UW-River Falls finance major Stephanie Garcia Villagomez is working as a business technology intern for the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities region this summer. Garcia has built an impressive resume by working an on-campus job, studying abroad and participating in student organizations, including serving as president of the Women in Business Club.

Falcon Futures: First-generation college student is making her mark

RIVER FALLS — Stephanie Garcia Villagomez of Rogers, Minn., a finance major at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is not passing up any opportunity to prepare for a successful career in … more

7/29/26

UW-River Falls Stage and Screen Arts Professor Erik Johnson shows an example of a fake news social media post. Johnson teaches students in his media literacy course how to use media more deliberately and avoid being fooled by fake content generated by AI.

Keeping an eye out for AI: UW-River Falls professor offers media literacy tips to spot fake news

RIVER FALLS — What content are you scrolling through? Where is it leading you? Is any of what you see real? Those are some of the questions University of Wisconsin-River Falls Stage and Screen Arts … more

7/29/26

St. Croix EDC announces WEDC-Funded Small Business Development Grant recipients

ST. CROIX COUNTY — St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) is pleased to announce the second round of recipients of its Small Business Development Grant (SBDG), a program designed to … more

7/29/26

The School District of River Falls was awarded the 2026 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from FOCUS ON ENERGY.

RFSD awarded Energy Efficiency Excellence honor

RIVER FALLS — The School District of River Falls received the 2026 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from FOCUS ON ENERGY. At the July 20 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent David Bell … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/29/26

UW-River Falls student Mason Steele, a triple major in finance, economics and mathematics, is putting his skills to work as an intern for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis this summer.

Falcon Futures: UWRF student puts finance, economics and math skills to work for internship at Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

RIVER FALLS — Mason Steele of Hudson, a triple major in finance, economics and mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, had a goal in his junior year: to land a competitive summer … more

7/29/26

Cori Olson, a communication sciences and disorders graduate student at UW-River Falls, interacts with a child at the Montego Bay Autism Center during a service trip to Jamaica in January 2025. UWRF and the nonprofit Traveling with a Purpose will collaborate on their next trip in August.

Traveling with a purpose: UWRF and nonprofit team up to bring speech and hearing help to children in Jamaica

RIVER FALLS — When Sarah Smits and Tonja Lesmeister first became acquainted in River Falls as parents of kids around the same age, it may have been hard to imagine that their chats would lead to … more

7/29/26

The Prescott travel group in the glowing cityscape of Tokyo.

More than a trip: Prescott students discover Japan—and a new perspective

"It will be a trip I will never forget. The places we visited and the people made it a great experience." Those simple words from Prescott High School student Rowan Bauman capture what 24 … more

7/29/26

WISPOLITICS-STATE AFFAIRS: Evers finally endorses

Dem Gov. Tony Evers, after months of saying he wouldn't endorse a candidate to succeed him after two terms in the East Wing, did just that as moderate Democrats became alarmed that Francesca Hong, a … more

By WisPolitics.com | 7/29/26

The Wisconsin Congressonal District 3 candidates.

Candidates face off in District 3

Democratic Party voters in U.S. House District 3 will face a choice in the Aug. 11 partisan primary over who to send on to the November election. As it stands there will be four November candidates, … more

By Joseph Back | 7/29/26

The Spring Valley Community Center filled up in a hurry for a public hearing ahead of an August decision on the future of the Glade Avenue bridge.

Public urges SV board to spend on bridge replacement

SPRING VALLEY — Residents packed the Spring Valley Community Center for a public hearing with the village board regarding next steps on the Glade Avenue bridge July 21. A new “middle-ground” … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/29/26

The new Kwik Trip at the corner of Overlook Drive and Highway 65/Maple Street in Ellsworth is coming along, with an anticipated opening date of Aug. 27.

Kwik Trip to open in Ellsworth Aug. 27

ELLSWORTH – The new Kwik Trip in Ellsworth is set to open its doors Aug. 27, according to a presentation at the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce July members’ luncheon last week. Dave … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/29/26

Sporting World in River Falls is a non-profit used sporting goods store that aims to offer affordable equipment to the community.

Affordable sporting goods store using proceeds to back food pantry

RIVER FALLS — Sporting World, a used sporting goods store off of Main Street in River Falls, is a store aiming to make recreation affordable. That is not their only goal, though, as all the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/29/26

DMV offers information on obtaining an ID for voting

Ahead of Wisconsin’s Primary Election on Aug. 11, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds citizens how to obtain identification, free of charge, … more

7/22/26