News - Pierce County Journal

PHOTOS: St. Croix County Sheriff's Deputy Kaitie Leising's Funeral at Hudson High School

5/13/23

The 2023 RFHS Forensics team celebrating its state tournament victory with a classic River Falls fire truck welcome home.

RFHS Forensics: Winning titles and building confidence

RIVER FALLS – For many, the term “forensics” brings to mind visions of detectives examining evidence from a crime scene. But the 60 or so members of the River Falls High School … more

By Beth Cedarholm | 5/4/23

As Clifton Town Chair, LeRoy Peterson spent countless hours leading meetings in the schoolhouse that houses the town hall. After 50 years, someone new will take up the gavel.

End of an era for Clifton Township

LeRoy Peterson isn’t quite sure if he has served on the Clifton Town Board for 50 years or 52 years. “I can’t remember if I started in 1971 or 1973,” he says thoughtfully, … more

By Beth Cedarholm | 4/27/23

Chad Johnson was officially sworn in as Chief of the Prescott Area Fire Association at the Prescott City Council meeting Monday, March 27. He took over as chief in November, but a state audit reported he was never officially confirmed by the city council.

Prescott purchases Badger Books to help with election

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council at its meeting Monday, March 27 approved the purchases of three Badger Book electronic devices to help poll workers and streamline the election process. … more

By John McLoone | 4/6/23

Pierce County April 2023 election results

Here are the unofficial election results of the April 4, 2023 nonpartisan election. Election results are not official until they are canvassed. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk*. Winners are … more

Staff report | 4/5/23

Burnsville woman sentenced in deaths of Dalton Ford and Taylor Garza

A Burnsville, Minn. woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday, March 24 in Dakota County District Court for her role in the deaths of two former Prescott residents, Tayler Garza and Dalton … more

By Bruce Karnick | 3/30/23

"The Drowsy Chaperone" will be performed at Prescott High School March 31 through April 2.

‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ hits Prescott’s stage

PRESCOTT – Get ready for a night of comedy, laughter, music and fun as Prescott High School presents the musical farce “The Drowsy Chaperone” this weekend. Director Thomas … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/30/23

Heavy snow across the upper Midwest this winter will make it very likely that the upper Mississippi River will flood this spring, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

Heavy, wet snow raises risk of spring flooding in upper Mississippi River basin

Heavy, wet snow that pounded upper Wisconsin and Minnesota is expected to cause flooding this spring along the upper Mississippi River, and it could be considerable. The National Weather Service … more

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | 3/30/23

Whitney O'Neil, 46, Ellsworth, sits with her attorney Aaron Nelson Thursday, March 23 during her sentencing hearing in Pierce County Circuit Court.

O’Neil sentenced to 30 days jail, probation, in EBSA theft case

The former president of the Ellsworth Baseball Softball Association will serve jail time and community service after embezzling over $100,000 from the youth sports organization over the course of … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/23/23

Officer Jesse Nealy and K-9 Caesar were introduced to the Prescott City Council at its meeting Monday, March 13.

Caesar hard at work helping in Prescott

PRESCOTT – The highlight of the Monday, March 13 Prescott City Council meeting was officials getting to know the city’s K-9 officer Caesar. Caesar and his handler, Officer Jesse Neely, … more

By John McLoone | 3/23/23

The Focus River Falls Comprehensive Plan is the product of thousands of points of contact between the public, city staff and consultants, who together formed a 20-year roadmap for the city’s future.

RF’s Comp Plan is in the home stretch

RIVER FALLS – After 18 months of hard work, the Focus River Falls Comprehensive Plan is nearly to the finish line. The plan commission voted March 7 to forward it to the city council for … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/23/23

Joe Mahn of Mahn Family Funeral & Cremation Services sits in the business’s planning office at 344 W. Main St. in Ellsworth. A new chapel will be built in Crossing Meadows Business Park.

New funeral chapel coming to Ellsworth

ELLSWORTH – Mahn Family Funeral & Cremation Services is planning to build a new funeral home/chapel on land next to Knutson Dental in Ellsworth’s Crossing Meadows Business Park. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/23/23

Sex offender arrested for enticing teen in RF

A registered sex offender is in custody after picking up a juvenile girl in River Falls on Dec. 10 and taking them to his home in Unity. Jason J. Lull, 44, was ordered to pay $25,000 cash bond … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/16/23

The cast for Spring Valley High School’s “The Legend of Robin Hood . . . Sort Of:” (back row, from left) Caleb Bartko, R.J. Hybben, Trista Falde, Avery Huebel, Zoe Larson, Hannah Adams, Lana Erickson, Parker Hannack; (front) Trevor Forester, Lauren Bigaouette, Jacob Andreus, Danielle Nyhus, Emma Buck, Dani Ramirez, Abigail Wines, Sam Miller. Missing: Tanner Dicus, Cade Stasiek.

SVHS presents ‘The Legend of Robin Hood … Sort Of'

SPRING VALLEY – Spring Valley High School will present “The Legend of Robin Hood . . . Sort Of” March 31 through April 2 at the Stagehands Theatre (S234 McKay Ave.) … more

3/16/23

Ellsworth High School’s phy ed locker rooms have changed little since 1961. They will be renovated this spring/summer to become ADA compliant, modern and asbestos free.

Ellsworth School Board talks locker room financing

ELLSWORTH – In preparation for the upcoming Ellsworth High School phy ed locker room remodel, school board members talked about how to pay for the project, plus others looming on the horizon at … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/16/23

(From left) River Falls Renaissance Academy students Ciara Roberson, Halvard Herfindahl, and Savannah Stern chat with St. Croix Valley Restorative Services facilitator Kelvin Pooler, who recently received a Wildcat Pride award for his work at the Ren.

Kelvin Pooler helps Renaissance students open up, succeed

RIVER FALLS – When Kelvin Pooler received a Wildcat Pride award at the River Falls School Board meeting Feb. 20, it came as a complete surprise. He was seated in the audience but had no idea … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/16/23

Liquor, beer license denied for proposed dance club

RIVER FALLS – The River Falls City Council voted Feb. 28 to deny a combination Class B liquor and beer license for a new bar/night club at 106 N. Main St. River Falls Management LLC (Bold … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/9/23

Mary K. Brown, 38, Durand, appeared in Pierce County Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 6, where she was ordered to post a $150,000 signature bond on charges related to her amputation of a patient’s foot at Spring Valley Health Care Center.

Nurse pleads not guilty to foot amputation charges

A former Spring Valley Health Care Center nurse accused of amputating a 62-year-old hospice patient’s necrotic foot without permission pleaded not guilty to three felony charges at a Feb. 16 arraignment hearing in Pierce County Circuit Court. more

By Sarah Nigbor | 3/1/23

Blooms for Happiness opens storefront in RF

RIVER FALLS – “The Flower Girl,” a.k.a. Tiffany Dux, has been a familiar face at local floral shops over the years and now she has made the leap to open her own shop. Dux and her “blooming … more

2/21/23