SPRING VALLEY – The Spring Valley Village Board Jan. 7 designated the Pierce County Journal and the Baldwin Bulletin as its official newspapers for the remainder of the 2025/26 year.

With the closing of the Spring Valley-Elmwood Sun-Argus on Dec. 25, 2025, the village is required to designate a new official newspaper. Because the village doesn’t have a paper headquartered within village limits, it’s allowed to publish its agendas online and post them in three places. However, certain mandatory notices must be published in a newspaper.

“I feel very strongly we should be supporting a local newspaper,” said Trustee Matt Huepfel. “We’ve had one newspaper fold, let’s not have another one fold. Supporting published local news is an important part of our mission.”

Village Administrator Luann Emerson added that she felt adding the Baldwin Bulletin as an official newspaper would benefit the village’s St. Croix County residents, who might feel overlooked.

Journal Publisher John McLoone, who appeared at the meeting with Advertising Coordinator Jack McLoone, provided the board with information on the Journal’s coverage area, subscription numbers (more than 3,700), dedication to local news and official newspaper municipality designations. He made clear the Journal will be stepping up its coverage of the Spring Valley and Elmwood areas, now that the Sun-Argus is defunct.

Baldwin Bulletin Publisher Tom Stangl didn’t appear at the meeting.

Music in the Park

The board reviewed a tentative schedule for Music in the Park 2026 dates at Handy Andy Park, plus Half Fast Brewing street closure dates. Music in the Park dates include May 2 and 16, June 6 and 20, July 3 or 11 and 18, Aug. 8 and 22, Sept. 12 and 26 and Oct. 3.

“You won’t hurt my feelings if the Minnesota people can’t park there and go fishing, just so you know,” joked Village President Theresa Koch about the date set for fishing opener weekend.

Beth Croes from Half Fast Brewing said the idea behind Music in the Park is to bring more people to the community. Emerson said she appreciates seeing the dates ahead of time in case the public wants to rent the park pavilion. As for the street closure requests, she and Police Chief Dulcie Lillie will be working on rewriting the street closure ordinance for clarity.

“Not that I want to deny anything…so we’re not picking and choosing which ordinances we search around,” she said.

Other business

• Attorney Michelle Erdman, of Erdman Law Office, introduced herself announced the opening of her office at S226 McKay Ave. It will be 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and by appointment. She also operate an office in Baldwin.
• Library Director Becky Manley reported that a new storytime will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. The Library Board is working on a mental health crisis policy. Staff is excited for an animatronic dragon trainer scheduled for August as part of the library’s summer reading program.
• The board tabled a street use permit for The Spillway (S225 McKay Ave.) for June 13, 2026 for Gun Bingo. They would like more information on the event before making a decision.
• During the Clerk’s Report, Emerson reported the new village website is live at vi.springvalley.wi.gov She also said a potential sale of the former Kindred Table building had fallen through due to water damage found during an inspection.
• The next village board meeting is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Feb. 4, 2026.