As your local hometown newspaper, we strive to cover everything in our communities, from outstanding accomplishments to big court cases, from new businesses opening to tragic losses. The good, the bad and everything in between that comprises the fabric of our lives.

Join us as we look back over the front page headlines of 2023.

January

Jan. 4, 2023

Three people have been charged with felonies related to identity theft, cashing checks that don’t belong to them and fraud against a bank in River Falls. Authorities conducted a search warrant at a trailer in Cudd’s Court that turned up numerous stolen checks and drugs.

A 6-year-old girl died in a mobile home fire Thursday, Dec. 30 in River Falls. River Falls Fire Department responded to a house fire at 4:30 a.m. that day at 1450 S. Wasson Lane (Cudd’s Court).

River Falls resident Kevin Westhuis has the persistency of a stalagmite and it not only won wife Colleen over but it’s also the reason his volunteer-run River Falls Sports YouTube broadcasts have almost a million views in the last four years.

The building at S214 McKay Ave. in Spring Valley will soon house a new dining establishment after an extensive five-year remodel. Todd Gross and Jan Poitra-Gross will host a soft opening for Kindred Table on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Jan. 11, 2023

Are you ready for election season yet? The midterm November elections might seem like they were yesterday, but it’s time to start thinking about the April 2023 local elections, which will feature candidates running for local school boards, village boards, towns boards and city councils.

The Pierce County Finance & Personnel Committee voted after a Jan. 9 closed session meeting to recommend to the full county board a favorable annual review for County Administrator Jason Matthys, along with a 4% wage increase, despite demands for his resignation from a county board supervisor, a Pierce County Sheriff’s Office employee, and several (retired) Sheriff Nancy Hove supporters.

When River Falls’ Director of Public Works Mike Stifter moved to River Falls 25 years ago, he didn’t realize how much the City on the Kinni would come to mean to him and his family, making it tough to say goodbye. Stifter’s last day on the job was Friday, Jan. 6.

In an action described as “historic,” the Prescott School Board voted to move its middle school level students to what is now the Prescott Intermediate School.

Jan. 18. 2023

Dakota County, Minn. Attorney Kathy Keena announced that Leon Bond, age 19 of Burnsville, Minn., pled guilty Monday, Jan. 16 to two counts of murder in the third degree (perpetrating eminently dangerous act and evincing depraved mind), in connection with the fatal crash on County Road 42 in Burnsville on April 4, 2021 that killed 22-year-old Tayler Nicole Garza of Woodbury, and 22-year-old Dalton Lee Ford, of Burnsville.

Israel Haas may have left his role as Freedom Park’s executive director, but that doesn’t mean he’s leaving the community of Prescott in the dust.

Pierce County Parks Superintendent Scott Schoepp has spent every summer since 1979 working in parks. A summer vacation is not something he has been used to, but that will change in 2023 as he will retire Friday, Feb. 3.

Mark Matzek is a familiar face on the wrestling mat as the Ellsworth High School head wrestling coach. While he will continue coaching, he’s trading in his math classroom at EHS for the school administrator’s office at St. Francis School.

Jan. 25, 2023

A recent road rage incident in River Falls ended with one man stabbing another in the back in what he said was self-defense and a collection of felony charges. Roman Alejandro Eastin, 19, River Falls, was ordered to pay $500 cash bail Jan. 12 in Pierce County Circuit Court.

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced that Leon Bond, 19, Burnsville, Minn., was sentenced Monday, Jan. 23 under Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) by Judge Christopher Lehmann in connection with the fatal crash on County Road 42 in Burnsville on April 4, 2021, that killed 22-year-old Tayler Nicole Garza of Woodbury, and 22-year-old Dalton Lee Ford, of Burnsville.

Terry McAleavey and his job at Family Fresh Market in River Falls go to together like peanut butter and jelly. Every aisle in Family Fresh is named after a street in River Falls. One aisle is named Dallas St., another is named Maple St., but aisle 4, the peanut butter and jelly aisle, is now named McAleavey Ave.

The atmosphere at the Ellsworth Public Library grand opening celebration Monday night was exhilarating, with patrons, donors, volunteers, and staff abuzz as they toured the new building.

February

Feb. 1, 2023

A Cady Township couple fled their rented farmhouse mid-morning Saturday after a passing motorist on nearby Hwy. 29 alerted them to an apparent chimney fire. Within minutes, flames had spread to the roof and nearby bedroom, prompting a response by at least six area departments before the blaze was extinguished.

The Pierce County Board Jan. 24 voted 12-5 to approve a 4% wage increase for County Administrator Jason Matthys, despite several citizens asking for an investigation into what they say is Matthys’ misconduct in dealing with Pierce County Sheriff’s Office personnel issues.

The River Falls City Council Jan. 23 debated whether or not to keep an environmental impact fee and fund related to the city’s former landfill, but ultimately chose to leave them as is.

Beldenville native Raye Schmalstig has followed her heart and now works in the wilderness of the western United States as a Windwalker/field guide for a wilderness therapy organization. She spends up to 15 days at a time in the wilderness, away from cell phones and modern conveniences, using primitive skills to live off the land and to teach others nature’s healing ways.

Feb. 8, 2023

Stacks of documents lined the Pierce County courtroom rail Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the restitution hearing for former Ellsworth Baseball Softball Association President Whitney O’Neil. Eight hours after the hearing began, attorneys still hadn’t made their closing arguments and O’Neil’s sentencing hearing had to be rescheduled.

The Pierce County Board’s Finance & Personnel Committee voted unanimously after a Monday, Feb. 6 closed session meeting to give Corporation Counsel Brad Lawrence a favorable review and recommend a corresponding step increase raise to the Board of Supervisors.

The Ellsworth Village Board voted 5-1 Monday, Feb. 6 to approve a street use permit for the Cheese Curd Festival amid calls from public commenters to move it out of the East End. The board also approved a temporary Class B retailer’s license for June 23 and 24 for the festival, as well as a street dance license application.

Todd Burnap, the transportation director for River Falls School District, is quick to offer praise for his team of 50 bus drivers and two mechanics. It’s clear he’s not used to taking credit himself, but he and Transportation Supervisor Karen Swenson do much to make operations run like a well-oiled machine.

Feb. 15, 2023

Prescott students Ayden P. Nelson, 17, and Cadence Allen, 17, died after a crash and were not wearing seat belts. A third 17-year-old Prescott High School student, Bryndan Hartman, was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.

A second Cardinal community is mourning the loss of a life taken too soon. Masen Powell, 18, Spring Valley, died as the result of a car crash Saturday, Feb. 11 in the town of Alden in Polk County, north of Star Prairie.

When Sarah Cook was cleaning out her mother’s attic in Ellsworth, she didn’t know she would stumble upon a treasure. Her discovery has yielded a new friendship, returned a keepsake to its rightful owner, and nurtured a belief that everything happens for a reason.

Feb. 22, 2023

“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.

An Ellsworth High School teacher was arrested Monday, Feb. 20 and booked into Pierce County Jail on sex with child age 16 or older and sexual assault of a student by school staff charges.

The City of Prescott’s Well No. 3 has been shut down since September 2021 because of high nitrate levels. The city plans to make an application with the State Safe Drinking Water Loan program to install a reverse osmosis system that will remove both nitrates and Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

March

March 1, 2023

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.

An Ellsworth High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave after an alleged sexual relationship with a student was exposed. Brandon A. Fuhrman, 23, River Falls, posted a $50,000 signature bond in Pierce County Circuit Court on two felony sexual assault of child by person who works or volunteers with children and two sexual intercourse with child 16 or older, actor 19 or older charges Feb. 22.

Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce members were transported back a few decades to the 1970s for the eighth annual awards banquet Monday, Feb. 20 at Kilkarney Hills Golf Club in River Falls.

“You can’t be a nurse when you grow up, that’s only for girls!” That is what some boys hear when they express a desire to enter the nursing profession. Or if they decide to join ballet, wear a kilt or like unicorns. Kids can be cruel.

March 8, 2023

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.

A town of River Falls resident followed in his dad’s footsteps, donating a piece of property to the Town of River Falls to expand an existing park.

A rather routine March 6 Ellsworth Village Board meeting was dominated by public comments about the Cheese Curd Festival location and poor water quality concerns on 570th Avenue.

March 15, 2023

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 the honor was coming. He thought he was there to see Ciara Roberson’s debut as the student representative on the school board.

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 the Monday, March 13 meeting.

“The things we will be discussing probably are going to be the most controversial of proposed changes to be made,” City Administrator Matt Wolf said at the onset of the meeting. “Those ended up making it to the council. A number of letters were sent to businesses, and they did not like those changes. We decided instead of just looking at Highway Commercial, we want to look at the whole entire zoning chapter. The changes we’re proposing tonight are the same as before.”

March 22, 2023

The highlight of the Monday, March 13 Prescott City Council meeting was officials getting to know the city’s K-9 officer Caesar.

As the cast of “The Legend of Robin Hood … Sort Of” rehearsed last week at Spring Valley Stagehands Theatre, it was obvious they were having fun. The chemistry was on full display between the Spring Valley High School cast as they prepared for their upcoming shows.

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 approval; the second reading/vote will take place at the March 28 council meeting.

March 29, 2023

In front of a packed court room Thursday, March 23, Pierce County Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Rohl sentenced Whitney O’Neil to 30 days in jail (no electronic home monitoring or huber) and three years of probation. She also ordered O’Neil to undergo a victim empathy panel, to pay $518 in court costs, to write a new letter of apology to the EBSA and to serve 250 hours of community service by March 23, 2025 (125 hours per year, in Ellsworth or Pierce County) or face an additional 30 days in jail each year.

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 Ford. However, she will only serve 10.

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

April

April 5, 2023

Jessica Hanneman, of River Falls, will travel to Kentucky, the heart of horse country, to compete in the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover Oct. 11-14, 2023. The event, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), is the largest retraining competition in the world for retired racehorses.

When Pierce County 4-H Educator April Daniels began her new role in December, she was by no means a stranger to Pierce County 4-H and the county fair. A familiar face around the fairgrounds and at 4-H events for years, the enthusiastic youth supporter loves her new job.

Imagine looking out at a sold-out crowd at The Armory, knowing everyone is there to see you perform your own music. Quite the indescribable feeling, right? It’s a night that Prescott High School alumnus Reggie Moe had dreamed about for years and it came true Jan. 30.

Two Plum City High School juniors are putting their small village on the map by heading to the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando April 22-25.

April 12, 2023

Here are the unofficial election results of the April 4, 2023 nonpartisan election. Election results are not official until they are canvassed.

A River Falls man not only got singed hair and eyebrows from a recent house fire, but a felony charge to boot. Christian Dale Oxley, 46, was ordered to pay $500 cash bail March 31 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety, resisting or obstructing an officer and misdemeanor bail jumping charges.

When people fall in love, it’s not uncommon for them to wonder how their families will get along, especially if the families are completely different. Ellsworth High School’s drama students will explore that dynamic in this spring’s show, “You Can’t Take it With You.”

The Prescott Plan Commission gave a greenlight – albeit very preliminary – to plans for a retail and condominium development that would replace St. Croix Liquor, 20 Orange Street, and the adjacent former restaurant building (formerly the Slipp Inn) on Orange Street. A vacant lot behind St. Croix would also be included.

April 19, 2023

The Starkson family will soon open a second life celebration and event space in Prescott at 1400 N. Acres Road in the former Allina Clinic building.

Spring Valley Seniors Staying Put was the recipient of the $10,000 impact award from the Power of 100 Women – Ellsworth group at its second impact meeting Thursday, April 12 at The Bluffs in Hager City.

It’s official. After 18 months of hard work, multiple community meetings and engagements, steering committee discussions and resident feedback, the River Falls City Council officially adopted updated Comprehensive, Outdoor Recreation and Bike & Pedestrian plans at its March 28 meeting.

April 26, 2023

It looks like the property at 106 N. Main St. will house a burrito restaurant and game room instead of a nightclub. The River Falls City Council April 11 approved a combination Class B liquor and Class B beer license for Castro Corporation, doing business as BurritoX.com in the former home of Bold Burger – but not without reservations.

LeRoy Peterson isn’t quite sure if he has served on the Clifton Town Board for 50 years or 52 years.

Representatives from the Village of Ellsworth and Coulee River Trails appeared before the Pierce County Ad Hoc ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Committee Tuesday, April 18 with revised requests for a portion of the county’s $8.3 million in federal funds.

The lack of a full-time and present veterans service officer in Pierce County is not acceptable, Pierce County Commander of the American Legion Kenneth Lampro told the Pierce County Board April 18.

May

May 3, 2023

River Falls resident Amy Theis will be remembered by her family and friends as a kind, loving woman who worked hard, overcame life’s challenges and had a heart of gold. Theis, 47, died Monday, April 24 from a gunshot wound to the head in front of her townhome in the 500 block of Bandle Street in River Falls.

Michael Dillon Price, 31, was ordered to pay $750,000 cash bail Tuesday, April 25 after being charged with felony first-degree intentional homicide in St. Croix County Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Pierce County deputies confiscated a large amount of fentanyl from a Rochester, Minn. man after a traffic stop for speeding in Hager City last week. He didn’t make it easy for officers, however, by hiding a baggie of the drug in his underwear.

Fresh from their return from the 2023 Wisconsin Forensics Coaches’ Association Tournament in Oshkosh, where the team captured its fifth consecutive state title, nine of the River Falls High School Forensics team’s members are now preparing to take part, for the first time, in the national competition, to be held in June in Phoenix.

May 10, 2023

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released the name of St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office deputy Kaitie Leising who died Saturday night from a gunshot wound after responding to a possible drunk driver call.

– Several parents spoke out against a book for its profanity, vulgar language and sexual references taught in ninth grade English at the April 17 River Falls School Board meeting. The book in question is “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Ellsworth Public Library patrons will have a surprise when they walk through the library’s front doors. “Eggspert,” a sculpture by Kimber Fiebiger, will be there to greet them between the two curving stairways.

May 17, 2023

Imagine being inexplicably ill for years with vomiting, stomachaches, headaches. You go to doctor after doctor, but they can’t figure out what’s wrong. Your children are fixtures in the nurse’s office at school. You eat healthy foods, you’re active, you drink plenty of water, but nothing you do is helping and you get sicker every day. This isn’t a hypothetical situation. This happened to town of Salem resident and sixth-generation farmer Samantha Bowen and her children. And when they finally learned the cause of their illness, they were shocked. It was nitrate poisoning from their well water.

Work has begun on the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project in Bay City, celebrated by a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, May 16 with Gov. Tony Evers in attendance.

The Prescott riverfront revival project may be moving forward without Leo’s Landing as part of the landscape.

Bryce Lindevig, now 27, graduated from River Falls High School in 2014 and went on to attend St. John’s University, majoring in biology and participating in the school’s ROTC program. It wasn’t until he was a college senior, attending a career fair in Minneapolis in February 2018, that he revisited his childhood dream of being a Secret Service agent.

May 24, 2023

Bay City’s Saratoga Park was full of government officials and community members Tuesday, May 16 for the historic Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project groundbreaking ceremony – a roughly $30 million project at the head of Lake Pepin meant to restore backwater habitat in the Pierce County Island Wildlife Management Area.

A group of determined kids have big plans to restore an abandoned and long-neglected cemetery outside of River Falls, thanks to the leadership of a retired Army veteran.

Local author Dan Woll has been itching to tell the story of the Pottstown Five, a tale of five young men who served together and were prisoners of war in World War II. How does this relate to Pierce County? Friendship, that’s how, plus the tradition of honoring veterans no longer with us on Memorial Day. The story is too good not to be told.

American Legions in Pierce County will host Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a day for remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.

May 31, 2023

A Pierce County Ad Hoc committee is taking the first steps toward a possible new judicial facility adjacent to the sheriff’s office at 555 W. Overlook Drive in Ellsworth.

Through four owners and 100 years in business, Sailer’s is still keeping the family business values that have been around for a century.

Wisconsin State Sen. Jeff Smith fielded a variety of questions on the future funding of the River Falls School District after a May 22 presentation discussing Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed biennial budget.

June

June 7, 2023

The Elmwood community is reeling after a tragic Memorial Day car crash in Barron County claimed the lives of two teens. A celebration of life will be held for Simon Loga, 13, and Payton Bleskacek, 14, from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 at Elmwood High School gymnasium. Both boys just graduated eighth grade from Elmwood Middle School.

The 715 Steer & Beer bar and restaurant in rural Ellsworth is closed after a fire gutted its kitchen last Thursday.

Residents of Prescott are in an uproar over the Prescott City Council’s recent decision to not renew the lease of Leo’s Landing Marina after December of this year. Hearing of the city council’s decision on social media, Bill Koller, a self-employed computer consultant residing in Minnesota and a longtime friend of the Anderson family, began a campaign to save Leo’s Landing Marina.

The countdown is on for Ellsworth’s Cheese Curd Festival. Taking place on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, the event is one of the region’s largest events drawing thousands to Ellsworth’s East End Business District each June. An event of this size requires a lot of manpower to orchestrate, and for the Cheese Curd Festival, it’s local non-profits and volunteers who make the magic happen.

June 14, 2023

Thanks to a collaboration between the Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival and SwiftCurrent Connect, festival guests will have access to an enhanced internet experience for communication, social media posting, and credit card transactions with market vendors June 23 and 24.

Partnerships and collaboration were the theme that tied together all the award winners at the Pierce County Economic Development Corp. Awards Breakfast Friday, June 9 at the Radisson Hotel in River Falls. The common bond between all award recipients was the efforts put forward to help businesses succeed from PCEDC Executive Director Joe Folsom and his staff.

For many, woodworking involves lots of nails and screws, but for Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks, the process involves neither of these. Star Hill Timberworks builds timberframe structures, using hardwood pegs to hold the structure together. While Anderson said this method is more of an old method, it has also begun to make a comeback since the 1970s.

June 21, 2023

At the June 13 Pierce County Land Conservation meeting, the committee voted to forward waste storage ordinance revisions to the county board for consideration after a closed session.

Bob Dylan once wrote a song in 1964 titled, “The Times They Are a-Changin.’” The song is about reflection and perception. The song may be considered old, but the depth of his message still holds value. The same goes for the folks in nursing homes.

Disc golf has become a wildly popular activity over the past decade and the Sterling Hill Disc Golf Course was created in River Falls to accommodate that.

June 28, 2023

Investigating a string of Pierce County business burglaries led police to identifying one man they believe stole a semi-tractor in Minnesota and submerged in the Mississippi River.

People have been enamored with the circus for centuries, but not as many people know the local impacts the circus had in Pierce County. “The Circus: The Smallest Show on Earth,” currently on display at the Ellsworth Public Library, showcases just how vast that history is.

Aidan Bowman (also known as “Aidan BB”) has been told that he was a clumsy little kid. By the time he was two-and-a-half, his frequent falls had resulted in facial stitches on several occasions. “My parents realized that I was going to keep injuring myself if they didn’t do something to fix it,” said the almost-15-year-old, who is an incoming sophomore at River Falls High School-– and much more graceful than he was during his toddler years. His mother, Mel, recollects that by Aidan’s third trip to the emergency room, she and husband, Chad, realized their son needed a physical outlet. Friends had told them about St. Paul’s Circus Juventas, the largest youth performing circus arts school in North America, and they signed up Aidan for a beginning class.

July

July 5, 2023

Dunkin’ Donuts has been the east coast’s top coffee and donut chain for decades, and owner Sahil Taneja has brought the craze to Wisconsin, opening a shop in River Falls.

A high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle spanning from Prescott to Interstate 494 led to the arrest of a 33-year-old Redwood Falls (Minn.) man, who had methamphetamine and fentanyl in the vehicle.

The Pierce County Land Conservation Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday, June 27 to recommend establishing a temporary six-month moratorium on livestock expansion in Pierce County to the Board of Supervisors. The moratorium could be expanded to 12 months and would apply only to Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), which have 1,000 animal units or more.

July 12, 2023

A Danish renewable natural gas company is proposing to build a contained anaerobic digester and nutrient recovery facility in Ellsworth near the East End Industrial Park on 25 acres owned by Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery.

The cheese curd eating contest is an annual competition at the Cheese Curd Festival that consists of contestants competing to see how fast they can devour half a pound of fresh cheese curds. Fans of the event that have witnessed it for years may be aware of the dominance of one man: Alex Smrekar.

The bodies of three swimmers who went missing in the Mississippi River near Diamond Island July 3 were found early July 5, according to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office. They were identified as Petrona JuanJose, 17; Miguel Juan-Jose, 22; and Ke Drer, 41, all from the same household in Oakdale, Minn.

July 19, 2023

A Stillwater, Minn. attorney who represented former Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove in a lawsuit filed by Pierce County last year has filed his own lawsuit in Pierce County Civil Court.

– Cars are not just a way to get from one point to another as quickly as possible, they tell a story. Whether it was your first car or your dream car, cars mean something to people. For the members of the Beldenville Old Car Club, the 45th annual Car Show and Swap Meet is an opportunity to share these stories.

The next USA Mullet Champ could be one of three Ellsworth area boys, if local voters have anything to say about it.

July 26, 2023

A former River Falls Gymnastics Club coach and assistant director is accused of using the club’s bank account to try to pay off more than $20,000 in credit card debt.

Dozens of community members flocked to Ellsworth’s Village Hall Thursday, July 20 as the Plan Commission held a public hearing regarding the anaerobic digester proposed for Ellsworth

Taggart Havens is a River Falls kid with not only a big mullet, but a big heart. He, like Ellsworth resident Otto Jakes, is hoping to make it to the final round of the 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown. Perhaps more importantly, if he wins the grand prize, he’ll donate the money to his friend, who is fighting cancer.

Taggart Havens is a River Falls kid with not only a big mullet, but a big heart. He, like Ellsworth resident Otto Jakes, is hoping to make it to the final round of the 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown. Perhaps more importantly, if he wins the grand prize, he’ll donate the money to his friend, who is fighting cancer.

Many towns have a summer festival that brings everyone together for fun, food and entertainment, but Elmwood’s UFO Days are one of the most unique you will find.

August

Aug. 2, 2023

An Ellsworth man threatened to shoot officers if they came into his home Sunday while responding to a domestic disturbance call at Evergreen Estates. Police were able to mediate the situation and get the suspect to leave his home peacefully with no shots fired.

An identity theft scam involving converting cash to gold bars has cost a Prescott resident $400,000 of their savings and put a Stevens Point man in jail.

Nearly an hour of River Falls’ July 24 school board meeting was dedicated to public comment on the district’s proposed changes to the “Gender Diverse Students” policy.

The Pierce County Land Conservation Committee may have approved sending a temporary six-month livestock expansion moratorium to the Pierce County Board last month, but on July 25, the ordinance draft failed in a 2-3 vote, leaving it dead in the water.

Aug. 9, 2023

Nobody wants to live near something that produces atrocious odors. That’s what some Ellsworth residents are concerned about when it comes to a proposed anaerobic digester coming to town. According to their posts on the Ellsworth community Facebook page, they want answers to their questions. The way to get those answers is to attend public meetings on the topic and conduct research.

The Pierce County Fair is often capped off with a Sunday parade sponsored by the Ellsworth Fire Department. This time around, long-time sheriff Nancy Hove will return to the community to serve as the parade’s grand marshal on Aug. 13.

In an old field of cut sunflowers, one sunflower randomly grew that stood out back in 2007. The multi-colored, double flowering sunflower had 12 seeds, which Steve Kaufer planted during the next planting season. These seeds changed Kaufer’s business as he knew it, starting a path to becoming Sunflower Steve Seed Co. and having his flowers known by flower lovers across the country.

Aug. 16, 2023

The Prescott Planning Commission meeting saw a full house at the Aug. 7 meeting. Bob Colson, representative of Cedar Corporation, who was hired in June 2022 to revise the zoning ordinance review, explained a hearing was being held to allow citizens the chance to comment on the proposed text and map amendments for the zoning ordinance. After Colson explained the procedure and timeline of the zoning ordinance reviews and tax and map amendments, the meeting opened to public comment.

The Ellsworth Senior Center has been told it may need to find a new home after being housed in the basement of the old Ellsworth Public Library at 312 W. Main St. for decades.

The honorary citizens for the 36th annual El Paso Days parade are longtime residents Terry and Sandy Odalen, along with former Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove, who will serve as grand marshal.

Aug. 23, 2023

After a five-hour public hearing Monday, Aug. 14 in a packed, and sometimes hostile, village hall, the Ellsworth Village Board decided to table a special use permit request from Ellsworth Bioenergy until a special meeting in September.

The Prescott Plan Commission heard from City Planner Carter Hayes Aug. 7 as he addressed the Commission about the proposed paid parking plan for downtown Prescott.

Those looking for a unique theater experience while dining on delicious, local food should mark Sept. 30 on their calendars when Sod House Theater presents “TABLE” at a local farm.

Aug. 30, 2023

Prescott residents stood in solidarity together against the downtown paid parking proposal on Monday evening. There was standing room only at the Aug. 28 public hearing as City Planner Carter Hayes shared a description of the proposal.

River Falls Business Leaders had such great success with the first downtown Taste of River Falls event, that they’re planning another for Oct. 1.

“You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but … well, the cheese hat isn’t going anywhere.” That sentence sums up Prescott native Jeanette (Brickner) Wheatley’s comedy show, which she’s been perfecting overseas at the Edinburgh Fringe for the past few weeks.

September

Sept. 6, 2023

On Aug. 30, the City of Prescott announced via Facebook that it “will not be moving forward with further consideration of the current proposed downtown paid parking plan.” The announcement came after a heated public hearing of many concerned residents and business owners at the Aug. 28 Prescott City Council meeting.

Prescott Daze is this weekend, and event organizers promise it’s bigger and better than ever. Momentum has been building in the last several years, and Prescott Daze 2023 is creating a huge community buzz.

Donna Constant is a driving force and once she gets an idea, it’s like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Thanks to Constant, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Beldenville will host an outdoor worship service, lunch and blessing of farmers and tractors for a safe and bountiful harvest season on Sept. 10.

Sept. 13, 2023

The Ellsworth School Board voted at its Sept. 11 meeting to raise pay for event workers and game officials in hopes of retaining and recruiting those who make games happen for students.

Be on the lookout for a piece of history at this year’s Bacon Bash in the form of Clarence “Pop” Armstrong’s Poptcorn Wagon.

The Pierce County Board Aug. 22 voted to amend the waste storage ordinance which had not been updated in 11 years. The update gives the county more oversight and enforcement over agricultural operations with liquid manure storage facilities, including CAFOs; allows the county to levy fines against those found in violation; and limits winter manure spreading, which can contaminate ground and surface waters during snow melt.

Sept. 20, 2023

The way public school funding in Wisconsin is structured doesn’t allow districts to take on multi-million-dollar maintenance and building projects without going to the taxpayers for extra help. In fact, it barely allows them to stay ahead of operating costs. That’s why Ellsworth Community School District is sending residents a survey to provide direction on future facilities planning.

The Journal is publishing the community’s first-ever Salute to Service special publication. Salute to Service will be included with the Nov. 8 edition of the Pierce County Journal, in honor of Veterans Day, which is commemorated Nov. 11.

As the Sept. 11 City of Prescott City Council meeting began, Alderperson Dar Hintz took the opportunity to thank Prescott Daze volunteers for the success of the event.

For more than two years, town of Clifton resident Dana Linscott has approached the River Falls City Council with his concerns on how the homeless population is treated in River Falls. The Sept. 12 meeting was no exception. He used his two allowed minutes berating the council for what he believes is an anti-homeless no camping ordinance and covering up homelessness in general.

Sept. 27, 2023

“This culminates in over a decade of diligent planning by city staff, especially the community development and the engineering staff who have worked hard to turn a big idea into a carefully laid plan,” said Mayor Dan Toland to kick off the Mann Valley Corporate Park groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 19. “When our shovels hit the dirt, their hard work will begin to turn into reality today.”

For the first time in nine years, the Prescott School District will present an unbalanced budget to electors at the annual meeting and budget hearing, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 in the Prescott High School Library.

River Falls High School freshman Leila Dexheimer has done something many people dream of yet never accomplish: She’s written and published her own book.

October

Oct. 4, 2023

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Sept. 27 that the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) has obtained a civil judgment against Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery (ECC) requiring it to pay a $250,000 penalty and install additional pollution control equipment for alleged violations of its wastewater discharge permit at ECC’s Ellsworth cheesemaking facility.

At the Oct. 2 Pierce County Board Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, members voted to forward a recommendation to create a Groundwater Advisory Committee to the full board.

Melissa Petersen, the Pierce County Board District 14 supervisor since April 2022, resigned from her position at the Sept. 26 meeting. She read aloud her resignation letter during public comment.

In addition to providing residents an opportunity to view a snapshot of the district budget and tax levy, the Prescott School District also used its annual meeting, held Wednesday, Sept. 27, to lay out a vision on how to continually make the schools better.

Oct. 11, 2023

The Prescott Cardinals stormed back on their second nine Tuesday afternoon to win their fourth consecutive Division 4 State Championship Tuesday at University Ridge in Madison.

When she arrived in the refugee post of Katowice, Ludmyla Tkachenko said to a National Geographic reporter: “Half my heart I left behind, half I brought with me.” She and her sister Nelya fought back tears as they surveyed the shelters that were being organized. The sisters were forced to flee Ukraine along with over a million other traumatized souls. They were the kind of people Nancy Wespetal found herself helping after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Prescott Kiwanis, in existence for the past 30 years, has recently changed its name to the Prescott Community Club and is in the process of becoming its own nonprofit entity.

At one point in her life, River Falls business owner Valerie Lundgren felt helpless and afraid, anxious and overwhelmed. A known force around town, she had a Main Street gift shop called Karma, was an active volunteer for numerous organizations and a busy mother of two. But it all came to a crashing halt.

Oct. 18, 2023

A 40-year-old River Falls man is facing multiple felony charges related to drugs seized from his vehicle and home during a search warrant executed by the St. Croix Valley Drug Task Force.

Last Thursday customers got quite a surprise at a Prescott coffeehouse when a man kicked in the door at an adjacent pizza business, then wandered into the coffeehouse and fell asleep.

Ellsworth Community School District is hosting Parent and Child Nights for families of 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds not in school in order to nurture family and school partnerships.

The River Falls City Council approved the final plat for a 20-unit twin-home development on one of the last remaining parcels in the Sterling Ponds neighborhood Sept. 26.

Oct. 25, 2023

Pierce County’s Judicial Facility Planning Ad Hoc committee voted Oct. 17 to recommend a new judicial facility plan and costs associated with the project to the Finance & Personnel committee.

River Falls School District voters would support two referendum initiatives which are likely to appear on the ballot for the Feb. 20 spring primary election, the school board learned at its meeting Monday, Oct. 16. A survey of district voters showed support for a referendum giving the district more funds to operate the district and also to spend $26-$30 million on capital projects.

With expectations for higher contributions in state per-pupil education aid not coming through when the Wisconsin State Legislature passed its two-year budget over the summer, The Prescott School District is dipping into its savings to plug a $900,000 gap in the 2023-24 budget.

November

Nov. 1, 2023

The River Falls Public Library will host its first ever Author Fair & Panel Discussion Saturday, Nov. 11 featuring more than 40 Minnesota and Wisconsin authors, many of whom are local.

Kick off those Sunday shoes and cut loose with a night out at Ellsworth High School’s fall musical “Footloose,” debuting this Friday.

An East Ellsworth business (YB Urban?) is one of three downtown businesses from around the state named as a finalist in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) annual Main Street Makeover Contest. One grand prize winner will receive funding and assistance to upgrade their business.

Nov. 8, 2023

An Ellsworth Middle School eighth grader died Monday from injuries sustained in a tragic accident over the weekend, confirmed Superintendent Barry Cain. Joshua Johnson, 14, died after being airlifted to Regions Hospital in the wee hours of Saturday, Nov. 4.

River Falls High School senior Nolan Tody is well on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout after coordinating and completing a Kinnickinnic River trail clearing project.

After months of debate and testimony at both Pierce County Board and Land Conservation Committee meetings, an inaugural Ad Hoc Groundwater Advisory Committee has been appointed.

Nov. 15, 2023

A 17-year-old male has been charged in the shooting death of an Ellsworth Middle School eighth grader. Riley James Lacroix, Bay City, was ordered to pay $5,000 cash bond Nov. 7 in Pierce County Circuit Court on a felony homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapon/explosive.

After more than a year, a federal lawsuit filed by former Sheriff Nancy Hove against Pierce County, the Pierce County Board of Supervisors, former Chair Jeff Holst and then Vice Chair Jon Aubart alleging age and disability discrimination has been completely dismissed. The final stipulation of dismissal, executed by both parties, was filed in U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, on Nov. 3, 2023.

Valentyna Benson sits at the table in her stepdaughter Melinda Casper’s kitchen in Ellsworth, communicating with her American family through a mixture of limited English, hand gestures and a translation app. While there may be a language barrier, the love in the room is palpable. Valentyna, a native of Ukraine, was visiting her son and daughter in her homeland when Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022.

Nov. 22, 2023

A recent survey of Ellsworth Community School District residents revealed that a majority of voters would not support a $34.3 million referendum plan.

At the Prescott Planning Commission monthly meeting on Nov. 6, the commission reviewed plans for two new businesses/expansions: A new Dollar Tree on North Acres Road and an addition to New Adventures Learning Center.

This fall’s River Falls High School musical selection is a show-stopping, action-packed, dance-filled treat sure to knock your socks off. “Anything Goes” will debut at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in the River Falls High School auditorium.

Nov. 29, 2023

The Prescott School District received bids earlier this month on a 14.6-acre parcel of land that school officials say is unusable by the school district. However, organizers of the Coulee River Trails told Prescott School Board members at their Nov. 15 meeting that the land is a vital piece of the trail system they are working to put together.

A missing rural Red Wing man thought to be in the Diamond Bluff/Hager City area was found dead of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound on his property Sunday, Nov. 26.

Those wishing to run for public office, mark Dec. 1, 2023 on your calendar. That’s the day that filing papers for the 2024 Spring Elections open. The deadline for filing is 5 p.m. Jan. 2, 2024. All 17 Pierce County Board of Supervisors seats will be on the April ballot, along with many city council, village board and school board seats.

When Ellsworth Village President Becky Beissel came into YB Urban? in East Ellsworth Nov. 16, owner Angie Whelan thought she was filming a video for the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Season promotion. Instead, they caught her reaction when Beissel told her she was a winner of the Wisconsin Main Street Makeover contest.

December

Dec. 6, 2023

Teen mental health issues are a growing concern in area school districts, which is why Ellsworth High School counselors Mitchell Smith and Jessica Wiskow want students to know they can turn to them for help.

Prescott Middle School thespians will perform “Willy Wonka Jr.” Dec. 8-10 at the Prescott Performing Arts Center (1010 Dexter St.) and co-directors Abby Mattimiro and Deanna Krahulec are beyond excited.

If you’re driving along US Highway 63 between Ellsworth and Red Wing, you’ll be sure to see the outline of Svea Lutheran Church’s Christmas lights twinkling in the night. The Christmas lights have been a symbol of the holiday season and a beacon of hope for 85 years.

Dec. 13, 2023

A Red Wing man has been charged with an armed robbery attempt of a Trenton fireworks stand from last summer. Taten Brooks New Holy, 25, was ordered to pay $5,000 cash bail Dec. 6 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony attempted armed robbery and criminal damage to property charges.

At the Nov. 20 River Falls School Board meeting, Superintendent Jamie Benson wanted to set the record straight about the district’s lease agreement on the Renaissance Charter Academy building, which opened at the beginning of this school year.

Jake Wagner and his wife, Stacey, worked for a large corporation in St. Paul that recently laid off over 10,000 employees. Jake, a 16-year data analyst, was one of the work casualties in late May. Stacey, a marketing and branding manager for the same company, was also laid off at the same time, but she was rehired a month later. They have started a new adventure in South Ridge Ranch Bacon.

Dec. 20, 2023

After parsing through community survey results at a special Dec. 6 meeting, the Ellsworth School Board Dec. 11 voted to move forward with a facility referendum model on the April 2, 2024 ballot. A formal resolution will go before the board at the Jan. 8 meeting.

The Great River Road Theatre’s winter production is full of action and intrigue, complete with CIA agents, mysteries and crazy characters. Rehearsals are in full swing for what promises to be an entertaining show.

Paula Green should be called the Queen of Christmas, based on the number of lights in her rural Big River yard. Located at W8944 US Highway 10 between Prescott and Ellsworth, the Green farm is a beacon of holiday cheer amid the rolling farm fields of western Pierce County.

Dec. 27, 2023

After members of the River Falls community spoke their mind, a proposed anaerobic digester did not receive a motion from the River Falls City Council during the Dec. 12 meeting.

The Prescott School Board will vote on Jan. 17 on a referendum question asking district taxpayers for an additional $1.2 million in operating funds annually.

“When I started Frosted Haven, I sort of centered it around my daughter Marlee. A haven is more of a getaway, but I thought it meant heaven.” And that’s exactly what Frosted Haven is, a cookie heaven, or a little getaway. Owner/baker Josie Erlandson and her social media guru Nadia Sigler have branded her cookie business to be heavenesque and calming, with little bits of Marlee May’s memory tied in.