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Make a positive impact: Give blood with the Red Cross

EAU CLAIRE — As spring approaches, the American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply. People of all blood types – especially those with type O blood – are critical to ensuring hospitals can meet the daily demand for lifesaving transfusions.  During Red Cross…

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Short season, good trees, hard work are core elements of local sapping businesses

By Renee Bettendorf CONNORSVILLE/DOWNING — For the last two years, Wisconsin has ranked fourth in the nation for maple syrup production according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. About 400,000 gallons of everybody’s favorite pancake condiment is produced annually in the state. Last week the Tribune looked in on three local maple operations and…

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DNR issues WPDES permit for Emerald Sky dairy that allows for expansion

By LeAnn R. Ralph GLENWOOD CITY — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued a Wisconsin Pollutant Elimination Discharge System permit that will allow Emerald Sky Dairy to expand. The dairy, defined as a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), currently has approximately 1,600 dairy cows, and the new WPDES permit will allow the dairy…

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DNR Highlights Importance Of Protecting Groundwater Groundwater Awareness Week Is March 10-16

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is celebrating Groundwater Awareness Week March 10-16, 2024. Groundwater is a vital resource in Wisconsin, with approximately 70% of Wisconsinites relying on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Wisconsin’s groundwater also plays a critical role in supporting the state’s agricultural and tourism economy…

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Wanish Sugar Bush schedules open house for March 23

By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX  — Have you ever wondered how maple syrup is made in a commercial operation? If so  — now is your chance to find out. Wanish Sugar Bush will be holding an open house on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. You can watch maple sap turn into…

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American Pickers: Colfax Railroad Museum episode airing March 20

By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — The American Pickers episode filmed at the Colfax Railroad Museum will be airing on The History Channel March 20. Herb Sakalaucks, the curator of the Colfax Railroad Museum, had been working for quite a long time to convince the crew which produces the television show that it would be…

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Colfax Public Library annual report: 55 percent increase in attendance

By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX  —  The Colfax Public Library experienced a 55 percent increase in overall attendance  in 2023 compared to 2022. In addition to the overall attendance increasing, the Colfax library also experienced a 35 percent increase in program attendance in 2023 compared to 2022, along with a 3 percent increase in circulation,…

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New fishing regulations for St. Croix and Fox-Illinois rivers effective March 1

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers of the new fishing regulations that went into effect March 1, on the St. Croix and Fox-Illinois rivers in northwestern Wisconsin and Waukesha County, respectively.  These new regulations change bag and length limits for popular gamefish and establish a new fish refuge on…

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Dunn County PR&D public hearing for ADU ordinance scheduled for March 20

By LeAnn R. Ralph MENOMONIE — The Dunn County Planning, Resources and Development Committee is expecting to hold a public hearing on the Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning ordinance amendment on March 20. PR&D committee members spent much of a two-hour meeting on February 21 discussing the details of the ADU ordinance, such as setting a…

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