Area News
Wisconsin town budgets relying more on local property taxes, borrowing
Wisconsin towns have leaned more heavily on property tax revenues to fund local services in the past three decades as state aid increases have slowed and town borrowing has risen to record levels. This heightened reliance on property taxes comes as challenges have arisen to towns’ traditional workforce of local volunteers and relatively low-paid workers…
Read MoreColfax Village Board backtracks and reimburses Logslett for water operator training
By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — After refusing in February to send village employee Don Logslett to the Wisconsin Rural Water Association’s conference for continuing education, the Colfax Village Board has now approved reimbursing Logslett for the required training. According to a memorandum from Jody Albricht, village president, and Lynn Niggemann, village administrator-clerk-treasurer, presented to…
Read MoreColfax wastewater treatment earns a grade of “B” on the compliance maintenance annual report
By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — The Colfax wastewater treatment plant has earned a grade of “B” on the compliance maintenance annual report submitted to the state Department of Natural Resources. The section on the report pertaining to total suspended solids at the wastewater treatment lagoons earned a grade of “F,” said Rand Bates, director…
Read MoreColfax campground at Stuart Park takes more “baby steps” with electrical diagram and perc test
By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — The Colfax Village Board has authorized spending approximately $900 on an electrical diagram and another $500 for a percolation test for the proposed campground at Stuart Park. “We’re taking baby steps,” said Jeff Prince, village trustee and chair of the parks committee, at the Colfax Village Board’s June 13…
Read MoreColfax declares 6-inch grass a public nuisance, changes compliance to 48 hours
By LeAnn R. Ralph COLFAX — Property owners in Colfax whose lawn, grass or weeds are taller than six inches will now have 48 hours to mitigate what the ordinance establishes as a public nuisance. The previous ordinance set the height of the grass at eight inches before property owners were given five days to…
Read MoreDC Board sets parameters for borrowing $3.1 million to fund capital improvement projects
By LeAnn R. Ralph MENOMONIE — The Dunn County Board has set the parameters for borrowing $3.1 million to fund capital improvement projects. The borrowed money will not increase the tax levy because the county also will be paying down $3 million in debt this year. In November of 2021, the Dunn County Board authorized…
Read MoreColfax man accused of threatening healthcare workers over the phone with bringing an AK-47
By LeAnn R. Ralph MENOMONIE — A 56-year-old Colfax man has been charged with two felony counts of threatening bodily harm to an employee of a healthcare facility and bail jumping after the man threatened to bring an AK-47 to Mayo Clinic in Menomonie. Maurice R. Knutson made an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit…
Read MoreOne dead in Semi vs. SUV accident on Interstate 94
KNAPP — One person is dead following a semi versus SUV accident early Saturday, June 18, 2022 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 at Milepost 32 in Dunn County near Knapp. Rufus Pi’er Moore, 57 years-old of Wisconsin, died in the crash after the 2017 Nissan Rouge in which he was an occupant was…
Read MoreMother and daughter who died in Chippewa County car crash had ties to Elk Mound school district
By LeAnn R. Ralph ELK MOUND — A mother and daughter who died as a result of a Chippewa County car crash in the Town of Cleveland were an employee and a student in the Elk Mound school district. According to a Facebook posting dated June 13 by the Elk Mound school district, Sara LeMay…
Read MoreFive staff members retire from Glenwood City School District
GLENWOOD CITY — Five valued members of the Glenwood City School District called it a career at the conclusion of this school year. Retiring following the final day on May 27 were Angela Hierlmeier, choir and general music educator; Mary Jones, K-12 art teacher; Gordy Hierlmeier, K-12 physical education and middle school/high school health teacher…
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