Lake Holcombe School needs a referendum to raise taxes

BITS & Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Courier Sentinel

For more than 100 years Lake Holcombe School District has provided educational opportunities and after school activities to its students. The last few years, state funding has fallen, causing the district to need taxpayers approval to exceed revenue limits, in order to operate the school. On April 5, another referendum will ask approval to exceed revenue limits as previously approved, plus an additional $25,000. If the referendum fails, on Tuesday, April 5, current and past school boards have said the district will dissolve, under the guidance of the School District Boundary Appeals Board. +++ At its meeting on March 14, the Cadott School Board adopted its 2022-2023 school calendar with shorter breaks aligning with state wrestling. In other business, the school board approved hiring a third assistant baseball coach at a cost of $3,000. The board was also introduced to the idea of possibly hiring a high school athletic trainer/physical education teacher, with the District Administrator stating that it would add the option to do weight training during the school day for students, especially if the district’s performance training contract is not renewed.

The Thorp Courier

Upon the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board, the Thorp City Council approved raising the park shelter reservation fee from $75 to $100. They also approved renting the cabana at the Aquatic Center, for birthday parties, for a fee of $50. Res- ervations are made by contacting the Thorp City Clerk's Office. +++ The 73rd Annual Thorp Fireman’s Ball sponsored by the Thorp Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department, was held at Cindy’s Hall on Saturday, March 19. Musical entertainment in the afternoon was by Cynor Classics and in the evening by DJ Dinka.+++ Students in the Animal Science Class at Thorp High School got an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in using a stethoscope and thermometer, at the Ralph Penterman Farm in rural Thorp.

Bloomer Advance

Meeting on Wednesday, March 9, the Bloomer police chief reported to the city council that his department was getting four new body cameras. The chief said that a non-profit out of Eau Claire donated money to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department for body cameras and other things, and they included all municipalities in Chippewa County in the donation. +++ Pheasant Forever’s mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvement, public access, education and conservation advocacy. The Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter kept that mission in mind over the last year as they met many hurdles as they tried to acquire 182.25 acres located in the town of Bloomer, Chippewa County. On February 22, 2022, the DNR Joint Committee on Finance approved a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant for the Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter. That money and grants from Chippewa County, a Wet- land Grant and a significant outside gift allowed for the purchase, which is adjacent to the McCann Creek Fishery Area.

O-W Enterprise Downtown Owen will soon be having another new business. Tami Fuentes, will be the owner of the business that will be known as RaeLyn Floral and Crafts. Tami said she finds doing floral arrangements to be relaxing and she hopes that her flowers will brighten someone's day. Tami has done floral arrangements a long time, just not professionally. Her current plan is to open the new business on April 9. +++ Owen-Withee has new grocery store owner. Opening on Thursday, March 10, was Martin’s Fresh Market. The new owners, of the former store operated by Scott and Lori Jalling is Earl Martin, a retired truck driver, who has been delivering battered cheese curds for Yellowstone Cheese, in which he is a partner. The new store will offer a full line of groceries, fresh meats, frozen foods, deli and bakery.

The Tribune-Phonograph The City of Colby is borrowing $1.9 million, from Forward Financial Bank, at an interest rate of 2.85 percent, to cover the cost of two 2022 street construction projects, that will commence as soon as weather permits. On the advice of the city clerk, the loans were taken out for a 10 year period, with an annual repayment of $110,068.87. +++ At their March 14 meeting, the Colby/Abbotsford Police Department Board reviewed four bids for a new pursuit vehicle. Being recommended to the Colby and Abbotsford City Council’s for approval is the purchase of a 2021 Dodge Durango, in the amount of $35,851 from Gross Motors of Neillsville.

The Sentinel & Rural News

The recently held Owen-Withee Lions Club fishing contest was a great success, with record crowds. The club’s major fundraiser had 615 sponsors for the tournament, who either gave money or prizes for the multitude of raffles. +++ Owen-Withee Elementary School celebrated Read Across America Week with dress up days and on Friday afternoon, parents or guardians were invited to bring pillows and blankets and read with their child.

The Clark County Press

On March 13, the City of Neillsville held a ribbon cutting at their new City Hall. The formalities commemorated the acquisition of the former BMO Bank building, which was purchased for $325,000. Mayor Diane Murphy noted that for an approximate investment of $500,000, you couldn’t replace the building for $1 million. Murphy also stated, “We need to be more visible and promote our city.”

Tri-County – Area Times

The Osseo Lions Club will again be offering one $500 scholarship to a Osseo-Fairchild High School senior going on to a four year college and one $500 scholarship to a student going on to a technical college. +++ On Friday, March 11, Augusta hosted a CESA #10 competition for the 2022 Engineering Machine Design Preliminary Contest, in which teams of students designed and built multi-step machines based on this year’s theme, “Power The World Engineering Energy.” Thirteen teams took part in the Junior Division and five teams in the Senior Division. This year's winner in the Junior Division was a team from Augusta and this year’s winner in the Senior Division was from the Eleva-Strum School District. There were four awards given in each division and a number of other special awards.