Survey leads to donation for new Augusta auditorium

BITS & Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Tri-Connty Area Times

The Augusta Area School District recently sent out a com munity survey asking residents to weigh in on proposed future facility improvement projects. The day after the survey went out the District got a phone call from a resident pledging to donate the $2.5 million needed to construct a new auditorium. Jennifer Livermore Bethke was the generous donor behind the phone call. Jennifer and her late husband, Victor are proud graduates of Augusta High School with a strong sense of giving back to the community. Bethke wants students to have access to high-quality experiences during their time in school and feels a performing arts center will do just that. The District will use the state-of-theart performing arts center for drama classes, theatrical performances, band concerts, and large gatherings.

The Thorp Courier

The Thorp School District will be adding a new program called PeaceBuilders, to support their Cardinal Strong Program. Superintendent Angie Hanlin states, "It is designed to become a “way of life” not merely a curriculum. The program assists school staff members in developing, for our students, a core sense of safety, belonging, support and competency dealing with life’s most stressful situations and disappointments. PeaceBuilders’ goal is to change the climate and culture of a school by developing positive relationships between students and staff, directly teaching non-violent attitudes, values and beliefs, and providing incentives for students to display these positive behaviors in the school, at home, and in the community." +++ From Memory Lane 100 Years Ago (1922) The results of the basketball games Friday night between Thorp and Stanley are as follows: Girls: Thorp 12 Stanley 5; Boys: Stanley 39 and Thorp 10. The hall was packed with nearly all Stanley people. Both teams fought hard and the Stanley team showed good teamwork.

Courier Sentinel

DNR representatives were at the March 7, Cadottt Village Board Meeting to gauge the villages interest in partnering in ex – ploring the building of a fish passage at the Yellow River Dam in Cadott. Such a passage would allow the possibility of fish to get upstream to spawn in habitat felt to be conducive to them doing well. The goal would be zero cost to the village. The village board was informed that there are some federal and state funds available as well as settlement agreement funds, which could be taped for the project. The Village Board agreed they would like more information on the options including what funding options are available. +++ Ben Folczyk and Todd Rykal were also at the March 7 Cadott Village Board Meeting. They were represen – tatives of the Cadott Youth Sports Committee and were present to answer questions about the proposed construction of a storage shed/concession stand in Riverview Park. Board members requested to see a footprint of the building marked out before making a decision on the matter. +++ The Cornell community will be holding a donkey basketball game and a spaghetti dinner on Friday, March 18, to support fireworks in Cornell on July 3. A 20% increase in costs lead to these funding raising efforts.

Bloomer Advance

Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, is a farm mem bership system that allows consumers to sign up to receive a season’s worth of a farm’s products during the growing season. Siverling Centennial Farm of Bloomer is excited to join other farmers across the country for the 2022 CSA program. The Siv erling Centennial Farm is an organic farm and has been grow- ing vegetables for the CSA using organic practices since 2020.

The 16 weeks of CSA runs mid-June through September. +++ In Bloomer, the current Mayor Jim Koehler, is facing a challenge from Tony Rubenzer. Ward 1 and Ward 3 alderman positions each have a candidate running unopposed. The Bloomer School Board has three seats that are up for election. Two have incumbents running and the other also has a candidate.

O-W Enterprise

An unusual find recently turned up at an Owen residence. The homeowners were working on insulating their child’s bedroom closet when eleven jars, containing more than 100 pounds of mercury were found boarded up in the wall. One jar broke and the mercury spilled in the closet. The O-W-C Fire Department was called and they in turn contacted the DNR and EPA. The homeowner and their family have had to stay elsewhere until the EPA felt it was safe for them to return. The mercury in the jars is being stored at the O-W Police Department locked location until it is determined where it can be used beneficially. If none is found, it will be disposed of as hazardous waste. EPA pro- vided Superfund money to pay for the emergency clean-up. The danger in mercury is that it evaporates contaminating the air and becoming toxic.

The Tribune-Phonograph

The Abbotsford City Council awarded bids on a number of smaller street and alley projects to be completed by August. Construction will begin as soon as weather permits. The Abbotsford School District Administrator attended the council meeting and provided a presentation on the school's FEMA shelter and up coming referendum. +++ The Colby Retirement Community has new owners. The Viegut family has purchased the facility. The Viegut's are Colby residents and also own Colby Metal. +++ The Curtiss Village Board is getting questions about chemicals that the village is considering using in its wastewater treatment sys- tem. The village has been getting calls regarding polyfluoralkl substance (PFOS/PFAS) that village residents have been seeing on the news.

The Sentinel & Rural News

After a year of negotiations, Watco, a transportation service company based in Pittsburg, KS has finalized the sale of 26 miles of the shortline railway between Spencer and Medford. In total, Watcco purchased approximately 652 miles of branch lines in Wisconsin and Michigan from Canadian National Railroad. Buffalo County News

The Mondovi Business Association is sponsoring its Seventh Annual Shamrock Shuffle in downtown Mondovi on Thursday, March 17 from 5-8 pm. Many businesses in the downtown cor ridor will keep their doors open through the evening to highlight what they have to offer. Store specials, raffles, and games are offered for shufflers to enjoy. This year's Shamrock Shuffle falls on St. Patrick's Day, thus offering shufflers an extra reason to dress in green. The "Shuffle" not only acts as a driver to encour age the community to explore and support area businesses, but it serves as a fundraiser for MBA causes, too. The annual event helps MBA cover the cost of several other projects, including Christmas lights and a new sound system down town, in addi- tion to funding annual events such as a "Santa Saturday" and the Mondovi Easter Egg Hunt.