BITS & Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Tri-County Area Times

Augusta Memorial Library teamed up with the Augusta Police Department to host a National Night Out. The event was made possible by local donors such as Mike's Meats and Catering, Bush's Beans, and several other independent groups. +++ The Osseo Area Dusty Riders announced that it had received a $15,000 Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Grant, which promotes safe responsible riding and open sustainable riding areas.

The grant will be used towards resurfacing 3 miles of trails needing resurfacing due to erosion and extremely rough riding over it.

Trempealeau County Times

While the majority of school board members in attendance disagreed with Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District Administrator Michelle Butler regarding masking in school, most agreed that the board should support its administration. Butler proposed that the school would only mandate masks, should the COVID-19 super spreader enter the "critical risk phase" – a seven day average of 71 daily new cases per 100,000 people. Most board members thought the "critical risk phase" should be set between 25-71 new cases per 100,000. +++ The Independence School District will follow local health officials recommendation and require masks be worn at school. The board had previously deferred the power to make the mask decision to their administrator and that was his decision after what was scheduled for a 10 minute discussion lasted nearly an hour and new information from the Trempealeau County Health Department.

Buffalo County News

Garrett Martin, a La Crosse native, is settling in as the new Mondovi City Administrator. Martin's background includes a degree in accounting and finance from UW-Whitewater and a gradate degree from UW-Wisconsin School of Public Affairs. After enlisting in the U. S. Army, and serving three years of active duty in Poland and Germany, he worked as an accountant and most recently in Washington, D. C. With D.C. never really feeling like home, he sought a return to Wisconsin and a position closer to his native La Crosse. +++ The Alma School District is anticipating an enrollment of 240 students. Expected will be 23 seniors, 15 in kindergarten and 16 in first grade.