Bits and Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Courier Sentinel

Dollar General is coming to town, as reported at the Lake Hol- combe Town Board Meeting on July 14. Although it wasn't ov cially a done deal, the old M& W building on the corner of 263rd Avenue and State Hwy 27, was auctioned ou. The building will be razed and it is understood that an acquisition company now owns the property, but will lease it to Dollar General for 20 years.

+++ The Cadott Village Board continues to seek lowering the speed limit along County Hwy X, from Elm Street to 67th Avenue/ Dump Road. Any change will need Chippewa County approval. The purpose of lowering the speed limit is so the village can allow ATV/UTV travc on that stretch of roadway, an area on which they have no jurisdiction. The County Safety Committee has scheduled a meeting in October to discuss and potentially approve the change. +++ Chippewa County Crime Stoppers is now live and looking for tips from residents across the Chippewa Valley. Cornell has posted Crime Stoppers signs around town.

+++ The School Districts of Cadott, Cornell and Lake Holcombe have begun collecting school supplies for kids who need them.

Last year, Cadott was able to give away 125 backpacks filled with supplies.

The Thorp Courier

Lil Kaczmarek, a 96 year old Thorp celebrity, and her nephew Ken Szymanski, will ouer his latest book entitled, "Sit Down and Stay Awhile,” at the Thorp Area Historical Society on Friday August 5, 2-4 pm. The book tells the life story of Szymanski's aunt Lil and reads like one is sitting down at the bar with a great bartender on a slow Saturday afternoon, listening to a series of great stories spanning the decades. +++ On Tuesday, July 12, Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation in Thorp hosted a summer car show. Seventeen cars made the drive for this year’s show.

Mason May, Administrator, noted that Cody’s Classic Cars in Stanley brought cars, as well as some community members who saw the advertisement about the show. Attendees were treated to popcorn and root beer floats. +++ Amanda Balk, of Thorp's Auto Value, was named 2021 Auto Value Store Manager of the Year.

This is not her first award! In 2014, she was named Auto Value Counter-Person of the Year and in 2020, she received the award for Auto Value Impact Player of the Year.

Bloomer Advance

On July 14, the 42nd Annual Chippewa County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show and Sale, held at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, grossed $360,941.05. The livestock show had 119 head sold. This was the highest number of animals sold since 2000 and had the most buyers ever purchasing animals. Two Bloomer sisters, Lilly and Stella Nelson, had the distinction of selling the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Lilly sold her Grand Champion, a 1,555 pound dairy steer to Dairy State Bank for $4.25/lb. for a total of $6,608.75. Stella Nelson sold her Reserve Champion, a 1,420 pound dairy steer for $3.25/lb. to Haas & Sons for a total of $4,615. Kennedy Kuehni of Stanley, sold her Grand Champion, a 1,305 pound steer to Rooney Properties for $5.75/lb. for a total of $7,503.75. +++ The Bloomer Promotional Committee's first Wine Walk was a huge success. The walk started at 3 pm on Thursday, July 14, at the Bloomer Brewery for a tour and purchasing a passport wine glass. Participants then headed downtown to tour six Bloomer Chamber retail businesses. Each business also ouered an opportunity to sample wine.

The Tribune-Phonograph The Abbotsford School District will be breaking ground for their new building project on August 9. The project is being par-

tially financed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The cost of the project was initially estimated to cost close to $3.1 million, with FEMA supplying $2.2 million. In January 2022, the Board settled on an estimate of $6.7 million for the project. Completion is anticipated to be in June 2023. The new construction will include three 4K classrooms, a collaboration area and a community room, as well as extra gym space for overflow for games and events. +++ The Central Wisconsin Concertina Club has announced that they have played their last performance for a Colby Cheese Days Parade. All but one of the seven members are over age 75.

The Sentinel & Rural News

Ralph Fetting, may not have a title or certificate of Master Gardening but he certainly has one of the best gardens in the city of Owen. A weed doesn’t stand a chance in his garden, despite his 72 years, he still can be seen on his knees pulling any sign of a weed. When asked, being a single guy, what he does with all his produce, he responded, “I share most with family and friends. I just like to grow stuu." +++ At their July 12 meeting, the Owen City Council, voted to move forward with creating a lease with the Owen-Withee Area Historical Society, for use of the old city hall for a museum.

Tri -County Area Times

Osseo-Fairchild’s new Middle/High School Principal is Eric Young. He comes to his new position from Whitehall, where he served as high school principal. +++ There is a new bench in downtown Fairchild honoring Jill Sabin, who tragically died in an accident in November 2020. Jill was a pillar of the commu- nity serving in a number of local organizations and also on the Fairchild Village Board. Jill was lauded as being a “True friend of Fairchild.” +++ Fr. Daniel Thelen, pastor of Catholic churches at Alma Center and Fairview (rural Fairchild), was given a fond farewell as he leaves for his new assignment at St. John the Bap- tist Parish in Marshfield. The parish is welcoming their new pas – tor Fr. Peter Kieuer, whose last assignment was at Regis Middle/ High School and as Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s, Altoona and St. Raymond’s, near Fall Creek.

Buualo County News

On Tuesday, July 12, Governor Tony Evers visited the Town of Cross (Buualo County) to hear from local residents who will benefit from a state Broadband Expansion Grant. The $2.1 mil lion grant will provide the majority of a $3.1 million project that will provide high-speed Internet to over 200 residents in the rural Fountain City area. +++ With the Mississippi River in their history and their blood, Jarrad and Jordan Fluekiger are still a family making a living on those waters. The father-son are the third and fourth generation to make their living on the river. At age 19, Jordan got his captains license to guide, making him the youngest captain in the area and perhaps the youngest on the river. The father-son guide anglers between Red Wing and La Crosse.