The Thorp Courier

The Thorp City Council had a busy meeting on December 14. Approval was given to go ahead with soil boring at the potential site for a new wastewater treatment plant. The contract was awarded to American Engineering Testing Inc. at a cost of $7,500. The council also approved applying for Clear Water Funds to help finance the project. After discussion, the council approved establishing a Personnel Committee that will be charged with tasks such as interviewing potential employees, reprimanding behavior, and helping out with various minor tasks. +++ If you live in Thorp each dollar you pay in taxes goes to: Thorp School District 36 cents, Clark County 35 cents, City of Thorp 25 cents and Chippewa Valley Technical College 4 cents. +++ Here’s how each dollar the City of Thorp gets from taxes is spent: 34 cents on Pubic Works, 20 cents Public Safety (Police), 15 cents Culture and Recreation (Parks and Pool), 13 cents Debt Service (to pay off borrowing), 9 cents General Government, 3 cents Capitol Outlay, 2 cents Development, and 2 cents goes in a Contingency Fund, Courier Sentinel

With Lake Holcombe ending their 11 man football co-op with Cornell, it has been decided that Cornell will join Owen-Withee, Thorp and Athens in promoting a new conference, to play 8 man football, with a start up in 2022. In 2021, Cornell will be playing an independent schedule and is looking for games. +++ Trish Arciszewski of Thorp led a group of horse riders who traversed Cornell streets on December 13,bringing holiday cheer by caroling on horses adorned with holiday lights. Among the places passed were Cornell Health Services and Arciszewski’s mother’s home. +++ Porch pirates have reportedly struck in Cadott, Cornell and Holcombe stealing packages before the rightful owners could take them in. +++ Lake Holcombe Schools have returned to the in person learning format as of Monday, Decemberl4. +++ The Cadott School District has a new greenhouse, located on the east side of the high school, that was partially funded thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Cadott FFA Alumni. In use since October, the new facility has enabled students to do plant cuttings and a number of experiments related to plant growth and health.

Bloomer Advance

On Sunday, December 20, the Bloomer Clergy Association provided a Progressive Live Nativity Pageant with five churches each hosting a different live outdoor scene. Starting at St. Paul’s Catholic Church there was a reading and Christmas Carol. The group then moved to Christ Lutheran Church, then to Bloomer Methodist, First Congregational Church and finally St. John’s Lutheran Church.+++ Catalytic Combustion Corporation is celebrating 70 years of innovation in Bloomer. +++ Eighty members of the Bloomer FFA had gross sales close to $39,000 for this year’s annual fruit sale.

Tribune Photograph

The City of Colby has been awarded a $450,000 state Local Road Improvement Program Grant for a proposed Second Street project, that will cost about $1.7 million. Local officials now need to determine how the project will be financed. +++ The Angel Tree project distributed gifts from the Colby Lions Shelter on Saturday, December 12. Christmas hams and presents went to 54 families ensuring that nearly 170 children will experience the joy of Christmas.

Clark County Press

Families enjoyed the Loyal Area Historical Society's “Home for Christmas” on December 6. There were cookies, hot drinks, a bonfire, and wagon rides. +++ Neillsville school officials are concerned about some difficulties they are having ensuring that all students participate in online learning during the pandemic.

Some issues relate to truancy and some relate to students not having adequate Internet connections for remote learning. With the ability of knowing when students are engaged, all teachers are tracking student involvement. +++ The public will help pick the winners in the Neillsville Holiday Decorating Contest. On December 13, a parade of cars toured the community to pick the winners. After the caravan all participates returned to the high school field house for treats and turning in their ballots.

Tri-County News The Storlie brothers have combined to reach 1,000 career wins. Most people probably don’t know that the Blair-Taylor basketball coach is Randy Storlie and that his twin brother is Rich Storlie, the Fall Creek basketball coach. Both have long careers as coaches. Randy Storlie has coached at Blair-Taylor for 32 years, and prior to that 7 seasons at Taylor. He has been the only coach at Blair-Taylor since the two school districts combined back in 1988. Rich Storlie has been at Fall Creek the past 36 years. For 30 years, he has been coaching at the high school level for both boys’ and girls’ basketball programs. The last 22 years he has been head coach for the boys basketball team. With Fall Creek’s 65-39 win over Unity on Saturday, December 12, the two brothers now have a combined 1,000 wins at the high school level. Neither has indicated they plan to retire any time soon.

Trempealeau County Times

A long time Ashley employee was killed last week in the manufacturing process. No details have been released. It is known that the Federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration is investigating. +++ The Arcadia Community Chest Board recently distributed $26,000 from this year’s campaign to various local, area and statewide agencies and causes.

Buffalo County News

The Mondovi School District offers students in 6th and 9th grades an opportunity to attend classes in an alternate setting called Anthony Acres School. Blazing through its inaugural school year, it uses the unique resources of the Mondovi region to equip students with the academic and practical skills to contribute to the future of the area through individualized and cooperative learning, engagement with the natural environment and building community connections.. +++ The Buffalo County Board has hired back its former Highway Commissioner, who had left the county for a position in Pepin County. Bob Platteter is back on a one year contract with job reviews after 90 days and six months.

Banner Journal With no wage increases being given out in 2021, due to the pandemic and the state of emergency, the Jackson County’s Executive and Finance Committee passed a resolution to provide non-union full time employees an additional personal holiday. This is the way the committee sees rewarding the county employees for their dedication, noting that it costs the county nothing except lost time.

News of Note From Our Neighbors