Bits & Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Courier Sentinel

First responders from across Chippewa County had the opportunity to learn more about electric vehicles (EV’s), as they become more widely accepted and grow in popularity. The EV awareness raising session took place December 12, at the Cadott Fire Station and was paid for by the Chippewa County Fire Chief Association. Members from all Chippewa County fire departments had members present for the training. During the training session, first responders learned things, such as where they can and cannot cut electric vehicles to extricate people, in the event of a crash. They also learned that in case of a battery fire they, need to continue cooling the battery with water for 45 minutes after the fire is out to help prevent re-ignition. +++ Sandy Buetow, longtime Cadott Village Clerk, is retiring in January. She is being replaced by Cadott native April Bruhn, who has been working with Buetow since November to prepare for taking over the reigns of the key village position. Bruhn is familiar to Cadott residents as she had worked for the Citizens State Bank for 15 years. +++ At their meeting on December 19, the Cadott School Board learned of district’s Transition Program for special education students. Cadott’s program was highlighted at the Wisconsin State Transition Conference last February. The presentation helped other districts learn how to build a transition program of their own. +++ Cornell’s Main Street has a new business known as S& K Boutique. Carissa Reickert Nelson expanded her business to a physical location in October.

The Thorp Courier

Two Thorp High School Juniors, Ivan Neisius and Kendall Luzinski, have each received $1,000 Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Grants, which are designed to help FFA members create or expand SAE projects. Ivan plans to use his grant to update the habitat for his prize wining rabbits. His plan includes new cages and heating pads. Kendall plans to purchase a Charolais breed heifer with the grant money. +++ Thorp’s two day Red Cross Blood Drive was held on December 20 and 21. With a goal of 84 units, they collected 52 units on December 20 and 38 units on December 21, thus exceeding the goal. +++ The School District of Thorp’s overall DPI Report Card rating has risen each year since the 2018-19 school year and has earned its first ever 4-Star rating (Exceeds Expectation) since the 2016-17 school year. +++ The Thorp chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) collected 114 toys during their Toy Drive. The toys were given to the Community Angel Tree Project and were distributed to children in need from Thorp Schools and community.

Bloomer Advance

Subscription rates for the Bloomer Advance weekly paper are going up. Subscribers are encouraged to renew their subscriptions to beat the raise that takes pace on February 1, 2023. New rates include: the in county rate increases from $30 to $32; the out-of-county rate will go from $34 to $38; and the out-ofstate rate is going from $36 to $40. Three rate increases at the printing plant and two from the post office, with an additional one coming, have contributed to the need to raise the rates. The newspaper points out that the current increase will still make the Bloomer Advance $10 a year cheaper than the Colfax Messenger and the Courier-Sentinel (which serves Cornell-Cadott and Lake Holcombe). +++ Bloomer’s extensive city utility replacement projects have not been going well. During the last two city council meetings, discussions have occurred related to concerns with the placement of water lines. The manager of the Water Department reported his concern in that the water mains and services are “pretty shallow.” He reported that some services that were supposed to be 8.5 feet deep were put in leas than 7 feet deep. He also said that some water mains that were supposed to be 9 feet deep are at 7+ feet deep. He reported the engineer set the plans right but the contractor didn’t follow them as in the plan. The project representatives were inexperienced and didn’t stop the project until the corrections were made. The council met with their attorney in closed session to decide on the course of action that will be taken to deal with the concerns and issues involved.

O-W Enterprise Owen Mayor Charlie Milliren, has announced that he will be a candidate for reelection in April. Scott Jalling will also be running for mayor. +++ The Village of Withee gifted their fulltime employees $50 for Christmas and part-time employees got $20. +++ The Owen City Council, at their December 13 meeting, approved the issuance of $1,919,000 in General Obligation Promissory Notes, $448,000 in Water System Revenue Bond Anticipation Notes and $314,000 in Sewerage System Revenue Bond Anticipation Notes. They were purchased by the Northwestern Bank of Chippewa Falls with an interest rate of 4.65 percent. +++ A couple of 2022 highlights of Owen-Withee history included the closing of the New Harvest Assembly of God Church in Withee on January 23 and the sale of Scott & Lori’s Family Foods to Earl and Etta Martin who now operate the store as Martin’s Fresh Market.

The Sentinel & Rural News

The issue of athletic practices during school vacations and snow days drew a crowd at the December 19, Owen-Withee School Board Meeting. Coaches and parents both stated their opinions on such practices either as mandatory or non-mandatory. The current board policy is that if there is no school due to weather there should not be practices either mandatory or optional. In the end, the school board did not change the policy and encouraged open communication between coaches, athletes, parents, community and administration. +++ The Owen-Withee Knights of Columbus presented a $500 check to the Owen-Withee Food Pantry.