“We have had counselors available,” S-B district superintendent Jeff Koenig said of the district’s response to the news Wednesday that a 16year-old from the district had died in a car crash while another person was injured in the same crash traveling on 30th Avenue near 172th Street in the Town of Lafayette, south of the Lake Wissota exit in Chippewa County. Unrelated to the Wednesday car crash but adding to the bad news was that Stanley-Boyd teacher Judy Gulcynski, who until last year ran the Open Doors Academy on North Broadway, had also passed away last week due to a prior long-standing health issue.

Stanley-Boyd High School student Wyatt Milas was killed in the Lafayette crash. The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office put out the following information.

“On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at about 11:48 a.m., the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, along with Lake Hallie Police and District Fire and EMS, responded to a re- ported single vehicle crash on 30th Ave near 172nd St., Town of Lafayette. It was reported that two occupants were still in the vehicle and both were unconscious. Upon arrival, it was found the vehicle had been traveling east on 30th Ave. when it left the roadway and struck a tree on the north side of the highway. The 18-year-old driver, Benjamin Podolak, was transported to Mayo Eau Claire by ambulance while the 16-yearold passenger was airlifted to Mayo Eau Claire by helicopter. Milas later died due to injuries sustained in the crash. The crash is still under investigation.”

Judith GulcynskiSee TRAGEDY, Page 8