Bits & Pieces

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

The Thorp Courier

Thorp Superintendent, Angie Hanlin, introduced the school’s Peacebuilders program in her first column of the school year – The Cardinal Corner. Peacebuilders is not a program, or a curric ulum, but a culture that is developed by each student and teaches positive choices. Peacebuilders teaches six principles: to Praise People, to give up Put-Downs, to seek wise people, to notice and speak up about hurts I have caused, to right wrongs, and to help others. Peacebuilders is an experience designed to mesh with daily life and promotes peace in the home, at school and in the community. +++ The weather did not cooperate on Friday, September 2, when the Military and First Responder Appreciation Night was held at the Thorp varsity football game. As a result, the flag ceremony and fireworks were not held. However, Thorp beat McDonell 50-27.+++ The Thorp FFA was awarded a $1,000 grant from the corporate office of Ag Country Farm Credit Services. The funds will be used for the chapter’s Animal Science Day activities. Courier Sentinel

The Cornell City Council, meeting on Thursday, September 1, received a report that an inspection of the city’s historic pulpwood stacker revealed a need of $45, 252 in repairs to the concrete, that holds the device upright. The council was told that the cost will increase 5 percent each year the city waits to address the needed repairs. +++ The Cadott Community School District held its first community meeting on August 30, to unveil its five-year strategic facilities improvement plan and its longrange 20 to 25 year plan. Superintendent Jenny Starck said that the district wants to do the improvements in an organized way, which is what long-range plans help with. Maps/drawings at the meeting outlined the proposed updates such as moving the main office to the west side of the building, expanding the kitchen and commons, adding on fitness and wrestling/multipurpose areas, tech ed updates and an auto lab addition and updates to class room areas. +++ Robert Hopkins is the new pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cadott and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Boyd. Rev. Hopkins was born in California, grew up in Mississippi and comes to his new assignment from Nebraska where he had served for six years.+++ Ann and Paul Sonderegger have sold their beloved The Main Scoop, an ice cream shop, to Cornell natives, Harley and Lori Oemig. The Sonderegger’s have graced the Main Street of Cornell for two decades.

Bloomer Advance

The Bloomer Aquatic Center Pool was closed August 27 through September 5, for its biennial maintenance. The emptying process took 15 hours. Once the water was drained, diluted hydro-chloric acid wash was used to clean all surfaces and tiles on the walls and floors inside the pool. Tuesday, August 30, the pool was refilled with 130,000 gallons of fresh water. Chemicals were added to keep the water crystal clear and safe. +++ Duane Ristow, 44, Cameron got probation for breaking into a sand plant near New Auburn and leaving a note that read, “rape our land meet the clan.” He will avoid a prison term if he complies with the terms of probation imposed by the Barron County Circuit Court. Terms of sentence also require any treatment recommended by his probation agent, to remain absolutely sober and to provide a DNA sample to law enforcement.

The Tribune-Phonograph Patrolmen in the Colby Abbotsford Police Department will be receiving an increase of 3.5% over the next three years and a $3.00 per hour increase to be added on after the annual percentage increase. +++ The rehabilitation of the Abbotsford water tower has been delayed until the spring of 2023. The project needs weather that doesn’t dip below 50 degrees and more time is needed to have all the communication equipment on the water tower moved away sufficiently to allow the work to be done on the top of the tower. The Sentinel & Rural News

Joe and Tiffany Smoczyk, owners of Yellowstone Computing in Thorp, have recently expanded their business by hiring three technicians. The addition of this staff has enabled the business to respond more quickly to customer needs, provide better diagnostics and to eventually enable the business to expand to a second location. +++ Owen-Withee Pee Wee football has 27 kids participating. With the numbers being large, two teams are being fielded. The Clark County Press

At the Neillsville School District’s Annual Meeting, residents voted 12-0 to approve the budget. The school’s tax levy in 20212022 was $7.46 per $1,000 in property tax value. Due to a large increase in property value, a tax rate of $5.68 is projected for the 2022-2023 school year. The school district has no debt, but is planning to ask taxpayers to approval a $8.5 million referendum for capital projects needing to be done, including updating the 1954 built high school.

+++ After 21 years, Danny Bravener has retired from 21 years of service to Greenwood Athletics. He served as the Greenwood High School Booster Club president for 21 years and has spent countless hours leading fundraisers. Additionally, for the last 20 years he has kept the score book and/or statistics for coaches.

Mondovi Buffalo County News

Tyler Nelson, a Mondovi native and graduate, begins his first school year as Mondovi Elementary Principal. Nelson previously taught at Mondovi for four years and brings six years of administrative experience to his new role. Nelson’s first administrative role was as the elementary/middle school principal at the Thorp School District. +++ Three men managed to escape their sinking vehicle and swim to shore after the 22 year-old driver reportedly fell asleep and crashed it into the Eleva Pond in the early morning hours of Thursday, September 1.