Abbotsford suspends in-person school

Bits &

The Thorp Courier

Thorp chiropractor, Bruce Campbell D.C., has announced his retirement as of Friday, October 16, after 41 years of practice. +++ After a few local cases of COVID-19 caused a temporary delay in the start of the Thorp school year, the kids and school staff said hello to the 2020-21 school year on Monday, September 14. +++ Starting Monday, September 21, the Thorp Public Library is offering Story Hour Packets to go. Each week there will be a fun activity packet parents can pick up for their children to enjoy. Packets can be picked up during regular library hours. +++ Aliyah Van Calcar has joined the list of children who have read 1,000 books before entering kindergartner. +++ The Thorp School District will again be hosting the Follet Book Fair, except this year it will be held virtually from October 5 through October 12th.

Courier Sentinel

Although COVID-19 has put a damper on some Cornell High School activities, Homecoming Week is still being celebrated October 4-9. First off will be the Homecoming Dash beginning at 2:30 pm on Sunday, October 4. Local businesses are being asked for use of window space for students to decorate and are invited to put up signage supporting Homecoming. +++ The Welcome to Cornell sign in Mill Yard Park now boasts an addition, proclaiming the city is an Ice Age Trail Community. Cornell is one of 12 towns to have that distinction, as the trail runs right through the city. +++ The Cornell Food Pantry is looking to receive end of the year donations. The Food Pantry Board reminded people that the pantry’s success is because of local support. +++ Kathy Reed of Cadott recorded a lifetime feat on September 6, when she shot a hole-in-one, on Hole 2, at Whispering Pines Gold Course.

Bloomer Advance

The Lambert families of Bloomer are big supporters of the Bloomer Area Aquatic & Recreation Center. Florence Lambert has raised over $25,000, the last 8 years on her thrift sale fundraiser. And David and Mary Ann Lambert have raised almost $27,000 for the Center collecting aluminum cans. David estimated that they have collected close to 200,000 cans since 1992 when they started their endeavor. +++ Glass Insulators of Bloomer is expanding their facilitates. On September 23, they broke ground for an expansion that will bring their Bloomer plant to over 47,000 sq. ft. The company is a premier insulating glass manufacturer that combines high performance and unparalleled customer service.

O-W Enterprise Owen-Withee Curtiss EMS has received their new ambulance. The 2019 demo model has about 2,000 miles on it and it replaces the 2006 model that will be sold once equipment is transferred and the new vehicle is in service. +++ After being postponed because of COVID–19, the Annual Clark County Spring Into the Arts Tour was held on September 19-20. Featured stops in northern Clark County were at the Munson Bridge Winery and the Old School in Owen. Multiple artists were at each location. Some artists were unable to be present because of the postponement.

The Clark County Press

The Loyal School Board violated the states open meeting law by moving to closed session two items that came up at their September 16, school board meeting. The items were the number of spectators to be allowed at sports events and the issue of the face mask requirement after the state mandate expires on September 28. The school board president later announced his error and that it would not be happening again, as he has thoroughly studied the state statute governing closed sessions. +++ The Neillsville Class of 1975 is planning to hold their 45th Reunion virtually. +++ The Greenwood School Board has hired a full-time

News of Note From Our Neighbors

substitute teacher and raised their sub pay to $115 per day, all in hopes of getting help when needed. +++ The Neillsville School District has had their first COVID-19 student case.

Tribune Photograph

The Abbotsford School Board voted to suspend in person instruction for grades 9-12 and move to virtual only after nine students tested positive, which resulted in over 90 students being placed in quarantine. Canceling classes for 14 days will hopefully stop the spread of the virus. +++ With two teachers and over a dozen students currently quarantined due to COVID-19, the Colby School Board agreed to stay with four-day a week instruction. +++ The Abbotsford City Council is looking at consolidating two 2010 loans that were issued to pay for water system improvements into a single loan of $2.5 million and save $480,000 in the process.

The Sentinel & Rural News

The Future O-W K-9 Unit Fund recently received a donation of $500 from Forward Bank of Withee. +++ The Owen Downtown Revitalization Committee will be hosting Autumnfest on Saturday, October 30 with the central activities being a chili cookoff and pie eating contest. There will also be a Polka Band playing in the pavilion at Millpond Park. From 4-5 pm a kiddie costume parade will be taking place on Central Ave in downtown Owen. There will be many categories of prizes and a Halloween gift bag will be given to all participants.

Trempealeau County last week recorded 62 new COVID-19 cases, breaking the previous record of 54 set in mid-July. The increase in cases is attributed to people not wearing masks, which is believed due to “Pandemic fatigue” and mask resistance. +++ Whitehall received a Community Development Block Grant of $1 million dollars. The funds will go towards a $3.5 million dollar street project.

Tri-County News CCF Bank recently presented a $2,500 check to the Osseo-Fairchild School District. The donation is part of a program called “Swipe for School” in which CCF Bank customers who have an Osseo-Fairchild debit card can have a portion match by the bank, which is then donated to the school district. The “Swipe for Schools” is another way for CCF Bank to show its support for local communities. +++ Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Augusta School District have altered a number of plans for school activities. Most notable were the postponement of a number of homecoming activities scheduled for September 25.

Buffalo County News

The City of Mondovi was recently presented a $10,000 check by the Mondovi Conservation Club. The club worked with the city and provided input on the new Mirror Lake Park pavilion, which the club uses during their annual ice fishing and youth fishing contests. Of the $10,000, $8,000 will go towards the pavilions construction cost and $2,000 will be used for fish restocking costs.+++ (Bank closures don’t only occur in Stanley!) CCF Bank is closing their Eleva location, along with a secondary location in Eau Claire and one in Minnesota Lake, MN.