BITS & PIECES

NEWS OF NOTE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

& Pieces The Thorp Courier After talk of a possible disbandment, the Thorp Alumni Association has had new life breathed back into it. Samantha Hubbard (Marten), a 2010 THS graduate, has become a recent member and has agreed to serve as president. While she lives in the Cadott area, she works in Thorp full-time. She sees the importance of having such an organization that is able to support educational experiences for Thorp students. She is looking forward to having other alumni join in this organization’s work.+++ Thorp’s 2022 Christmas Parade was held on Saturday, December 10. The parade went down Washington Street, turned on East Stanley Street and made its way to Yellowstone Park, where Santa Claus took last minute orders from children. The parade was another opportunity for children to receive treats tossed from the parade’s entries. This year’s parade was full of characters, including Donald and Daisy Duck, Rudy the reindeer and Santa’s elves, who greeted people along the parade route. +++ The Thorp Historical Society held its 2nd Annual Gingerbread Contest with contestants challenged to use their imagination and culinary skills, to create the gingerbread house of their dreams. There were awards for a number of age groups and family entries. The grand champion this year was Merry Wilichowski.

Bloomer Advance

The Bloomer Chamber of Commerce hosted Bloomer’s Second Annual Christmas parade for “Spread the Spirit 2022,” on Saturday, December 10. +++ Local newspapers from Chetek, Barron, Bloomer and Ladysmith annually hold a Trail Cam Contest, with first, second and third place prizes. This year’s first place prize went to a shot of a hawk with part of a cottontail rabbit in its talons, second place went to a shot of a fox with a turkey in its mouth walking across a downed tree, and third place was a shot of a stealthy bobcat with a fresh gray squirrel in its mouth. +++ Bloomer’s Masonic Lodge, with the help of the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation, recently distributed checks totaling $10,500 to local organizations, students and charities in the Bloomer and New Auburn Area. Among the donations was a Fire Suppression Tool donated to the Bloomer Fire Department.

O-W Enterprise Modified conference alignment is again on the WIAA radar. If adopted for football Owen-Withee will be joined as a member of the North Central-East Conference with Alma Center Lincoln, Cornell, Gilman, Lake Holcombe, McDonnell Catholic and Thorp. They would have one mandatory crossover game with a group of schools that would likely form a North Central-West Conference. +++ Junk ordinances had the Owen-Withee Police Committee discussing what needs to be done to give them more enforce-ability. +++ On December 10, the Clark County Law Enforcement Association gathered at Wolf’s True-Value in Greenwood and Russell’s in Neillsville to shop with kids and give them a positive experience. This was the 9th Shop With a Cop event held in Clark County. About 50 children were chosen to participate and each had $125 to spend.

Tribune-Phonograph

The City of Colby was among the 368 reporting units chosen for an election audit. Reporting units selected were asked to hand count votes for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and the representative of District 69. City election officials reported to the Marathon County Courthouse where the hand count took place. When done, the Colby counts matched the machine tabulation. +++ The process of replacing the 13 year Colby Superintendent, Dr. Steve Kolden has begun with parents with kids in the school district being the first to talk traits they want to see in the next superintendent.

The Sentinel & Rural News

The more recent pop-up food pantry, serving Owen-Withee, has been replaced with a monthly distribution from the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee. The new hour of distribution will take place on the third Tuesday of each month from 2-3 pm. The food pantry is being supplied out to Feed My People Food Bank in Eau Claire. +++ Lack of membership in the O-W Jaycees has resulted in a host of community organizations helping the O-W Booster Club in putting on the Owen-Withee Craft & Vendor Sale. The Saturday, December 10 Christmas event, again filled gyms and hallways of the Owen-Withee Schools.

The Clark County Press

The Neillsville Police Department is looking to hear from anyone who might have information related to the bomb threat found at Neillsville High School on November 9. The investigation is still ongoing as to when and who wrote the message on a bandstand. +++ On December 6, a State Farm Insurance representative met with Neillsville High School driving age students to discuss the importance of having a clean and prepared vehicle in Wisconsin winters. In case of an emergency, one should have a triangle, jumper cables, road salt or cat litter, ice scraper, extra phone charger, high calorie food and water, tarp, critical medications, first aid kit, duct tape, blanket, tools and a flashlight. +++ Five families in the Loyal area had their homes on a Christmas open house on Saturday, December 3.

Tri-County – Area Times

On December 17, the Osseo VFW and American Legion participated In the Wreaths Across America event at four local cemeteries. +++ The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is requesting the public’s help in solving the illegal killing of two cow elk in Jackson County. Mortality signals were received from the two cows, one on November 20 and one on November 22. +++ The Augusta Baseball Association has announced the return of amateur baseball in the spring of 2023. The team will be hosting tryouts on Tuesday, December 27, at Augusta High School from 3-7 pm. +++ On December 3, the Osseo Area Historical Society held their annual sing along at the historic Price Church. Carols were enjoyed along with a soup supper and a Christmas treat. A free will offering helps the OAHS maintain the historic church. +++ Starting on January 1, the Alliance Bank will have new business hours, including shortened Lobby Hours and having the Lobby closed on Saturdays. Drive thru remains open Mon-Fri 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to Noon.

Buffalo County News

The Alma School District was among many other districts that had to replace its WEA Trust Insurance after their decision to get out of the health insurance business. More than 50,000 people were covered by the WEA Trust for group health plans. In addition, 110 employees who worked for the WEA health insurance division lost their jobs.