The Thorp Courier

On December 7, 1941, 79 years ago, Japan declared war on the United States and World War II began. Today, the Thorp American Legion still has eight veterans of that war who remain alive. They are: John Brandt, Walter Filipelo, Edward Hull, Anton Jacks, Helen Pagel, Victor Pogodzinski, Richard Turenne and Anton Volk.

Courier Sentinel

Paul Schley, District Administrator of the Cornell Schools brought some extremely good news to the Cornell School Board at their meeting on November 23. He announced that the school district had received $250,000 to establish a scholarship fund honoring longtime school librarian Edith Arnhold, who was district librarian from 1962-81. Schley will explore investing the funds through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County. +++ At a special meeting of the Cadott School Board on November 23, the Board voted to move to a hybrid model of instruction. Students will be split into two groups with half attending in person on Monday and Tuesday and the other group on Thursday and Friday. Students needing extra help to keep up, or catch up. will also attend on Wednesdays. +++ The Cornell Area Betterment Association held their annual recognition of those in the Cornell area who make a difference. Recognition categories were: Business of the Year, Civic Organization of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and a Legacy Award.

Bloomer Advance

On November 22, Carter Welch of Bloomer, won first place in the Men’s Raw 120kg weight class in the 2020 USA Power-Lifting Collegiate Nationals in Oaks, PA. To place first, Welch squatted 633 pounds, benched 380 pounds and dead lifted 677 pounds for a total of 1,690 pounds. +++ Security Bank of Bloomer, through their partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, provided support of the Bloomer Area Aquatic Center with a $5,000 donation.

Tribune Photograph

With over $2 million in federal funding about to become available in the near future, the Abbotsford School District is poised to start looking for an architect to design a multi-purpose dome structure that can be used as both a storm shelter and a space for extra classrooms. +++ The Marathon County Board Size Task Force voted Monday to recommend to the executive committee that the board stay at 38 members, the largest in the United States. +++Work has started on two new apartment buildings in Curtiss. The location is near the former El Norteno Restaurant. Each building will be just under 16,000 square feet and contain between 12-16 units. Completion is expected by the spring of 2021.

The Sentinel & Rural News

Small business Saturday was reported as not so small for business establishments throughout Greenwood, Willard, Thorp and Owen-Withee. In Willard, There Once Was A Bam Christmas Boutique was open for their once a year event. Visitors found a mapped out shopping track that allowed shoppers to socially distance as they browsed. This year, a rustic 8 foot Santa was the boutiques centerpiece and greeted you as you entered the door. +++ The Clark County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are investigating an incident in which a driver in the town of Hoard was pulled over by what is reported as impersonators of the two departments. +++ The town of Maplehurst has been approved by the Owen City Council for admission to the Owen-Withee-Curtriss Fire District. +++ The Owen-Withee High School Band’s annual trivia contest is taking on a new look this year, in that it will be completely virtual. The contest is 50 questions and teams get the length of one song to find the answer and submit it on the answer site. +++ In December of 2019, Jacob Dietrich of Thorp was charged with child sexual assault after an 11 year old girl stated that he had been touching her inappropriately since that summer. He is scheduled to be back in court on December 18.