Thorp Schools switch to Plan B

Thorp Courier

Thorp has joined a number of area communities that are planning for a new, or an upgrade of their current Wastewater Treatment Plant. At their November 9, City Council Meeting, the council discussed topsoil boring on a possible new plant location. It is possible that a new plant may cost less than repairing everything on the current location. +++ Grant and Boardman Streets in Thorp have been completed, but not without causing consternation for city officials. The success of the project came despite having to hire a new contractor after the original crew had a bout with COVID-19 cases. The road is open to traffic and will receive a second coat of blacktop in the spring. ++ The Thorp School District has switched to Plan B with new COVID outbreak. Grades 4K-3 will attend classes M-F in person. Grades 4-6 will attend classes M and T in person and W-F virtual. Grades 7-12 will attend school on Mondays in person and T-F virtual. Students with inadequate Internet access and students with special needs will attend inperson M-F.

Courier Sentinel

After a two week “break,” the Cadott School District had hoped to return to school on November 16. However, with still facing staffing issues, the district is unable to provide instruction in the building. The current virtual instructional model will thus run an additional week – November 16-20. ++ Lake Holcombe School Board voted at their November 11 meeting to end its cooperative football program with Cornell after next season. The vote prepares the way for 8-man football at Holcombe. +++ State Highway 27 is again open to travel after being closed, between Cadott and Cornell, most of the summer. Four culvert replacements have been completed. Some top soil remains to be replaced after it washed away in a recent rain.

Bloomer Advance

Because of COVID-19 concerns, Veterans Day ceremonies were canceled at local schools this year. However, that did not stop the Bloomer area veterans from observing the holiday with a 21 gun salute and taps, at the Bloomer Veterans Memorial. +++ Friday, November 27, Bloomer will be lighting up the 9th Avenue Park at 6 pm. The elves have gotten the park ready with thousands of lights and displays, and will be ready to show it off.

O-W Enterprise The Owen-Withee Sewer Commission approved a 3% rate increase to sewer user fees for 2021, to help cover the cost of the DNR phosphorous fee of $12,153. The fee increase amounts to $11,850 in additional revenues. +++ Election turnout in Owen was 83%, including 118 absentee ballots. +++ Owen has $30,000 owed to it in overdue bills.

The Clark County Press

Clark County’s main health system is doing all it can to hang on and help as many patients as it can. Marshfield Medical Center at Neillsville last week averaged eight COVID -19 tests per hour, up from three an hour just three weeks ago.

Tribune Photograph

The Abbotsford Christmas Parade is still a go despite COVID – 19, but it will be in a different format this year. The parade that has run since 1971 and a holiday tradition for many attendees, will be held on December 5, and is slated to start at 5 pm and run until 8:30 pm. The drive thru event will not require visitors to find parking, or dress in layers. A parade route is being established and visitors will drive the route to see the socially distanced stationary entries. +++ A very rough estimate to fix a leak in the Abbotsford School District’s swimming pool is anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million dollars. The options facing the school board are to do nothing now and wait until they have the money on hand, borrow the funds needed and make the repairs, cut the current budget to cover the cost of repairs, or fill the pool in with cement, and re-purpose the space. +++ Smith Bros. Meats in Colby and Pinters Packing in Dorchester were recognized by the Dorchester firefighters for their continued support of the departments fundraisers.

The Sentinel & Rural News

Jason and Samantha Thornton held a grand opening of their new IGYS Bar & Grill in Withee on Saturday, November 14. Besides bar food, they are also serving a Friday Night Fish Fry menu of cod, perch and shrimp.

Tri-County News Osseo’s Buzz Thompson received the Silver Beaver Award at a Court of Honor on Saturday, November 14. The Silver Beaver is the highest honor an adult volunteer of the Boy Scouts of America can receive. Because of COVID -19, the ceremony took place at Central Park in Osseo. +++ Matt Hazen, President of the Osseo-Fairchild School Board, recently received a Level 1 recognition from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards due to his participation in professional development and leadership training. +++ The Lake Eau Claire Association is making an effort to having residents living around the lake being able to access high-speed Internet.

Trempealeau County Times

Tragedy struck the Blair Haus Sports Bar and Grill on Friday, November 13. A fire that started in the kitchen completely destroyed the building. The firefighters were credited with preventing neighboring properties from catching on fire. Thirteen area fire departments assisted in fighting the fire. +++Whitehall has an unprecedented $52,000 in uncollected utility bills for water, sewer, and electricity. +++ The Blair City Council voted for an average sewer rate increase of 65 percent to offset five years of negative operating income

Buffalo County News

An uptick in COVID -19 cases locally has pushed Mondovi school leaders to begin virtual 4K-12 instruction on Monday, November 16 and there are plans to remain in that mode through the holidays and until at least the start of the second semester, January 19, 2021. +++ Bradley Hanson, Mondovi City Administrator for the nearly the past four years, has submitted his resignation to the Mondovi City Council. He will officially begin his new job as the city administrator for Tomah on December 28. The move was reportedly to allow him to have a greater range of experiences, namely to be involved in the tourism industry and oversight of a larger staff. +++ The Buffalo County Humane Association was the beneficiary of the Wisconsin State Patrol’s “Cram the Cruiser” effort this year, and they received a large haul of supplies and donated funds.

& %$'$' News of Note From Our Neighbors