Conrath
Conrath, WI · Municipal
Sawyer County Record
Hayward Chamber presents annual business, service awards
The Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce held their 26th annual membership awards banquet Thursday Nov. 5 at The Steakhouse & Lodge. The Chamber recognized the outstanding businesses, individuals, and organizations whose dedication, leadership and contributions help make the Hayward area a special place to live, work and play. In a speech titled “Keep the Standard High, Hayward,” Chamber Executive Director Chris Ruckdaschel said that “What makes a community special isn’t simply what it has. It’s what its people choose to do with what they have.” Ruckdaschel said that prior to moving here from Indianapolis 11 years ago, “Like so many others, we already loved this area as a vacation destination. We knew about the lakes, the forests, the trails, and the natural beauty. “But what we didn’t fully appreciate at the time was something that I would argue is even more special,” he said: —“The people who make this community what it is. —“The business owners who take risks to pursue their dreams. —“The employees who take pride in their work. —“The volunteers who show up, year after year, without expecting recognition. —“And the organizations and individuals who quietly make a difference in the lives of others. “Sometimes we’re so
Sawyer County Record
Winter school referendum approved, Town of Hayward proposal rejected
Winter School District voters on Tuesday Nov. 3 passed an operational funding referendum by a vote of 1,174 ‘Yes’ to 546 ‘No.’ The school, with a current enrollment of approximately 220 students, is facing an $890,000 deficit to balance the budget, driven by declining enrollment and flat state funding. The school district has taken from their fund balance, but that will be depleted by next year. The Nov. 3 referendum asked voters to approve an additional $1.5 million for each of the next four years beginning in 2026-27. Funds would be used for costs associated with school safety, sustaining or updating curriculum and programs, deferred facility maintenance and staffing. According to an information booklet published by the school, “We cannot continue to provide essential programs and curriculum, continue with deferred maintenance projects, hire, develop, and retain quality staff members within the District’s allowable revenue limit.” Town of Hayward Town of Hayward voters rejected a facilities referendum proposal asking if the town should borrow up to $9 million to renovate the existing town hall and build a new fire station and highway department facility, with a vote of 1,067 ‘No’ to 657 ‘Yes.’ Sawyer County Other Sawyer County vote totals from
WEAU-TV 13
Rice Lake Chronotype
Peterson, Hightower win first place in Patriot’s Pen essay contest
The Rice Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post has announced the top three winners from each of two schools in its annual Patriot’s Pen essay contest. The winners were awarded plaques and monetary prizes at the Veterans Day program at Rice Lake Middle School. Winners from Rice Lake Middle School, are Tanzania Hightower, first; Ana Luz Jevne, second; and Aadisyn Grove, third. Placing in the top three from St. Joseph School in Rice Lake are Michael Peterson, first; Mary Smith, second; and Elise Williams, third. The first-place winners received $150; second-place winners were awarded $100; and third-place winners were given $75. Peterson will advance to District 9 competition in December.
Spooner Advocate
Weiss elected to WASB Board of Directors
SPOONER — Joe Weiss was elected to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) on Oct. 6. President of the Spooner Area School District Board of Education, Weiss began his term immediately upon election during the WASB Region 1 fall regional meeting in Hayward. Weiss will represent Region 1, which includes more than 35 school districts in northeast Wisconsin. As director, he will advocate for school districts in his region and across the state. Weiss was elected to complete the remainder of the unexpired term of Turtle Lake’s Linda Flottum, which runs until January 2028. A full three-year term for the Region 1 director position will be up for election at the 2027 fall regional meeting. Weiss, who is married with two children and six grandchildren, has served the Spooner Board of Education and the CESA 11 Board of Control for five years. He has also served on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress for 31 years, holding numerous offices, including secretary, historian, vice chair, chairman of the Congress Warm Water Committee and chair of the Washburn County delegation. He has also been a member of the Washburn County Board of Adjustment for 20 years. A retired
Leader Telegram
Sawyer County Record
Hayward Veteran of Year event honors veterans, supporters
American Legion Post 218 held their annual Veterans Day dinner and recognition program Saturday Nov. 7 at the Hayward Veterans Community Center. They honored Jamie Principe as Veteran of the Year, Theresa Moore as Veterans Auxiliary Member of the Year and Tim Conner for his work with the Sons of the American Legion. Hayward High School graduate and Wisconsin Army National Guard Sgt. Cody Jensen spoke about his service during the current war in the Middle East, as his unit came under fire earlier this year from bomb-carrying Iranian drones while stationed in Bahrain. Jensen enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard combat engineers in January 2009 and served for nine years. He re-enlisted twice starting in 2021. In December 2025, he deployed to Kuwait with Bravo Battery of the 121st Field Artillery in support of Operation Epic Fury. While stationed in Bahrain—a “beautiful country”—in February this year, his unit “took incoming” fire from the enemy, from 200 tactical ballistic missiles and 350 Shahed drones, which are like “flying lawn mowers with 150 pounds of explosives,” Jensen said. “After 230 bunker calls, we stopped counting.” “Thankfully, none of the U.S. service members were killed in action,” Jensen said. “Unfortunately, our
WEAU-TV 13
Rice Lake Chronotype
‘Reflection, appreciation, learning’ all part of Veterans Day program
Rice Lake Middle School once again hosted a Veterans Day program on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the school gym. It included remarks from the principal, music by the band and choir, words of thanks and refreshments by the student council, presentation of Honor Banners to veterans and their families, Patriot’s Pen essays, a rifle salute and a surprise $1,000 donation from the Golden K Club to the Rice Lake Honor Guard. Middle School Principal Josh Tomesh gave a welcome address in which he, in part, said, “Veteran’s Day is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s a time of reflection, appreciation, and learning. For our students, it’s an opportunity to understand that the liberty and peace we experience were secured through the selfless acts of countless individuals who put others before themselves. It’s also a chance for us to instill in our young people a deep sense of patriotism, gratitude, and respect for those who have served and continue to serve.” Tomesh said, “May we remember that honoring our veterans isn’t just something we do once a year — it’s something we carry with us every day, in the way we treat one another,
Leader Telegram
Leader Telegram
Leader Telegram
Eau Claire shares preview of downtown business report
EAU CLAIRE — A preview of downtown business activity reflects more than six years of data, as the City of Eau Claire’s Economic Development Division hopes to show how the entire district has evolved. Economic Development Specialist Kendall Williams said data tracking starts in 2021 and measures up to the end of 2026. A full report is expected to come out in the first quarter of 2027, detailed in five parts focusing on different downtown districts. “One will be for North Barstow Medical District, one will be South Barstow Medical District, one will be Water Street, one will be West Grand Avenue and then there will be one that combines all of the districts to make one downtown district,” she said. “The purpose of this is to establish a baseline because we have reports from all throughout the revitalization of downtown. We’re able to do comparisons to where we were, but we didn’t have a modern baseline for what commercial spaces are even available within our new districts as new buildings have been built over the last few decades. So this is helping us start with that modern commercial inventory.” Through the Downtown Business Trends Report, Williams said they also