Shell Lake, WI Events and More

County goes over proposed 2026-27 budget

SHELL LAKE — The Washburn County Finance Committee held its public hearing on the 2027 proposed budget on Thursday, Nov. 5. Chair Stephen Smith presented the budget summary, which proposed a levy against all taxable property for $11,942,491 for county purposes, as specifically enumerated in the 2027 budget. The proposed mill rate is $2.249 per $1,000 of equalized valuation. The mill rate this year is lower than 2026, which was $2.40. During public comment, Linda Zillmer of the Village of Birchwood thanked all the county departments and staff for their work. However, she noted that no other County Board supervisors were present beyond the Finance Committee members that night. “This is one of the most important documents a county can adopt,” she said. She said it would be helpful to have the TV screens in the board room display the information when presenting the budget. She said other counties have a budget presentation with exhibits for the full board. Zillmer also suggested creating a full-time nutrition/wellness educator position and cutting the Washburn County Tourism Association budget to add this position. She said some items suggested for the budget failed due to lack of a second motion in discussions at previous

Washburn County, WI · 2d

Rice Lake Chronotype

Massie family recognized with Century certificates

The descendants of Benjamin Massie were recognized with a Century Family certificate at the Thursday, Nov. 11, meeting of the Blue Hills Genealogical Society, which met at the new Welcome Center adjacent to Pioneer Village Museum west of Cameron. Each receiving a certificate recognizing them as a Century Family were siblings Yvonne Massie Madison and Jerry Massie, the great-grandchildren of Benjamin Massie, who settled in the Sioux Creek area of Barron County in the 1880s. With them to receive the Century Family recognition were Jerry’s three sons, Chad, Kelly and Shane, and Yvonne’s daughter Leslie Madison Olson. Families who have ancestors who were living in Barron County for 100 years or more, and can provide documentation of it, are eligible to receive the Century certificate. The society awards the Pioneer certificate to those families who can provide documentation that their family was living in Barron County by 1871, when the county was formed. The society honors descendants who have researched genealogical information with the applications preserved and stored in the society’s resource room that is now housed at the Welcome Center. In addition to the recognition, a tour was given of the new building that includes a classroom, a research

Cameron, WI · 19h

Rice Lake Chronotype

City Council OKs budget levy, abruptly adjourns amid arguments

The Rice Lake City Council approved the 2027 Budget levy during a public hearing, but discussions over Senior Center funding and agenda items that included reviews of the city administrator performance process and council procedures turned argumentative and led nowhere. 2027 Budget The council met in full on Tuesday, Nov. 10, but no members of the public appeared in person or spoke during the 2027 Budget public hearing. City Administrator SJ Johnson explained discrepancies between the published budget proposal and the budget summary provided in the council’s packet. For example, the published budget reflected a balance between revenues and expenditures of $10.2 million. The summary, however, showed expenditures at $10.65 million. Johnson said the budget as published was the city’s best estimate at the time. Council Member Abbey Fischer asked if she could address adding $10,000 in funding for the Rice Lake Senior Center. But Mayor Harlan Dodge and Council Member Jim Resac expressed concerns about the legalities of altering the budget at the Nov. 10 meeting. Johnson said state code dictates that the proposed budget should be adopted on or before Nov. 14. “If you change what the budget looks like and that's been presented to the public, you're

Rice Lake, WI · 23h

drydenwire.com

Spooner School Board President Elected to Statewide WASB Board of Directors

SPOONER, WI — Joe Weiss was elected to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards on October 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.

Spooner, WI · 20h

Rice Lake Chronotype

Property Committee dims on campus solar array proposal

The Barron County Property Committee, at its Monday, Nov. 9, meeting, indefinitely tabled pursuing a solar array project at UW-Eau Claire — Barron County, opting to keep the green space as is rather than filling it with solar panels to potentially raise funds for the university and county. The committee members had a copy of a Solar Feasibility Study that was prepared by Upper 90, a Centrix Company. According to the study’s executive summary, the county and campus engaged in the firm to evaluate the feasibility of a ground-mounted solar array on undeveloped county-owned land at the campus at 1800 College Drive, Rice Lake. The study was funded by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. It presented two options, both of which would generate more electricity than the entire campus currently uses in a year. The second option would generate roughly three times campus usage. The study said the array site — east of the main campus — appears workable as it sits away from the Red Cedar River mitigating DNR shoreline/floodplain concerns. It stated that the main obstacles would include relocating a portion of the adjacent disc golf course and installing a security fencing

Barron County, WI · 2d

Rice Lake Chronotype

Veterans honored during Haugen Elementary School program

The chairs were filled and dozens of people stood along edges of the gymnasium during a Veterans Day program at Haugen Elementary School. Put on by the school and Brunclik-Konop American Legion Post 540 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, it’s the last Veterans Day program with the school district set to close Haugen Elementary at the end of the school year. Following the posting of the colors and the “Pledge of Allegiance,” Commander Ken Nelson provided an invocation and opening remarks. Nelson asked Haugen Elementary students if they knew what a veteran is, the six branches of the military, the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day and why the day is recognized on Nov. 11? “Whether home eating, sleeping, watching television or playing video games, the branches of the military are defending your freedom around the world,” Nelson told the kids. Third- and fourth-grade students presented a skit about Betsy Ross’ creation of the U.S. flag, followed the folding of the flag by veterans Bob Beffa and Mark Larson as Nelson spoke about the meaning of each fold. All the students together held U.S. flags and sang “The Brave” thanking veterans for their service, sacrifice and bravery. Nelson then answered

Haugen, WI · 1d

wisconsin.golf

The Scoop: Her view of college golf will come in Minnesota as Avery Voeltz of Spooner announces decision to play at Division III St. Olaf

The Scoop: News and notes from around junior golf in Wisconsin. In her four years on the girls golf team at Spooner High School, senior Avery Voeltz saw the sport from just about every angle during her time — and her climb — with the Rails. She saw...

Spooner, WI · 1d

Spooner Advocate

Contract with Rural Virtual Academy discussed to address student enrollment

SPOONER — The Spooner School Board Committee of the Whole discussed contracting with the Rural Virtual Academy out of Medford and its scope of services to keep students in the district at their meeting Monday, Nov. 2. Supt. Dr. Marggie Banker said there are 50 students open enrolled out into virtual schools, which impacts the district’s student numbers and budget. Currently, the closest virtual school to Spooner is in Barron. With this partnership with the Rural Virtual Academy for a very small amount of money to share services, “we’d be able to keep some of (our) revenue,” Banker said. Rural Virtual Academy has academics for grades K-12 and special education, along with professional development services for employees. She said the district wouldn’t be able to recover all 50 students who open enrolled out, but the district will work on this. Students can also come into the Spooner school buildings for classes, as well, and hopefully, Banker said, choose to join Spooner Area School District full-time in the future. This is “a way to address our declining enrollment,” she said. The committee approved the partnership and forwarded discussion to the regular meeting later this month. In other action last week: The

Spooner, WI · 1d

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

Hayward, WI · 2d

Sawyer County Record

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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

Hayward, WI · 2d

Leader Telegram

Bloomer’s Hartman triplets commit to South Dakota State

BLOOMER — The Bloomer High School girls cross country and track and field teams have had the blessing of having Aliya, Briella and Ciara Hartman on their teams over the years. That blessing will come to a close following next spring as the senior triplets graduate, but will continue at the Division I collegiate level next fall, as the Hartman triplets announced via social media of their commitment to South Dakota State University for both cross country and track and field. The Hartmans wrapped up their stellar cross country career this fall, claiming the Blackhawks’ fourth consecutive sectional and conference titles. Aliya Hartman further put a bow on the Blackhawks cross country season, setting a new state meet record at the Division 1 meet in Wisconsin Rapids and becoming Bloomer’s first individual girls state champion in cross country. She won with a blazing time of 17 minutes and 1.6 seconds, besting the previous record by nearly 25 seconds, as the Blackhawks finished fourth in a highly-competitive Division 1 field. It continued a standout year for Aliya Hartman, who won the 3,200 meter state track title last spring. The Hartmans, along with senior running mate Sophie Strand, all played huge roles

Bloomer, WI · 20h

familydestinationsguide.com

This Nostalgic Drive-In Theater In Wisconsin Will Take You Right Back To Your Childhood

Somewhere between the smell of popcorn and the glow of a giant outdoor screen, the Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater in Chetek, Wisconsin quietly does something remarkable. It gives you your childhood back, and it doesn’t even charge extra for it. There are places you visit and forget about by...

Chetek, WI · 1d

FOX 21 Online

Pearl Harbor documentary honors Wisconsin Man whose warning went unanswered

SUPERIOR, Wis. (KQDS-TV) -- On Veterans Day, a special screening of the documentary titled, "The Pearl Harbor Prophet," made its debut at the Richard I. Bong Museum in Superior. The documentary tells the story of George Harmon, a former mayor of Spooner, Wis., who wrote a letter to then-President Roosevelt...

Superior, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

Barron County stays red, but state goes blue; local legislators comment

Barron County voters had the Republican party’s back on Nov. 3, but the rest of Wisconsin did not follow suit, elected a slate of Democrats to the state’s top offices and flipped the Legislature. Entering Wisconsin’s Fall Election, the GOP knew it was facing a possible midterm-election upheaval. In Wisconsin, President Donald Trump’s approval rating was 37%, according to a Marquette Law School Poll released Oct. 28. Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley had the support of 51% of likely voters, compared with GOP opponent Tom Tiffany’s support at 44%. But Barron County has a deep red streak when it comes to voting, and election results showed it stayed true to form. GovernorCrowley, the Milwaukee County administrator, won 7,550 out of 20,163 votes cast in his race in the county, or 37% of the vote. On the other hand Tiffany, a Minocqua resident who gave up a reelection bid for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District representative to run for governor, earned 12,613, or 63% of the vote. Included in these totals were votes from Rice Lake, which gave Tiffany 1,767 votes out of 3,331 cast between them (53%) to Crowley’s 1,564 (47%). Statewide, however, Crowley won handily with 54% of the nearly

Barron County, WI · 2d

Rice Lake Chronotype

High school commends top students in first term

Rice Lake High School has announced the names of students who received Outstanding Student Achievement Awards for the first term. Student are chosen by faculty based on cooperation, effort, attitude and dedication to discipline. The students include Ella Kodesh in art, Matthew Albakal in health, Kailyn Durand in business education, Trinity Ekblad and Trevor Beffa in family/consumer education, Delaina Bowen in language arts, Hunter Boehme and Hugo Acevedo-Sanchez in mathematics, Trevor Beffa in music, Madaline Handorf and Vincent Bertrand in physical education, Ella Smith in science, Isaiah Lancaster in social studies, Eva Schradle and Autumn Wilcox in world languages, James Ellis in agriculture, Lexi Quinn in technology education and Ivy Leach in Warriors On Wisconsin.

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

drydenwire.com