Dunn County News Sources

Sure, you can “Yelp” all you want, but we all know the best recommendations come from locals. 

Earlier this week, we asked our newsletter subscribers to share suggestions for a Wisconsin restaurant they love and one thing that sets it apart from anyplace else. (PS: Sign up for our free newsletter here to join future conversations!)

Here’s what they picked and why (listed alphabetical by city):

Northfork Fin & Filet in Arbor Vitae

Submitted by Pamela Kopp

Insider Tip: “The best thing on the menu is the almond-crusted haddock, but it doesn’t matter what you order–everything is amazing, especially the craft cocktails!”

Birch Point Resort & Restaurant in Bloomer

Submitted by Doreen Hennig

Insider Tip: “There’s an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays and all-you-can-eat prime rib and shrimp on Saturdays with many side dishes to choose from.”

Dylan’s Dairy in Cornell

Submitted by Tess Mulrooney

Insider Tip: “I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve eaten for any meal, but especially ice cream and desserts!”

The Kingfisher in Durand

Submitted by Rebecca Kilde

Insider Tip: “They use local ingredients, so the menu changes. My favorite last time was mushroom risotto.”

Backroads Coffee in Hayward

Submitted by Carole Dannehl

Insider Tip: “Try the Hav-a-cado: avocado, swiss, sunflower seeds, raisins, mayo, and lettuce. It used to be on marble rye, now a wrap, but they will make it on bread if asked.”  

The Barrel Inn in La Crosse

Submitted by Greg Koelker

Insider Tip: “They have a decidedly sporty menu with out-of-the-park burger combinations. My favorite is the shroom and swiss, with a side of Brew City fries.”

Horseradish Kitchen in Princeton

Submitted by Kate Hoyer

Insider Tip: “The Cuban sandwich and the Korean nachos are among the family favorites. They have an attention to detail that takes the plates to the next level!”

Dreamland Supper Club in South Range

Submitted by Susan Hendrickson

Insider Tip: “They’re known for their lobster tail, but there’s not a stinker on the whole menu! Love the relish tray before dinner.”

Sittin’ Pretty Pizza Farm in Viroqua

Submitted by Robert Caldwell

Insider Tip: “Each Friday, a local non-profit sends volunteers to help serve 100 pizzas on Pizza Night. They receive $500 for their organization in return.”

Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), joined by seven members of Congress, introduced H.R. 3930, the Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids Act of 2023 – or MILK Act for short. This legislation would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools to offer flavored milk under the school lunch program. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering banning chocolate milk from elementary and middle schools. This comes after the USDA issued a proposed rule in February that would set new nutrition standards for school meals, including limiting added sugars and sodium. If implemented, the

The post Tiffany Introduces Legislation to Keep Chocolate Milk in School Lunches appeared first on 715Newsroom.com.

The current dry conditions and irrigation are stressing water supplies. The City asks all residents and businesses to comply with the alternate side irrigation rules.

The measures include efforts to protect LGBTQ community organizations from threats, creating a partnership with health care providers to ensure LGBTQ Americans are given the proper medical care, and releasing funds for new programs that will support the physical and mental health of LGBTQ youth. 

The Biden administration on Thursday announced several new measures to help protect LGBTQ Americans amid growing attacks against their community in Republican-led states.

“LGBTQ Americans are being targeted for who they are, and that, simply put, is discrimination,” Neera Tanden, a White House domestic policy adviser, said in a statement. 

One of the measures is the creation of a new community safety partnership led by the Department of Homeland Security, which will train LGBTQ community organizations—such as community centers, small businesses, and Pride festivals—on how to properly respond to “worst case scenarios,” such as bomb threats and active shooters.

This partnership will also work with health care providers to ensure that LGBTQ Americans are given the proper medical care and that doctors, clinics, and hospitals have access to safety trainings amid a growing wave of threats against providers and facilities that provide care for LGBTQ patients.

The Department of Education will also name a coordinator in the Office of Civil Rights to take on book bans that target materials with LGBTQ content.

During just the first half of the 2022-23 school year, Pen America has found 1,477 instances of individual books banned, affecting 874 unique titles. Several states have also taken legislative measures to censor how and what children are taught in schools.

This coordinator will be responsible for training American schools on how book bans create a hostile school environment and, in some cases, may violate federal civil rights laws, especially when they target a specific community, like LGBTQ people. 

The Biden administration also plans to release $1.7 million in funding for new programs that will support the physical and mental health of LGBTQ youth. 

The Department of Health and Human Services will also issue an advisory to mental health professionals across the country, which will detail best practices for supporting the mental health of transgender children, who have overwhelmingly been the target of bans on gender-affirming care.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, nearly two dozen states have passed laws or policies that ban gender-affirming care for people up to the age of 18. Several other states are considering these bans, as well. 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will also launch a new federal initiative aimed at addressing LGBTQ health and youth homelessness. According to The Trevor Project, 28% of LGBTQ youth have reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives.

This coming Saturday, President Biden is also set to host what the administration is calling, the “largest-ever Pride celebration to be held at the White House.”

Volunteers are needed for Discover Downsville Day on Saturday, August 26th. Contact Sally Rasmussen at clerk@tn.dunn.wi.gov or call the town at 715-664-857 and leave a message.

The Get It Dunn Run, coming up this Saturday, June 10th, is also in need of volunteers. Follow this link for more information.

Christmas Miracle Winter Wonderland shared that they are turning the skating rink into sand volleyball courts for the summer. They have not posted that they are ready yet, but I will share on the website when they are.

Shared by The Bridge to Hope: June 1st-August 31st, those who have a myWalgreens membership are able to donate their cash back rewards to a local charity, and they picked us as a nonprofit for our area! Save up your cash back rewards and use them as a donation through this link or your myWalgreens app. Click on your cash rewards, donate your rewards, enter zip code 54751 and you will see The Bridge to Hope as one of the charities you can donate. So easy and helpful!

This drawing of the Mabel Tainter was shared on Facebook by the artist, Kay Geraghty.

Republican leaders and Democratic Governor Tony Evers have reportedly reached a deal on a shared revenue bill.  WisPolitics is reporting the deal would drop a requirement for Milwaukee County and city to hold referendums to approve new sales taxes.  Instead the county board and common council would have to approve the taxes with two-thirds votes.  The deal would also allow the county to add point-four percent to its existing sales tax.  That bill also set a minimum increase of 15 percent in shared revenue for most counties and municipalities.  The new deal reportedly increases that to 20 percent.

The post Reach Across the Aisle? appeared first on 715Newsroom.com.

The Wisconsin Special Olympics are happening this weekend at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The opening ceremonies are tonight and competitions start tomorrow.  This is the first time the Special Olympics have happened on the campus of UW-Whitewater.

The post Wisconsin University Hosts Special Olympics appeared first on 715Newsroom.com.

If you are interested in learning about a new Faith-Based school opening up next year in 2024, this is your chance. We will be having two informational meetings this month to answer questions and educate the community about our program.

Share with your family and friends!

From the Summit Academy Facebook page.

It’s coming from the same politicians and right-wing media figures who were up in arms about “woke” M&M’s and claimed the government was coming for your gas stoves and banning hamburgers.

To hear it from some circles, you would think an alleged government ban on chocolate milk in schools is on the way. It’s not, but the latest manufactured controversy could put in jeopardy a bipartisan Farm Bill with a big Wisconsin impact. Here’s what you need to know.

The Biden administration is trying to protect the health of children by reducing the amount of sugar added to milk. That has some right wing media figures and politicians fear-mongering about school milk in much the same way they claimed the government is coming for your gas stoves. (It isn’t.) They claimed the government was going to ban hamburgers. (It’s not.) They claimed green M&M’s candy and Bud Light beer are too “woke,” (without being able to define what woke means) and that Starbucks hates Christmas because of the designs on their holiday season cups (don’t get me started). 

It’s silly. It’s exhausting. It’s also a form of distraction so that the “outraged” politicians can’t be pressed on why they’ve done nothing about school shootings, attacks on democracy, and a broken profit-based healthcare system.

Childhood obesity is a real problem in this country, not one of those concocted crises. 

But it’s always Silly Season in some political circles, and that’s why US Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) has written a bill requiring all schools to offer flavored milk. Yes, the same Tom Tiffany who normally says government shouldn’t be writing so many requirements.

Here’s the thing: Dozens of milk processors are already pledging to back off on the sugar in their flavored milk—a beverage loaded with nutrients and essential to growing bodies. So the flavored milk will still be around, minus some extra calories. 

But by cranking up the outrage machine, Republicans are making it harder to pass a new Farm Bill, a massive package of legislation that’s rewritten every five years to ensure a stable, affordable food supply grown by farmers who deserve our support. It’s a very important bill that can only get done with cooperation between Democrats and Republicans—and rural and urban lawmakers. 

“You know, food is the least partisan thing I can think of and we need to treat it that way,” US Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) said on UpNorthNews Radio. “Every member of Congress from Wisconsin is advocating to make sure that we have, you know, we’re allowing dairy in schools. Only Tom Tiffany can screw it up as much as he is because he’s trying to make it so partisan.”

The Farm Bill funds vital food support for vulnerable populations through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Meals on Wheels. Unfortunately, Republicans have grown increasingly hostile to these vital services—to the point where House Democrats have had to form a task force to combat GOP attacks, a panel that includes Pocan.

“We have to respect especially family farmers, but we’ve also got to realize that programs like SNAP are probably the number one program to keep kids out of poverty in this country,” Pocan said. 

Pocan worries a fictitious “milk war” could affect the Farm Bill’s passage in order to help some politicians get publicity for their new cause. 

“Things like milk aren’t as partisan as you think and yet he is seriously screwing up an issue that could affect a lot of people in Wisconsin because he wants to win a potential primary to maybe run for the U.S. Senate,” Pocan said of Tiffany, a potential contender to challenge Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin next year. 

“I hope he will focus on dairy as opposed to his derriere.”

Gov. Tony Evers allocated $10 million from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to the Medical College of Wisconsin to fund a series of grants to cities, tribes, providers, and community groups.

Pandemic relief funds continue making a difference in Wisconsin with this week’s announcement that 10 different groups, cities, tribes, and providers are splitting $10.4 million in grants in order to reduce violence that has some of its roots in the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) assessed and awarded the grants using money from the Wisconsin Community Safety Fund (WCSF). 

The funds initially came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a 2021 law passed under the Biden administration that directed billions of dollars to Wisconsin to help recover from the pandemic. Gov. Tony Evers allocated a small portion of these funds to the WCSF. 

The grants will cover a range of services including outreach, education, evaluation, and help lines and are intended to address increased levels of gun violence, suicide, and intimate partner violence since the start of the pandemic.

“Violence and its effects on kids, families, and communities are not inevitable, and I was glad to allocate these funds to further our work to prevent violence, interrupt the cycle of violence, and address this issue like the public health crisis it is,” Evers said in a statement. “From local municipalities, Tribal lands, and health systems, these funds will help address the root causes of violence and support community-based solutions, building healthier, safer communities for all.”

An MCW press release outlined the grants and their purposes:

• Alma Center in Milwaukee will design a statewide online and phone intervention and prevention program.
• The City of Green Bay will create an Office of Violence Prevention to address increased gun violence.
• The City of Kenosha will establish the Key Emerging Leaders Academy to engage youth at highest risk for experiencing or engaging in community violence.
• The City of Racine will establish an Office of Violence Prevention and develop a gun violence intervention plan.
• Gundersen Health System in western Wisconsin will expand its Crime Victim Services (CVS) unit to address increasingly complex needs related to sexual, intimate partner, and gender-based violence; and increase capacity for culturally responsive and equitable care in a six-county area.
• Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin will increase coordination to expand prevention, education, and outreach strategies to specific priority populations.
• The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will expand services that prevent and respond to sexual assault using culturally specific outreach.
• The Southeast Asian Healing Center in Madison will address increased suicide risk and gender-based violence using culturally specific strategies.
• The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics will expand their Violence Intervention Program and conduct an analysis to identify strategies to address prevention, reduction, and response to gun violence.
• United Way of the Fox Cities’ DRIVE Health Project will address unmet mental/emotional needs and suicide risk factors in the Hmong, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx communities through Community Health Workers, a peer support phoneline, and mental health literacy and anti-stigma education campaigns.

“By investing in proven violence prevention strategies, we’re investing in a future that’s healthy and safe for everyone.,” said Terri A. deRoon Cassini, PhD, director of the MCW Comprehensive Injury Center. “We wish to thank the state of Wisconsin for recognizing violence as a public health crisis and funding this life-saving work.”

President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act passed Congress in March 2021 without a single vote from Republicans, who claimed the economic stimulus plan was too costly at the time.More recently, they’ve demanded that unspent funds from the law be clawed back, in return for not forcing the US government to default on its debts.

On June 4th, 2023, just after 9:30PM, Eau Claire Police responded to the 500 block of Galloway Street for a disturbance with reported gun shots. Officers arrived on scene and located several people who described a disturbance between an adult male and a group of several juveniles and an adult female. Evidence on scene showed the adult suspect fired two rounds from a handgun during the disturbance, and witnesses confirmed that. No one was hit by the gunfire; however, a juvenile male was struck with the handgun causing a laceration. That juvenile was transported to a local medical facility for

The post Suspected Arrested After Disturbance appeared first on 715Newsroom.com.

The Menomonie Area Chamber & Visitor Center invites the public to a groundbreaking event for the Dunn County Historical Society’s Solar Victory Garden.  The celebration will take place at the Rassbach Museum (1820 John Russel Road, Menomonie, WI 54751) on Thursday, June 15th, with the following schedule of activities:             5:00 p.m. – Welcome and project overview             5:15 p.m. – Groundbreaking announcement and photos             5:30 p.m. – Museum open house and tours About the project: The Solar Victory Garden will consist of ground mounted solar arrays behind the Dunn County Historical Society’s Rassbach Museum in Menomonie’s Wakanda Park.

The post Menomonie Solar Garden Set to Shine appeared first on 715Newsroom.com.

If you have any doubts about our commitment to dairy consider the facts. To start with, June is Dairy Month in Wisconsin. Every weekend there are a number of dairy breakfasts around the state. You can...

The Mabel Tainter Theatre has announced its upcoming season. The season is wide-ranging including a visit from the ever-popular Charlie Berens to Michael Perry. Also included are tributes to Glen Campbell and Olivia Newton-John, and contemporary jazz singer Diane Schurr. 

Being a Tainter...

This camp is for any and all children grades 3rd-12th from any school or town. Find more information on the Menomonie Youth Sports website.

From the Menomonie Wrestling Club Facebook page.

This camp is formally known as the Buck Nystrom Blocking Camp. Former veteran Menomonie offensive line coach, Jay Stanley, will run the blocking camp. Coach Stanley is one of the best instructors of blocking in all of high school football. His great attention to detail and getting players to understand the importance of angles and leverage is one of the many reasons he is able to produce great offensive lines year in and out.

His step-by-step progression that he learned from working with Buck Nystrom for over 25 years is the best taught blocking progression of any blocking technique in the middle school and high school game. There is no question your players will come out of this camp with a great understanding of what it takes to be consistent and successful in all types of blocking. Coach Stanley will spend time with all the techniques and levels of run blocking as well as pass blocking.

WHO: The camp is for any middle or high school football player. 6th-12th graders who will be possibly playing offensive line, fullback, power back, or anyone who just wants to become a better football player

WHEN: Friday, June 16th (9:00 AM-Noon)

WHERE: Menomonie High School on the turf field (located north of the high school)

COST: $30.00 *checks made out to “Menomonie Football Camps”

WHAT TO BRING: Workout clothes (shirt and shorts), mouthguard, and football cleats or gym shoes in case it is lightning, and we need to move the camp inside to the fieldhouse

HOW TO REGISTER: Send in the completed registration form and $30.00 to: Menomonie Football Camps 1715 5th St W Menomonie, WI 54751

***If you have any questions, please call Mike Sinz at (715) 577-9146

Getting into astronomy as a hobby is easier than it seems. All you really need are a few helpful tips, a pair of basic binoculars, and a planisphere to get started. (Don’t know what a planisphere is? Don’t worry. It’s cheap, and we tell you all about it below.) 

Why get into astronomy? Here are just a few reasons:

• Be able to talk about dark energy at parties.
• Look for patterns and be able to connect them with weather, barometric pressure, and seasons.
• Finally understand what Mercury in retrograde means.

The best part is that, unlike other hobbies, you don’t really need to be consistent to “get good” at astronomy. Even looking up at the night sky a few times per month can enrich your life and teach you more about the cosmos.

Related: James Webb Space Telescope Uncovers Hundreds of Galaxies in Early Universe

What you’ll need 

First thing’s first, you’re gonna need some binoculars. While astronomy enthusiasts typically gravitate toward using a telescope to stargaze, binoculars are good for beginners, and they’re less expensive, too. 

Got a pair sitting in a drawer somewhere? Give them a shot. Want to level up? Space.com has an entire list of the best binoculars you can buy in 2023. Here are a few of the less pricey options:

• The Opticron Adventurer WP II 10×50 Binoculars are waterproof and offer a wide field of view. They typically retail between $135-$170.
• The SkyMaster 15×70 Binoculars are described as the “#1 Astronomy Binocular,” which basically means they have everything you’re looking for in one neat package for less than $125.
• Celestron’s UpClose G2 10×50 Binoculars are some of the most affordable, at $47.95. In addition to stargazing, these bad boys are good for observing wildlife, so you can take up bird watching at the same time.
• Celestron makes another model, the TrailSeeker 8×42 Binoculars, which sell for $220-$300. Though these are on the pricier side, they’re a great upgrade if you’ve already gotten used to one of the cheaper options and want to step up your astronomy game without breaking the bank.

Now it’s time to pull out your trusty ol’ planisphere. Just kidding—we didn’t know what that was, either.  “Planisphere” is a fancy name for a star wheel. You’ve probably seen one of these in a school science class at some point, and then totally forgot they existed. These days, you can grab one from Amazon for around $15.

WATCH: Vermont Astronomer Captures Emerging Supernova

The planisphere gives you a map of the entire night sky with the constellations clearly marked. By turning its layers, you can see where those same constellations and stars will be on any given night. From there, you can track the way stars move and keep an eye on your favorite clusters over time.

PRO TIP: Not interested in carrying a physical star wheel around? Download Star Tracker or SkyView Lite on your smartphone. Though, we have to say, there’s nothing like holding a planisphere up against the sky to help you remember what you’re seeing. Phones do a little too much of the work for you, in our humble opinion.

Want to level up your gazing even more? We highly recommend grabbing the following three items as well:

• Red LED flashlight to view your planisphere at night. Red light is recommended for astronomy because it doesn’t impact your night vision as harshly as white light.
• Blank journal (astronomy diary) to keep track of everything you’re seeing in the sky.
• Bug spray, especially heading into the warm summer months when it’s going to get more mosquito-y. 

How to start stargazing

So, you’ve gotten all your supplies together….now what?

The first and easiest step is to simply look up at the sky when it gets dark at night. REI recommends starting small and using your binoculars and planisphere to find the Big Dipper. 

As REI neatly explains, “The Big Dipper (handle and bowl) helps point you to the Little Dipper (aka Ursa Minor). Follow the two stars on the outer edge of the bowl and trace a line up to find the North Star, or Polaris.”

From there, use your planisphere to identify and then locate other big, bright star patterns in the sky. Once you find something, jot it down in your journal so you remember when you first saw that specific constellation, and where you saw it in relation to other things. You might even add a note about weather conditions. You’d be surprised how quickly you’ll start filling up those pages.

FYI: Stargazing is easiest when you’re in a less populated area. City lights interfere with what you’re able to see overhead, but don’t stress it. Even if you do live in a city, you’ll still be able to see major constellations and the moon on most clear nights.

If you’re interested in astronomy but you’re not necessarily into the idea of tracking everything, that’s totally fine, too. Just carve out some time in your free evenings to sit outside and look at the sky. You’ll start to notice patterns and connections simply by being present.

FYI: Stargazing can actually teach you to be more mindful—and can even become a form of meditation.

Other ways to share your love of the universe

Sharing your love of the universe is a great way to connect with your community and to discuss something you’re passionate about. Not sure how to go about this? Join an astronomy club—it’s fun to meet new people and enjoy your shared hobby together. 

An online directory of clubs can be found here. All you have to do is search by your state and start scrolling.

If you want to sound even more knowledgeable when you show up to the astronomy club, Sky & Telescope breaks down what you can see in the sky each week on its website. This is helpful for people who want to know what they can see and where they can see it after they’ve gotten comfortable using their planisphere. 

A day or two before you meet up with your local club, scroll through Sky & Telescope to see what’s on the horizon so you have a few key talking points ready.

Getting into astronomy as a hobby is a trial and error process to see what works best for you and what you enjoy. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to dive even deeper into the universe to see what’s waiting for you there.

Really really into astronomy? Maybe you want to go pro! Here’s a list of colleges that offer astronomy-related degrees.

Roll out with Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal this Thursday and Friday! We are holding a meet and greet with the Autobot and Maximal leaders from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal will be here on Thursday between 4 PM and 7 PM, and Optimus Prime will be here Friday between 4 PM and 9:45 PM.

We will be raffling off one poster Thursday and a larger, bus shelter poster through the weekend. Purchase a ticket to be entered to win! The two winners will be announced next week.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts premieres this Thursday at 4:30 PM and 7 PM!

From the CEC Theaters Menomonie Facebook page.

Attend an emergent workshop exploring the edges of the spoken & written word, led by oral storyteller and writer Tracy Chipman. There is a difference between written and oral storytelling. This is an evocative experience for creatives, writers, journalers and any & all who are curious to deepen their relationship with the creative process in both the spoken and written word. Learn how to play with the oral and written storytelling traditions for more robust creativity. Space is limited (minimum of 6 people to run the workshop).

Cost is $25.

Please register here by June 10th.

From the Dragon Tale Books Facebook page.

The Mabel Tainter announced the line-up for the new season. Mabel Members are able to purchase tickets now, before they go on sale to the public on June 22nd. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a Mabel Member here.