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 BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – What some call a well-known
playground in Black River Falls has received a whole new look. Thanks to
their community coming together. “It was in need of some upgrades and
improvements, so three community moms kind of took the initiative to
really get the ball rolling.
“We all saw a need in the community. We really enjoyed getting
together and there was a whole crew of local moms who really enjoyed
this park, but we saw that it wasn’t maybe the safest park. We also
recognized that there wasn’t an all-abilities space within 40 miles of
Black River Falls.”
The moms joined forces to get the job done, despite challenges along
the way. “Our excitement carried us through for sure, and we are just so
lucky to be supported by the community we do have. We were able to get
all of the fundraising done within a year, and then the park was
officially phase one finished in about 15 months. Then phase two and
phase three, we were able to finish in two years total.”... ...Full Story Here
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A more efficient, affordable development model helps Habitat for
Humanity build more homes during a housing crisis. But some Wisconsin
municipalities exclude manufactured homes from neighborhoods.Kahya Fox knows a solution to Wisconsin’s housing crisis won’t fall
from the sky. But she has seen a crane suspend one in the air.
The Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region executive
director watched this summer as semitrucks pulled into the Vernon County
city of Hillsboro, population 1,400. Instead of bringing materials to
build a traditional home, they each carried a preassembled half of a
house... ...Habitat’s La Crosse affiliate was early to embrace the factory-built
model, which is spreading to affordable housing organizations
nationwide. But the organization hasn’t gotten all Wisconsin
municipalities and residents on board...
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 Several public and private partners are working to improve outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities in Western Wisconsin.
Please join us for an open house discussion and presentation on the 8-county outdoor recreation plan. We look forward to speaking with everyone who participates.
Jackson County
When: Tuesday, December 2nd, 6pm - 7:15pm
Where: Jackson County DHHS Conference Room, 421
County Road R, Black River Falls, WI 54615
Buffalo County
When: Wednesday , December 3rd, 6pm - 7:15pm
Where: Buffalo County Board Room, 407 S. 2nd Street, Alma, WI 54610
Pepin County
When: Thursday , December 4th, 6pm - 7:15pm
Where: Pepin County Board Room, 740
7th Ave W, Durand, WI 54736
Trempealeau County
When: Wednesday , December 10th, 6pm - 7:15pm
Where: Trempealeau County Board Room - 2nd floor, 18600 Hobson Street, Whitehall, WI 54773
...Full Story Here
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 PIGEON FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) — Reynolds L. Tomter, believed to be the
oldest surviving World War II U.S. Merchant Marine veteran, died Sunday
at the Pigeon Falls Health Care Center, according to an official
obituary notice from Jack Funeral Homes. He was 108.
Tomter spent his entire life in Pigeon Falls, where he became beloved for his storytelling and community service.
The Brief • Reynolds L. Tomter, believed to be the oldest surviving WWII U.S. Merchant Marine veteran, died Sunday at age 108 in Pigeon Falls
• He served as a ship`s baker during five Atlantic crossings in WWII and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2021
• Family will celebrate his life next spring
...Full Story Here
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 ONALASKA, Wis. (WEAU) - The Boys &
Girls Club of Greater La Crosse is celebrating the opening of the John
& Linda Lyche club in the new Onalaska Middle School. “When
this opportunity came up to partner with the School District of
Onalaska and put a club right in the middle of this new middle school,
it’s a no-brainer. It’s an opportunity to serve more kids, an
opportunity to serve middle school students in their building, and bus
kids from other schools. We’re set up to serve hundreds of kids here in
this new facility,” says Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse CEO
Jake Erickson. The club will be open after school and throughout the summer months...
...Full Story Here
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 MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that the 2025 gun deer season
opens on Saturday, Nov. 22, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30. Similar
to last year, this year’s gun deer season runs later in the month.
Fewer deer may be on the move relative to years with earlier openers.
Other factors could create better deer hunting conditions, such as
colder temperatures and snow cover. Through
Oct. 31, year-to-date sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron
licenses reached 463,983. Of that total, 137,394 are for gun privileges
only...
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 The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunters to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program helps stock food pantries and supports residents in need throughout the state. - Field dress the deer.?Please handle the carcass as if it were
destined for your own plate. A couple of bags of ice placed in the
cavity will help preserve the carcass in warm weather.
- Register the deer through?GameReg.
Please note the registration confirmation number and keep it on hand
when dropping off the deer. If your deer was harvested from a county
that requires CWD testing, please ensure you complete the required CWD testing before or at the time of donation. An up-to-date list can be found on the Deer Donation Program webpage.
- Call ahead. Contact a?participating processor?before
dropping off the deer to make sure they have space to accept it. More
processors may be added later in the season, so check back if you don’t
see one currently in your area.
Vernon County
Westby Locker and Meat
Address: 406 N Main St, Westby, WI
Phone: 608-634-4515
Crawford County
Eastman Locker
Address: 107 N Main St, Eastman, WI
Phone: 608-874-4331
Monroe County
The Meat Shop
Address: 25321 Grain Ave, Tomah, WI
Phone: 608-372-6039
...Full Story Here
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 COON VALLEY, Wis. – The third annual Vernon County
Awards Banquet was a wonderful evening of celebration for all who
attended. More than 200 community members, business leaders, and local
officials came together to honor the people, businesses, and
organizations shaping the region’s economic and community vitality.
This year’s theme, “Legacy Builders: Honoring Tradition,
Embracing the Future,” highlighted the values of hard work,
collaboration, and innovation that continue to define Vernon County.
Nearly 100 nominees were recognized across ten award categories,
reflecting the extraordinary breadth of leadership, creativity, and
community spirit found throughout the county.. ...Full Story Here
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 MONROE COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) - The
Wisconsin Department of Transportation and other state leaders celebrate
as they cut the ribbon on the brand new rest area along westbound
Interstate 90 near Sparta. Part of the project was updating the rest area facility with better lighting, more vending options, and ADA compliant bathrooms. “Fifteen
months ago, we were at the same location. We saw a small shack of
bathrooms. I think there was two stalls on each side. It was a little
scary. To be here fifteen months later, to see this brand new rest area
that we have here with much improved lighting, much improved facilities.
They’re ADA accessible with adult changing stations,” says Wisconsin
Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman. Another part of the project was increasing the amount of truck parking stalls from 16 to 70... ...Full Story Here
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 Attracting, hiring and retaining quality workers continues to be a top priority for businesses across the 7 Rivers Region. Even with some current economic uncertainty, the demographics show that our region continues to age, and we need to attract younger families.
But we cannot attract those families without adequate workforce housing. To better understand our regional housing needs, we have created the 7 Rivers Alliance Housing Consortium. The consortium consists of regional business, government and organizational leaders who have recognized the challenges of affordable workforce housing. We believe it is a challenge best understood and met at a regional level...
...Full Story Here
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 VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – The Vernon County Sheriff’s
Office notified Vernon County residents on Tuesday that the Sheriff’s
Office 911 Communications Center has begun a two day transition to Next
Generation 911. The transition to a new system is the culmination of a
process over several years that involved multiple county departments
(Sheriff’s Office, Land Information, Emergency Management, Information
Technology) to assist with the installation of new hardware and software
to get the system operational.
Vernon Sheriff Roy Torgerson said via social media the goal for
this week is a seamless transition so that the very basic 911 service
you have come to know and trust for the last 25 years is not
interrupted. Torgerson said following that transition, his department
will reveal the added features and enhanced capabilities with the new
platform.
What NG911 Is and Why It Is Needed?
Next Generation 911 is vital because the current E9-1-1 system—which
originated as a voice-only service in the 1960s and was later updated in
the 1990s—was never designed to handle modern digital traffic.
Wisconsin’s existing system has been described as a patchwork of locally
administered Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), often leading to
inefficiencies such as slow response times when calls require
transferring between centers, or when callers must verbally provide
location information... ...Full Story Here
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Kraus-Anderson Construction has begun a restoration of the Jackson County Courthouse at 307 Main St. in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
The courthouse was first built in 1879 and an addition was built in 1937.
The restoration, designed by Excel Engineering, features exterior
masonry, tuckpointing, and brick and stone replacement. The project
also includes new windows and window shades, roof ladders and walkway
pads, overflow roof drains, and landscaping.
Construction is expected to be completed by June of 2026...
...Full Story Here
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Leads and manages Jackson County’s strategic initiatives in business growth, tourism, broadband, and community development. Serves as the central point of contact for economic development inquiries, promotes local assets, and builds collaborative partnerships. Responsible for securing and managing grants to advance Jackson County’s economic priorities. Operates with significant autonomy while coordinating with county leadership and local, state, and regional stakeholders....
...Full Story Here
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 The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) is proud to announce the Small Business Development Grant - Business Plan and Pitch Contest, a program designed to help entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving businesses. In partnership with the UW-La Crosse Small Business Development Center and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) - La Crosse Office, and with $18,000 in funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), MRRPC is offering training, resources, and support to strengthen the regional economy through entrepreneurship. Program Highlights:Business Plan Contest: Open to new or existing businesses in the MRRPC nine-county region. Participants will develop a detailed business plan (up to 24 pages, not including cover page) covering areas such as executive summary, company description, market analysis, organizational structure, products and services, marketing strategy, financial projections, and supporting materials. Prizes Totaling $12,000!1st Place: $5,000
2nd Place: $3,000
3rd Place: $2,000
4th Place: $1,000
5th Place: $500
6th Place: $250
7th Place: $250
Pitch Contest: The top seven business plan winners will advance to pitch their idea in a 5-7 minute presentation to a panel of judges for a share of an additional $6,000 in funding. Eligibility:- Entrepreneurs in the idea stage or startup stage
- Existing businesses seeking expansion, operational improvements, or new market opportunities
- Located within MRRPC’s nine-county region
All applications must be submitted by:
February 13th at 12:00 PM to jon@mrrpc.com. Contact:Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission
811 Monitor Street, Suite 201
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: 608.785.9396
Email: jon@mrrpc.com Website: www.mrrpc.com ...Full Story Here
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 Working together to make the Mississippi River Region a great place to live and work.The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission provides planning and economic development services to improve the region`s environment, economy and quality of life. We serve a nine county region, providing studies and planning services, resources and data to help with your grant applications or reporting needs, and business loans.
StaffJON BINGOL Executive Director jon@mrrpc.com
KEN HARWOOD Planner ken@mrrpc.com
KIA KLING Planner kia@mrrpc.com
JACK ZABROWSKI Senior Planner Jack@mrrpc.com
SARAH OFTE Senior Office Manager sarah@mrrpc.com
811 Monitor St. Suite 201
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: 608.785.9396 Fax: 608.785.9394 Email: plan@mrrpc.com
...Full Story Here
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