Features - Pierce County Journal

Sgt. Eric Van Nocker of the Ellsworth Police Department was sworn in Nov. 13, 2023. He is pictured with Chief Eric Ladwig.

Ellsworth PD welcomes new sergeant to the family

ELLSWORTH – After a long search, the stars aligned for the Ellsworth Police Department when Eric Van Nocker decided to apply for the open sergeant position. He was officially sworn in on Nov. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 1/3/24

Students in the UW-River Falls Sales Promotions and Event Planning class recently raised $2,500 for a nonprofit organization that purchases wigs for cancer patients who lose their hair because of cancer treatments.

UWRF students raise money for wigs for cancer patients

RIVER FALLS – University of Wisconsin-River Falls Marketing Communications program students turned a holiday fundraiser into free wigs for people experiencing medical hair loss. … more

12/28/23

Father, played by Mason Johnson, and Daughter, played by Amira, welcome the audience to “Christmas Every Day” at the Spring Valley Stagehands Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 17. Father told a story about a little girl who wished for it to be Christmas every day.

GALLERY: ‘Christmas Every Day’ draws packed house

SPRING VALLEY - The Spring Valley Stagehands knocked it out of the park again with their holiday production "Christmas Every Day." Directed by Liz Erickson, the show ran for two weekends in … more

12/20/23

The cast of Great River Road Theatre’s winter dinner theater production met at Director Judy Johnson’s home Sunday, Dec. 17 for a rehearsal. (From left): Krista Christiansen, Mark Andrle, Scott Halverson, Aaron Denn, Marie-Anne Haudegand-Deiss, Johnson, and Rebecca Denn.

Winter dinner theater promises action, intrigue

PRESCOTT – The Great River Road Theatre’s winter production is full of action and intrigue, complete with CIA agents, mysteries and crazy characters. Rehearsals are in full swing for what … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 12/20/23

A family of cheery snowmen adorns the front yard of the Pat & Paula Green farm on Highway 10 between Prescott and Ellsworth.

Local dairy farm ablaze with Christmas cheer

Paula Green should be called the Queen of Christmas, based on the number of lights in her rural Big River yard. Located at W8944 US Highway 10 between Prescott and Ellsworth, the Green farm is a … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 12/20/23

The Friends of the Pierce County Fair have transformed the Pierce County Fairgrounds in Ellsworth into a magical holiday wonderland. The free “Light Up the Fair” nights continue next weekend Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16.

GALLERY: Fairgrounds is magical wonderland

The community is invited to two remaining free community nights at Light Up the Fair Dec. 15-16 at the Pierce County Fairgrounds (364 N. Maple St., Ellsworth). Enjoy visits with Santa and … more

12/13/23

The living Nativity is always popular at the Ellsworth Holly Jolly Holiday celebration, held Sunday, Dec. 3 in East End Park. Pictured are (front, from left): Rufus Elging, Katie Groen, Ethan Ladwig, Wyley Myers, Emily Groen and Willa; (back) Eve Lundstrom and Jack Zimmer.

GALLERY: Tis the season for a Holly Jolly Holiday

Holly Jolly Holiday was held Sunday, Dec. 3 in East End Park, ushering in the holiday season with Santa and Mrs. Claus, carolers, s'mores, sparklers, a live nativity and hot chocolate. more

12/7/23

This photo was taken when Svea Lutheran Church in the town of Trenton first decorated the church with Christmas lights 85 years ago.

A beacon of hope: ‘The little church with Christmas lights’ shines on

“The little church with the Christmas lights” has a towering spire that’s visible for a long distance, welcoming people to its doors. The spire was built in 1890. TOWN OF … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 12/7/23

Ellsworth High School students (from left) Josie Pechacek, Morgan Kolodzienski, Carolyn Trannel and Arianna Starbuck are this year’s Ellsworth Gift Box Program elves.

Ellsworth Gift Box is integral part of the season

Character education is an important part of the fabric at Ellsworth High School and that tradition continues with the annual Gift Box Program. Spearheaded this year by seniors Josie Pechacek and … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 11/22/23

Valentyna Benson, the stepmother of Ellsworth educator Melinda Casper, sits at Casper’s kitchen table communicating with a translation app. The bow is one of many that she crafts and sells to raise money for her family in Ukraine.

Ukrainian woman uses talents to help family back home

Valentyna Benson sits at the table in her stepdaughter Melinda Casper’s kitchen in Ellsworth, communicating with her American family through a mixture of limited English, hand gestures and a … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 11/16/23

The Ellsworth and Bay City American Legions and Auxiliaries took part in the Ellsworth Middle School Veterans Day program Friday, Nov. 10. The Color Guard led the ceremony.

Ellsworth Middle School hosts Veterans Day program

Eighth grade choir students hold an “Army” during “A Tribute to the Armed Services,” asking those who had served in the Army to stand up for recognition Friday, Nov. 10. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 11/16/23

New book by best-selling Hastings author set close to home

Longtime Hastings resident MaryJanice Davidson’s new book hits close to home. MaryJanice Davidson is a New York Times best-selling author. She likes to set her fiction where her heart is, … more

Pierce County Journal newsroom | 11/16/23

Diane Carlson Evans worked for more than a decade to get the Vietnam Women's Memorial installed in Washington DC.

‘So they didn’t die alone:' The Vietnam Women’s Memorial made possible by former RF veteran

This week commemorates the 30-year anniversary of the Vietnam women’s memorial in Washington DC, an endeavor that was made possible by a former River Falls resident, Diane Carlson Evans, who … more

By Joe Peine | 11/9/23

River Falls High School senior Nolan Tody with the crew of volunteers he assembled to help him Oct. 21 with his Eagle Scout trail project on Kinnickinnic River Land Trust land.

RF Scout conquers Eagle Scout trail project

RIVER FALLS – River Falls High School senior Nolan Tody is well on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout after coordinating and completing a Kinnickinnic River trail clearing project. Tody … more

11/9/23

Brynlee and Blair Hoikka made a cute pair of International tractors at Saturday’s Ellsworth Funsters Pumpkin in the Park event. Their parents John and Bailee Hoikka of Ellsworth led them along.

GALLERY: Pumpkin in the Park moves inside

The annual Ellsworth Funsters Pumpkin in the Park event wasn't about to be deterred by a little frigid weather. The event moved from East End Park to the toasty Seyforth Building on the Pierce County … more

11/2/23

Samantha Augustine receiving her County Sheep Project Award pin from Club Leader Shari Turvaville.

Busy Fingers celebrate club achievements

The Busy Fingers 4-H Club Annual Achievement Banquet was held on Sunday, Oct. 8. We began with a welcome and invocation by Club Leader Shari Turvaville. We ate dinner and then began the program with … more

10/19/23

Bob Gilbertson diligently works on a tiling project at a shelter in Myslowice, Poland housing Ukrainian refugees.

RF residents volunteer at Ukrainian shelter in Poland

When she arrived in the refugee post of Katowice, Ludmyla Tkachenko said to a National Geographic reporter: “Half my heart I left behind, half I brought with me .” She and her … more

By Dan Woll | 10/12/23

The 2023 Elmwood Homecoming Court: (top row, from left) King Seth Loga, Queen Cori Wood and juniors Tyce Thiry and Riley Ginsbach; (bottom, from left) freshmen Allison Sauve and Brewer Link, sophomores Alayna Pazurek and Jack Steinmeyer.

GALLERY: Homecoming Weeks abound in Pierce County!

Pierce County schools welcomed back alumni and the community for annual Homecoming festivities, a tradition that signifies fall, football, and fun. more

10/5/23

UW-River Falls student Grace Johnson shows Copper, a dog she will help train to be an assistance animal, her open hand after feeding him a treat after Copper and other dogs were dropped off at UWRF Sept. 14. Johnson is one of 21 students who will work with 10 assistance dogs on campus as part of the new Falcon FETCH (Fostering Education Through Campus Hosting) program.

UWRF students begin training assistance dogs

RIVER FALLS – The 21 University of Wisconsin-River Falls students gathered outside the Lydecker Living Learning Center on Sept. 14 come from different places and have diverse future plans. They … more

9/28/23

RFHS freshman publishes first book

River Falls High School freshman Leila Dexheimer has done something many people dream of yet never accomplish: She’s written and published her own book. “The Gold King,” … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/28/23