Features - Pierce County Journal

Clarence “Pop” Armstrong operated Pop’s Corn in River Falls starting in 1958. It was fixture at Glen Park on hot summer days next to the pool, as well as downtown River Falls on Friday nights near Main and Walnut streets.

A River Falls icon, Pop’s Corn, to be restored

RIVER FALLS – Be on the lookout for a piece of history at this year’s Bacon Bash in the form of Clarence “Pop” Armstrong’s Poptcorn Wagon. According to River Falls … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/14/23

A concession stand expansion and bathroom installation are in the works at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church ball field in Beldenville. A luncheon, held in conjunction with a tractor blessing Sept. 10, will raise funds for the project.

Tractors invited to special harvest blessing

Donna Constant is a driving force and once she gets an idea, it’s like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Thanks to Constant, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Beldenville will host … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 9/7/23

The Prescott Best Christmas Ever team, led by Alisa and Curt Schroder, pose with Santa Claus.

Best Christmas Ever program seeks nominations

PRESCOTT – One of the best parts of Christmas is seeing others’ faces light up with joy, whether that’s when opening a gift, around a holiday goodie-laden dinner table or seeing … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/31/23

Jeanette Wheatley with husband Nigel, who died in 2021. His death pushed her to try comedy as a way to make friends and get out of the house.

Prescott native takes Cheesehead comedy show to Scotland

“You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but … well, the cheese hat isn’t going anywhere.” That sentence sums up Prescott native Jeanette (Brickner) Wheatley’s … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/31/23

Terry and Sandy Odalen have lived in El Paso nearly all their lives, raising their three children there. They will be leading the El Paso Days Grand Parade on Aug. 20.

Odalens named 36th annual El Paso Days honorary citizens

TOWN OF EL PASO – The grand marshals for the 36 th annual El Paso Days parade are longtime residents Terry and Sandy Odalen, along with former Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove. As is … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/17/23

Sunflower Steve has a wide variety of sunflowers with different shapes, colors and sizes.

Local seed company sparks from one unexpected flower

ELLSWORTH – In an old field of cut sunflowers, one sunflower randomly grew that stood out back in 2007. The multi-colored, double flowering sunflower had 12 seeds, which Steve Kaufer planted … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/10/23

Nancy Hove served as Pierce County Sheriff for four terms before deciding against running for re-election.

Hove to return to Pierce County as parade grand marshal

ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Fair is often capped off with a Sunday parade sponsored by the Ellsworth Fire Department. This time around, long-time sheriff Nancy Hove will return to the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/10/23

‘So God made a farmer:' Plum City grad knows there’s nothing else he’d rather do

Bryce Mark has earned a Supreme Champion ribbon twice in his years of showing cattle at the Pierce County Fair. The Merri Heirs member just graduated from Plum City High School. Not many kids … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/3/23

River Falls hockey player Taggart Havens, aka El Co Flo, is hoping to win the 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown in honor of his friend Coby Clark, who is fighting cancer.

‘A big mullet, a big heart:' RF hockey player hopes to win contest for friend

RIVER FALLS – Taggart Havens is a River Falls kid with not only a big mullet, but a big heart. He, like Ellsworth resident Otto Jakes, is hoping to make it to the final round of the 2023 Kids … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/27/23

Landscaping work being done as part of Rock the Block’s River Falls projects during 2019.

Rock the Block brings neighborhood revitalization to Ellsworth

ELLSWORTH – St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity has worked with some of Ellsworth’s community leaders to bring Rock the Block, a neighborhood revitalization project, to Ellsworth from … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/20/23

Four-year-old Boone Erlandson of Beldenville began growing his mullet in 2020 when he dressed up as Joe Diffie for Halloween.

Local boys compete in national mullet contest

The next USA Mullet Champ could be one of three Ellsworth area boys, if local voters have anything to say about it. The 2023 Kids Mullet Showdown is a fundraising event (online) through Jared … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/20/23

New Ezekiel Lutheran Church Pastor Steve Dow standing in front of the church’s sign in River Falls.

Steve Dow brings 22 years of pastor experience to Ezekiel Lutheran

RIVER FALLS – Ezekiel Lutheran Church of River Falls has brought Pastor Steve Dow aboard to be the next leader of the church. Dow hopes to bring stability and a familiar face to Ezekiel … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/13/23

Alex Smrekar holds the trophy of one of nine individual cheese curd eating contest championships.

Dairy dominance: Smrekar wins cheese curd eating contest for ninth time

ELLSWORTH – Crowds gathered at East End Park on June 24 for what has become one of Ellsworth’s most competitive events of the year. The cheese curd eating contest is an annual … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/13/23

Aidan Bowman, River Falls, sporting his sailor costume at his first Circus Juventas performance in May 2013.

River Falls student finds his niche performing under the Big Top

Aidan Bowman practices Russian bar this June (Aidan is the porter on left). Aidan Bowman (also known as “Aidan BB”) has been told that he was a clumsy little kid. By the time he was … more

By Beth Cedarholm | 6/29/23

An Easter toast photo of Dennis Armstrong and Judy McNall they sent to brother John Connors.

Siblings find each other after 70 years, thanks to DNA testing

DNA testing has provided people a way to find out more about their ancestors, and for 76-year-old Ellsworth native Dennis Armstrong, the discovery of two half-siblings was life changing and … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/22/23

Course designer and organizer Andrew P. Reese standing in front of the Sterling Hill Disc Golf Course map in River Falls.

Rapidly growing RF disc golf community sees another course open

RIVER FALLS – Disc golf has become a wildly popular activity over the past decade and the Sterling Hill Disc Golf Course was created in River Falls to accommodate that. The course is free … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/22/23

One of the timberframe structures completed through Star Hill Timberworks. The structures use hardwood pegs rather than screws or nails.

Star Hill Timberworks builds a community through a traditional construction method

ELLSWORTH – For many, woodworking involves lots of nails and screws, but for Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks, the process involves neither of these. Star Hill Timberworks builds … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/15/23

As a volunteer at the Cheese Curd Festival Block Party, Victoria Lynner helped guide festival guests on a taste tour of the best cheeses from our state.

Cheese Curd Fest: Volunteers make it happen

ELLSWORTH – The countdown is on for Ellsworth’s Cheese Curd Festival. Taking place on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, the event is one of the region’s largest events drawing … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 6/8/23

The Pathfinders, a group of students from River Falls School District, presented their plans to American Legion Post 121 members to restore Old Mann Valley Cemetery.

Pathfinders plan to restore old cemetery

RIVER FALLS – A group of determined kids have big plans to restore an abandoned and long-neglected cemetery outside of River Falls, thanks to the leadership of a retired Army veteran. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/25/23

Bryce Lindevig at the shooting range for motorcade training on a live range with Emergency Response Team and Counter Assault Team members.

River Falls’ Secret Agent is living his childhood dream

When former River Falls resident Bryce Lindevig was a young boy, he fantasized about being one of the guys in the dark suits and shades protecting the president of the United States. As he grew … more

By Beth Cedarholm | 5/18/23