Government - Pierce County Journal

The current view of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, located at 555 W. Overlook Drive, from the southwest.

Committee says new court facility is needed

ELLSWORTH – A Pierce County Ad Hoc committee is taking the first steps toward a possible new judicial facility adjacent to the sheriff’s office at 555 W. Overlook Drive in Ellsworth. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 6/1/23

Prescott2 Police Chief Eric Michaels discusses the law enforcement reimbursement agreement with Prescott City Council members at the May 22 council meeting.

Prescott Daze detour takes the scenic route

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council didn’t waste any time approving a detour for the upcoming Prescott Daze at the council meeting on Monday, May 22. To deter residents from driving … more

By Danielle Boos | 6/1/23

Capitol Report: Help appears on the way for local prosecutors

It's been a long time in coming, but help finally appears to be on the way for local prosecutor offices around the state. And the fact that the Republican-dominated budget-writing committee took … more

5/25/23

The tug Theresa L. Wood heads upstream after locking through Lock and Dam #8 May 17 in Genoa, Wis. The vessel was moving barges from St. Louis to Winona, Minn.

Mississippi River shipping infrastructure is aging. Who should pay for the repairs?

Around 175 million tons of freight travels on the Mississippi River each year, and from the river’s headwaters to southern Illinois, a series of locks and dams guide barges through the journey. … more

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Keely Brewer, Daily Memphian | 5/25/23

A River Falls police officer gives River Falls 101 participants a tour at the police station.

River Falls 101 graduation set for May 18

RIVER FALLS – On Thursday, May 18, two dozen City of River Falls community members will receive recognition and celebrate completion of River Falls 101, the city’s first-ever citizens … more

5/18/23

DATCP announces 2023 Meat Processor Grant recipients

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) today announced eight meat processors will receive grants through the 2023 Meat Processor Infrastructure … more

5/18/23

Dredging has begun in the Mississippi River at Bay City as part of the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project. Crews use pipes to remove sand from areas to be dredged. They will use the sand to construct islands.

Dredging project begins in Bay City

BAY CITY – Work has begun on the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project in Bay City, celebrated by a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, May 16 with Gov. Tony Evers in attendance. The U.S. Army … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/18/23

(From left): Doug Weiss, Ty Fisher, Samantha Bowen, and Nancy (Matzek) Weiss are asking people to sign a petition asking Pierce County for a 12-month moratorium on CAFO expansions.

Petition aims to put moratorium on CAFO expansion

TOWN OF SALEM – Imagine being inexplicably ill for years with vomiting, stomachaches, headaches. You go to doctor after doctor, but they can’t figure out what’s wrong. Your children … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/18/23

Leo’s Landing Marina and Indoor Storage, a family-owned business located on the St. Croix River in downtown Prescott, has been in Prescott for 37 years.

New stage of waterfront development may not include Leo’s Landing

PRESCOTT – The Prescott riverfront revival project may be moving forward without Leo’s Landing as part of the landscape. The Prescott City Council began the Monday, May 8 meeting … more

By Danielle Boos | 5/18/23

Ellsworth ETZ residents can build bigger sheds

ELLSWORTH – For those living in the extraterritorial zoning area in the towns of Trimbelle or Ellsworth, an amendment has been made to the zoning ordinance regarding the sizes of unattached … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/12/23

Your Right to Know: Bill to fix records problem deserves support

A unanimous voice vote by the Wisconsin Senate on a piece of legislation is a rare occurrence. But that’s what happened on April 19, when state senators approved a bill to undo a decision by … more

By Beth Bennett | 5/11/23

The current exterior of the former Churchill Market is log siding. The Prescott Plan Commission has been debating if an addition to the building for the new Ace Hardware should match.

New hardware store exterior debated in Prescott

PRESCOTT – The Prescott Planning Commission met on Monday, May 1 to discuss the proposed Waltz Ace Hardware Store project and addition in the former Churchill Market building at 1003 Campbell … more

By Danielle Boos | 5/11/23

Ellsworth students Abigail Crabtree, Amilya Hren, Leah Diercks, Kendra Maas-Ziegler, Juan Mateo Cordes and Lydia Selzler participated in Pierce County Youth Government Day on April 26.

Youth Government Day draws area students to Ellsworth

The 61 st annual Pierce County Youth Government Day, sponsored by the Pierce County Council of the American Legion and Auxiliary took place Wednesday, April 26 at the Pierce County Courthouse. … more

5/11/23

Taste of RF will be downtown June 4

RIVER FALLS – After extensive debate, the River Falls City Council voted 4-2 April 25 to allow open containers at the June 4 Taste of River Falls event in downtown River Falls. Two voted … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/11/23

RF City Council organizes committees, debates bylaws updates

RIVER FALLS – Three incumbent alderpersons received the oath of office at the April 18 River Falls City Council organizational meeting, including Sean Downing (District 1), Alyssa Mueller … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/27/23

Thomas Oss (far left) was honored with a resolution ready by Mayor Robert Daugherty at the April 13 Prescott City Council meeting. Congratulating Oss were city council members (from left) John Peterson, Darlyn Hintz, Mayor Robert Daugherty, Pat Knox, Maureen Otwell and Bailey Ruona.

Oss honored with resolution at final meeting

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council bid farewell to outgoing Alderperson Thomas Oss at its April 13 meeting. With city redistricting, Oss was no longer eligible to run for his Ward 3-4 … more

By John McLoone | 4/27/23

Ellsworth Village Board trustees (from left) Andrew Borner, Ryan Bench and Tom Schutz were sworn into office at the April 18 organizational meeting.

Ellsworth VB organizes after April election

ELLSWORTH – Village Administrator Clerk/Treasurer Brad Roy administered the oath of office to two new trustees and two incumbents at the April 18 Ellsworth Village Board organizational meeting. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/27/23

Federal emergency food, shelter funds available in St. Croix and Pierce counties

St. Croix County and Pierce County have been awarded federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security under Phase 40 of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. St. Croix County … more

4/27/23

The benches and tables at Point Douglas Park off Prescott were underwater Saturday as the St. Croix registered major flood stage at Stillwater.

LMC approves policy for temp vehicle storage during flooding

ELLSWORTH – With major flooding on the Mississippi River overtaking buildings and vehicles along the Great River Road, people are having to move campers and other recreational vehicles to safer … more

4/27/23

Pine Coulee, located south of Freedom Park in Prescott, is a rocky chasm that flows into the Mississippi River. It is part of a property that will be purchased as part of the Coulee River Trails initiative.

ARPA funding requests continue

Representatives from the Village of Ellsworth and Coulee River Trails appeared before the Pierce County Ad Hoc ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Committee Tuesday, April 18 with revised requests for a … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 4/27/23