Menomonie News Net

Apr 16, 2025, Issue 22

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Local News Group
April 16, 2025

Here’s Issue 22 of Menomonie News Net! If need be you can catch up on previous issues HERE.

MNN has received a $2000 grant from the Community Foundation of Dunn County. This funding helps us provide nonprofit nonpartisan citizen-led news at no cost…with the goal to increase civic engagement. We are proud to be part of a community that cares.

Today Judy Foust’s column MHS Grads: Where are they Now? features 1979 graduate Marcia Bjonerud. An extraordinary story tells how this community and specific individuals in it impacted her life. Consider how YOU might give back to this community by sharing YOUR story. Judy is waiting to hear from you…

Check out our youth proudly representing Menomonie in a dizzying number of activities. See if you can find a family member, friend or neighbor listed in MHS Extracurricular News below. These students deserve our congratulations!

Happy Spring!

Editors: Layne Pitt & Becky Kneer; MNN Contributors; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz

In this Issue…

City of Menomonie Arbor Day Celebration

MENOMONIE – The City of Menomonie invites the public to join us for the annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25 at the Dunn County Historical Society beginning at 9:30 a.m. This community event will be held rain or shine—festivities will take place inside Holtby Hall at the museum in case of inclement weather.

What to Expect:

  • Presentations on the importance and history of Arbor Day

  • Recognition of Menomonie as a Tree City USA and Bird City Wisconsin

    Highlights of recent environmental efforts by the Dunn County Historical Society and City staff

  • Tree planting ceremony in honor of Arbor Day

This celebration is a great opportunity for residents to connect with nature, learn more about urban forestry and bird conservation, and celebrate the environmental leadership within our community.

Everyone is welcome—the event is free and open to the public!

For updates, visit the City of Menomonie website at www.menomonie-wi.gov and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CityofMenomonie.

Downsville Elementary to Close

At their April 14 meeting, after lengthy discussion, the SDMA Board of Education approved to close Downsville Elementary by a 6-3 vote. A summary of the meeting per agenda item is below. (From SDMA Facebook page).

The April 14 meeting in its entirety can be viewed here courtesy of Steve Hanson at Eye on Dunn.

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

Marcia Bjornerud - Class of 1979

By Judy Foust

This week’s MHS graduate is from the Class of 1979—Marcia Bjornerud.  I’m so glad that she agreed to tell her story because it’s unlike any we’ve had so far!

Menomonie Roots

When I graduated from Menomonie High School in 1979, I had no inkling that I would one day have a career as a geologist studying tectonics, earthquakes and mountain building in remote places around the world.  

In fact, I didn’t think of myself as a science type at all -- though perhaps a seed was planted in my mind by Kay Barnard, who taught 8th grade physical science. In her class, I recall making a ‘flip-book’ on index cards showing how the ancient continent of Pangaea had formed and then split apart. Other than that brief window into the wonders of the planet, I don’t remember geology being the focus of any other class.

The faculty members who had the most influence on me at MHS were Jean O’Neill and Elwyn Hendrickson, who taught English, and Margaret Hjeltness, who taught German (though she herself was Swedish). They shared their love of books and literature with so many students over the decades. In retrospect, I realize how hard their jobs were and value more than ever their adherence to high standards. 

Marcia with her dad James, sister Nita along with their dog and two cats.
(Taken in ‘78 or ‘79)

Community and Culture

In the 70s, Menomonie had a thriving counter-cultural community of artists and free-thinkers, and early exposure to creative and open-minded people was formative for me. Playing in the pit orchestra for productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at the Mabel Tainter theatre remains a golden memory. The public library, which was also in the Mabel Tainter building, felt like the center of the cosmos.

My parents, James and Gloria Bjornerud, both worked at Stout. My mother was in administration (for many years, her office was in the old Stout Tower building) and my father was a faculty member in the ‘Materials and Processes’ department. An expert in all things related to wood, he taught classes in wood technology, design, and building construction. My parents often welcomed international students to our house in the woods close to the Red Cedar River near Downsville, giving my sister and me an early glimpse of the wider world.

 Discovery Events

I discovered geology in my first term in college, when I took an introductory course primarily to fulfill a lab science requirement. I soon found that it was a different kind science than I had previously been exposed to, requiring a kind of whole-brain thinking I hadn't encountered before. It applied scholarly habits one associates with the study of literature to the examination of rocks.Its particular form of inferential logic demanded a vivid but disciplined imagination: the capacity for visualization across great expanses of time and space. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in geophysics and

then went on to graduate study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Traveling the Globe

My dissertation research took me to the high arctic archipelago of Svalbard, north of mainland Norway, where I spent several summers mapping rocks that represent the northernmost extension of the Appalachian-Caledonian Mountain chain -- formed during the assembly of the supercontinent Pangaea. This led to work in the Canadian arctic (Ellesmere Island) with the Geological Survey of Canada, a post-doctoral fellowship at the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State, and faculty positions first at Miami of Ohio and then Lawrence University in Appleton, where I am a professor of geosciences and environmental studies.

My academic career has allowed my three sons and me to explore the world together; thanks to sabbaticals and international teaching opportunities, we’ve lived in Norway, London, New Zealand and Italy. With my students, I continue to study the complex geology of the Lake Superior region and I have worked with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission to challenge mining projects that threatened the waters of Lake Superior.

Marcia at Cactus Rock near New London

Sharing with the World

In the last decade or so, I’ve also been writing about geology for non-specialist audiences. I’ve contributed articles to The New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, and Wired, among other publications, and have published several books for popular audiences: Reading the Rocks, Timefulness, Geopedia, and, most recently, Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks, which is partly memoir, with each chapter focused on a particular rock type that I was either living on or studying at a certain stage in my life.  The first chapter is about growing up in Menomonie, on Cambrian-age sandstones – the rock used for the Mabel Tainter building. 

Conclusions 

Although my career in geology has taken me to far-flung places around the globe, the hilly landscape of the Menomonie area remains my point of reference, my home ground. I’m grateful to the people who made it such a culturally rich place to grow up.

Judy Foust is a retired longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. To submit info to her or to request an interview she may be contacted at [email protected].

Protect Your Property with Free Online Tool

Register of Deeds Office offering Property Fraud Alert service

Source: Dunn County

The Dunn County Register of Deeds offers a free online tool that notifies you if a document is recorded in your name. It’s called Property Fraud Alert, and it’s an easy way to stay a step ahead of potential fraud.

With mortgage fraud and identity theft on the rise, this service provides an early warning system so you can take quick action if something suspicious shows up in your property records.

Simply enter your personal or business name, and you’ll receive an alert any time something is recorded that matches.

Need help signing up? The Register of Deeds Office is happy to assist—call (715) 232-1228.

New Playground Coming to Phelan Park

Photo: Facebook

Source: City of Menomonie

The City of Menomonie is thrilled to announce that a brand-new playground is coming to Phelan Park—and it’s been designed with help from the real experts: students from River Heights, Oaklawn, and Wakanda Elementary Schools!

Construction by Northland Recreation is set to begin in mid-April and should wrap up by early June. After that, the City will be adding new walkways and safety surfacing to make the area even more welcoming and safe for play.

Stay tuned—there will be a ribbon cutting celebration in late June (date and time to be announced), and you’re all invited!

MHS Extracurricular News

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

Menomonie High School Mustang Logo

Photo: Debra Bell

By Marsha Biggs, MNN Contributor

April 9

Varsity Softball beat Rice Lake in a tough battle 3-2. Maci Marlett pitched fantastic and secured the win. Offense was led by Livi Sample with 2 hits and Amanda Holzhueter who hit a 2 run home run. Megan McMahon came in clutch in the bottom of the 7th, hitting a walk off single. JV also won their game against Rice Lake by a score of 19-2. Many players contributed great hitting and the team was led by Presley Verdon who hit an in the park home run and struck out 7 batters in 4 innings. JV 2 lost their 1st game of the season against Durand-Arkansas by a score of 9-12. Zoey Cleveland, Hailey Klanderman, and Jai Hasse all hit doubles.

Congratulations to the Girls Soccer Teams. JV beat Merrill 3-0 with 2 goals scored by Penelope Awsumb and one by Lucka Zazovsky. Aubrie Schlueter earned a shutout.

The Varsity Soccer Team won 4-0. Paula Flores got a hat trick and Sydney Norby had two assists and a goal. Ilisabeth Doran earned a shutout too. Next up they play at Eau Claire North on Thursday.

Congratulations to the Boys Tennis Team on winning their home Invitational yesterday.  The Mustangs swept both Superior and Baldwin-Woodville 7-0 and beat Onalaska 4-3.

Congratulations to the MHS Boys Track Team for their 1st place finish at the Dunn County Invite yesterday. Event champions were Dan Hansen in the 50m hurdles; the 4x100m throwers relay team of Blake Kissh, Grant Nigon, Nolan Ayres and Timmy Berends; Jae Berg in the high jump, long jump and the triple jump.  Roberto Valdelamar in the pole vault, Parker Jacobs in the shot put and the 4x400m relay team of Alex Heckendorf, Andrew Heckendorf, DJ Butler and Jon Gruber.  Great job boys team.

Congratulations to the Girls Track and Field Team on their excellent performance last night at the Dunn County Invite. Event champions included Claire Mikesell in the 400 meter dash, Emmi Marlett in the shot put, Izzie Whitwam in the pole vault, and the 4 x 400 meter relay team of Chloe Bablick, Grace Nevin, Cassiah Casey, and Claire Mikesell. Well done girls!

Congratulations to MHS Music Students on a successful Solo and Ensemble season, performing at three different festivals this Spring. The following students received top ratings, and will be advancing to the state festival at UW-Eau Claire on May 3rd: Harrison Davis, Clarinet Solo; Ben Seguin, Piano Solo; Amelia Osterhaus, Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Solos; Luke Ray, Euphonium Solo; Lucy Dolan, Soprano Solo; Amelia Freeman, Soprano Solo and Musical Theatre Solos; Rachel Hintzman, Soprano Solo; Julia Prochnow, Alto Solo; Eleanor Trotter, Flute Solo; Levi Freeman, Cello Solo.

Continue to MNN Website to read here.

City Curbside Yard Waste Pickup Next Two Mondays

The City of Menomonie will provide curbside yard waste pickup on Mondays April 21, and 28. Pickup takes all day, so please be patient with our crews!

Guidelines:

  • Leaves & grass in compostable bags (max 50 lbs per bag)

  • Brush must be bundled, under 4 ft long, and may not be picked up each week

  • All items must be marked/tagged “CITY PICKUP”

  • Place at the curb only—no earlier than 1 day before and by 7 AM on pickup day

  • No alley pickups

  • If your garbage day falls on a pickup day, keep trash separate from yard waste

Drop-Off Option: You can also take yard waste to the City Solid Waste Site at 1601 Gilbert Creek Road: Tues & Thurs 7 AM–6 PM | Sat 7 AM–Noon

Collected leaves are composted! Residents can pick up free finished compost (while supplies last)—just bring your own container and shovel.

Questions? Call the Street Department at 715-232-2302

For more information visit our website! https://www.menomonie-wi.gov/

Women’s Giving Circle Hosts Membership Meeting

Menomonie – The Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) of Dunn County is excited to host its annual 2025 Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 1st at 5:00 PM at Kyote’s Den Bar & Grill (E2339 WI-29, Menomonie). This year’s event, themed “May” We Give: A Celebration of Generosity & Growth, will bring together community-minded women for an evening of connection, philanthropy, and fun.

As a joyful nod to May Day and the spirit of generosity, this gathering marks the first WGC event of the year. Attendees will have the opportunity to reconnect after the Fall Gala, share in the excitement of the coming year, and celebrate the power of collective giving. The event is a perfect occasion to learn more about WGC’s mission and impact while enjoying an evening of camaraderie and inspiration.

Guests will enjoy a self-serve meal featuring shredded pork sandwiches with a variety of sauces, coleslaw, fresh fruit, and assorted dessert bars. Following dinner, the evening will continue with a Family Feud-style trivia game, adding an element of fun and friendly competition to the event.

The WGC welcomes all women and encourages attendees to bring friends who may be interested in joining this growing network of women philanthropists. Additionally, donations of general hygiene products will be collected and donated to Stepping Stones of Dunn County, supporting local individuals and families in need.

Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025

  • Time: 5:00 PM

  • Location: Kyote’s Den Bar & Grill (E2339 WI-29, Menomonie)

  • Cost: $20 per person

  • RSVP: Required by April 17th at org/wgcmm

Brook Trout are in Trouble

Photo: DNR

By David K. Williams

Editors Note: This article appeared in the Hay River Review and is reprinted here with permission. Nearby Red Cedar Watershed is included in this story.

Wisconsin’s only native trout species, the brook trout, is in trouble. That’s the premise behind a recently announced Brook Trout Preserves Program (BTRP). The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched this effort in December of 2024.

Trout fishermen will tell you that the brook trout is a furtive fish, challenging to catch.  Ranging in length from 9 to 12 or 13 inches, brook trout thrive in cool, spring-fed streams.  Their optimal water temperature is between 55 to 61 degrees for feeding, growth, and reproduction.  Stream temperatures warmer than 75 degrees for a three-day period are too warm for them to survive.

Click here for the full story at the Hay River Review: https://www.hayriver-review.com/post/brook-trout

David Williams is a Menomonie resident and a retired UW-Stout administrator. 

'Music Over Menomin' Concert Series Announced

Library hosts 15th season of free summer music

Source: Menomonie Library

Join us for our 15th season!

We have been waiting all year to welcome you back to another season of Music Over Menomin!

Thanks to the Friends of the Library, our generous sponsors for 2025, we’ll be back in full swing every Thursday from June 12-August 14 at 7 p.m. on the library lawn.

Ride your bike and get front row parking, walk or park in the library lot or the lot next door at 700 Wolske Bay Road. Thanks to our neighbors for sharing their parking lot!

FREE and open to all!

In case of inclement weather, decision to cancel will be made by 4pm each Thursday. Watch the library homepage & social media for information.

Science Olympiad Team Places 3rd of 59 Teams at State Championship

Source: Facebook Post

The Menomonie High School Science Olympiad team placed 3rd out of 59 teams at the Wisconsin State Championships, behind Marquette University and Madison West.

The team had individual medalists in 15 events. 1st Place: Grant Burns & Luke Ray - Geocaching. 2nd Place: Noah Winder & Oliver Lugo - Bungee Drop; Ben Seguin & Bri Klimek - Forestry; Jay Beston & Lilly Gregerson - Write It, Do It; Bri Klimek & Ellie Beck - Horticulture. 3rd Place: Grant Burns & Amy Liu - Anatomy; Ben Seguin & Olivia Rubenzer - Forensics; Enzo Parent & Ethan Pax - Optics; Grant Burns & Luke Ray - Dynamic Planet; Ethan Pax & Bri Klimek - Wind Power; 4th Place: Cole Christenson & Ethan Pax - Material Science; Maddie Horvath, Oliver Lugo & Ben Seguin; Olivia Rubenzer & Amy Liu; Nora Trotter & Toni Fiorini - Horticulture; Pachi Xiong & Gabi Johnston - Write it, Do it; Grant Burns & Amy Liu - Microbiology ; Ellie Beck & Amy Liu - Precision Med

Coaches are Natalie Topper, Jessie Weinberger, Michelle Huppert and Bill Dingwall.

Public Meetings Apr 16-23

Photo: MNN Staff

City of Menomonie

Wed Apr 16       Urban Forestry Board - 2 p.m. - City Hall

Thur Apr 17      Police & Fire Commission - 10 a.m.

Thur Apr 17      Public Library Board - 6 p.m.  (Register to view livestream)

Mon Apr 21       Spring Yard Waste Curbside Pickup - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m

Mon Apr 21      City Council Meeting - 7 p.m. - Council Chambers 

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

Fri Apr 18 No School

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed Apr 16       Board of Supervisors

Mon Apr 21       Board of Adjustment - 10:30 a.m.

Wed Apr 23       Facilities Committee - 5:00 p.m.

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Blue Caps To Get 2025 Season Underway

Local Team Plays Under Rules That Date Back to 1860; Team Revived in 2012

By Layne Pitt
MNN Contributor

MENOMONIE – Soon the sounds of “Striker to the Line,” “Huzzah” and “Two Hands Dead” (two outs) will return to the area as the Menomonie Blue Caps Base Ball Club will open the 2025 season.

The vintage base ball (that is two words) team that plays under 1860s base ball rules open their season April 19 in Afton, Minn., and have two other road contests before opening the home portion of their season at Phelan Park with Menomonie Blue Caps Base Ball Festival, which, besides Menomonie, is scheduled to include eight other teams Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22.

The Blue Caps will also play in nearby towns when they travel to Eau Claire, June 7; to Chetek, July 3, to Barron, August 17, to Dallas, Oct. 4 and to Sand Creek, Oct. 18. The Blue Caps last year played at a vintage tournament in Gettysburg, Pa., and this year are scheduled to travel to Madeline Island in Lake Superior for a festival July 19.

The original Blue Caps started play in Menomonie in 1882 and continued into the 1940s The Blue Cap name was revived as a vintage base ball team in 2012, playing under the auspices of the Dunn County Historical Society. A complete 2025 schedule appears below. The schedule is subject to change.

The Menomonie Blue Caps welcome anyone interested in the game to join the roster. For more information, contact Dustyn Dubuque, at 715-232-8685.

To read the complete story and schedule go to the MNN website.

Layne Pitt is the retired UW-Stout Sports Information director and also worked more than a decade at the Dunn County News.

This story by Layne Pitt is licensed under a CC BY SA 4.0 International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

For a Calendar of Events in the Menomonie Area, visit Kathy Weber’s Menomonie Minute.

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