Welcome to Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 16. You can read and search for archived issues and articles HERE.

Today’s issue features Layne Pitt’s article on MHS State Wrestling Champion Aiden Aure; Judy Foust’s interview with MHS Grad Fong Kang and a summary of the Coldest Night of the Year Stepping Stones Fundraiser.

Inviting you to stay informed, connected, engaged…

Editorial Team: Layne Pitt, Becky Kneer, Marsha Biggs; MNN Contributors; Advisory Team Volunteers; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz

Click HERE to donate online OR by mail - check to MNN, PO Box 63, Menomonie; Website: www.menomonienewsnet.org; Submit story ideas to: [email protected]

In this Issue...

• Looking Back: March

• Final Weekend: Hadestown Teen Edition

• Otto Bremer Trust Selects United Way to Administer …

• Dunn County Sheriff Signs ICE Agreement for the Wa …

• MHS Grads

• Fiber Fridays Offers Support to Learn New Skills

• Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) Fundraiser Suppor …

• Two Candidate Forums in Menomonie to be Hosted by …

• Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale

• Public Meetings: Week of Mar 4-11

• Menomonie Events at a Glance Mar 4-11

• MHS Extracurricular Activities

• State Wrestling

• All-Big Rivers Conference Hockey

Looking Back: March

News items from Dunn County’s past compiled by the Dunn County Historical Society

GAS WAR RAGING HERE

A gas war is raging in Menomonie as the above advertisements indicate. The war reportedly started when a self-service station dropped its price to 48.9 and another self-service outlet met that price. The report says it is the policy of one station to remain two cents above the self-service stations which caused it to drop its price to 50.9. That station’s neighbors followed suit and the war spread throughout the community. Regular gas sold in the approximate 54.9 to 59.9 range before the war started. March 21, 1976 Dunn County News

CUPID ON STRIKE

Dan Cupid has gone on a strike. Not a marriage license has been issued at the Dunn county Court house for two weeks and the wedding bells are silent. “I guess I’ll have to put an ad in the paper," remarked County Clerk Quilling, as he contemplated the unused license forms. It may be guaranteed that one of the little want hustlers would turn the trick — at least one would prove an efficient aid to the chubby cherub with the bow and arrow, who seems to find it hard to deliver the goods just now. If the business depression is to blame there is thus another cause to hope that the stagnation will be of short duration. March 3, 1921 Dunn County News

A VERY PRACTICAL DEPARTURE

Heintz Bros. have just received word that patents have been granted on their new oscillating bob and also on their adjustable threshing machine sieve. The bob is a very practical departure in sleigh construction and one that every teamster or user will welcome with delight. An obstacle under one runner will not affect the other and a rough track will not produce jolting. The threshing machine sieve, on which a patent was granted March 13, is so constructed that a change can be made from wheat to oats or vice versa without stopping the machine. Heintz Bros. will put these inventions into practical use at once. March 22, 1901 Dunn County News

DEMAND FOR "SHINERS"

Many of our city readers have doubtless noticed lately an unusually plentiful supply of the new nickels just issued by the government. It is accounted for by the enterprise of Torger Hanson who being often hampered in his business by a lack of small change, found relief last week by purchasing of the mint at Philadelphia $500 of those nickels — 10,000 five cent pieces! Such was the demand for these "shiners" that in one day be passed over his desk about 5,500. These new nickels are so scarce that the news boys are said to hawk them in the streets of Chicago, people in many cases paying as high as twenty-five cents for one to preserve as a curiosity. March 24, 1883 Dunn County News

PURCHASE OF AUTOMOBILE FOR CITY POLICE IS SEEN

Though no recommendation has yet been made by the fire and police commission to the city council, it is expected that councilmen will be called upon to authorize an appropriation for the purchase of an automobile to be used by the police department to replace the motorcycle which is now used.
Mayor Albert Nathness states that an automobile could be used by the department both day and night. The motorcycle is used only when the traffic officer is on duty. If an automobile is not purchased, the buying of new motorcycle will be necessary this spring. March 28, 1935 Dunn County News

Do you like “old news?” Follow the Dunn County Historical Society on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dunnhistory for a daily dose.

Final Weekend: Hadestown Teen Edition

Otto Bremer Trust Selects United Way to Administer its Community Responsive Fund

HUDSON, WI - The United Way of Wisconsin and its network of local United Ways across the state of Wisconsin, has been selected by the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) as a philanthropic intermediary to administer and distribute funds through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund.

The United Way of Wisconsin network will administer $4,000,000 in funds for grants up to $75,000 to support local organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in the community. More details will be released in March.

Thirteen United Ways in Wisconsin will be participating in the partnership this year: including United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys.

United Ways will serve as local experts to ensure that the Otto Bremer Trust is increasing the positive impact in the regions it serves by providing and administering grants directly to organizations within Wisconsin that provide effective services and programs.

“The Otto Bremer Trust is proud to work with United Way of Wisconsin to administer and distribute grant funds in Wisconsin,” said Frank Miley, co-CEO and trustee, OBT.

“The Trust’s mission has always been to fund organizations and programs that effectively address challenges and opportunities in their local communities. What better way to have a deeper understanding of where those challenges are than to work with an organization like United Way of Wisconsin, which is fully integrated into the communities and regions we serve. We look forward to working together to increase our impact.”

Local nonprofits, organizations, and groups may apply for funding from the OBT Community Responsive Fund through their local United Way partners. Qualified applicants focus on food, shelter, low-income healthcare clinics, disability services, and school-based mental health which are OBT Trust's 2026 Focus Areas.

“United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys is incredibly grateful and excited for this partnership and looking forward to helping strengthen the services and solutions that help our neighbors thrive," said Randy Morrissette II, Executive Director, “Partnering with the United Way of Wisconsin, a philanthropic intermediary for the Otto Bremer Trust, will allow us to direct critical resources to the organizations doing the most impactful work on the ground."

Eligibility for the 2026 OBT Community Responsive Fund and can be found on United Way of Wisconsin's Otto Bremer Trust page.

To learn more contact [email protected]

The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minn. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, it is committed to supporting an enhanced quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Since its founding, OBT has invested more than $1 billion in its region’s people, places, and opportunities. For more information about Otto Bremer Trust, visit https://ottobremer.org.

Dunn County Sheriff Signs ICE Agreement for the Warrant Service Officer Program

DUNN COUNTY - Based on legal advice from the attorney who represents Dunn County’s liability insurance carrier, Wisconsin County Mutual, Sheriff Kevin Bygd signed a Memorandum of Agreement to allow selected staff members to be trained as Warrant Service Officers.

Under this program, Dunn County Sheriff’s Deputies are authorized only to serve federal detainers on individuals who are already in custody at the Dunn County Jail on local criminal charges. This agreement does not grant deputies authority to enforce federal immigration laws or to participate in immigration enforcement activities such as arresting individuals based solely on suspected immigration status.

The purpose of the agreement is to provide limited liability protection when holding an individual in our custody for up to 48 hours on a federal detainer after local charges have been resolved. In instances where we have encountered individuals with federal detainers, those individuals typically had significant criminal histories, and the detainers were associated with serious offenses.

Dunn County Deputies encounter non-citizens on a regular basis and, when appropriate, may arrest or cite individuals for violations of state or local law — just as they would with any other person. We do not contact federal authorities for every interaction involving a non-citizen, nor do we have authority to independently enforce federal immigration laws.

On average, the Dunn County Jail encounters approximately one individual per year who has a federal detainer, despite regularly housing non-citizens. Last year, we encountered two individuals with federal detainers. One individual was sentenced to prison on local felony charges, and the detainer followed him to state prison. In the other case, the individual was arrested on local charges, and the federal detainer was withdrawn before those charges were resolved and he was released from jail once the local charges were resolved.

I hope this clarifies any misinformation that may be circulating.

Sheriff Kevin Bygd

Source: News Release Dunn County Sheriff’s Dept, www.DunnCountySheriff.com

MHS Grads

Fong Kang - Class of 2010

By Judy Foust

In this week’s article, the spotlight is on Fong Kang, MHS Class of 2010.

Fong grew up in Menomonie. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother. In high school, Fong enjoyed math and English classes. In addition, the local library was an excellent place to focus on schoolwork. He felt he had good support from the staff when he was there.

When I asked Fong about other memories from MHS, one thing that came up consistently was soccer! He was part of the MHS soccer team. One of the best things about being on the team was that he felt the players “always had good support from parents, the school, and the community. They would cheer for and encourage us at every game.”

When soccer wasn’t in season, Fong participated in the MHS Chess/Checkers Club, sharing it was a good activity using different “muscles” from those he used in soccer.

For fun, Fong enjoyed going to football games with friends. Two of his favorite places to “hang out” were the bowling alley and the movie theater.

After graduation, Fong moved to Alaska to live with his father, wanting to build a stronger relationship with him. It was in Alaska that he took some college courses, including Microsoft Office Applications and Accounting.

Fong then joined the U.S. Navy in part to make use of its Tuition Assistance Program for his education. He took English Composition I and II through the program. However, when he got busy with important Navy tasks, Fong couldn't continue his studies. “Completing my college education is still a goal, and the Navy offers a lot of different programs to help you get there. At the moment, due to my current primary duties, I don’t have the time to commit to school.”

Fong’s Naval career began with bootcamp in Chicago and his first duty station was in San Diego on the USS Comstock (LSD-45). [LSD means the ship is a Dock Landing Ship class. Its purpose is to help transport deployed Marines, supplies and materials to other Naval vessels or bases.]

Next Fong returned to Chicago to work at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center from 2018-2021; then back to San Diego on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier. [These ships can do what every other ship can do, but their primary duty is to support Naval aviation missions. Aircraft carriers are the Navy’s largest ship platforms].

Fong has served in the U.S. Navy for thirteen years; his rank being First Petty Officer. Currently Fong is stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, with the Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, and he resides in Oak Harbor, Washington.

“During my time in the U.S. Navy, I have had the opportunity to travel to the following parts of the world: Hawaii, Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Bahrain, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Japan! I really enjoyed seeing and experiencing other countries and cultures.”

Fong has two children—a nine-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son—who live in San Diego with their mother. He describes them as “…amazing. They are intelligent and adventurous. I am a proud dad!”

As I always do, I ended the interview by asking Fong about being raised in Menomonie. “My thoughts growing up in Menomonie are positive. It was a diverse community. I feel that was what helped everyone become aware of and understand all different types of people who come from different walks of life, creating and instilling a diverse culture.”

Fong, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life to share your story with Menomonie’s residents. We all love knowing what “our kids” are doing!

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]

Fiber Fridays Offers Support to Learn New Skills

The Library will be hosting Fiber Fridays, a creative class designed for adults, from March 6-May 29 (4:15-5:45pm).

Come and learn how to knit, crochet, or both with one-on-one support from the group leader and skilled fiber artists. Bring your own project to work on or get ideas at class.

Materials for those new to the craft are provided at no cost (hooks/needles, yarns, patterns, etc).

Classes on March 6, 13 and 20 will be held in the storytime room. After that it will be held in the meeting room.

Source: Library Facebook page

Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) Fundraiser Supports Emergency Shelter

Two Candidate Forums in Menomonie to be Hosted by LWV-CV

The League of Women Voters-Chippewa Valley is hosting two candidate forums in Menomonie.

Mayoral Candidate Forum

• Thursday, March 19, 5pm

• Holtby Hall, Rassbach Museum

• Moderator: Afton Greco, UW-Stout Director of the Menard Center for Study of Institutions & Innovation

School Board Candidate Forum

• Thursday, March 26, 5pm

• Menomonie High School Auditorium

Source: LWV-CV

Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale

March 7 Members Only Sale (10am-1pm)

March 9-19 Public Sale (during library hours)
March 20 Bag Sale

The “Friends” give thousands of dollars to the library every year and book sales are their major fundraiser.

You can volunteer to help at the sale, too.

Want to shop early? Become a Friends Member and beat the rush on March 7th at the MEMBERS ONLY shopping event. You can fill out a form and pay for your membership right at the sale.

Friend $10-$24
Book Lover $25-$49
Bibliophile $50-$99
Benefactor $100+

Source: Library Facebook Page

Public Meetings: Week of Mar 4-11

City of Menomonie

Mon Mar 9 Recreation Advisory Board, 7pm

Wed Mar 11 Tourism Commission, 10am AGENDA 

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

Mon Mar 9 School Board Meeting, 5:45 pm, ASC

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed Mar 4 CANCELLED: CJCC Executive & Operations Committees

Wed Mar 11 Legislative Committee, 3pm; Land Information Council, 3pm Mtg PACKET; Executive Committee, 3pm

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance Mar 4-11

Wed Mar 4 Walk & Talk Book Club, 5:30pm, Library

Thur Mar 5 MAKE IT Thursdays - Sock Puppets, 5-8pm, Rassbach Museum; Co-Parenting Teens, 7pm, Zoom Registration; Hadestown Teen Edition Musical, 7pm, MHS Auditorium

Fri Mar 6 Fiber Fridays, 4:15, Library; K of C Fish Fry, 4:30-7pm, St Joseph Catholic Church; HeART of Dunn County (Humane Society Fundraiser), 6-9pm, Mabel Tainter; Hadestown Teen Edition Musical, 7pm, MHS Auditorium

Sat Mar 7 Indoor Farmers Market, 9am - Noon, Raw Deal; Genealogy Help Session, 9am, Library; Friends (Members Only) Book Sale, 10am - 1pm, Library; Hadestown Teen Edition Musical, 7pm, MHS Auditorium;

Mon Mar 9 Chamber Business After Hours, 5-6:30pm, Abbey Pub & Grub

Tue Mar 10 Red Cross Blood Drive, 11am -5pm, New Hope Lutheran Church, N2698 460th St, Downsville

MHS Extracurricular Activities

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

By MNN Staff

Wednesday, February 25

The Boys Varsity Hockey Team traveled to River Falls for their 2nd playoff game. River Falls came on strong right away with 2 goals in the 1st period. In the 2nd period the Mustangs tied it up to make it 3-3 with a goal by Ryder Anderson and 2 goals for Jaxon Giertz. River Falls took the win scoring 3 more, 1 on an empty netter. The Mustangs lost 6-3. We are so proud and very thankful to our 4 seniors: Wren Swaenepol, Ryan Xu, Davin Ellis and Brock Wilkens. We also really appreciate the students and fans that showed great support and put on the miles to continue to cheer on the boys. The boys had a winning season finishing 15-8-1. Congratulations boys hockey on all your success!

 Congratulations to the Forensics Team. Every Forensics Team member who participated at Subdistrict competition has qualified to advance to District competition in March! The team still has two invitationals in March to compete in before turning their focus to qualifying for and competing at State competition in April.

Friday, February 27

A massive congratulations to our DECA Chapter for an incredible showing at the Wisconsin State DECA Competition this week. Every single member who competed represented Menomonie High School with outstanding professionalism, skill, and pride. Evelyn Doyle medaled in Human Resource Management. Chase Pember will be advancing to Nationals after sweeping first place in his Hotel and Lodging management series. Aiden Anderson and Max Jaeger also earned a spot with their School Based Enterprise School store project. Congratulations to the whole team on a fantastic state competition, and best of luck to our national qualifiers going to Atlanta in April!

Monday, March 2

Congratulations to Wrestling Team members Bailey Casey, Aiden Aure, Aaron Howard, Luke Pember, Jacob Anderson and Bryce Shepard that left it all on the mat last week at the state competition in Madison. Every wrestler competed a minimum of 3 times over the course of three days. At the end of the competition on Saturday night Aiden Aure came out on top as the new Division 1 State Champion at 138 lbs. Congratulations Aiden!

MHS Theater Hadestown: Teen Edition is a hit and we have one final weekend of performances this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm, MHS Auditorium. Tickets are free with a student ID and $5 without at the door.

State Wrestling

Aiden Aure Wins State Championship at 138-pounds

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

MADISON - Driving into downtown Menomonie just before crossing the bridge, the Menomonie Booster Club has a board listing all of the team and individual champions from Menomonie High School. Well, get the paint out because there is another state champion for the Mustangs.

Junior Aiden Aure captured the WIAA 138-pound Division 1 title in impressive fashion, taking the crown with an 8-3 decision over top-seeded Cashtyn Botting of Hortonville Saturday at the Kohl Center.

Aure, who finished the season with a 37-4 record, was dominant in his first two matches, downing Bodi Kothari Schmi of Brown Deer/Messmer/Shorewood with a technical fall of 16-1 in only 1-minute, 29-seconds. Aure followed that up with another one-sided win, downing Patrick Skrundz of Burlington with a technical fall of 20-4 in 5:37.

Aure, who entered the weekend as the third seed in his weight class, had his toughest match of the three-day weekend when he captured a 10-9 win over second-seeded Nathan Henderson of Holmen to advance to the championship match.

Last season Aure finished fourth at the state meet while competing at 126-pounds, while Botting of Hortonville was third at 132-pounds. This was Aure’s third trip to the state tournament.

Luke Pember placed sixth at 165-pounds. Pember won his first match, on at fall at 1:52, then dropped his second round match. He came back to win his next two matches on a fall and major decision, then fell in the fifth place match.

All-Big Rivers Conference Hockey

Five Mustangs Selected to All-BRC Boys Hockey Team

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

MENOMONIE - The Menomonie High School boys hockey team had five players selected to the 2025-26 All-Big Rivers Conference (BRC) hockey team.

The Mustangs had two seniors, one junior and two sophomores selected to the honorable mention squad. Selected to the squad were: Davin Ellis, Sr, Goalie; Wren Swaenepoel, Sr, Forward; Cooper Marincel, Jr, Forward; Jaxon Giertz, So, Defense; and Brekkin Cody, So, Forward.

According to regular season statistics posted to Wisconsin Prep Hockey, Marincel was the Mustangs' leading scorer, tallying 31 points, including 11 goals and 20 assists. Cody was the team's top goal scorer with 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points. Giertz was right behind with 13 goals and six assists for 19 points. Swaenepoel finished with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points.

Cody was the team's scoring leader on the power point, finishing with four. Marincel had two power play goals and one short-handed goal.

In the net, Ellis posted a 14-6-1 regular season record, tallying 1081 minutes with 636 saves while allowing 59 goals on 695 shots on goal for a saves percentage of 91.5 percent. Ellis recorded four shutouts.

The Mustangs finished the season at 15-8-1 overall, 7-6-1 in BRC play. Menomonie advanced to the second round of the WIAA Division 2 tournament.

In the tournament opener at the Fanetti Community Center, six different Mustangs lit the lamp for a 6-3 win over Black River Falls. Menomonie got goals from Wes Weir, Brekkin Cody, Quinn Rabeneck, Kellen Turner, Wren Swaenepol and Cooper Marincel.  In the second game, the Mustangs overcame a 3-0 deficit against River Falls to tie the score at 3-3 on two goals by Jaxson Giertz and a goal by Ryder Anderson, but the Wildcats came back for a 6-3 win.

Before becoming the longest-serving sports information director at UW-Stout, Layne Pitt worked with the Dunn County News for 11 years, during the 1980s and early 1990s. 

The story "Five Mustangs Selected to All-BRC Boys Hockey Team" by Layne Pitt is licensed under a CC BY SA 4.0 International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Menomonie Mustangs Athletics and Activities | UW-Stout Blue Devil Athletics

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

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