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Menomonie News Net
Jun 3, 2026, Vol 2, Issue 29
Local News Group
June 03, 2026
Welcome to Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 29. You can read and search for archived issues and articles HERE.
Today’s issue features Menomonie in full summer swing. Check out the end of year school activities, upcoming Murals in Menomonie, community concerts, July 4th Celebration and more.
Editorial Team: Layne Pitt, Becky Kneer, Marsha Biggs; MNN Contributors; Advisory Team Volunteers; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz
Donate online HERE OR by mail - check to MNN, PO Box 63, Menomonie. Your donations bring us closer to our goal of hiring part-time staff.
Website: www.menomonienewsnet.org
Submit story ideas to: [email protected]
In this Issue...
Celebrate Nat’l Trails Day Saturday June 6, 10am - Noon, Red Cedar Trail Visitor Depot
Celebrate NATIONAL TRAILS DAY at the Red Cedar State Trail. FREE fun for all!
Date/Time: Saturday June 6 10am - Noon
Activities:
SNAKE DISCOVERY at 10:15
Crafts and Activities
Book Bike (courtesy of Menomonie Public Library)
Seed bomp pops (courtesty of UW Extension)
FREE bike tune-up (courtesy of Simple Sports)
Disc golf demo (courtesy of WoodWind Park)
Fishing Clinic (courtesy of DNR)
Location: Depot Visitor Center, 824 Hudson Rd, Menomonie (Rain location: Menomonie Public Library)
Sponsored by Friends of the Red Cedar State Trail
Source: Facebook event page
Murals in Menomonie: Free Community Bus Fares June 24-27
Dunn County Transit is partnering with Murals in Menomonie to provide free Community Route bus fares Wednesday through Saturday, June 24–27.
Whether you’re riding the bus to explore the murals throughout Menomonie or simply using public transit to get around town, all Community Route rides during these dates will be FREE for everyone.
Many of the mural locations are directly on or near the Community Route, giving riders a convenient and unique opportunity to experience Menomonie’s growing public art installations while traveling throughout the community.
As part of this special event, Dunn County Transit will also provide expanded Saturday Community Route service on June 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Normally, Saturday Community Route service operates only from 9:00 a.m. to noon during the UW-Stout semesters, but the Transit Commission approved this summer Saturday route with extended service hours specifically to support the community mural event.
Ride the route, explore the murals, support local artists, and enjoy free public transportation during this community celebration.
Source: Dunn County Transit Facebook event page
NOTE: Watch for a 2-part series on Murals in Menomonie in upcoming issues of MNN.
July 4th Celebration Details Announced Including Music Line-Up
Volunteers are needed:
2 and 4 hour shifts available
free admission & event t-shirt for volunteers
Contact: Deb Nichols, West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development, 715-235-8393, [email protected]
OR complete google form
Source: West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
Ludington Guard Band Begins 2026 Tuesday Concerts
Facebook photo
Come join us for a summer full of great music, fresh popcorn, and of course….. delicious pie!
Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening at Wilson Park every Tuesday at 7:30 - 9:00 pm through Tuesday August 4th.
Don’t forget your favorite lawn chair or blanket and settle in for a fun, family-friendly night in the park.
Source: Facebook event page
City Provides Residents with Summer Reminders
As warmer weather arrives and lawns continue to grow, regular yard maintenance helps keep neighborhoods safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. It also helps improve visibility near sidewalks and intersections and prevents grass clippings from washing into storm drains and local waterways.
A few reminders:
• Grass and boulevards must be kept under 9 inches in height, as outlined in City Ordinance Title 5, Chapter 1, Section 4F. If grass exceeds that height, property owners will receive a notice and have 5 days to comply before possible citations are issued.
• Grass clippings should not be blown into streets or storm drains. Clippings can create hazards for pedestrians and cyclists and may impact local water quality. Instead, mulch them into your lawn, compost them, or bring them to the Solid Waste & Recycling Site.
Learn more about City ordinances and property maintenance responsibilities: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/.../menom.../latest/overview
A friendly reminder to residents that the City of Menomonie’s Alternate Side Irrigation policy is in place! To prevent strain on the city’s water system, and maintain steady water pressure during peak summer use, we're asking residents to follow these guidelines:
Even-numbered addresses (like 620 11th St) may water lawns only on even-numbered days (June 2, 4, 6, etc.).
Odd-numbered addresses (like 621 11th St) may water lawns only on odd-numbered days (June 1, 3, 5, etc.).
Why it matters: During summer, lawn watering causes a huge spike in water use. Spreading irrigation across alternating days helps the city deliver reliable water service to all residents, especially during dry spells or high demand. When it rains, don’t forget to turn off your automatic sprinklers! Lawns only need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week (from rain or irrigation) to stay healthy.
Source: City of Menomonie facebook page
Free Summer Yoga: Mondays at 9 on the Library Lawn
The library is teaming up with Mayo Clinic Health System to bring you weekly FREE Yoga. Join us on the Menomonie Public Library lawn every Monday to bring some calm to your busy days.
Mondays from 9-10 am thru July 27. (No zoom option in summer)
Bring water, mat, towel, & an umbrella (if you want shade. Bad weather? Class will be held in the meeting room.
For more information: https://menomonielibrary.org/summer-yoga
UW-Stout Welcomes More than 1100 Community Members, Area Children for Summer Activities
MENOMONIE – The academic year may have ended, but the summer is just heating up at University of Wisconsin-Stout with community classes, youth camps and a mural festival, featuring some of the world’s best mural artists.
As part of UW-Stout’s year-round campus activities, more than 1,100 community members and area children will join in hands-on, applied learning in campus labs and studios.
Registration for many opportunities is still open:
The Middle School STEAM Experience and the High School STEAM Experience introduce young students to exciting career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design, while nurturing creativity and critical thinking skills. STEAM camp scholarships are available for Wisconsin students.
Adult learners are invited to personal and professional enrichment courses and workshops designed to help advance careers or build connections through a new hobby, offered through Continuing Education and Conferences.
Young athletes can improve their skills at sports camps and Stout Adventures’ Youth Climbing League, led by university coaches and staff.
And for four days, international artists will descend upon the city during Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs. From Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28, artists, residents, and visitors will come together to celebrate creativity, wellness and community pride in this one-of-a-kind event. The mural created for the UW-Stout campus will be painted on the eastern side of the Administration Building, facing the Clock Tower Plaza.
STEAM Experiences for young campers
Each STEAM camp is designed to engage and provide hands-on learning experiences and is led by UW-Stout faculty and university students. Unique tracks within the disciplines of STEAM include:
Science & Health: Freshwater science, fish conservation, anatomy, molecular ecology, psychology and gardening; Technology: 3D-printing, robotics and virtual reality; Engineering: Construction, packaging and plastics engineering; Art & Design: Claymation, comics, game design, fashion, cinema production, interior design and drawing
The STEAM programs are sponsored by the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire school districts, the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, the National Science Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Xcel Energy and the UW-Stout Foundation & Alumni Association, in partnership with Continuing Education & Conferences.
Continuing Education classes for community members
Continuing Education & Conferences is collaborating with faculty and staff to develop in-person courses. Explore details and register to join on campus:
June 11: The popular Discovering Japan series offers a workshop on Creating with Brush and Ink: A Japanese Calligraphy Experience; June 25: Protein Done Right invites participants into a UW-Stout kitchen classroom to bust diet myths and cook a meal together; June 30-Aug. 11: The six-Tuesdays course on Citizen Journalism builds skills to write compelling stories that reflect the people, events and issues shaping the community. July 8-Aug. 5: In five two-hour sessions, learn how to turn Memories to Memoir: Crafting Your Story by reading and analyzing memoirs and through structured writing time; July 13-17: Build analytical and synthetic thinking skills by practicing established creative problem-solving methods in a one-credit Creative Problem-Solving course; July 15: The Discovering Japan series continues with Steeping in Tradition: A Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience, an introduction to the history, hospitality, mindfulness and artistry of tea ceremonies.; Aug. 1-2: Metal Art Workshop: Ring-making will introduce learners to basic metalsmithing techniques, materials and tools as they make rings in the Metals Lab; Aug. 25: the third Discover Japan workshop, The Art of Giving in Japan: A Furoshiki Experience, focuses on the traditional Japanese art of cloth wrapping; Open Enrollment: A new series on Eldercare launches with its first course, focused on Death and Bereavement.
Continuing Education & Conferences is also conducting a survey for community members to understand public interest in personal enrichment classes and usage of university labs, studios and other spaces.
Sports and activities
Athletics offers multiple summer sports camps led by university coaches, staff and student athletes. Camps include baseball, softball, basketball, football, flag football, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, track, volleyball and dance.
Youth Climbing League offers introductory activities, designed to empower kids ages 6 to 12. Experienced instructors lead activities for all skill levels. Two sessions will be held from Tuesday, June 9, to Wednesday, July 15; and Tuesday, July 21, to Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Source: News release
‘Give Big Valleys’ Raises Over $349K to Support Nonprofits Across Western Wisconsin
HUDSON – Communities across Western Wisconsin came together once again for Give Big Valleys 2026, raising $349,751 in support of local nonprofit organizations serving Burnett, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties. The final campaign total includes online and offline donations, matching gifts, and sponsor contributions distributed among participating nonprofit organizations.
Held on the last Tuesday of April each year, Give Big Valleys is a 24-hour online giving event hosted by United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys (UW Valleys). This year, 718 donors came together to support 85 participating nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys.
From food shelves and shelters to arts organizations, youth programs, emergency services, environmental initiatives, and animal welfare groups, Give Big Valleys supports nonprofits working every day to strengthen local communities.
“Give Big Valleys reflects the generosity, compassion, and community spirit that make Western Wisconsin such a special place,” said Randy Morrissette II, Executive Director of UW Valleys. “When people come together to support local nonprofits, the impact reaches far beyond a single day of giving and helps strengthen our communities for the future.”
Throughout the day, donors supported causes they care about while nonprofits shared their stories and connected with supporters across the region. The event also helped participating organizations increase visibility, engage new donors, and build momentum for future community impact.
Give Big Valleys 2026 was made possible through the generosity of donors, participating nonprofit organizations, and the continued support of community sponsors and partners, including:
Valley Leaders: St. Croix Valley Foundation and WESTconsin Credit Union
Civic Leader: Royal Credit Union
Civic Partners: Cardinal FG Menomonie, First National Bank of River Falls, White Bear Machine, St. Croix Valley Elder Law & Estate Planning and J&S General Contracting
Civic Supporters: Security Financial Bank and Homestead Veterinary Clinic
Nonprofit Friend: Northwest Passage
Media Partners: O’Rourke Media, Amery Free Press, Baldwin Bulletin, Burnett County Sentinel, Country Messenger and Osceola Sun
Give Big Valleys is made possible through the support of donors, sponsors, nonprofits partners, volunteers, and community members who believe in strengthening local communities through collective giving.
UW Valleys extends sincere thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s event and helped make Give Big Valleys 2026 a success.
Save the date for next year’s Give Big Valleys on April 27, 2027.
To learn more about Give Big Valleys and participating nonprofit organizations, visit givebigvalleys.org
Source: News release
Public Meetings June 3-10
Staff Photo
City of Menomonie
Mon Jun 8 Historic Preservation Commission, 5pm, Rm 58; Recreation Advisory Board, 7pm
Click HERE for full calendar.
School District of Menomonie
Mon Jun 8 School Board Meeting, 5:45pm, ASC
Click HERE for full calendar additional details
Dunn County
Thur Jun 4 Planning, Resource & Development Committee * 8:30am, Rm 54, Govt Center. View the full agenda and meeting materials at https://ow.ly/pzCZ50Z6e4H
*Dunn County Facebook page: “The Dunn County Planning, Resource & Development Committee will discuss modular data centers during its meeting on Thursday, June 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 54 of the Dunn County Government Center. This agenda item is for discussion only. No action is scheduled at this time. The public is welcome to attend).”
Mon Jun 8 Facilities Committee, 4:30pm
Tues Jun 9 Community Resources & Tourism, 4:30pm;
Wed Jun 10 Transit/Highway Committees, 8am, Highway Dept; CJCC Executive Operations Committees, 11am; Executive Committee, 3:30pm
Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting
Menomonie Events at a Glance June 3-10
Photo: Debra Bell
Wed Jun 3 Farmers Market, 10am - 4pm, Wilson Park; Moose Lodge Dance, 1-4pm, Menomonie Moose Lodge
Thur Jun 4 Red Cross Blood Drive, St Joseph Catholic (921 Wilson Ave), 10am - 4pm; Moose Lodge Bingo, 7pm, Menomonie Moose Lodge
Fri Jun 5 Red Cross Blood Drive, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Menomonie Public Library; Friday Night Races, 7pm, Red Cedar Speedway; Candlelight Vigil - Nationwide Event to Shine Light on Federal Healthcare Cuts, 6:30 - 7:30pm, 519 Crescent Ave, (Heart Sculpture on Lake Menomin)
Sat Jun 6 Genealogy Help Sessions, 9-11am, Menomonie Public Library; Farmers Market, 10am - 1pm, Wilson Park; National Trails Day FREE Event, 10am-Noon, Depot Visitor Center (824 Hudson Rd)
Mon Jun 8 Summer Yoga at the Library, 9am, Menomonie Public Library Lawn; Boys & Girls Club FREE Clothing Shop Day, 5-6pm, River Heights Elementary
Tue Jun 9 ADRC Coffee & Conversation: Dementia, 9-10am, Menomonie East YMCA (3019 Schneider Ave); Creative Caregiver Event, 1 - 2:30pm, ADRC; Line Dancing, 5:30 - 8pm, Euchre, 7-9pm, Moose Lodge; Ludington Band Concert, 7:30pm, Wilson Park
Wed Jun 10 Farmers Market, 10am - 4pm, Wilson Park; Moose Lodge Dance, 1-4pm, Moose Lodge; Glow in Dark Dance Party for Kids, 2pm, Menomone Public Library
MHS Extracurricular Activities May 27-Jun 3
Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements
Staff photo
Thursday, May 28
Varsity Baseball defeated Eau Claire Memorial 6-4. Bailey Casey threw 4 and 1/3 innings with 1 earned run. Cade Lamb threw 1 and 2/3 innings to record the save. Charlie Mikesell paced the Mustang offense having 3 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.
Congratulations to the Boys Tennis Team on their great performance at the WIAA sub-sectional tournament on Wednesday. The team is sending 8 of their 10 players on to the sectional tournament including Harrison Davis, Caleb Gunderson, Bruce Behrend, Wren Swaenepoel, Jake Rue, Davin Ellis, Bricin Leisses, and Elliot Risler.
Friday, May 29
JV2 Baseball defeated Eau Claire Memorial 10-1 behind a superb outing on the mound from Parker Behrens. Parker Behrens threw 5 1/3 innings while striking out 5. Brody Anderson came in and closed the door with 1 and 2/3 scoreless innings. Offensively, Parker Behrens had 4 hits, while Oliver Sullivan and Sean Sinclair had 2 RBIs. JV Baseball defeated Eau Claire Memorial 17-9 last night. Reece Birt collected 3 hits, while Spencer Auth, Grant Witt, Mavrick Scribner, and Zach Bird all collected multiple RBIs. Gavin Mittlestadt got the win on the mound for the JV team. The JV team is back in action for their final game tonight against DC Everest. Varsity Baseball defeated Eau Claire Memorial 12-0 last night. Max Erickson threw a complete game shutout with 7 strikeouts through 5 innings. Charlie Mikesell had 3 hits and 4 RBIs while Taylor Mars collected 3 RBIs as well. The Mustangs wrap up their season against DC Everest Friday NIght.
Monday, June 1
The Girls Track and Field Team had another great day on Friday at the Division 1 Sectional championship meet at DC Everest. Finishing in the top 3 to advance to this weekend's State Championship meet in La Crosse were: Mia Lambrigtsen in the 100 meter dash, Isabel Sorensen in the triple jump, Ellie Arndt in the discus throw, Bennett Schmitt in the 3200 meter run, Bree Barfknecht in the 800 meter run, Lauren McCalla in the 1600 and 800 meter runs, and the 4 by 800 meter relay team of Addison Schuler, Bree Barfknecht, Lauren Ohman and Lauren McCalla who broke the school record with a State-leading time of 9 minutes and 11 seconds!
Congratulations to the Boys Track and Field Team for their outstanding performances at the WIAA D1 Sectional at DC Everest on Friday. Owen Pelzel, Evan Olson, Luke Ray and Noah Winder qualified for the start meet by finishing 2nd in the 4x800m relay, breaking the school record set in 2008. They will compete Friday morning at UW LaCrosse and are seeded 10th of 25 relay teams.
The Tennis Team is sending three players to the individual state tennis tournament! Menomonie will be represented in both the singles and doubles brackets with Harrison Davis qualifying in singles and Jake Rue and Davin Ellis qualifying in doubles!
Tuesday, June 2
Summer blood donors are needed! Please join our Tuesday, July 14th Menomonie High School – Blood Drive from 10am – 4pm at the Off-Broadway Banquet Center! Donors are urged to stay active this summer to help maintain readily available blood resources for patients. Emergency situations are on the rise, fewer donors give, putting more pressure on a decreasing blood supply over the next 3 months. One hour of your time can help 3 patients in the coming weeks PLUS get a free movie ticket via email to a summer blockbuster by donating at this student led program. Click here to sign-up today!
MHS State Qualifiers
Track Sends 13 to State; Tennis Advances 3 to Championship
By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor
MENOMONIE - Menomonie High School qualified 13 athletes in eight different events to the WIAA State Track and Field Meet June 5-6 at UW-La Crosse's Veteran's Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs qualified nine girls and four boys to the event. And the Menomonie boys tennis team qualified three to the WIAA State Tennis Meet, June 4-6, at Nielsen Stadium in Madison.
State Track Meet
Lauren McCalla and Bree Barfknecht will be competing in two events, while Mia Lambrigtsen, Bennett Schmitt, Addison Schuler, Alexis Thalacker, Lauren Ohman, Isabel Sorensen, Ellie Arndt, Evan Olson, Owen Pelzel, Luke Ray and Noah Winder will be appearing in one event.
McCalla is the top seed in both the 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run. The senior will be looking for her first state track and field individual championship to go along with the state cross country title she won last fall.
Barfknecht will be competing in the 800m where she is the fifth seeded runner. Barfknecht is also a member of the 4x800-meter relay team. Joining Barfknecht on the relay team are Schuler, Thalacker and Ohman. The MHS relay team is seeded fifth. McCalla and Schmitt are listed as alternates.
Schmitt will be competing in the 3200-meter run, Sorensen in the triple jump and Arndt in the discus. Olson, Pelzel, Ray and Winder will be competing in the boys 4x800-relay. Logan Topper and Karter Livingston are listed as alternates.
In sectional action May 29 at Marshfield, the girls team placed second while the boys placed 12th. | Complete Sectional Recap
One Single, One Doubles Team to State Tennis Meet
The MHS boys tennis team qualified one individual and one team to the WIAA Boys Tennis Championship, June 4-6 at Nielsen Sports Center in Madison.
No. 1 singles player Harrison Davis will make the trip, as will the No. 1 doubles team of Jacob Rue and Davin Ellis. Davis (25-7) is slated to face Camden Oppenner (25-4) of Westosha Central in the first round. Rue and Ellis (19-3) are slated to meet Hugo Boyden/Drew Schneider (10-0) of Whitefish Bay in the opener. | Complete sectional tennis results and recap
Boys Golf in Sectionals, June 2; Baseball/Soccer Open WIAA Play; Softball Season Ends
The MHS boys golf team advanced to the WIAA sectional by finishing second in the WIAA Regional Meet, May 26, at River Falls Golf Club. The team competed in the sectional meet Tuesday, June 2.
MHS baseball and girls soccer opened WIAA play Tuesday, June 2. The softball team saw their season come to an end in the opening round of WIAA play, falling 15-1 to River Falls, May 26 | Golf, Baseball, Soccer, Softball Stories and Recap
The story “MHS State Qualifiers” 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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