You’re reading Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 7. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.

This issue is once again a day early - next week we settle back into our regular routine of Wednesdays at 11am. Today’s issue brings you a snapshot of our community - what makes it unique. Next week watch for the return of MHS Grads by Judy Foust.

We’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and THANK some of our partners and collaborators: Chippewa Valley League of Women Voters, Community Foundation of Dunn County, Menomonie Chamber, Menomonie Public Library; AND other news sources: CVTC News, DeWitt Media, Eye on Dunn, Hay River Review, Menomonie Minute, MHS Menomonie Messenger, Twin Cities digital news outlets (Eden Prairie Local News & Woodbury News Net) and UW-Stout News.

Donations welcome online or by mail: checks payable to MNN, P.O. Box 63, Menomonie. Options for your tax-deductible gift: in memory or in honor of, recurring, anonymous, RMD.

Thanks for trusting us on this local news journey…Happy New Year!

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

Website: menomonienewsnet.org Submit News: [email protected]

In this Issue…

• First Day Hike/Ski Jan 1 on Red Cedar Trail

• ADRC Hosts 8 Week Virtual Book Club on Brain Health Starting Jan 8

• Free Downtown Parking Continues Until Jan 18

• Free Grant-Writing Workshop Jan 13 by CFDC

• Wolske Bay Park Activities

• Fire at Stepping Stones Family Shelter

• City Christmas Tree Curbside Pickup Jan 8 + Other Options

• Community Finds Value in 4-H and UW-Stout Art Education Collaboration

• Local Red Cross Blood Drives During January Blood Donor Month

• Dunn County Jail Residents Give Back

• Public Meetings Dec 30 - Jan 7

• Menomonie Events at a Glance

• Menomonie Collegians - Women’s Basketball

First Day Hike/Ski Jan 1 on Red Cedar Trail

Please join us on the Red Cedar State Trail on January 1

Noon to 2pm

Self-guided Hike/Ski

• Bring your own cross-country skis

• Meet at the Depot Visitor Center/ Red Cedar State Trailhead (824 Hudson Road, Menomonie)

• Hike will take place on the Junction Trail - going north from the Visitor Center

• Ski will be on the Red Cedar Trail - going south from the Visitor Center

• State trail passes will be available to purchase for skiing (required the day of the event)

• Event may be canceled due to weather

• Call Red Cedar State Trail 715-232-1242 for more information

For online purchase of trail passes, annual memberships or to make a donation click HERE.

Source: Friends of the Red Cedar State Trail Facebook page

ADRC Hosts 8 Week Virtual Book Club on Brain Health Starting Jan 8

Book ‘High-Octane Brain’ provided free to participants

Registration is required: Call 877-485-2372.

Source: ADRC Facebook page

Free Downtown Parking Continues Until Jan 18

From Dec 15 - Jan 18, visitors and residents can enjoy free parking at all city meters north of Wilson Avenue in downtown Menomonie. These meters are easy to spot—they’ll be marked with a blue bag or blue ribbon labeled “free parking.”

This free parking also includes City Lot 6, except for spaces marked as permit-only. Please note that City Lot 10 and the 15-minute meters in front of the Post Office are not included in the free parking program.

Source: City of Menomonie Facebook page

Free Grant Writing Workshop Jan 13 by CFDC

Grant-writing textbook made available by CVTC faculty member

Free Pop-Up! Workshop: Grant Writing 101

Tues January 13, 3:00-4:00pm

Menomonie Market Food Co-op

Presented by Community Foundation of Dunn County

This session is perfect for organizations new to grant writing or anyone wanting a quick refresher. We’ll cover the 7 Steps to Writing a Successful Grant, evaluation criteria, CFDC funding opportunities, and other Dunn County funding resources.

Who should attend? Nonprofits, government and public agencies, and community groups serving Dunn County.

Questions? Contact Ray Pagenkopf at 715-232-8019 or [email protected].

REGISTER for the free Grant Writing Workshop here: https://cfdunncounty.org/pop-up-grantwriting101/

Editor’s Note: A faculty member at CVTC recently made available a textbook on grant-writing FREE for anyone. Click HERE to access the book.

Fire at Stepping Stones Family Shelter

December 26 Facebook post: “It is with a heavy heart we notify the community that our family shelter located on Broadway Street was damaged by fire yesterday. This shelter is operated by Stepping Stones. Most importantly, no one was injured and the fire was the result of an accident. We will assess the damage to determine the level of repairs necessary.”

Source: Stepping Stones Facebook post

City Christmas Tree Curbside Pickup Jan 8

Several drop off locations also available

MENOMONIE — The City of Menomonie will offer curbside Christmas tree pickup on Thursday, January 8 to help residents responsibly dispose of their real Christmas trees after the holidays.

To ensure collection, trees must be bare. Please remove all decorations, tinsel, ornaments, lights, tree bags, posts, and stands. Artificial trees and wreaths will not be collected. Place your tree on the curb by 6 a.m. on January 8.

Additional Drop-Off Options

Residents may also drop off real Christmas trees at the following locations:

Wakanda Park — December 26 through January 12

Elmwood Park — December 26 through January 12

Trees are accepted during the listed timeframe only.

Solid Waste Site

Real Christmas trees are also accepted at the City of Menomonie Solid Waste Site (1601 Gilbert Creek Rd) during normal operating hours:

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturdays: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

For questions, please email [email protected] or call 715-232-2221, and your question will be directed to the correct person.

More information can also be found on the City of Menomonie Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CityofMenomonie/ and the City’s website at www.menomonie-wi.gov.

Community Finds Value in 4-H and UW-Stout Art Education Collaboration

By Zachary Rozmiarek

Three area 4-H programs will again partner with the UW-Stout Art Education Program to bring art lessons to area youth. This is the sixth year of the program. It is open to all youth in grades k-12 in Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties. The sessions are virtual for youth in grades K-6, and in-person on the UW-Stout Campus for grades 7-12.

This collaboration is continuing because of the benefits it gives to the community--both UW-Stout art education students and youth participants. In previous years the program was funded by a grant from Arts Integration Menomonie. When that grant ran out, the area 4-H Educators had to find other sources of funding.

“We really wanted to keep the program going,” says Rachel Hart-Brinson County 4-H Educator in Eau Claire County. “When we collect feedback from the participants, it is always positive. The virtual aspect provides access to some folks who struggle to make it work for in-person meetings. When we heard that the funding had run out, we immediately started to brainstorm creative solutions. This year the program will be funded by the area 4-H Leaders Councils, with hopes to find more grant funding in the future.”

The value that community members find in this program is the driving force to keep it going. When asked for feedback, parents shared positive comments, such as, “They grew in confidence in their artistic ability and in themselves,” and, “she loves art so it was fun for her to be with other kids who loved art.” Allowing the younger youth to participate over zoom is another aspect of the program many parents enjoyed. One participant stated, “It gives her something to do one night a week that we do not have to leave home for.”

Presenting the majority of the program virtually also allows the 4-H Programs to invite community members who are not enrolled in 4-H. Chippewa County 4-H Educator Jordan Blue states, “when we present the sessions over Zoom, we don’t have to worry about having enough space for the youth. This allows us to invite all of the youth from the three counties. Of course we hope that they love it so much that they want to enroll in 4-H, but that isn’t our main goal. Our main goal is to help them fulfill their sparks of creating art.”

Youth in grades 7 and up meet in-person for a variety of reasons. First, the art that they are doing is more complex, and doing it over zoom would be more difficult. It also gives the youth a chance to experience a college art classroom. “One of our focuses in 4-H is career and college readiness,” states Rachel Hart-Brinson. “Giving youth the opportunity to spend time on a college campus helps them imagine ‘this could be me’ and get more comfortable thinking about college as a next step.”

This year, the Art U Program will be presented on Thursday nights at 6:30 from February 12 until March 12. There is a fee of $5 for 4-H members, and $10 for non-members which covers the cost of supplies.

Registration closes on January 13. To register, or find more information you can visit go.wisc.edu/artu2026

For additional information contact Dunn County 4-H Educator Zachary Rozmiarek at [email protected]

Local Red Cross Blood Drives During January Blood Donor Month

Three scheduled blood donation opportunities in Menomonie

By MNN Staff

There are three Red Cross blood donation opportunities in January being offered in Menomonie:

• Tuesday, Jan 6: New Hope Lutheran Church, 11am - 5pm

• Friday, Jan 9: Menomonie East YMCA (3019 Schneider Ave SE), 12:30pm - 5pm

• Wednesday, Jan 21: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (921 Wilson Ave), 10am - 4pm

For more information visit the Red Cross scheduling page.

From The American Red Cross….

WHO BENEFITS FROM BLOOD DONATIONS? trauma patients; patients with surgical complications; patients with chronic diseases - cancer, anemia, sickle cell disease, etc.; pregnant women with complications from pregnancy or childbirth; people with liver problems - components like platelets or plasma for clotting factors; people with infections

ELIGIBILITY & DONATIONS While eligibility can vary based on health status, roughly 37 - 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate. Of those eligible, only about 3-10% donate each year.

Editor’s Note: each month we compile and bring to you the blood donation opportunities in Menomonie.

Compiled by MNN Staff

Dunn County Jail Residents Give Back

Items for local nonprofits made and donated

Menomonie - The holidays were a little brighter for some Dunn County individuals and families this year after County Jail residents recently made 12 fleece-tie blankets to donate to Bridge to Hope, which provides services those affected by domestic violence. 

The jail residents also made door decor for the nonprofits Arbor Place and Stepping Stones, and the Monarch House also received fleece-tie blankets, said Heather Pyka, Dunn County Jail Program Director. 

“I started this project about eight or nine years ago to give back to local nonprofits,” Pyka said. “For the jail residents, it is gratifying doing something for other people.” 

About 25 jail residents participated in some way, Pyka said, working in pairs to cut and tie fleece fabric using safety scissors. Half of the materials were donated, while the remainder was purchased by the County. 

Pyka said this project to help nonprofits has become a November tradition. 

“We appreciate the support we have gotten from county and jail administration, supervisors, staff and the nonprofits,” Pyka said.  “We are trying to give our jail residents an avenue to build empathy and have a positive impact on the community.” 

For more information contact Heather Pyka, Dunn County Jail Program Director at (715) 232-1564.

Source: News release

Public Meetings Week of Dec 30 - Jan 7

By MNN Staff

City of Menomonie

Mon Jan 5 City Council Meeting, 7pm  

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

No School Dec 20 - Jan 2

Next School Board Meeting Mon Jan 12; 5:45pm, preceded by Mid-Year Budget Hearing at 5pm.

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

No scheduled meetings 

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance Dec 30 -Jan 7

By MNN Staff

Wed Dec 31  Last day to vote on Parade of Lights

Thur Jan 1 First Day Hike/Ski, Red Cedar Trailhead;

Fri Jan 2 Holiday Tours at Wilson Place Mansion, Noon, 1, 2 or 3pm, Wilson Place Mansion & Museum

Sat Jan 3 Indoor Farmer’s Market, 9am-Noon, Raw Deal; Holiday Tours at Wilson Place Mansion, Noon, 1, 2 or 3pm, Wilson Place Mansion & Museum

Tue Jan 6 Red Cross Blood Drive, 11am - 5pm, New Hope Lutheran Church, Downsville

Menomonie Collegians

Women’s Basketball

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout women's basketball team went on a historic run to close out the 2024-25 season, advancing to the NCAA Division III Final Four, a first for the Blue Devil program.

From that team, the Blue Devils graduated all five starters and seven letterwinners in total. Pundits predicted the Blue Devils would be in a rebuilding season. But just one week before heading into the WIAC regular season, the Blue Devils are showing they are more than rebuilding - they are simply reloading. After nine games and before a two-game tournament Monday and Tuesday, Stout is standing tall with a 7-2 overall record and have received votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

Playing vital roles in that surge are two Menomonie graduates, sophomore Mary Berg and freshman Brooklynn Birt.

Berg was expected to have an impact on the Blue Devils this season after playing in all 31 games, averaging 20.1 minutes per game, Berg contributed 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists, shooting 33.1 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from beyond the arc. She scored in double figures six times, highlighted by a season-best 14 points against UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 18. A reliable perimeter threat and steady presence off the bench, Berg’s poise and shooting touch were key during Stout’s historic postseason run.

Berg has started all nine game this season at guard, increasing her time on the floor to 28.1 minutes per contest and 8.9 points per outing. Berg is leading the team in 3-pointers, knocking down 17 from beyond the arc, and has dropped in 17 of 19 free throws at a scorching .895 clip.

While Berg has been playing on the outside, Birt has been introducing herself to college teams with tough play underneath. The 5-foot, 11-inch, forward has started three of the Blue Devils games, is averaging a team-best 6.6 rebounds and is second on the team in scoring with 9.4 points per game. Birt has blocked seven shots, tied for first on the team with fellow-freshman Olivia Johnson. Birt had a collegiate-best 23 points and 12 rebounds against Maranatha Baptist in November, recording her second double-double of the season.

Prior to a two-day tournament at the University of Dubuque, both Berg and Birt appear prominently in WIAC standings. As a team, Stout is second in scoring at 72.9 points per game. Birt is 14th in scoring, Berg 18th. Birt is seventh in rebounds and tied for sixth in blocked shots. Berg is fifth in the WIAC in assists (2.7) and sixth in steals (1.9).

The 2025-26 Blue Devil have a balanced scoring attack with no players averaging more than 10 points per game, but seven players averaging more than 6.0 points per contest. Of the seven leading scorers, Rosella Wille, 6.8 ppg, is the only senior; three are freshmen - Abby Verhagen, who leads the team in scoring with 9.8 points, Birt and Johnson (6.6); two are sophomores - Berg and Julia Rybacki, 7.8 ppg; and one, Grace Schisel, 7.1 ppg, is a junior.

Before joining the Blue Devils, Berg was a standout at Menomonie High School, where she scored more than 1,000 career points. She was named Big Rivers Conference Player of the Year and All-Northwest Player of the Year as a senior, helping lead Menomonie to multiple conference, regional and sectional titles.

Birt, a 2025 Menomonie High School graduate, was a four-year varsity contributor and standout guard. She earned first-team all-conference and all-state honorable mention honors as a senior, following second-team recognition as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore.

The Blue Devils will play at host University of Dubuque, Monday, Dec. 29, then will close out non-conference play by meeting Loras College Tuesday, Dec. 30. Stout opens WIAC play by traveling to UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 3 with a 3 p.m. contest. Stout will be at UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Jan. 7, then will host UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Jan.10 at 3 p.m.

At Concordia-St. Paul, Menomonie graduate Emma Mommsen continues to shine for the Golden Bears. After seeing action in 59 games over her red-shirt freshman and sophomore seasons, Mommsen has moved into a starting role for the Division II squad, starting all 12 games this season. Mommsen has doubled her minutes on the court, averaging 23.9 minutes compared to around 12 minutes her first two years. The front-court Mommsen is averaging 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds. She has 12 blocked shots and seven steals.

Mommsen scored a career-best 16 points against St. Cloud State, Dec. 3, and had a season-best nine rebounds, Nov. 21, against Maryville. She played a career-best 32 minutes against Augustana, Dec. 20, dishing off a career-best three assists, along with a college-best three blocked shots.

Mommsen appeared in 31 games during the 2024-25 season, earning NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors while averaging 13.6 minutes per game. She posted 3.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per contest, highlighted by a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds against Bemidji State on Jan. 18 and an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double at Minot State on Jan. 24. As a red-shirt freshman in 2023-24, she played in 28 games, shooting 58.1 percent from the field and helping a team that led the nation in blocks per game. She redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

At Menomonie, Mommsen earned 11 varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track and field. She averaged 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds as a senior, earning conference, regional and statewide honors.

The Bears (7-5) return to action when they travel to Winona State, Saturday, Jan. 3.

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

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

Menomonie Collegians is a regular feature of Menomonie News Net. The column is not limited to student-athletes, but may be a former Menomonie area student in a play, forensics, music or any type of collegiate competition. If you know of a Menomonie Collegian, please email [email protected].

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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