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Menomonie News Net
September 24, 2025, Issue 45
Local News Group
September 24, 2025
Welcome to Issue 45 of Menomonie News Net. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.
In today’s issue we feature: MHS Homecoming events, Proposed Data Center “On Pause”, MTG theater production of Charley’s Aunt and MHS Grads: Gary Berg.
Thanks for reading, subscribing, supporting, donating. Local news for an informed, connected, engaged community….
Editorial staff: 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…
MHS Celebrates Homecoming Week
Parade begins at 4pm, Game vs Superior at 7pm - Friday, Sept 26
Menomonie Mustangs
The Menomonie High School Homecoming events are underway this week. This year’s theme is: Movies - ‘Nom Through the Lens.
The Homecoming Parade will be held Friday, Sept 26 starting near the Leisure Services Center at 4 pm. (Floats line up by 3:30 pm). Click for the parade route.
The Menomonie Mustangs Homecoming Football Game vs Superior Spartans kicks off on Friday at 7:00 pm at the UW-Stout Football Stadium. To watch a livestream of the game click here.
Homecoming week concludes with the student Homecoming Dance on Saturday Sept 27, 8-10 pm at the high school.
Source: MHS Sept/Oct Newsletter and City of Menomonie Facebook Page.
Proposed Data Center “On Pause”
Staff Photo
By Becky Kneer, MNN Contributor
An announcement at the City Council meeting held Monday, Sept 22 was made by Mayor Randy Knaack. During the Mayor’s Report, he spoke regarding the proposed data center and the company representing them, Balloonist LLC.
Mayor Knaack stated:
“Last Wednesday September 17th I drafted a memo and had our city administrator contact Balloonist LLC. In the document I stated that I am not currently interested in pursuing a tax incremental district or a development agreement.”
“As the chief executive officer of Menomonie and serving as your mayor I have listened to the people of Menomonie and around the area. To me, your voice does matter. So as your mayor of Menomonie the issue of the data center is now on pause.”
View Sept 22 Council Meeting: WEAU Channel 13 news coverage
View entire Sept 22 Council Meeting: Eye on Dunn video
A gathering in opposition to the proposed data center seen outside City Hall prior to Monday night’s City Council meeting. Staff photo
Contact: Becky Kneer, co-editor, Menomonie News Net, [email protected]
Press Release on Proposed Data Center Issued Following Sept 22 City Council Mtg
Editor’s Note: the following press release was received which included this accompanying note: “The Mayor would like to emphasize that the City of Menomonie will not be negotiating a development agreement or establishing a Tax Increment District (TID) to support the data center.”
Contact: Zaria Whitacre, City of Menomonie, Communications Specialist, 715-232-2231, Ext 1108, [email protected]
Dunn County Follows Through on Pledge, Improves More Roads in 2025
Staff Photo: Debra Bell
MENOMONIE - The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved additional money in 2024 to begin an accelerated road improvement project, and it paid off in 2025, county officials said.
Dustin Binder, Dunn County Highway Commissioner, said his department completed 16.07 miles of Highway improvements in 2025, a 31 percent increase from the 12.28 miles completed in 2024 and a far cry from the 8.18 miles completed in 2021 and 10.68 miles in 2022.
“The County Board decided to bond extra funds for highway maintenance because we were falling behind,” Binder said. “Roads have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and we want to get county roads as close to that replacement schedule as possible.”
Binder added: “We have done more road construction projects than we normally completed to get on 20- to 25-year replacementcycle. That is the ultimate goal.”
Three of the higher profile 2025 projects were a reconstruction project on Highway D from 420th St. to Highway K in Irvington; a reconstruction project on Highway D from Highway 25 to 816th Avenue in Tainter; as well as pavement replacement on Highway BB from Highway 12 to Highway 25.
Other projects completed were: Highway S (STH 170 to Highway N) 1.65 miles, pavement replacement; Highway G (Highway D to STH 25) 3.04 miles, pavement replacement; Highway Y (STH 25 to 350th St.) 1.76 miles, pavement replacement; ; Highway J (510th Ave. to 410th Ave.) 3.07 miles, reconditioning; Highway G (Highway BB to Highway D) 0.75 miles, reconditioning.
Binder said the County Board will be asked to support improving nearly 17 miles of county roads in 2026. The county has a total of 425 miles of roads, and it costs approximately $150,000 to resurface a mile of roadway, while pavement replacement costs $250,000-$300,000 a mile. The lifespan for resurfaced road is eight to 10 years; pavement replacing, 20 years; reconditioning, 20 to 25 years; and reconstruction, 20 to 25 years.
“We have had a lot of support from the County Board and administration,” Binder said. “They are willing to invest in road improvements.”
Contact: Dustin Binder, Dunn County Highway Commissioner (715) 231-6587
[email protected]
Fourth Annual Collectors Day Sept 27 at the Rassbach Museum
Facebook photo
By Sofi Doane, Rassbach Museum Collections
The fourth annual Collectors Day will be held at the Rassbach Museum, 1820 John Russell Road in Menomonie, on Saturday, September 27, from 1-4 p.m.
Collectors Day is a celebration of collectors and their collections. This free event offers fun for all ages. Visitors may see familiar collectibles as well as truly unique and unusual collections.
Visitors can talk with the collectors and learn the history of their treasures. The stories behind the collections are often as interesting as the items in the collection. Our collectors this year range in age from 7 to 94. Collections will range from small and newly started collections to large collections amassed over many years.
Featured this year are action figures, fish shaped bottles, swans, myrtlewood, tin toys, WWE wrestling memorabilia, doll houses, bells, Josef originals, antique tools and documents, breweriana, soda bottles, insects, paper dolls as well as many other amazing collections.
We are very excited to announce that this year John Hempel will be sharing his insect collection at Collectors Day. John has exhibited his collection of 1,500 insects for many years at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. The Dunn County Historical Society will share their collection of vintage handmade fishing lures made by a Menomonie resident.
Other highlights of the event include a pressed penny machine that features five historic Dunn County locations (visitors can press a penny for .51¢), a car show put on by the Badger Wheels chapter of the Studebaker Club and a silent auction featuring started collections with a special “Buy It Now” option for those who don't want to wait for the auction to end. Collections up for auction include: tea pots, marbles, swizzle sticks, Disney pins, comic books, tie tacks, Lego mini figures, walking stick medallions, keys, Mickey and Minnie Mouse items, coins, crystals, a curiosity collection, a junk drawer collection, cigarette cards, NASCAR cars and a Green Bay Packers collection featuring a team signed football.
Find more information at dunnhistory.org/collectors-day
Sofi Doane is the Rassbach Museum manager.
Two MHS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Facebook photo
Please join us in congratulating Menomonie High School students Madeline Horvath and Benjamin Seguin on being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.
With two students named as semifinalists, MHS is "Tops in the Big Rivers Conference" this year.
According to the NMSC, semifinalists represent approximately one percent of all students nationally who are eligible for consideration each year.
Source: MHS Facebook page
Red Cross Blood Drives in October
By MNN Staff
Eight blood drives are scheduled in Menomonie for the month of October.
To view a list and/or make an appointment click here.
Wed Oct 1 - Phillips Medisize, 11am - 5pm
Thur Oct 2 - St Joseph Catholic, 10am - 4pm
Mon Oct 6 - United Methodist Church, Noon - 6pm
Mon Oct 20 - Alliance Church, 10am - 4pm
Fri Oct 24 - Menomonie Leisure Services, 9am - 3pm; Christ Lutheran, 11am - 5pm;
Wed Oct 29 - Dunn Co Govt Ctr, 9am - 3pm;
Fri Oct 31 - St Paul’s Lutheran, 9am - 2pm
Source: American Red Cross
Support our Public Library at Chicken Dinner Fundraiser Sept 27
Chicken Dinner Fundraiser - Sat Sep 27 5 - 7 pm
Menomonie Moose Lodge, 720 19th Ave E, Menomonie
The Lodge opens at 4; dinner is served from 5-7 pm.
Cost is $15: 1/4 chicken, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, dessert
All proceeds go to Friends of Menomonie Public Library. Learn more about their programs during the event.
Thank you for your support!
MTG Presents Charley’s Aunt: A Menomonie Farce
Facebook page
Menomonie Theater Guild is thrilled to announce the upcoming production of Charley’s Aunt: A Menomonie Farce, a steampunk-inspired twist on the classic farce that has delighted audiences for over a century.
Performances are October 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.; October 12 and 19 at 2 p.m at the Mabel Tainter.
Tickets are $20 General Admission; $18 Students, Seniors & Military. Available online at menomonietheaterguild.org or at MTG Box Office, 502 W 2nd St, during box office hours, Mondays & Wednesdays 11:30-3:30 p.m..
Directed by Russell Slack (Murder on the Orient Express - 2023, And Then There Were None – 2024), this lively comedy promises an evening of laughter, quick disguises, and outrageous misunderstandings.
Set in 1905 at a fictionalized UW–Stout, this adaptation takes the familiar hilarity of Charley’s Aunt and reimagines it with a Menomonie flavor. College students find themselves tangled in a web of mistaken identities, desperate deceptions, and unexpected romance — all with the over-the-top flair of steampunk style. With witty dialogue, eccentric characters, and a playful mix of history and imagination, this production is the perfect way to kick off the season.
Whether you’re a fan of classic theater, local history, or simply love a good laugh, you won’t want to miss this riotous romp.
Source: MTG Facebook Page
MHS Grads: Where are They Now?
Gary Berg - Class of 1975
By Judy Foust Gary Berg graduated from Menomonie High School fifty years ago and just attended his 50th class reunion this summer. It was a perfect time for him to recall memories of his high school years. First of all, I asked Gary which teachers were most memorable. “My favorite teachers were mostly my English and Journalism teachers—Mrs. Barb McFarland, Mr. Steve Schrantz, and Mrs. Mary Schlosser.” Gary also had two other teachers that he recalls—Bud Karis (“an excellent Chemistry teacher”) and Pete Noreen (“a great Industrial Arts teacher”). But the memories that stand out most for Gary are spending time in and out of school with a lot of very good people who were his fellow classmates. “Football games, certain songs and artists, school dances all bring back fond memories.”  Senior high school photo After graduating from MHS, Gary attended UW-EC where he majored in English and minored in Psychology and Coaching. “I was very active as a student in the residence halls as an RA, Hall Council member, front desk worker, etc.” But one of Gary’s most long-lasting accomplishments was being one of the originators of the Bridgman Hall Kazoo band 49 years ago. In fact, this will be the 49th year that the Bridgman Hall Kazoo Band will march in UW-Eau Claire’s Homecoming parade on October 4th. In honor of the Centennial Homecoming celebration for the university, members of past kazoo bands are making sure their voices — through the buzzing timbre of kazoos — are being heard. (To spread the word about the 100th Homecoming and the 49th year of the Bridgman Hall Kazoo Band, Gary helped organize a special event where past members gathered, along with some new recruits, at the Minnesota State Fair where they marched in one of the daily parades and brought their special kind of fun to those along the parade route). Gary went on to note that, “I had a GREAT experience at UW-EC!” Following graduation he went on to grad school and received his M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Truman State University in Missouri. He worked as a college administrator for the next decade and ended that career path in the position of Director of Planning and Assistant to the President at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. Gary left higher education the summer of 1989 to start a new company that has grown to be the largest entertainment agency in the Midwest and one of the largest in the country. GL Berg Entertainment/Elan Speakers represents over 400 professional performers and contract shows for | corporations, fairs and festivals, theaters and performing arts centers, and many cruise ships. The company—which has offices on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis—represents musicians, dancers, variety artists, hypnotists, casino nights and much more—booking over 5,000 shows a year all over the world.  Current photo “I have always loved participating in and following sports and entertainment which makes my job so enjoyable. I love it when people gather and have positive, shared experiences.” “Over the years I’ve coached basketball at the travel, AAU, and high school levels. I had a very popular book—Entertainers That Work!—win a number of awards as well as having been sold in all fifty states and seven countries. I’ve served on several boards of directors and am currently the President of the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association Board. In addition, I’ve been a professional speaker in 35 states from coast to coast.” Gary loves to travel, loves the PACKERS, and loves staying busy, having fun, and not wasting any days “as I know they are limited for us all.” “My wife, Judy, and I (who live in Maple Grove, MN) are coming up on our 43rd wedding anniversary. We have one son, Nate, who graduated from the University of Minnesota and will be taking over as CEO of GL Berg Entertainment in 2026 as I dial it back and give up that title in exchange for being founder. I am extremely fortunate.” When I asked if there was anything else he’d like to add, Gary replied, “Menomonie was a great place to grow up. My mom and dad (Lloyd and Eileen Berg) were loving and supportive, as were my four sisters.” (Author’s Note: I am one of Gary’s four wonderful sisters)! “Growing up, we lived right next to the UW-Stout campus until I was in fourth grade so I was able to take full advantage of all Stout had to offer with facilities, teams to cheer for, music/concerts, political and other speakers and so much more.”  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] |
Public Meetings: Week of Sept 24 - Oct 1
City of Menomonie
Wed Sept 24 - Joint Review Board, 3:30 pm, Council Chambers - Agenda
Click HERE for full calendar
School District of Menomonie
No Scheduled Meetings
Click HERE for full calendar, additional details
Dunn County
Meetings are held in Rm 60, Govt Center (lower level) UNLESS otherwise listed.
Wed Sept 24 - Facilities Committee, 5 pm
Thurs Sept 25 - Neighbors of Dunn County, 9am; Committee on Administration, 3pm, Rm 54; Health & Human Services, 6pm, Rm 54
Mon Sept 29 - Judiciary & Law, 4:30pm
Wed Oct 1 - Planning, Resource & Development, 8:30 am; CJCC Executive & Operations, 11am
Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting
You can view last week’s (9.17.25) Dunn County Board Meeting HERE.
This Week’s Menomonie Events at a Glance
Staff Photo: Debra Bell
Wed Sept 24 - Farmer’s Market, 10am - 6pm; QPR Training, 2-4 pm, Menomonie Public Library; Arbor Place Ribbon Cutting/Open House, 2pm
Thur Sept 25 - City of Menomonie Clean Sweep, 2-6 pm, Community Services Shop
Fri Sept 26 - Dunn County Clean Sweep, 8am - Noon, Dunn Co Fairgrounds; MHS Homecoming Parade, 4pm; Homecoming Game, 7pm
Sat Sept 27 Braver Angels Workshop, 10am, United Methodist Church; Farmer’s Market, 8am - 1pm; Collector’s Day, 1-4pm, Rassbach Museum; Friends of the Library Chicken Dinner Fundraiser, 5-7 pm, Moose Lodge
Wed Oct 1 Emergency Preparedness for Seniors, 10am, Senior Center; Farmer’s Market, 10am - 6pm
MHS Extracurricular News
Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements
Staff Photo: Debra Bell
Thursday, Sept 18
The Girls Golf Team finished in 8th place yesterday at the BRC meet at River Falls Golf Club. Leading the Mustangs were Maggie Winsand & Lucia Santibanez followed by Cierra House, Evy Asher & Zoey Cleveland.
Friday, Sept 19
Freshman Football Team won their game 22-18 last night in Superior.
Monday, Sept 22
On Saturday, the Girls Swim and Dive Team had an away invitational meet in Chippewa Falls. Some notable performances included: a personal record in the 100 butterfly for Lily Horvath, a perfectly paced 500 freestyle for Eilyn Black, and a flawless sprint - despite water-filled goggles - in the 100 breaststroke for Addison McKown! Congratulations to the Boys Cross Country Team for their performance this past weekend at the University of Minnesota's Roy Griak Invitational meet. The boys ran tough in the 49 team field and were able to pull out a top 3 finish as a team, with Luke Ray and Logan Topper leading the way with top 20 finishes. Congratulations to the Girls Cross Country Teams for their outstanding performance at the Roy Griak Invitational. The girls raced in the Championship Division against many of the best teams in the Midwest and even the US. The team placed 13th of 42 teams. Lauren McCalla finished 4th of 411 runners while Bennett Schmidt was 33rd.
Tuesday, Sept 23
Congratulations to the Sophomore Football Team on their 46-6 win against Superior. They are now 4-1 on the season. The Varsity Reserve Football Team traveled to Baldwin-Woodville last night to take on the Blackhawks. The Mustangs pulled off the 14-8 win as Aiden Anderson had an interception late to seal the victory.
Menomonie Collegians
MHS Student-Athletes Fill Up Academic Lists
By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor
MENOMONIE - Many Menomonie student-athletes were listed on all-academic teams released by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and North Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) for the 2024-25 academic year.
Named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll were; Dominick Hendrickson, men’s tennis, UW-Stevens Point; Brooks Brewer, football, UW-Stout; Jonathan Fenton, men’s soccer, UW-Whitewater; Mary Berg, women’s basketball, UW-Stout; Sammy Jacobson, women’s basketball, UW-La Crosse; Alexis Anderson, track and field, UW-Stout; Madison Lehman, women’s cross country and track and field, UW-Eau Claire; and Treysen Witt, baseball, UW-Stout.
Named to the NSIC All-Academic teams were: Madeline Palmer, women’s cross country and track and field; Winona State; Connor Norby, men’s cross country, Winona State; Emma Momsen, women’s basketball, Concordia-St. Paul, Helen Chen, women’s basketball, UM-Duluth; Reed Styer, football, Concordia-St. Paul; and Brock Thornton, football, Concordia-St. Paul.
To be selected to the WIAC Scholastic Honor roll, student-athletes competing in the conference must achieve a 3.00 grade point average or better (on a 4.00 scale).
To be eligible for the NSIC All-Academic Team student-athletes must have a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher.
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/
For a Calendar of Events in the Menomonie Area, visit Kathy Weber’s Menomonie Minute.
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