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Menomonie News Net
Jun 24, 2026, Vol 2, Issue 32
Local News Group
June 24, 2026
Thanks for reading Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 32. You can read and search for archived issues and articles HERE.
Today’s issue features the Murals in Menomonie Walldogs Festival - after 2 ½ years of planning it’s here. Yay Menomonie! Also…Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Celebration, MHS Grad Tricia Foxwell, a resident helping make Menomonie beautiful and much more.
Happy Summer…
Editorial Team: Layne Pitt, Becky Kneer, Marsha Biggs; MNN Contributors; Advisory Team Volunteers; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz
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Website: www.menomonienewsnet.org
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In this Issue...
‘Murals in Menomonie’ Walldogs Festival is HERE !
SCHEDULE
Wednesday - Sunday
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
7:30 p.m. Mural Setup and Projection Begins | Wilson Park and Mural Locations
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mural Painting | Wilson Park and Mural Locations
10 a.m. Walldog Brush Basics Course | Wilson Park Pavilion
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids and Community Activities | Wilson Park
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food Trucks | Wilson Park
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Fair | 2nd Street East
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Murals in Menomonie Merch Tent | Cedar Corporation Parking Lot
7 p.m. Music Over Menomin Concert: Songa String Band | Wilson Park Bandshell
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mural Painting | Wilson Park and Mural Locations
10 a.m. Walldog Brush Basics Course | Wilson Park Pavilion
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids and Community Activities | Wilson Park
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Murals in Menomonie Merch Tent | Cedar Corporation Parking Lot
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food Trucks | Wilson Park
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Fair | 2nd Street East
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free Concert: Jay Collins Quintet | brewery nønic
9 p.m. Walldogs Daze Movie | brewery nønic
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Menomonie Farmers Market | Wilson Park Pavilion
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mural Painting | Wilson Park and Mural Locations
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Murals in Menomonie Merch Tent | Cedar Corporation Parking Lot
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids and Community Activities | Wilson Park
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Fair | 2nd Street East
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Murals in Menomonie Gala | UW-Stout Great Hall
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
9 a.m. Mural Completion and Cleanup | Wilson Park and Mural Locations
“Such an amazing thing to see how this community has come together to make this historical mural event a reality! Get ready City of Menomonie things are about to change.” - Wade Lambrightsen, event organizer Facebook photo
GOOD TO KNOW
Preparing merchandise for sale at the event. Facebook photo
Murals in Menomonie is a collaborative effort between the City of Menomonie, Community Foundation of Dunn County, Downtown Menomonie, Menomonie Area Chamber & Visitor Center, Dunn County Historical Society, UW–Stout Polytechnic and Vintage Sign Shop.
Wilson Place Celebrates 50th Anniversary this Weekend
The Wilson Place Museum's 50th Anniversary Celebration is June 26-28. Join us as we celebrate 50 years of preserving Menomonie's history.
Note: Reservations for these special dining events close Wed, June 24:
Dinner & Concert on the Wilson Place Lawn
Friday, June 26 • 6:00 PM
Enjoy a lovely summer evening on the Wilson Place lawn with dinner, and live music by Jason Dae West. Buy Your Tickets at: https://buytickets.at/wilsonplacemuseum/2172646
Afternoon Tea at the Wilson Place
Saturday, June 27 & Sunday, June 28 at Noon
Relax with tea, sweet and savory treats, and the charm of one of Menomonie's most historic homes. Buy Your Tickets at: https://buytickets.at/wilsonplacemuseum/2249291
Reservations required.
Schedule
Friday, June 26
Mansion Tours
New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour
Dinner, Music & Memories: Celebrating 50 Years of Wilson Place
1927 Popcorn Truck
Button Making
Paint the Wilson Place Art Project
Community Story Board
Saturday, June 27 – Kids & Family Day
Amateur Radio Field Day Demonstrations – 9AM to 5pm- For More Info
Mansion Tours - Starts at Noon
New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour
Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Afternoon Tea
White Pine Ramblers Band – 2:30PM
Old-Fashioned Games
Ice Cream Sundaes
Popcorn Truck
Community Art Activities
Time Capsule Experience – Starts at noon
Sunday, June 28
Mansion Tours
New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour
Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Afternoon Tea
Ice Cream Sundaes
Popcorn Truck
Community Story Sharing
Final Opportunity to Participate in the Time Capsule Project
For information on all the above events visit Wilson Place Mansion facebook page.
Making Menomonie a ‘Beautiful Place’
By Steve Tillison
For many years, towns and villages in Germany sought to improve their locations through a program called “Unser Dorf Soll Schöner Werden”, which translates literally to “Our village shall be more beautiful.” Many towns’ residents worked hard each year to
spruce up their homes, their streets, their public areas, seeking the national recognition the program provided.
While we don’t have such a program here in Menomonie, we do have people working to make our community more attractive, cleaner, more livable.
One of those people is Patrick Bjorge, who has walked our north Menomonie neighborhood daily for years, maybe two decades or more, picking up litter. He walks almost the full length of Wilson Street down to the Public Library daily.
He’s been an idol for my wife and I, even though we had never ever chatted. So
one morning a couple of months ago he passed our home; it was time to investigate.
I hopped in the car and chased him down at Wolske Bay Park. I asked him if anyone had ever interviewed him about all the beautifying of our neighborhood he had done for so many years. (Marilee, my wife, who has been retired for 13 years, would often come
home from teaching at Cedar Falls Elementary and say, “I saw him again)!”
Not only does he walk but he brings a trash bag with him to pick up whatever he
finds, and if he sees something across the street he goes to remove that litter too.
I started our conversation inquiring if I might ask him a few questions - while also stating he has been an inspiration to many of us for so many years. He said I could but that he was also busy; he kept on working.
Patrick Bjorge, our inspirational walking man, said our land is not a landfill and that folks
should be fined $1,000 for each littering occurrence.
Our first chat lasted for just a few minutes. Patrick, a 65-70ish year-old man moved from Blair, WI to Menomonie to attend UW-Stout. Twenty-five years ago he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes with the concern of possibly losing his sight and/or having a major kidney problem. His doctor told him to watch what he ate and to exercise. (Patrick’s daily walks to clean up Menomonie helps him with the exercise
part of that recommendation).
As I could feel that he was getting eager to get back to his litter pick-up mission, I asked Patrick whether he was open to having his story shared. He is a humble man, not looking for accolades. He agreed to talk again.
A couple of months later, I had the opportunity to chat with Patrick as he was again walking the trail in north Menomonie with his litter pick-up tool and his garbage bag.
A nice, caring guy, I learned he was a former U.S. Marine. This humble man and I talked for about 10 minutes as he continued on his cleanup route, covering some of his history. He has quite a story to share, though he clearly seeks no personal recognition.
I believe Patrick Bjorge is an inspiration for all of us as he seeks to make our “village” a cleaner and more beautiful place to live.
We need others following his quiet example.
Steve Tillison is a north Menomonie resident and retired middle school math teacher.
Highlights from Mayor Matthew Crowe
By Matthew Crowe, Mayor
As we wrap up another busy week in Menomonie, I wanted to share a few things I'm looking forward to around our community.
First, I hope you'll join us for the Grand Reopening of Wakanda Park on Friday, June 19. Thanks to the support of community partners, the park now features resurfaced courts, upgraded basketball amenities, and improved batting cages that will serve residents and visitors for years to come.
Just around the corner, Murals in Menomonie officially begins June 25. Over five days, artists from around the world will transform walls throughout downtown into vibrant works of public art that celebrate our community's stories, history, and character. It's shaping up to be a truly memorable event for Menomonie.
For renters within the Neighborhood Stabilization and Enhancement District (NSED), this is a reminder that rental inspections begin July 1. Information letters and FAQs were mailed recently, and residents are encouraged to schedule inspections in advance. More information is available on the City website at www.menomonie-wi.gov/NSED.
Lastly, be sure to check out the Menomonie Public Library's calendar. Between Yoga on the Lawn, Music over Menomin, summer reading programs, and special events, there are plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and have fun all season long.
Whether you're exploring a new mural, enjoying the new courts at Wakanda Park, attending a community event, or checking out a good book, I hope you find time to enjoy everything Menomonie has to offer this summer!
Matthew Crowe is Menomonie’s mayor; he may be contacted at City Hall 715-232-2369 or via his Facebook page
Source: City of Menomonie Facebook page
Moose Lodge Chicken Dinner Holds Monthly Benefit Saturday June 27
Come enjoy a delicious chicken dinner on Saturday, June 27 and support a local charity - this month for Christ Lutheran Church. Dinner is served 5-7pm with doors opening at 4:30pm.
A huge thank you to the Moose Lodge for hosting the benefit in May for our Menomonie News Net! What a generous organization to do these benefits for local nonprofits. And the charcoal chicken dinner is wonderful.
Source: Menomonie Moose Lodge Facebook page
July 4th Wakanda Park Celebration Update
The countdown is on, Menomonie!
This year's 250th 4th of July Celebration at Wakanda Park is shaping up to be one of the biggest community events we've seen in years. From live music and food vendors to baseball, pickleball, disc golf, kids activities, bounce houses, the famous pudding feed, and a fireworks show at dusk, there will be something happening all day long.
We're looking for volunteers to help make this celebration a success. Whether you can give 2 hours, 4 hours, or more, every helping hand makes a difference.
This event belongs to the community, and we're excited to see what we can accomplish together. Invite your friends and help us spread the word.
For more information: (715) 235-8393 or email [email protected]
Source: July 4th Facebook event page
American Legion Night at the Ballpark
Facebook post
Join Us for Legion Night at the Ballpark
On Tuesday, June 30, Hosford-Chase American Legion Post 32 and Menomonie American Legion Baseball invite the community to Wakanda Park for the First Annual Legion Night at the Ballpark.
This special evening brings together veterans, families, first responders, baseball fans, and community members to celebrate the values that American Legion Baseball has promoted for 100 years—leadership, citizenship, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
The evening will include pregame ceremonies before both games, recognition of veterans and public safety personnel, and an opportunity to cheer on the young athletes who proudly represent our community and the American Legion name.
Game Schedule
17U vs. Prescott – 5:00 PM
19U vs. Prescott – 7:00 PM
Whether you’re a baseball fan, a supporter of our veterans, or simply looking for a great summer evening at the ballpark, we hope you’ll join us.
Come celebrate community, service, and hometown baseball.
Source: American Legion Hosford-Chase Post 32 Facebook page
Mabel Tainter Restoration Project Underway
Facebook photo
Our most recent restoration project is underway!
If you've been inside The Mabel Tainter, you’ve probably recognized the gorgeous memorial stained glass windows for Mabel, Andrew, and Bertha Tainter. With time, they have started to bow and take on some expected wear, so it was time to get them back in tip-top shape.
Conrad Schmitt Studios (coincidentally, also founded in 1889) stopped by earlier this week to carefully remove the stained glass windows to be completely taken apart, cleaned and restored, and then put back together by about December 2026.
It's always a neat experience to learn about how our historic building was constructed originally, but it is also interesting to learn that what we are doing today to preserve that artistry will also maintaining its functionality.
As you can imagine, this is not a cheap project to take on, estimated at a cost of $112,000. Thankfully, we've received a grant from Royal Credit Union Foundation covering $55,000 of the cost, and another grant from City of Menomonie covering $12,000! We're so grateful for their help in preserving The Mabel Tainter's history!
We still have about $45,000 of this project to fund. If you're interested in donating toward our goal, check out https://ci.ovationtix.com/32695/store/donations/18095
Source: Mabel Tainter Facebook page
City Holds Grand Reopening of Wakanda Courts & Cages
Grand reopening of the Menomonie Park courts and batting cages was held on June 19 at Wakanda Park. Here Mayor Matthew Crowe and Public Works Director David Schofield address the crowd. Facebook photo
MHS Grads - Tricia Foxwell - Class of 1993
By Judy Foust
This interview turned out to be a reunion of sorts. Tricia Foxwell was not only a former student of mine but also one of my daughter’s dearest friends from East Elementary School, through junior high and high school.
I enjoyed hearing Tricia reminisce about the classes and teachers she most admired. Band played a major role in her high school experiences, and two band teachers were responsible for her for her love of instrumental music—James Borgaro and Miles Mortenson. Both educators encouraged her to continually improve as an alto saxophonist, and she took their words to heart. Proof of that was when Tricia won the John Phillip Sousa Award her senior year and earned the position of first chair. At one point Tricia considered becoming a band teacher.
Tricia also remembers “hanging out with band and theater kids” in plays and musicals, especially “South Pacific,” and “Grease.” Artist-in-Residence Stuart Stolz also worked with the drama students on his play “The Place We Call Home” (about the founding of Menomonie).
I asked Tricia if she had any jobs while in school. She worked every Saturday for Mike Phillips at WMNE-AM radio on his “Action Auction” program. If any of you readers are long-time Menomonie residents, you might be familiar with that popular program. Her jobs were to announce items that were sold out and to banter with the on-air personalities. Tricia also worked for several years at the Wilson Place Museum where much-respected educator Ellwyn Hendrickson trained her as a tour guide.
Growing up, Tricia often helped her father Allan (who now resides in Amery) work on cars during the summer. Here is where she gained comfort in technical settings. This became a foundation for her technology career after college. Tricia continues to be knowledgeable about cars and has added home improvements/repairs to her list of skills.
High school photo
After graduation Tricia realized that she wanted to stay close to home so enrolled at UW-Stout. Her parents urged her to consider technology where there were an ever-growing number of jobs where she could contribute in female technical environments. And that’s exactly what she did! Tricia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Telecommunications.
Her first job in that field was at Fortis IT, working on Systems Development. In 2000, Tricia worked on the Y2K project. Since 2003, she has been an IT auditor, focused on cybersecurity and technology risk.
Tricia has stayed in that field as it developed and grew. She is now an IT Audit Manager at Securian Financial in St. Paul, working in IT Technology Risks. To this day, Tricia credits MHS for giving her the creative thinking skills she uses on a daily basis.
Tricia has two boys that she is immensely proud of: Evan, a 20-year-old Junior at UW-Stout and William, 17, a senior at Hudson High School. Both boys are in track events; Evan is a Sprinter and William is a pole vaulter. Tricia lives in Hudson, a community she describes as a “quiet place to relax.”
Current photo
As always, my final question was “What do you feel are some of the qualities that made growing up in Menomonie special to you?” Tricia replied that it was “a close-knit community of down-to-earth people.” She especially likes the fact that Menomonie’s citizens are not boastful, but rather live modestly at a relaxed pace. Tricia noted that she still appreciates living a calm, quiet, peaceful life. She also remembers the city as a community with a love for the arts, something that was fostered in her time there. Her mother Sue continues to live in Menomonie, and Tricia attends the First Congregational United Church of Christ here, maintaining her strong roots to our city.
Tricia Foxwell—another fine representative of the city of Menomonie—enjoys maintaining close ties to her hometown community.
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: Jun 24 - Jul 1
Staff Photo
City of Menomonie
No scheduled meetings
Click HERE for full calendar.
School District of Menomonie
Mon Jun 29 School Board Meeting, 5:45pm,
Click HERE for full calendar additional details
Dunn County
Thur Jun 25 Health & Human Services Committee, 6pm AGENDA
Tues Jun 30 Committee on Administration, 4:30pm
Wed Jul 1 CJCC Executive & Operations Committees, 11am
Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting
Menomonie Events at a Glance Jun 24 - Jul 1
Photo: Debra Bell
Wed Jun 24 Farmers Market, 10am - 4pm, Wilson Park; Murals in Menomonie begins, 7:30pm, Wilson Park
Thur Jun 25 Murals in Menomonie, all day, Wilson Park; Art & Craft Market, 10am - 6pm, Downtown Menomonie; Music Over Menomin (Songa String Band) 7pm, at WILSON PARK; Bingo, 7pm, Moose Lodge
Fri Jun 26 Murals in Menomonie, all day, Wilson Park; Art & Craft Market, 10am - 6pm, Downtown Menomonie; Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Celebration, various times, 101 Wilson Ct; Friday Night Races, 7pm, Red Cedar Speedway
Sat Jun 27 Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm, Wilson Park; Murals in Menomonie, all day, Wilson Park; Art & Craft Market, 10am - 6pm, Downtown Menomonie; Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Celebration, various times, 101 Wilson Ct; Menomonie Pride in our Community, 1-4pm, Shirley Doane Sr Center; Charcoal Chicken Dinner to Benefit Christ Lutheran, 5-7pm, Menomonie Moose Lodge
Sun Jun 28 Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Celebration, various times, 101 Wilson Ct
Mon Jun 29 Yoga on the Library Lawn, 9am, Menomonie Public Library
Tue Jun 30 Line Dancing, 5:30 - 8pm, Euchre, 7-9pm, Moose Lodge; Ludington Band Concert, 7:30pm, Wilson Park; American Legion Night at the Ballpark, 5pm, Wakanda Park
Wed Jul 1 Farmers Market, 10am - 4pm, Wilson Park
Menomonie Collegians
Mustang Alumni Shine During 2026 College Track Season
Menomonie’s David Brown, a junior at Anderson University, clears the pole vault bar at a recent meet. Photo: Anderson University
By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor
Several former Menomonie High School standouts continued to make their mark during the 2026 collegiate outdoor track and field season, earning all-region honors, setting school records and posting personal-best performances across the country. Here's a look at how several local athletes fared this spring.
David Brown, Junior, Anderson University
David Brown was named to the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field All-Region Team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Brown placed second in the decathlon at the South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Championships, scoring 5,802 points while recording personal bests in the 100-meter dash (11.48), 110-meter hurdles (16.34) and 1,500-meter run (5:11.20). He also placed sixth in the pole vault at the conference meet, clearing 13 feet, 9.25 inches.
Earlier in the season, Brown won the decathlon at the Electric City Invitational, April 3-4 in Anderson, S.C., with a personal-best score of 5,947 points. Throughout the outdoor season, Brown recorded personal bests in eight events: the decathlon, 400 meters, high jump, discus, javelin, 100 meters, 110-meter hurdles and 1,500 meters. During the indoor season, Brown set Anderson's school record in the heptathlon with 4,633 points.
Nolan Bien, Freshman, Minnesota Duluth
Nolan Bien set a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles preliminaries at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outdoor Championships, May 8 in Duluth, Minn. Bien clocked a time of 53.96 seconds to advance to the finals, where he finished seventh the following day in 57.38.
Bien also placed 11th in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.19 seconds at the conference meet. Earlier in the season, he set a personal best of 14.87 in the 110-meter hurdles at the Gary Wilson Invitational on April 22 in Minneapolis.
Josh Boyette, Junior, UW-Stout Polytechnic
Josh Boyette competed in the pole vault during the outdoor season. Boyette recorded a season-best clearance of 13-11.25 on April 3 at UW-La Crosse. After competing in multi-events during his first two collegiate seasons, Boyette focused exclusively on the pole vault this spring.
Peter Cimino, Freshman, UW-Stout Polytechnic
Peter Cimino made his collegiate track debut during the outdoor season, competing in the 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Cimino recorded a career-best time of 4:17.49 in the 1,500 meters at the UW-Platteville Invitational on April 11. He competed in three steeplechase races and set a personal best of 10:04.0 at the WIAC Outdoor Championships in La Crosse on May 2, placing 20th.
Kieran Bignell, Freshman, UW-Superior
Kieran Bignell competed in six outdoor meets for the Yellowjackets this season. At the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Championships on May 1, Bignell competed in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. He set a collegiate best of 24.56 in the 200 meters, placing 23rd, and finished 17th in the 400 meters in 56.77.
Earlier in the season, Bignell posted two personal bests at the Dan Conway Classic on April 25 at UW-Superior. He ran 55.94 in the 400 meters to place fifth and threw the javelin 72-4 to finish sixth. Bignell also recorded a collegiate-best time of 12.30 in the 100 meters at the St. Olaf Manitou Classic on April 11.
Grant Burns, Freshman, Taylor University
An injury kept Grant Burns out of both the cross country and indoor track and field seasons, but the freshman made his collegiate debut March 21 at the Indiana Wesleyan Polar Bear Classic in Bloomington, Ill. Burns competed in the 1,500 meters in four outdoor meets during the season, including the Crossroads League Outdoor Championships, where he finished 31st in 4:32.90. He recorded a collegiate-best time of 4:23.48 in the 1,500 meters at the BSU We Fly Challenge on April 11.
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].
The column “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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