Welcome to Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 4. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.

Happy Anniversary! On behalf of Menomonie News Net (MNN), we invite you to join us in celebrating our first year of operation! We encourage you to continue reading and supporting our work as we enter another year of service to the Menomonie community. Our Mission The primary goal of MNN is to consistently create and share news and information about Menomonie. We are dedicated to strengthening the bonds within our community and engaging our readers through accurate and timely reporting. Your Support Matters Your financial support plays a vital role in enabling us to produce content that is well-sourced, factual, up to date, and unbiased. Our listings of local activities, public meetings, and school news are compiled by volunteers who dedicate many hours, ensuring that you stay informed and that MNN remains a free resource for everyone. Season of Giving As we enter this season of giving, we hope you will consider contributing to our news service. Your donations help us cover ongoing expenses, including technology and operational costs, allowing us to continue providing quality news coverage. Thank You for Your Engagement We are here for you and sincerely thank you for your continued readership, your suggestions for topics to cover, and your financial contributions. Your involvement makes MNN possible.

How to Contribute Please remit your tax-deductible gift to Menomonie News Net Online Here via the Community Foundation, OR mail a check to: MNN, P.O. Box 63, Menomonie. Options include one time, recurring donations, in memory of, in honor of.

Holiday wishes from all of us at Menomonie News Net

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…

• Winter Daze Parade

• Amazon ‘Last Mile Delivery Station’ to be Built in Menomonie

• Meet ALICE

• Food Drive will Benefit Stepping Stones

• UW-Stout Students Collaborate in Community Project for The Neighbors

• Kids Call-In to Talk to Santa Dec 16

• Spring Election Info

• Lion’s Club Spirit of Christmas Collection

• The Journal Speaks Back: The Penny Box

• MHS Students: Where are They Now? Jason O’Dea aka Jason Dae West

• Public Meetings Dec 10-17

• Menomonie Events at a Glance Dec 10-17

• MHS Extracurricular Activities

• Menomonie Collegians: Cross Country - Jacobsen, Hoff, Cimino, Burns

Winter Daze Holiday Parade Thurs Dec 11

Tropical Tides Meet Winter Vibes

Celebrate the holiday season with Downtown Menomonie!

Theme: Tropical Tides Meet Winter Vibes

Thursday, December 11: 4-8 pm

Enjoy hay wagon rides, get your photo taken with Santa, grab a meal at one of the downtown restaurants, sip Swiss Miss hot cocoa, and watch the annual holiday parade go down Main Street.

Schedule of Events:

• 4:00-6:00pm - Wagon Rides, Photos with Santa & Reindeer, Drop off Letters to Santa, Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, Food Trucks, Photo Booths, Short Holiday Films at Harvey Theater

• 6:30pm - Parade Begins

• ~8:00pm - Fireworks Begin After Parade

Parking:

• Park & Ride Shuttle: Park at Menomonie Public Library and take the shuttle downtown. Shuttle will run continuously between the library and downtown from 4-8:30pm.

• City Public Parking Lots: View HERE.

Parade Route:

Source: Facebook page

Amazon Last Mile Delivery Station to be Built in Menomonie

MENOMONIE - The City of Menomonie has closed on the sale of 29 acres in the North Industrial Park to Amazon.com Services, LLC for the construction of a Last Mile Delivery Station at 3521 59th Street NE, Menomonie.

The North Industrial Park was developed by the City of Menomonie in 2007 and is currently home to Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Hurlburt Heating and Plumbing, EXA Sports, Trelleborg, Brown Strauss Steel and others.

The Common Council approved a Purchase and Sale Agreement with SPA Properties, LLC on January 21, 2025 and a Certified Survey Map in September. SPA Properties, LLC assigned their interest to Amazon.com Services, LLC shortly before closing.

Amazon has indicated that they intend to start construction on the Last Mile Delivery Station in the near future and start delivering packages from it by the end of 2026.

“We appreciate and welcome Amazon’s investment in the City of Menomonie.” – Mayor Randy Knaack

For City of Menomonie related inquiries, please contact [email protected].

For Amazon related inquiries, please contact [email protected]

Source: News Release, 12.8.25

Meet ALICE

By John Wilkerson

Many households in Dunn County are working, contributing and participating in the civic life of Menomonie and neighboring towns, yet a significant portion remain unable to keep up with the rising cost of basic living.

ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, describes the workers and families who live above the federal poverty line yet still fall short of the income needed to cover basic living costs. For them, an unforeseen car repair, a medical bill or a gap in childcare coverage can force impossible trade-offs between paying rent or groceries or skipping a doctor’s visit. These survival budgets reflect only the minimum needed to get by. They do not include savings, debt payments, retirement contributions or financial cushions for emergencies.

A new report from United Way for ALICE shows that 37 percent of Dunn County households, 6,382 out of 17,369, fall below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they earn more than the federal poverty level but still cannot afford the minimum required to cover housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, taxes and other essentials.

The ALICE threshold is not based on national averages but is specific to the state and county. For instance, the United Way for ALICE data for 2023 estimates that a single adult in Dunn County needs roughly $2,294 per month, about $27,528 per year, to meet minimum basic needs. For a two-adult family with one infant and one preschooler, the survival threshold jumps to $6,199 per month or approximately $74,388 a year.

Those thresholds stand in contrast to what many local jobs offer. Even though Dunn County’s median household income is $71,785, that figure masks the fact that large segments of households, especially families with children, single adults or those living in Menomonie struggle to keep pace.

“What brings about this change in family wealth or economics that places the City in this position?” Steve McCarthy, executive director of the United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys poses this question.

“Zip codes matter, as you’ve observed. For the City of Menomonie, college students, in part, skew the percentage. The Town of Menomonie is where the newer more expensive housing is, versus older and less expensive.”

Local nonprofits are often the front line in helping families stay afloat, according to McCarthy. “There are several resources and organizations in Menomonie that help ALICE [households]. Stepping Stones is an obvious one, but other organizations, Boys and Girls Club (that operates out of River Heights Elementary), The Bridge to Hope, West CAP, the county’s Human Services and Health Department, help primarily ALICE [households].”

Community groups, employers and faith organizations also play a critical role. Donations to local United Way chapters are one of the most effective ways to support ALICE-level households. Volunteers are needed at food pantries, family resource centers and early childhood programs. Employers can partner on workplace giving or flexible work initiatives that help workers cover childcare or transportation expenses.

McCarthy adds, “People in need often call 211, which is United Way’s free information and referral services that connect people with resources that are local to them.

For residents facing hardship, the 211 Helpline serves as a gateway to housing support, food assistance, utilities help, transportation aid, childcare referrals and more. These services are supported by a network of nonprofits, schools, local agencies and community volunteers.

The most common need is housing or affordable housing, but other needs include transportation, and utility assistance, mental health or substance abuse help. United Way’s diaper bank program helps those in financial need, too.”

To access the 211 Helpline: Dial 211 from any phone. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or visit www.211.org to connect with local resources.

The stark numbers from Dunn County challenge common assumptions about who struggles financially. Having a job, even a full-time job, no longer guarantees financial stability. For many families and individuals in our county, making ends meet is an ongoing struggle.

Understanding the ALICE framework helps neighbors, civic leaders and everyday residents see where needs are highest and where community efforts can make a measurable difference.

For more information: United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys ALICE in Dunn County

John Wilkerson is a Menomonie resident. He may be contacted at [email protected]

UW-Stout Students Collaborate in Community Project for The Neighbors

Construction, interior design, technology education majors build garden products for residents

MENOMONIE – In a cross-disciplinary collaboration, four groups of students in Lecturer James Bunkelman’s Light Construction Methods class are designing and building two raised garden beds, one raised tool bench and one raised tool holder for a senior living home.

The project is part of a service-learning activity, as their final products will be delivered to The Neighbors of Dunn County for the residents to use and enjoy in their garden.

The project was launched last summer during a new STEAM camp for high school students. The Blueprint for Success: Construction Career Camp, led by Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin, blended practical construction skills with community engagement, thanks to a partnership with Junior Achievement and The Neighbors.

The high school students built prototypes of the garden beds and benches after meeting with The Neighbors residents to learn about their needs, laying the groundwork for the UW-Stout students’ projects.

When Bunkelman’s university students took the project on, “I told them to have fun. I told them what they were to build, but not how to do it. They have free rein in their research, designs and building processes.”

A group of four students is completing an ADA-compliant raised tool bench, built with treated two-by-four pine boards and capable of holding 200 pounds, they estimate.

The cross-disciplinary team is:

• Madelyn Pretzer, interior design, of Rochester, MN

• Erika Rivolta, interior design, of Comerio, Italy

• Tanner Schauf, technology education, of Sparta, WI

• Brandy Wolf, construction management, of Le Sueur, MN

Wolf enjoys smaller-scale construction projects and has experience in the building process. “Applying the skills we’ve learned in class to turn our design into reality for a client is very fulfilling,” she said.

The team believes it’s extremely important to know a client’s wants or needs before beginning a design. They designed the tool bench to be ADA compliant, considering the needs of The Neighbors residents. The height is designed so that a person in a wheelchair may sit at the bench comfortably.

“We’re all bringing our own skills into the project,” Pretzer said. “Erika and I have design experience. Next semester, we have a Residential and Senior Living class. This project gives us an early perspective on senior living needs and their possible preferences.”

As a future teacher, Schauf believes collaboration and community involvement are essential. “For teachers, there’s an expectation to be a pillar in the community,” he said. “I hope to connect my classroom with the programs like this at Stout through similar projects that bridge the gap between technology education and field experiences.”

Social responsibility is a fundamental component of the Stout Core curriculum, a series of foundational classes that enhance students’ applied learning while building the soft skills in high demand by employers.

UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

For more information contact Abbey Goers, UW Stout Marketing Communications, 715-232-2565

Kids Call-In to Talk to Santa Dec 16

Menomonie Lions Club will have a float in the Winter Daze Parade this week and members will be handing out flyers to parents with information as below:

Several Menomonie Lions members will be taking calls at Keyes Chevrolet in Menomonie on Dec 16th.

Source: Submitted

Spring Election Information

Spring elections are fast approaching. Primary elections as needed will be held Tues, Feb 17. Regular election will be held Tuesday, April 7.

Election information is available from the Dunn County Clerk’s office located in the Government Center, 1st Floor.

For online information:

• Dunn County on filing for office, including nomination papers can be found HERE. 

• School Board election info can be found HERE.

• City of Menomonie election information can be found HERE.

Nomination papers are due to the filing office by Tuesday, January 6.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission website which contains additional information on local candidates running for office can be found HERE.

Contact: Dunn County Clerk’s Office (715) 232-1677 cco@dunncountywi.gov

Menomonie News Net will continue to provide information and updates on the upcoming elections.

The Penny Box

By John Wilkerson

Editor’s Note: This is another installment in our series “The Journal Speaks Back” wherein Menomonie resident John Wilkerson invites you to join him in his love for journaling.

I have a stone box my mother gave me. The alabaster shifts between billowed white and soft green. Its top is pierced and carved with a lattice. Brass hinges bind the lid. To grasp the box in my hands is to feel its crisp edges mark my skin. The box has never rested with ease within my grip. It is the best present I have ever received.

The box held pennies.

Three hundred sixty five pennies.

For a year, my mother rose at dawn and prayed for me, and when she did, she placed a penny inside the box.

Her invisible dedication of meaning was bestowed into a small, quiet object.

One penny, one prayer, one thought.

I received the gift for Christmas along with a note that told me of her love and about the pennies, her morning ritual, her faith.

A penny is nothing. A year is everything.

I have always thought that objects could, maybe if we truly believed, hold a person's magic or their presence.

My mother’s magic lives with the box, as does her faith and my memory of her.

That is the secret, isn’t it? The objects are not sacred. The memories they hold are.

Show, Don’t Tell for Journal Writing

The above article about the box uses sensory detail and lived moments to let meaning emerge on its own, which is a core journaling skill. By describing the feel of the alabaster box and the simple ritual of placing each penny, the piece shows the emotion instead of naming it.

The reflection leans on memory and imagery to carry the weight of the story. Journaling becomes more powerful when the writer lets objects, gestures, and small details speak for themselves.

Today's Prompt

Write about an object that carries emotion for you. Describe it through its details, its history, and the memories it holds. Let the meaning reveal itself through what you notice.

John Wilkerson works most days writing and fiddling with his computer. His new, old, home in Menomonie is constantly subjected to DIY mayhem. His background includes ghost writing, newspaper reporting, and a stretch in marketing and advertising. John may be contacted at: [email protected]

Jason O’Dea - aka Jason Dea West

By Judy Foust

Dear Readers,

You may notice this week’s column title has a slightly different wording. That’s because our MHS Student has chosen a unique path through life. I love showing all the ways that Menomonie kids travel to reach their goals. Here is a remarkable “Tom Sawyer” type of adventure. Only this one is true! Enjoy…

I first met Jason O’Dea as one of my seventh grade reading students. He was the size of an average seventh grade boy, with sandy-blonde hair as well as a nose and cheeks lightly peppered with freckles.

Jason was a quiet respectful boy who rarely spoke in class. In fact, he often didn’t seem to have an interest in following along with what we were doing.

I asked Jason to offer some positive reflections on his school years…but will let him share the details in his own words:

“To be completely honest, I don’t remember anything significantly positive about my time in the Menomonie School System. After raising my own kid—Theo, 13—in alternative schooling, i.e. the Waldorf method (first used in Germany—Waldorf schools follow the idea of stories, music, and art being preferred over academic studies in the earliest stages of education. This method advises schools to wait to introduce core academics to older students) and charter schools, I’ve come to the realization/opinion that the more strictly-structured style of the Midwest public schools was not equipped for me. Nor was I equipped for it.”

“As I entered eighth grade and moved on to high school, mostly I was in trouble and felt misunderstood. Judy asked me to try to produce some positive feedback, but I have lived many lifetimes since dropping out of high school in ninth grade to pursue my dream of writing and performing music as well as forging meaningful connections beyond the environment that I was brought up in. I would be reaching way back in my memory bank. I will say, however, that after years of travel, I’ve come to really cherish Menomonie and north/northwest Wisconsin in general.”

Jason’s account motivated me to learn what his life has been like since he left his formal schooling. Here is an abbreviated account (once more in his own words):

• I ran away when I was seventeen and started hitchhiking, hopping freight trains all around the United States. I spent many years as a street performer playing steel guitar and banjo on the streets of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and San Francisco.

• During these years I developed a keen understanding and appreciation for American folk music and made them my own.

• In my early twenties, I ‘took my chops’ to the stage. By the age of 22, I was constantly on tour—playing small coffee houses, barn dances, dive bars and the vaudeville circuits from coast to coast—averaging over 100 shows a year.

• At the age of 23 I became a father. My partner and I chose southern Oregon as our professional base and a healthy place to raise our son Theo— (now) 13. We stayed there for 10 years and traveled as a family band (including a nanny), often managing 200 hundred shows per year with the band ‘Intuitive Compass.’

• I’ve been working on an autobiographical style novel since 2018.

• We now live in Bisbee, AZ (just 8 miles north of Mexico).

• I’ve ‘graduated’ to playing larger venues (300-500 people).

When Jason last performed at the Mabel Tainter on September 5, 2025, the billing described him as “an American poet, songwriter and troubadour (folk, country, western, traditional, and alternative) who sings what he lives and lives what he sings. Jason is a poet known for his poignant lyrics that blend brilliantly with vintage country folk and blues music. His timely sensibilities bring relevance to anyone who hears and sees him perform.”

 https://jasondeawest.com (website)

Jason still has relatives in Dunn County and cherishes them, their historic farmland and his Dunn County roots. The next time he comes back, he plans to spend more time learning about the land that has been in his family for generations.

Jason…I am unbelievably proud to share your story! You are an inspiration to those students who pass through our halls without ever finding their niche. Your determination, creativity, and work ethic have made you a “former MHS student” that your hometown can be proud of.

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: Dec 10-17

City of Menomonie

Mon Dec 15 City Council Meeting

Click HERE for full calendar

School District of Menomonie

No Scheduled Meetings

No School Dec 20 - Jan 4

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed Dec 10   Crime Prevention Funding Board Meeting, Noon, Judicial Ctr #1402

Thur Dec 11 Local Emergency Planning Committee, 9am

Mon Dec 15 Board of Adjustment, 10:30am

Tues Dec 16 Water & Natural Resources Focus Groups, 10am & 4pm

Wed Dec 17 Planning, Resource & Development Committee, 8:30am; Health & Human Services Committee, 6pm

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance: Dec 10-17

Wed Dec 10 Library Book Sale, 9am-6pm; Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, 11am-5pm, Stout Craft Co

Thur Dec 11 Winter Daze Parade & Events, 4-8pm, Downtown

Fri Dec 12 Red Cross Blood Drive, 9am-3pm, Grace Episcopal Church

Sat Dec 13 Kyote’s Cookie & Craft Fair, 8am - 2pm, Kyote’s Den; St. Joe’s Cookie Walk, 11am - 1pm, St. Joseph Catholic; Wakanda Wonderland, 1-7pm, Rassbach Museum

Sun Dec 14 TubaChristmas, 3pm, St. Joseph Church

Mon Dec 15 Artful Expressions Free Event for Caregivers, 10:30am, Senior Center; Chamber Business After Hours, 5pm, Tanglewood Greens

Tue Dec 16 Kids Santa Call-In, 6:30-8:00pm; Joyful Noise Singalong, 6pm, Menomonie United Methodist Church

Wed Dec 17 Protect Yourself Against Scams, 1pm, Public Library

MHS Extracurricular Activities

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

By MNN Staff

Friday Dec 5

The Mustangs Wrestling Team battled hard last night against a tough Marshfield Tigers squad, ultimately falling 41–23 — but the story doesn’t end there. Despite giving up multiple forfeits, our wrestlers showed serious heart and delivered some massive individual performances: Aaron Howard took down the #10-ranked opponent in his weight class; Jacob Anderson pulled off a huge upset over the #3-ranked wrestler; Aidan Aure dominated with a technical fall; Kenny Heim secured a win with a pin; and freshman Calin Howard battled tough in a hard-fought match against the #3-ranked opponent. All of your Mustangs showed grit, fire, and pride on the mat. Don’t miss the action next week. Come pack the stands as your Mustangs Wrestling Team takes on Hudson next Thursday

Menomonie Gymnastics had a great meet last night at the Beauty and the Beast Competition. The gymnasts brought it to the table and beat Grantsburg and Bloomer/Colfax. Great job, Mustangs — a great start to the season! Our next home meet is December 16 against Eau Claire Memorial and Hudson, and it will be Pink Night/Parent Night.

Last night the Boys Swim Team competed in their first dual meet against the Superior Spartans. Menomonie started off their season strong with the team of Thomas Seim, Luke Ray, Ryan Rood, and William McKnight taking home first place in both the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Freestyle Relay. Seim also finished first in the 100 Butterfly while Rood finished first in both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle.

Menomonie Collegians

College Cross Country Season Comes to an End

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

Menomonie's Bella Jacobsen put together a steady and impactful red-shirt junior season for the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s cross country team. She opened the fall with a 26th-place finish at the Mizzou Opener on Aug. 29, clocking 18:14.8 over 5 kilometers, before capturing her first collegiate win at the Badger Classic on Sept. 19, running 21:45.9 on the 6K Zimmer Championship Course.

Jacobsen continued to build momentum with an 88th-place finish at the highly competitive Nuttycombe Invitational on Oct. 17, where she posted a season-best 6K time of 21:02.9. At the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 31, she placed 104th in 22:02.5 as the Badgers finished sixth as a team.

Wisconsin advanced to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14 and ultimately earned a spot at the NCAA Division I Championships. In the national meet, Jacobsen was the Badgers’ fourth scorer, covering the 6-kilometer course in 20:19.8 to finish 161st and help Wisconsin place 26th overall.

Brooklyn Hoff was UW-Stevens Point's top finisher at the 2025 WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship, finishing 25th in a time of a personal-best 22:24.04 in the 6-kilometer run at Oshkosh, Nov. 1. Hoff, a sophomore, improved from 43rd place finish at the 2024 championship during her freshman season. The Pointers placed fifth as a team, their best finish since 2021. Earlier in the season, Hoff had set a collegiate-best of 22:53.4 while placing 10th when the Pointers won the UW-Oshkosh Titan Fall Classic.

UW-Stout freshman Peter Cimino made steady strides throughout his first collegiate cross country season, highlighted by a breakout performance at the WIAC Championships. Cimino placed 90th at the conference meet, cutting nearly a full minute off his previous best with a personal-record time of 26:41.51 in the 8K. Earlier in the year, he ran 27:44.2 at the UW–Eau Claire Blugold Invitational, where he finished 158th in a field of 334 runners. His late-season surge contributed to the Blue Devils’ eighth-place team finish at the WIAC meet.

Grant Burns is a member of the Taylor University men’s cross country team and the Trojans finished fifth at the NAIA Men’s Cross Country Championships, Nov. 22. The team finished second at the Crossroad League Championship, Nov.7.  A foot injury has kept Burns out of competition this season.

“I spent the second half of the season cross training mainly on the bike,” Burns said. “I lifted a lot of upper body with some physical therapy for my legs sprinkled in. Starting in late October through early November I have been able to begin doing more legs lifts. Currently, I am on a return-to-run protocol which is a mix of walk and run. If that goes smoothly I will be running 90 minutes per week continuously in three weeks. I will build up mileage from there.”

Burns hopes to return to competition for the track season and seeing his team run at nationals provided motivation.

“One of the things I’m most excited for when I get back from injury is to be able to run with my team,” Burns said. “Going to watch Nationals and seeing the Taylor women win, the men place fifth and the program win a combined national title was an amazing experience. It is going to be great motivation for the coming training block.”

Layne Pitt retired as the longest serving sports information director at UW-Stout 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 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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