Menomonie News Net

Feb 26, 2025, Issue 15

February 26, 2025

You’re reading Issue 15 of Menomonie News Net. If you’ve missed past issues or want to search for a specific article click here.

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News for the community, by the community…

Editors: Layne Pitt & Becky Kneer; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz

In this Issue…

February Youth Optimist of the Month

Menomonie’s Spencer Kelsey receives award

Spencer Kelsey is a senior at Menomonie High School. Photo: Optimist Club

By David K. Williams

The Menomonie Optimist Club honored Spencer Kelsey of Menomonie High School as the February Youth of the Month. Optimists have recognized outstanding students from Dunn County’s four high schools for over 30 years.

Spencer Kelsey, the son of Daniel and Alena Kelsey. serves as the senior class president at Menomonie High School. He is a member of the student council and the LINK crew, helping new students transition to the high school. Spencer is pursuing a Global Education Awareness Certificate in addition to his high school degree. He has been a soccer team member and is a pole vaulter on the track team. He was chair of the Prom Committee and Homecoming king. This spring he will be a part of the school musical. 

Spencer is described by teachers as one of the kindest students they know and someone who leads through his actions. Spencer is an active youth leader at his church. Following graduation, Spencer plans to do mission work for two years and will then head for university work, most likely in a medical field.

Menomonie Optimists serve the youth of Dunn County in other ways, such as including them in various work projects with the DNR at Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area.  Optimists have also provided a dictionary to every third grade student in Dunn County, and host the Menomin Meander, a family-friendly and free bike ride around the Lake Menomin Loop.

David Williams is a Menomonie resident and retired UW-Stout administrator.

Feb 28 Candlelight Ski Cancelled

Source: Friends of the Red Cedar State Trail Facebook page

Election Update

Candidate forum for Menomonie School Board on March 12

The LWV-GCV (League of Women Voters of the Greater Chippewa Valley), the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce, and Eye On Dunn County will sponsor a candidate forum for the Menomonie School Board on March 12 at 7 p.m.

The event will take place at the Menomonie High School Auditorium, 1715 5th St W.

There are three open positions, each for a three-year term ending in April 2028. Five candidates have registered to run for these positions:

 - Josie Pillman
 - Joyce Uhlir
 - Abe Smith (i)
 - Rachel Henderson (i)
 - Dominique Stewart (i)
(i = current incumbent)

Ellen B. Ochs, President LWV-GCV, will moderate the forum. 

If you are unable to attend the event will be live-streamed on Eye on Dunn County (media sponsor) and on the LWV-GCV and Eye on Dunn County Facebook pages.

Annual Red Cedar Watershed Conference March 13

MENOMONIE – Registration is open for the 13th Annual Red Cedar Watershed Conference, held at the UW-Stout Memorial Student Center on March 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The theme is “Your Voice, Your Watershed.”

The conference celebrates land, water and people coming together to explore local water quality issues and this year we want to hear from you!

This year’s event focuses on the small changes that can have a big impact on the water in our communities. We’ll start the day by exploring Systems Thinking as Jeremy Solin helps us learn to think and talk about the problems facing our communities.

We’ll learn about local work being done to support water quality in our region, and we’ll hear progress reports and updates from those projects to see how water quality has changed in the past ten years.

Once we know where we are and where we’ve come from, we’ll explore where we’re going, with breakout visioning sessions designed to inspire attendees and empower them to help improve local water quality. 

Conference attendees will be able to spend time networking with other attendees and explore a variety of exhibit booths from local businesses, conservation agencies and non-profits.

Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and advocates passionate about driving positive change in the Red Cedar Watershed.

Register online at www.uwstout.edu/redcedar

Register early and save – Early Bird registration is $35 per person and ends March 6. Registration increases to $45 per person starting March 7. Students are encouraged to attend and can register for $20 per person.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided as part of the conference registration fee.

More information about the Red Cedar Watershed Conference can be found on the conference website, www.uwstout.edu/redcedar, on Facebook and Instagram.

The event is hosted by the Red Cedar Watershed Conference Committee.

For questions contact Daniel Zerr (conference committee chair) at [email protected] or Megen Hines (environmental program coordinator, City of Menomonie) at [email protected] 

United Way Announces Grant to Angel Fund

Source: United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys (UWSCRCV)

Congratulations to the Menomonie School Nutrition Angel Fund on being named a UW Valleys Dunn/Pepin 2024 Community Impact Grant recipient!

The Menomonie Area School Nutrition Department is dedicated to contributing to a students' health, well-being and ability to learn. Many of their menu options are made from scratch, incorporating local foods - even from school gardens! They feature fresh fruits and/or vegetables, and offer carefully planned menus providing the calories and nutrients necessary for students to be successful during their school day.

More info at uwvalleys.org

Dunn County Manager’s Monthly Update

Click here for Kris Korpela’s monthly short video update on Dunn County.

Source: Dunn County Facebook page.

School Resource Officer Appreciation

Jeff Small and Tyson Kahl recognized

Youth Service Officers Jeff Small and Tyson Kahl

Source: Menomonie Police Department

The Menomonie Police Department would like to recognize Youth Service Officers Investigator Jeff Small and Investigator Tyson Kahl. They work daily to build positive relationships with students and serve as an invaluable resource for both the school and its youth. We appreciate their ongoing dedication to the safety and well-being of our community.

Summer Camp Scholarships for Youth Living with Diabetes

Source: Community Foundation of Dunn County

Living with a diabetes diagnosis is a daily challenge, especially when those with the disease are children. Sitting out at recess due to low blood sugar, having to go to the nurse’s office for insulin and finger pokes, and not eating certain foods or special treats like everyone else are just some of the challenges they face.

Through specialized summer camps, youth with diabetes - up to the age of 19, are given the unique opportunity to meet other kids just like them in a safe and fun environment. These programs are led by trained staff and nurses who help campers gain confidence and independence in managing their diabetes.

Through the Community Foundation of Dunn County, the Cammie B. Johnson (CBJ) Kids to Camp Fund offers camp scholarships for young people who have diabetes to attend a diabetic camp program of their choice. Scholarship awards of up to $850 each are available for youth to attend a summer camp program for 2024. Past Kids to Camp Scholarships have been awarded for area youth to attend camps such as Camp Needlepoint in Hudson, WI, and the Chris Dudley Basketball Camp in Vernonia, OR.

Mark and Robin Johnson, along with their friends and family, established this fund in memory of their daughter, Cammie, who passed away just before her 21st birthday from complications of diabetes. Cammie had spent many summers at Camp Sioux in North Dakota as a child and went on to serve as a camp counselor and mentor for younger children experiencing the difficulties of living with diabetes.

The CBJ Kids to Camp Scholarship application is available on the Community Foundation’s website at cfdunncounty.org/scholarships-cbjkidscamp or upon request by emailing [email protected]. Applications are due to the Community Foundation at least (8) weeks before the scheduled date of the applicant’s chosen camp. Full and partial scholarships are available.

Eligible applicants must live in Dunn County or any adjacent county (Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix). There are no income requirements to apply. Approved scholarship awards will be paid directly to the camp to cover direct camp expenses for the attendee.

Please contact the Community Foundation with questions at (715) 232-8019.

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

By Judy Foust

Two for the price of one!

When I first put out my plea for updates about MHS students, one of my first responders was Bonnie DeHoff. She and her husband Bill wanted to share short updates on both their children —Marianne and John.

Marianne Judith DeHoff Bull (MHS Class of ‘93) lives in Minneapolis. She is a 1997 graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.

Marianne is an ER pediatric nurse at St. Paul Children’s Hospital. She is the mother of 15-year-old twin girls, a fiber artist and an amazing cook.

NOTE: Marianne was an enthusiastic student in my Reading class. In fact, she visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, because she loved The Diary of Anne Frank which we studied in class.

Marianne DeHoff Bull Submitted Photo

John is a graduate of Harvard College, Class of 2000, with a M.A. in East Asian Studies. He is employed in the U.S. Foreign Service. Bonnie noted that some of John’s classes provided a breadth of experience to the wider world and planted the seeds of idealism, curiosity and the value of education.

Along the way, John also learned the importance of treating maintenance workers with respect and engaging with children from different cultures.

Because of John’s position in the foreign service, information about his life is limited to his past education. He is unable to share more details. But Bonnie did send a photo of John and his wife.

John DeHoff & wife Jessica Niles DeHoff Submitted Photo

NOTE: I’ll be having shoulder surgery; thus my keyboarding will have to temporarily be put on hold. But as soon as the doctor gives me permission, my fingers will be flying over the keys once again. Please continue to send me your articles.

Judy Foust is retired from her position as longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. She may be contacted at [email protected].

Schools Present Musical Offerings

Middle School Showcase & High School musical

Photo: MMS Facebook

2nd Annual Menomonie Middle School Music Showcase: Come hear live music performed by MMS students, enjoy a soup dinner, win raffle prizes. Held on Tues March 4, from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. in the Middle School Commons. Dinner is $5 per person or $20 per household. Support these young musicians! Click here to visit the Menomonie Middle School event Facebook page.

Opens this Friday Feb 28 through March 8. MHS Auditorium. Tickets: $5 at the door. Photo: SDMA Facebook

Public Meetings This Week

City of Menomonie

Thur Feb 27 Police & Fire Commission - 9 a.m.

Mon Mar 3 City Council - 7 p.m.

Click HERE for calendar. To receive calendar notices sent to you click HERE.

School District of Menomonie

Click HERE for the calendar with more details.

Dunn County

Wed Feb 26 Facilities Committee Meeting - 5 p.m.

Thur Feb 27 Neighbors of Dunn County - 9 a.m.

 Committee on Administration - 3 p.m.

 Health & Human Services - 6 p.m.

Wed Mar 5 Planning, Resources & Development - 8:30 a.m.

 CJCC, Executive & Operations Committee - 11 a.m.

Click HERE for Calendar, Documents, Recordings & Public Commenting

Menomonie Collegians

MHS Grads Brigs Richartz at St. Thomas, Treysen Witt at UW-Stout

St. Thomas' Brigs Richartz at the plate

Brigs Richartz gets ready for the pitch in a 2024 University of St. Thomas baseball game. Photo: University of St. Thomas

By Layne Pitt

While the groundhog gets a lot of credit for predicting spring, the true harbinger of the spring season is when baseball meets bat. The major league teams are all in spring camps in either the Cactus League or the Grapefruit League with exhibition games now underway. Colleges and universities have, or will soon, get their competitive seasons underway. Menomonie High School graduates Brigs Richartz and Treysen Witt are playing at the college level, with Richartz playing at the University of St. Thomas and Witt staying in Menomonie, pitching for UW-Stout.

Brigs Richartz, a 2021 graduate of Menomonie High School, is a senior outfielder on the University of St. Thomas baseball team, and is coming off a first-team all-Summit League season.

Richartz started for the NCAA Division I Tommies since his freshman year and has now started in all 138 games, predominately in the outfield, since arriving in St. Paul. Richartz earned first team All-Summit League honors last season, a year he led the Tommies with 63 hits and 13 doubles and finished the season with a career-high batting average of .337. Richartz rapped out six home runs, tallied an OPS of .927, drawing 17 walks and 98 total bases.

In addition, Richartz, a business operations and supply chain major, was named to the CSC Academic All-District team as a sophomore and junior.

During his sophomore season, Richartz hit for the cycle - the first time for the Tommies since 1996 - April 7, 2023, at Northern Colorado. Richartz was named a Summit League Peak Performer of the Week for 2023 after a series at New Mexico State University, leading the Tommies by hitting .588 with 10 hits, eight RBI, eight runs, four extra-base hits, and three stolen bases over the week. The performer of the week honors were the second for Richartz who first claimed Summit League player of week honors during his freshman season. 

While at Menomonie High School, Richartz was a Wisconsin honorable mention all-state selection, the District 1 Player of the Year and the Big Rivers Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 2021. Richartz was selected to play in the Wisconsin state high school all-star game in July 2021.

The Tommies got their 2025 season underway by splitting four games at New Mexico State University, Feb. 14-17. The team was scheduled to play at Murray State in Kentucky last weekend, but a snowstorm knocked that series off the schedule. The Tommies are scheduled to head to Texas Feb. 28-March 2 to face host Tarleton State. St. Thomas is scheduled to play the University of Minnesota at US Bank Stadium, Wednesday, March 19. Their home opener is scheduled for March 28-30 when they host Oral Roberts University at Koch Stadium.

Treysen Witt is a sophomore pitcher for the UW-Stout baseball team and is expected to see a good deal of action this season.

Witt last season appeared in eight games, where he started three games, pitching 24 innings while striking out 20 batters, recording a WHIP of 1.42 and held opposing batters to a batting average under .260. Witt pitched five scoreless innings against MCLA on March 14.

A 2023 graduate of Menomonie High School, Witt was a three-year starter and two-time All-Big Rivers Conference selection, earning first team honors as a senior.  In 2023, Witt helped lead the Mustangs to their best baseball season since 2009, sweeping No. 14  River Falls and No. 8 Hudson. Witt also played football at Menomonie, including as a member of the 2021 state quarterfinalists and conference champions.

The Blue Devils get their season underway March 8-9 when they are scheduled to play three games over the two days in Decatur, Ill. UW-Stout will play their first 26 games on the road, either at neutral sites, or as the visiting team. Stout's first home doubleheader is Friday, April 18 when they UW-Platteville. In a return to the past, the Blue Devils are planning to play the majority of their home games at Wakanda Park. Stout is scheduled to play their final 14 games in Menomonie.

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

Menomonie Collegians is a regular feature of Menomonie News Net. The column is not limited to student-athletes, but may be a former MHS 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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