Welcome to Issue 37 of Menomonie News Net. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.

This week we highlight the proposed data center, Kris Korpela’s farewell message, and an update on this publication.

We love comments from readers. A quote from the chairperson of the Menomonie Film Festival: “I want to thank you for running the nice article and all the ads on Menomonie News Net. We will never know how many tickets it helped sell, but I do know it brought us two wonderful volunteers who took care of ticket sales for us on Saturday. Thanks so much.”

MNN recently joined Menomonie Area Chamber and we look forward to future connections/possibilities.

Thanks for being our member subscribers…

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

In this Issue…

• Proposed Data Center

• National Night Out Aug 5

• Kris Korpela Shares Final Message as County Manager

• Menomonie News Net: Update, Thank you & Ask

• The Menomonie Singers Hold Fall Auditions Aug 18-19

• Dunn County Youth Garden Cultivates Growth, Skills & Second Chances

• Red Cross Blood Drives in August

• Summer Fun in Dunn Runs Through August

• MHS Grads: Where are They Now? Jeff & Marie Frawley

• Public Meetings: July 30 - Aug 6

• Menomonie Events at a Glance

• Michels Building Culture, Roster at UW-Stout

Proposed Data Center

MENOMONIE - City of Menomonie (CoM) Common Council recently referred a petition for annexation and rezoning of certain lands along County Highway B - between 650th Avenue and 690th Avenue—from the Town of Red Cedar. This Petition for Direct Annexation by Unanimous Approval was filed by the current property owners. The purpose of the petition is to facilitate the potential development of a data center by Balloonist, LLC.

The proposal is scheduled for discussion by the CoM Plan Commission on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in the Common Council Chambers at Menomonie City Hall, 800 Wilson Avenue. During the meeting, the public is invited to comment on the proposed zoning. The Plan Commission welcomes public input, offering a significant opportunity for residents to share their perspectives. The Commission will vote on a recommendation regarding the zoning, which will be forwarded to the Common Council for further consideration.

The next step in the process will occur at the Common Council meeting scheduled for Monday, August 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., also in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. During this meeting, citizens will again have the opportunity to comment—both during the Public Comments portion of the agenda and during the Public Hearing. The Mayor and Common Council encourage community feedback on matters affecting the City. The Council may take formal action on the proposed annexation and rezoning at that time.

The CoM acknowledges community concerns surrounding the potential data center development. These include the conversion of farmland, water usage, and energy consumption.

According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture for Dunn County:

• There were 260,795 acres of cropland, of which

• 51,998 acres were irrigated

The proposed annexation and rezoning would impact approximately 0.12% of all cropland and 0.31% of irrigated cropland in Dunn County.

Some data centers in the U.S. use evaporative cooling systems, which consume significant quantities of water. However, the potential Balloonist facility is proposing to use a closed-loop cooling system. This system would require an estimated average of 75,000 gallons per day of municipal water and wastewater. Based on current usage, this would make Balloonist the fifth-largest water user in the City, behind Cardinal FG, 3M, ConAgra, and UW-Stout.

Regarding energy use, the City of Menomonie does not operate an electric utility. Balloonist is actively working with Xcel Energy and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to address energy supply and infrastructure.

In conclusion, annexation and rezoning do not guarantee that a data center will be built. Should Balloonist move forward with a development and request funding from the CoM, the public will have additional opportunities to provide input and receive detailed information on how the facility could affect the community environmentally, economically, and culturally.

More information will be shared as it becomes available. The City of Menomonie thanks all residents for their engagement and thoughtful input.

Source: News release from Eric Atkinson, Menomonie City Administrator. You can reach him at 715-232-2221 or [email protected]

National Night Out

Join us for an evening of fun, food, and community spirit! National Night Out is a chance for neighbors to connect with local police, firefighters, and city and county staff — all while enjoying free family-friendly activities.

Event Highlights

• Meet Menomonie’s Police Officers, Firefighters, and EMS teams

• Food vendors and local treats (available for purchase)

• Live music and entertainment

• Kids' activities, games, face painting, bounce houses

• Vehicle tours — check out fire trucks, police cars, and more

• Raffle prizes and giveaways

• Community resource booths

FREE and open to all ages!

For questions, email [email protected].

Kris Korpela’s Final Message as County Board Manager

Preview of July 30 board meeting and a farewell

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

County Manager Kris Korpela previews the Board of Supervisors Meeting to be held Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m..

This is her final update before retiring on August 8. Kris has been employed at Dunn County for 24 years. (Dan Dunbar will be assuming the County Manager duties).

Note: following is a note of Congratulations from staff included at the end of the message:

Source: Dunn County Facebook page.

MNN - Update, Thank You and Ask

We want to thank you, our valued readers, for your support of the Menomonie News Net.

Menomonie News Net is a local news service which directly benefits the Menomonie area through public service journalism: covering city, county, schools, nonprofit & civic organizations, meetings, events, and personal and historical stories.

We rely on the dedication of volunteers, and you can help by sharing their hard work. Please encourage your friends and family to subscribe to this free newsletter. And beyond reading our weekly newsletter, consider volunteering as a writer or providing other help.

Financial contributions are encouraged to ensure our local journalism remains free, reliable, and accessible to everyone.

The Menomonie News Net operates as a fiscally sponsored component fund of the Community Foundation of Dunn County. We are thankful for the $4500 in grants received from the Foundation to help “jump start” this news source.

Having now published for eight months, Menomonie News Net has put together a proposed budget of $50,000, which includes the addition of staff. This requires additional funds beyond grants and current donor contributions.

We invite you to invest in this new journalism allowing citizens to keep up to date and involved in the Menomonie community.

When you remit your donation to the Community Foundation it will be placed in the Menomonie News Net account. Reminder: all donations are tax-deductible.

Click to donate online through the Community Foundation (one time or recurring, optional in honor or memory of). By mail: send a check payable to Menomonie News Net, P.O. Box 63, Menomonie, WI, 54751

Note: Funds received, managed, and disbursed by the Community Foundation-Menomonie News Net operate in accordance with the state of Wisconsin rules and regulations related to 501©3 organizations.

We thank you in advance for your support and contribution to this news organization.

Local News Group - Publisher of Menomonie News Net, [email protected]

The Menomonie Singers Hold Fall Auditions Aug 18-19

Menomonie - Auditioning for a choir is about more than just a performance. It’s a chance to challenge yourself, connect with fellow music enthusiasts, and experience the joy of collective singing. Choirs foster a sense of community, discipline, and artistic fulfillment that few other activities can match. Choral singing is good for you!

The Menomonie Singers will hold auditions for all sections (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) on August 18th and 19th at 6:00 pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 420 Wilson Avenue, Menomonie. 

The Menomonie Singers have been in existence since 1989 and present four regular concerts of choral music per year. Under the leadership of Brian Klein, conductor, the choir will present concerts on November 15 and 16 in Eau Claire and Menomonie.

Participants must be 18 or older or post high school. Previous choir experience is helpful but not necessary.

There is no need to prepare a piece; the audition will include the following:
    - A range check
    - A sight-singing exercise
    - Musicality showcase (singers will be asked to sing one of the following: Silent Night, Happy Birthday, or My Country Tis of Thee.  

Weekly rehearsals for the fall season begin Tuesday, September 2 at the UW-Stout Applied Arts Room 315.

Contact Juliana Schmidt at [email protected], or 715-505-3525, to set up an audition appointment, or for more information.

Website: themenomoniesingers.org Or find us on Facebook

Source: News Release

Dunn County Youth Garden Cultivates Growth, Skills, and Second Chances

Menomonie – A youth garden project has bloomed in Dunn County to offer young people in the Youth Justice Program a chance to grow:  both literally and figuratively. 

The garden was planted this year as part of the Youth Innovations Grant awarded to Dunn County in 2023. It is on the grounds of the Dunn County Government Center, and the produce includes lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, strawberries and watermelon.

Paula Winter, director of Dunn County Human Services, said the project was spearheaded by Jenna Ginter, youth justice social worker, and Clint Olson, program assistant with the Family and Children’s Services Unit. 

“They envisioned a hands-on, therapeutic experience that would engage youth in meaningful, pro-social activities,” Winter said. 

With support from UW-Extension, participants learn about gardening, sustainability and nutrition, said Lori Radcliffe, Family and Children Services manager. The program also includes summer cooking classes, where youth use the produce they’ve grown to prepare healthy meals and build life skills. 

 “The garden is a powerful metaphor,” Radcliffe said. “It shows our youth that with care, patience and effort, something beautiful can grow.” 

The Youth Innovations Grant, which runs through mid-2026, supports creative services for moderate- to high-risk youth in Dunn County. It funds individualized services, including restorative justice programming, gym memberships with group fitness sessions, driver’s education, bi-weekly pro-social groups and mentoring. 

 In addition to the garden, youth recently participated in a volunteer opportunity at the Eau Claire Air Show to help participants build confidence, community ties and a sense of purpose, Winter said. 

The Youth Justice Program in Dunn County provides support and services to youth involved in the justice system, particularly those identified as moderate to high-risk. Through a combination of restorative justice practices, mentoring, skill-building activities and community engagement, the program aims to reduce recidivism and promote individual growth.  

For more information about the Youth Justice Program or the Youth Innovations Grant, please contact the Dunn County Department of Human Services or visit https://www.co.dunn.wi.us. 

Lori Radcliffe, Youth Justice & Family Treatment Court, can be contacted at 715-231-2757 [email protected] 

Red Cross Blood Drives in August

by MNN Staff

Six blood drives are scheduled in Menomonie for the month of August. To view a list and/or make an appointment click here. 

• Wed, Aug 6, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 910 Wilson Ave, 10 am - 4 pm

• Fri, Aug 8, Menomonie Public Library, 600 Wolske Bay Rd, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

• Tues, Aug 12, Christ Lutheran Church, 1306 Wilcox St, 12 pm - 6 pm

• Fri, Aug 15, Menomonie East YMCA, 3019 Schneider Ave SE, 12:30 pm - 5 pm

• Mon, Aug 18, Cedarbrook Church, 3502 Wilson St, 10 am - 4 pm

• Mon, Aug 25, Alliance Church, 502 21st St NE, 10 am - 4 pm

Have you been ineligible to donate blood? A newly approved screening process is now being used based on each individual’s risk factors. You may now be eligible to donate again. Find out more here.

Source: American Red Cross

Summer Fun in Dunn

Send a photo to enter through the end of August and win a prize!

There’s still time to enter Summer Fun In Dunn….

It runs through the end of August. Snap a photo doing one of the activities on the list or choose your own. Click here to upload your photo and be entered in the prize drawing!

Sponsored by Health Dunn Right and Explore Menomonie.

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

Marie Rasmussen Frawley & Jeff Frawley - Class of 2004

By Judy Foust

Public Meetings: Week of July 30 - Aug 6

City of Menomonie

Mon Aug 4 City Council Meeting - 7 pm - Council Chambers

View the July 28 Plan Commission Meeting here. (Steve Hanson, videographer).

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

None Scheduled. Click here to view 7.28.25 School Board Meeting (Steve Hanson, videographer).

Click HERE for full calendar, additional details

Dunn County

Wed July 30 Board of Supervisors - 7 pm

Wed Aug 6 Planning, Resources & Development Committee - 8:30am

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance

Wed Jul 30 - Farmer’s Market - 10am to 4pm - Wilson Park

Thur Jul 31 - Music Over Menomin - 7pm - Wilson Park (Band: MadLee)

Fri Aug 1 - Spongebob Musical - MTG @ Mabel Tainter;

Sat Aug 2 - Farmer’s Market - 8am to 1pm - Wilson Park; Hotcakes for Harvey, (Therapy Dog Program at UW-Stout) 8am-1pm - Kyote’s Den; Spongebob Musical - MTG @ Mabel Tainter;

Sun Aug 3 - Spongebob Musical - MTG @ Mabel Tainter

Tue Aug 5 - National Night Out - 5:30 to 7:30 pm - Wilson Park; Ludington Guard Band Concert - 7:30pm - Wilson Park

Wed Aug 6 - Farmer’s Market - 10am to 4pm;

Michels Building Culture, Roster at UW-Stout

Former Menomonie Standout Leads Growing Tennis Program

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

MENOMONIE – Anthony Michels will begin his second season as the UW-Stout women’s tennis coach, and the 2017 Menomonie High School graduate is feeling right at home as he works to build the program.

In Michels’ first season, the Blue Devils saw their record improve by four match wins — the most by the team since the 2021 season.

The four-year MHS letterwinner, who played collegiately at UW-Superior and St. Norbert College, wants to step up the collegiate experience for his student-athletes. Last year’s team featured between five and eight players, which could be a problem while setting a lineup if injuries occur. Despite graduating several seniors, Michels expects to have at least 11 players on the roster, including five freshmen — a far different experience from his first season.

“We didn’t even have the full six players (needed) to fill out a lineup,” Michels said. “We had to recruit on campus to build the roster.”

Before the season, Michels expanded the team’s schedule, going from 10 dual matches during the 2023-24 season to 22 dual matches in 2024-25. The Blue Devils play a conference season during the fall, then a nonconference season in the spring. The conference team tournament is in the spring.

The team has scheduled 25 dual matches this season, and the program will be returning to the prestigious ITA Regional Championships in September at Gustavus Adolphus College. Stout is scheduled to play a five-match dual schedule during spring break in Orlando, Florida — the first time the women’s program has taken a spring break trip.

“We are trying to build a culture here,” Michels said. “The atmosphere at the ITAs, and playing on the USTA national courts (over spring break) will be a great experience.”

“I was the No. 6 singles for St. Norbert (when we were in Florida),” Michels said, “but I was sharing a bench with the top player from the University of Florida. It was a great experience.”

Outside of the more exotic experiences, Michels has scheduled more overnight trips during the regular season, resulting in more team bonding. He also plans to initiate camps and clinics throughout the year on the Stout campus.

Michels, who is also an assistant director of sports information at Stout, is looking to build the Stout tennis brand by bringing in more banners and windscreens, as well as upping the social media presence to improve the players’ experience. He talked about including more get-togethers among team members — including bringing the players in a week earlier in the fall to begin practice — and increasing alumni involvement.

A Blue Devil assistant coach during the 2021-22 season, Michels’ history with Stout goes back long before that season.

“I have been going to Stout sporting events since I could walk,” Michels said. Michels’ parents, Bob and Cathy, continue to be avid Blue Devils fans. “I remember throwing the football behind the bench. Now, I’m part of it.”

Michels wants to see the program grow, and there really isn’t anywhere to go but up after last year’s team finished seventh at the conference tournament.

“We are really starting at ground zero,” Michels said. “But I believe we can get ourselves into a competitive spot within our region. I think we can continue to improve throughout the year.

“I am excited over how this has progressed. I see everybody working toward that same common goal.”

The Blue Devils open the 2025-26 season playing three matches at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, Aug. 30-31. Stout opens at home Friday, Sept. 5, by hosting Crown College at 4 p.m., then opens the conference schedule the next day, Saturday, Sept. 6, at UW-Eau Claire at 10 a.m. Stout concludes the fall schedule Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Wisconsin Tennis Classic individual tournament in Madison. Stout will return to action Saturday, March 7, at St. Norbert College and will take their spring break trip March 16-20 in Orlando, Florida.

UW-Stout Tennis Schedule | MHS Girls Tennis Schedule | Anthony Michels’ Coaches Bio

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

Michels Building Roster, Culture at UW-Stout 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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