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Menomonie News Net
June 11, 2025, Issue 30
Local News Group
June 11, 2025
Here’s Issue 30 of Menomonie News Net. To visit past issues you can click HERE.
Today we share details of the return of the July 4th celebration at Wakanda Park, funding effects on Stepping Stones, student sport highlights, music galore…and MHS Grads: Where are they Now featuring our own MNN columnist!
Editors: Layne Pitt & Becky Kneer; MNN Staff & Contributors; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz
Website: menomonienewsnet.org Submit News: [email protected]
In this Issue…
July 4th Celebration is Back in Menomonie
Wakanda Park all-day event details including how to volunteer
We are bringing back the 4th of JULY at Wakanda Park in Menomonie
Join us for a day full of fun, festivities, and fireworks!
We’re bringing you an exciting lineup of activities for all ages, ensuring a day packed with joy and community spirit.
MORNING ACTIVITES
Start your day with a burst of energy!
Fun Run: Lace up your sneakers and kick off the holiday with a refreshing run through scenic Wakanda Park.
Pickleball Fundraiser: Test your skills and join the fun at our fundraiser for a great cause.
Baseball Games: Cheer on your favorite teams and enjoy America’s favorite pastime.
Rassbach Museum & Historical Society: Dive into fascinating exhibits and learn about local history. There are also fun maker activities for all ages!
AFTERNOON FUN
At 3 p.m. the festivities move to the lower park (beach).
Live Music: From 3 - 11 p.m., enjoy performances by talented local bands and artists.
Beer Tent: Cool off with your favorite brews in our relaxing beer tent.
Food Trucks: Treat yourself to delicious eats from a variety of food trucks.
Pudding Feed: Don’t miss this sweet treat for all dessert lovers!
Eating Contests: Show off your competitive side with these fun challenges.
Bouncy Houses: Perfect for the kids, these inflatable attractions promise endless laughter.
EVENING HIGHLIGHTS
The Dweebs on the Main Stage: Starting at 7 p.m., enjoy an electrifying performance until it’s time for the fireworks.
Fireworks at Dusk: Cap off the night with a breathtaking display.
TICKET INFORMATION
Adults - $5
Children 12 and under - Free
Families - Discount available
Veterans and Active Duty Service Members - Free entry. VIP area for veterans, active duty and families.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We’re looking for volunteers to help.
Shifts are available in 2-hour, 4-hour, 8-hour, or all-day options.
To sign up to volunteer…visit the event Facebook page. Or email Jack Schaefer at [email protected]; phone 715-505-5483
Source: Event Facebook page.
Funding Cuts: Local Food Pantry to Reduce Pantry Services
Menomonie - In response to federal funding cuts, the Stepping Stones of Dunn County Board of Directors and Executive Director have made the challenging decision to reduce their Food Pantry Services.
Beginning Monday, June 30 the Food Pantry will no longer be open on Fridays, reducing weekly days open from 5 days to 4 days. Additionally, the number of monthly visits allowed per household is being reduced. Individuals using the pantry can visit once every 14 days instead of once every 7 days.
"The pantry is one of the foundations of Stepping Stones services and making cuts to food available to homes was difficult but in proportion to need." said Board President, Barbara Fagan.
Stepping Stones has seen federal funding cuts of over $150,000, most of which impacts its Food Pantry. In addition the the federal funding cuts, Stepping Stones is operating in a deficit while seeing an increased need for its services.
“This decision was not made lightly as it will impact over 5,000 unique individuals that utilize our pantry services annually. In order to keep our food pantry open, we needed to assess our current funding and find ways to save money." said Executive Director, Corrisa Villeneuve.
Stepping Stones is navigating a challenging financial time while its leadership team works diligently to find and apply for qualifying grants and look for other income opportunities. Community support is more crucial now than ever. Prior to federal funding cuts, Stepping Stones was already facing a financial hardship. In 2023, Stepping Stones opened its new 20 bed shelter, Cairn House, to meet the need of supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. This addition has allowed Stepping Stones to provide 10,000 nights of shelter to those in need, but it has also doubled its budget. Donations and other funding received is not keeping pace with the increased budget.
Stepping Stones asks the community to step up and make a donation. Small or large, any donation makes a difference. Villeneuve explains, "We are seeking sustainable donations such as recurring monthly or annual donations. To put it into perspective, just $20 a month can provide food for 64 families using the pantry and $50 a month can provide 600 meals to children facing food insecurity. Please, consider making a donation to help support your neighbors, friends, and family."
Donations can be made online at SteppingStonesDc.org.
For further questions, please visit the online FAQ regarding these changes. Or contact Corrisa Villeneuve, Executive Director, at [email protected].
Murals in Menomonie Sneak Peek Event
You are invited to a special Community Sneak Peek of the Murals in Menomonie project. on Wed, June 18, 5 - 7 p.m. the Mabel Tainter.
Get an early look into what the Murals in Menomonie festival will look like!
Our town is full of interesting history, vote for your favorite stories that you think should be turned into murals. We want to know what you’d like to see.
Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, will transform more than just walls—it will uplift our entire community. By bringing vibrant art into public spaces, murals encourage walking, exploration, and outdoor activity, promoting physical health. At the same time, the beauty and creativity of the murals enhance mental well-being, sparking joy, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of belonging and pride. These works of art connect us, inspire us, and help make Menomonie a healthier, more vibrant place to live.
Come get an early look at the incredible murals taking shape around our city, meet some of the artists, cast your vote on mural subjects, and learn how this event is making a lasting impact on community pride, health, and well-being.
Source: Downtown Menomonie facebook
Contact Downtown Menomonie at [email protected] or 715-279-8502.
June 15 program “Threads Of Connection” is free and open to the public
By David K. Williams
The Mabel Tainter Theater has graced downtown Menomonie for 135 years. On Sunday, June 15th at 10 a.m., congregations of the Unitarian Society of Menomonie and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Eau Claire will join at the Mabel Tainter to celebrate their threads of connection with the Mabel Tainter Theater.
Local historian Tim Hirsch will review that connected history. Beginning in 1865, Bertha Tainter visited Eau Claire to speak at the Universalist Church there, and during the 1880s, she and Dora Rust from Eau Claire became friends. Both women worked to organize Unitarian congregations in their respective communities.
In Menomonie, Bertha Tainter and husband Andrew collaborated with Unitarian minister Henry Doty Maxson to design and then build the Mabel Tainter Theater in memory of their recently deceased daughter Mabel and as a community center for the people of Menomonie. Rev. Maxson also served the Eau Claire church in those early years. The Mabel Tainter Theater was noted as the “permanent church home of the Unitarian Society of Menomonie.” Though the Unitarian Society of Menomonie meets regularly at 105 21st Street NE, the fellowship maintains its historic connection to the Mabel Tainter in various other ways.
Connections among the Mabel Tainter, and the Unitarian Universalist congregations in both cities continue now into the twenty-first century. The public is welcome to join this celebration and historical review of connections going back to the 1890s. There is no admission charge.
David Williams is a Menomonie resident and retired UW-Stout administrator.
MHS Grads: Where are They Now?
Judy Berg Foust - Class of 1967
By Judy Foust Unfortunately, neither of my promised interviews are ready for publication yet, so... “Desperate times call for desperate measures!” With apologies to Hippocrates, I offer my desperate measure. The subject of this week’s “MHS Grads: Where Are They Now?” is…wait for it…ME!  Class of ‘67 Yes, I, Judith Eileen (Berg) Foust, am a graduate of the MHS Class of 1967. Menomonie High School was much different back in the olden days! The current high school was brand new and included both the junior high (grades 7- 8) and the senior high (grades 9 – 12). It was exciting to be in the first class to attend all six grades 7 – 12 in the “new” school. To this day I suspect many of my classmates still refer to that structure as “new!” I was never an athlete; rather I excelled academically and loved being involved in many different interest areas—choir, forensics, The Maroon Warrior (our school newspaper) and Student Council. The award I consider to be my most amazing achievement as a high school senior was the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award! I had to include this because, to this day, my friends still can’t believe it. As I often say, “I have a kitchen because I heard that it’s good for resale.” It was during my Sophomore year in high school that I got my first real job—writing obituaries for the Dunn County News (not the most exciting job I’ve ever held)! After graduation, I obtained my BA degree in Comprehensive English (literature major and composition minor) through the School of Education at Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire (now known as UW-Eau Claire). In the ensuing years, I taught in four Wisconsin school districts—Stratford, Marshfield, Random Lake, and my old alma mater Menomonie. Initially I had dreamed of teaching high school English in a large metropolitan school district. But that dream changed when I began teaching Seventh Grade Reading at Stratford. I fell in love with seventh grade and seventh graders. Thirty- seven years later, I finally “graduated” from that grade level when I retired.  Homecoming Parade “Queen” During my time in Wisconsin’s public schools I was named Teacher of the Year at both Random Lake and | Menomonie Junior High/Middle Schools. I was also named Walmart’s Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, a Herb Kohl Foundation Teaching Fellow, a Wisconsin Holocaust Educator, and received the WEAC Wisconsin’s Friend of Education Award. After obtaining my Masters Degree in Middle School Education, I began a Doctorate in Gifted Education at the University of Minnesota. But, as often happens, fate has a way of changing our life’s plans…. While I’m officially retired from classroom teaching, I still teach online graduate professional development courses for educators through Mid-America Nazarine University and serve as a motivational and educational public speaker throughout the Midwest. My proudest personal accomplishment has been raising my daughter, Jess Nickelsen (a high school Spanish teacher in Minnesota) who daily makes her mama proud. When she gifted me with my grandson Matthew 20 years ago (who is currently working to save up money for technical college), my life became almost complete. It wasn’t until my “grand-dog-ter” Stella joined the family that were knew we had the icing on our family’s cake!  Homecoming Parade “Queen” My proudest professional accomplishment are the years that I became known as the “Queen of the Middle School” - riding in several Homecoming parades right behind the “real” queens, while owning many cubic zirconium crowns. Even though I’ve been retired for 16 years, I still have people coming up and asking me where my crown is. I guess I’m a Menomonie legend in my own mind! For those who think this article is too long, please give me grace. I am the oldest by far to appear in this column, and have had many more life experiences to wade through than my younger counterparts. My goal—I hope I’ve encouraged graduates in their 50’s through 90’s who read this weekly column to contact me so they, too, can be included in future articles. It’s been said that everyone has a story and I’d love to tell yours!  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] |
Phelan Park Playground Grand Opening
Photo: Facebook page
Thurs June 19 - 3 p.m.
Celebrate the grand opening of a new community favorite!
Join us for a ribbon cutting at Phelan Park as we reveal a brand new playground filled with fun, adventure, and plenty of space to play!
Source: Facebook Page
Dunn County Historical Society Unveils Pet Remembrance Wall
Menomonie - The Dunn County Historical Society is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new Pet Remembrance Wall held on Tuesday, June 10 in recognition of World Pet Remembrance Day.
Located on the Rassbach Museum grounds, the Pet Remembrance Wall is a transportable wall made of three panels that serves as a special place for community members to visit, reflect, and honor the memory of beloved pets. Visitors are invited to place a personalized remembrance tag on the wall at no charge, creating a shared space of comfort and tribute.
For those looking to create a tag, the museum’s Fulton’s Workshop will offer supplies and tools for visitors to craft their own custom memorial tags.
Some of the first pets to be honored on the wall will include notable Dunn County animals from the past, such as the Tainter family’s beloved dog Old Matt, and Lapointe's family dogs Timber and Jake, and Old Abe of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War, connecting the region’s history with the timeless bond between people and animals.
"When we were approached about this idea, it seemed like a great way to not only honor furry family members, but to remind folks that pets and farm animals are an integral part of our human stories," said Melissa Kneeland, Museum Director. “Wakanda Park is always a popular spot for walking dogs, and our location seemed ideal for all of these elements to come together, remembrance, history and reflection."
The Pet Remembrance Wall will be accessible on the museum grounds. Remembrance tags are not limited to dogs, but any animal companions.
The museum requests that remembrances be limited to tags on the wall. Please do not leave any other items on, or at the foot of the wall, as they will be removed.
For more information, please contact the Rassbach Museum/Fulton's Workshop. 715-232-8685 [email protected]
Volunteer Opportunities at The Neighbors of Dunn County
Assist staff with resident visits to the Dunn County Fair
Volunteers are being asked to assist Neighbors of Dunn County residents to travel to the Dunn County Fair to enjoy time looking at the animals and exhibits. According to Alyssa Stelter, Activity Director “we hope to have a 1:1 resident to volunteer ratio.” The time slots for buildings are TBD at this time.
Thur July 24th 10:00 - 11:30 am
Thur July 24th 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Fri July 25th 10:00 - 11:30 am
Outings are subject to change and may be cancelled based on weather or facility precautions.
Contact Alyssa Stelter, Activity Director at [email protected]
Source: Neighbors of Dunn County Facebook Page
Menomonie Events at a Glance
Photo: Debra Bell
Thu June 12 - Music Over Menomin - 7 p.m. - Wilson Park (Thursdays thru Aug 14)
Fri June 13 - Music on Main Street - 4-8 p.m.
Sat June 14 - Flag Day Ceremony 10 a.m. & Mabel’s Community Celebration 4 -10 p.m.
Sun June 15 - Threads of Connection by Unitarians - 10 a.m. at Mabel Tainter
Tue June 17 - Ludington Band Concert - 7:30 p.m. Wilson Park (Tuesdays thru Aug 5)
Wed June 18 - Walldogs Community Sneak Peek 5-7 p.m. at Mabel Tainter
Public Meetings: Week of June 11-18
Staff Photo
City of Menomonie
Mon June 16 City Council - 7 p.m.
Wed June 18 Urban Forestry - 1 p.m. - Rm 058 - City Hall
Click HERE for full calendar.
School District of Menomonie
Mon June 23 School Board - 5:45-7:30 p.m. - ASC Board Room
Click HERE for full calendar additional details
Dunn County
Wed June 11 Executive Committee - 3:30 p.m.
Thur June 12 Local Emergency Planning Committee - 9 a.m.
Mon June 16 Board of Adjustment - 10:30 a.m.
Tues June 17 Community Resources & Tourism Committee - CANCELED
Wed June 18 Planning, Resource & Development Committee - 8:30 a.m.;
Board of Supervisors - 7 p.m.
Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting
McCalla’s Double Silver Leads MHS at State Track Meet
Softball Season Comes to End at Sectional Finals; Baseball, Golf, Soccer Wrap-up Season in WIAA Playoffs
By Layne Pitt
LA CROSSE - Lauren McCalla earned two runner-up finishes to lead the Menomonie girls track and field team to an 11th-place finish at the WIAA State Championships, held June 6-7 at UW-La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
McCalla was second in both the 800- and 1600-meter runs Saturday. In the 1600, she nearly caught Cedarburg’s Charlize-Trinity McKenzie in a thrilling finish, posting a time of 4:45.66, just 0.18 seconds behind. McCalla later clocked 2:12.04 in the 800, with freshman teammate Bree Barfknecht placing seventh in 2:15.05.
Senior Bennett Schmitt finished sixth in the 3200 (11:02.15), climbing from a 12th seed. The girls’ 4x800 relay team — Barfknecht, McCalla, Bella Drake and Addison Schuler — placed eighth in 9:16.06.
On the boys side, senior Nolan Bien placed third in the 110 hurdles (14.51) and fifth in the 300 hurdles (38.70). Senior Jae Berg took ninth in the high jump at 6-4, improving from previous finishes of 21st and 17th. Senior Blake Kissh placed 17th in the discus (140-9). The girls totaled 22 points; the boys finished 23rd with nine.
In softball, Menomonie’s postseason run ended in a 6-0 loss to top-seeded D.C. Everest in the sectional finals. The Mustangs (22-8) were held hitless by Addison Kluck’s perfect game.
In tennis, all Mustang entries were eliminated in the first round of the WIAA State Individual Championships. The boys team returns June 13 for the State Team Championship.
The baseball team’s season ended with a 9-1 regional loss to Chippewa Falls. Boys golf placed seventh at sectionals, led by Tyler Reckin’s 79. Girls soccer ended their season with a 2-0 regional loss to Marshfield.
For a more detailed story of Menomonie’s sports action last week, including the All-BRC softball team, visit Menomonie News Net.
Menomonie Collegians
Richartz, Witt, Earn Baseball All-Academic Honors
MHS graduate Brigs Richartz recently completed his senior year as a starter on the University of St. Thomas baseball team. Photo: University of St. Thomas
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Brigs Richartz, a Menomonie High School graduate, was one of nine members of the University of St. Thomas baseball team named to the 2025 All-Summit League team.
Richartz, an outfielder and designated hitter, recorded a .321 batting avg., 36 hits, five doubles, and four home runs in Summit League play his senior season. Richartz, who played in 55 games and started 51, overall finished with a .277 batting average, going 51-of-184 with 28 runs batted in, with 10 doubles, two triples and four home runs.
For his career, Richartz played in 189 games, starting 185 and finished with a career batting average of .290. Richartz collected 217 hits in 748 at-bats, with 37 doubles, eight triples, 18 home runs and 117 RBI.
Richartz helped the Tommies earn their second-straight Summit League title, finishing the season 29-21 overall, and 21-9 in Summit League play, the first team to secure back-to-back championships since 2018. The Tommies finished the 2025 season with their highest overall and conference win total of the DI-era. The Tommies are ineligible for postseason play as the athletic department wrapped up its fourth year of transition to the Division I level. St. Thomas made the unprecedented jump from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I during the 2021-22 academic year.
Richartz and UW-Stout’s Treysen Witt were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Richartz, a business operations and supply chain management major, was selected to the team for the third consecutive year. Witt, a sophomore pitcher majoring in health, wellness and fitness major, was selected to the academic team for the first time.
The 2025 Academic All-District Teams are selected by College Sports Communicators and recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their performance on the field and in the classroom.
MHS grad Bella Jacobsen, a redshirt sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, placed 23rd in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA West First Round Track and Field Championship, turning in a time of 35:03.48, May 29. Jacobsen notched a personal best in the 10,000 meters with a time of 33:34.26, good for eighth place and a podium spot at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, May 18.
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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