Welcome to Issue 3 of Menomonie News Net! We’re so pleased you are reading this! If you missed Issues 1 and 2, you can catch up HERE.

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Editors: Layne Pitt & Becky Kneer (+ volunteers); Tech Support: Tracy Glenz

Inside This Issue…

• Monarch House: A Safe Haven

• Public Library Outdoor Project

• Supervisors Support Expanded Medicaid, Crisis Support

• Health Dept. Invites Community to Help Shape Health Plan

• United Way Awards $50K in Impact Grants

• 93 Years Later: A Burial Located?

• Lambrigtsen Honored with Stout Luminary Alumni Award

• Menomonie Collegians: Football and Cross Country

Monarch House Peer Run Respite: A Safe Haven for Mental Health Support

Menomonie hosts unique multi-county resource

by Andrew Garr

Monarch House Peer Run Respite, located in Menomonie, offers a unique and compassionate approach to mental health support. Operated by Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance, Inc. (WIMA), Monarch House is designed to provide a supportive, non-clinical space where individuals experiencing mental health distress can stay for up to seven nights. The respite’s foundation is peer support, meaning that guests receive assistance from trained staff members who have lived experience with mental health challenges, creating an environment of mutual understanding, empathy, and empowerment.

A Different Kind of Mental Health Support

Monarch House Peer Run Respite is not a traditional inpatient facility. It’s voluntary, free, and available to any adult in Wisconsin who is navigating mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, or emotional distress. Guests can come to the respite to step away from stressors, process their emotions, and gain support from people who have walked similar paths.

Unlike many other mental health services, Monarch House does not require a diagnosis or involvement in the mental health system for someone to stay. Peer supporters are available around the clock to offer a listening ear, help guests develop coping strategies, and provide a space where individuals can practice self-care in a relaxed, home-like setting.

The Power of Peer Support

What makes Monarch House stand out is its peer-driven approach. Peer supporters at Monarch House have firsthand experience with mental health challenges and recovery. This lived experience allows them to connect with guests in a way that is often more personal and relatable than traditional clinical models.

The environment at Monarch House fosters mutual respect, shared learning, and self-determination. Guests are empowered to explore their feelings, set their own goals for their stay, and make decisions about how they want to manage their mental health. The focus is not on treatment or therapy but on offering a compassionate space where individuals can feel heard, supported, and understood.

A Voluntary and Barrier-Free Service

Monarch House operates on a voluntary basis, meaning that guests can check themselves in without any pressure or requirement to receive formalized care. The respite is also free of charge, ensuring that individuals from all walks of life have access to this critical support. There are no insurance requirements or complicated application processes—just a willingness to engage in a peer-to-peer support model.

Inquiring About a Stay

Individuals interested in staying at Monarch House can easily inquire about availability by calling (715) 505-5641. Staff are happy to answer questions about the respite and help individuals determine if a stay would be beneficial.

Whether someone is looking for a short break to manage stress or needs a supportive environment during a difficult time, Monarch House provides a welcoming space to recharge and reflect.

Why Monarch House Matters

Mental health challenges are common, yet finding safe and non-judgmental spaces for support can be difficult. Monarch House addresses this need in the Menomonie and Dunn County area by offering an alternative to hospitalization or other formal mental health services. It’s a place where individuals can regain their sense of control, surrounded by people who truly understand the complexities of mental health from a personal perspective.

Monarch House’s work is especially important in a time when mental health services are stretched thin, and many individuals feel isolated in their struggles. Peer-run respites like Monarch House represent a crucial resource in the community by providing a refuge that is free of stigma, full of hope, and centered on self-directed healing.

For more information or to learn how you can support Monarch House Peer Run Respite, please visit www.milkweedalliance.org.

Andrew Garr is the Program Director at Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance and has been involved in peer support and mental health advocacy for over a decade.

Sources:

● Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance, Inc.

● Monarch House Peer Run Respite

Menomonie Public Library Outdoor Project

Gathering space coming next summer

by Joleen Sterk, Director

Festina lent – make haste slowly.

It's been three years since the Library lost a dear friend, Joan Polasky. In early 2022, we were touched to receive a generous annuity gift of $77,238 from her estate. Joan wanted to honor the library's unique architecture and celebrate art and nature.

With her gift, the Library’s goal is to better blend the landscape into the programming space, emphasizing the health benefits of green spaces.

After hiring Ayres Associates (Eau Claire) to work with community stakeholders to develop a multi-phase plan for our outdoor space, we leveraged Joan’s gift to apply for and receive a Vibrant Spaces Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for $44,250.

Mayo Clinic Health System’s Northwest Wisconsin Community Giving Committee also generously contributed $100,000 to the project. Jenny Jorgenson, Community Engagement Specialist at Mayo writes, “Recognizing the many ways this investment will impact the health and well-being of the Menomonie community and knowing what an incredible partner the library has been in community wellness efforts, we are confident this donation towards the library aligns well with our priorities of meeting the needs of our patients in Dunn County and beyond.”

The final piece of the financial puzzle came from a decision by the Menomonie City Council to allocate $29,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in early 2024 for the project. As part of a broader initiative to create welcoming spaces for visitors and future residents, the City of Menomonie will play a substantial role in reimagining the Library’s outdoor space. Located on Lake Menomin, this outdoor area will provide space for members of the community to work and play.

In November 2024, the City Council awarded the project bid to Haas Sons, Inc. of Thorp, WI at a cost of $245,040.

With this award in place, community members can look forward to the creation of a multi-use outdoor gathering place at the Library in summer 2025 with some exciting amenities:

• a large paver patio with seat wall

• outdoor tables, chairs & comfortable lounge seating

• new additional bike racks

• a new paved, ADA accessible path to allow for easier wheelchair, stroller and

  walker access

As interest in the project grows, additional funds may be directed toward new doors for accessing the space, a shade canopy, a pollinator rain garden, enhanced electrical service for outdoor concerts, interpretive trails, or a “Sound Garden” outside the children’s area of the library.

With our proximity to the many trails around Menomonie, and our beautiful shoreline site, we are uniquely positioned to engage with nature. There is evidence that time in nature supports mental health. Heather Eliassen, Harvard School of Public Health states, “Spending time outdoors in green spaces has been linked with a myriad of physical and mental health benefits…” (2024).

Our hope is that people will be drawn into a closer connection with the natural environment around them, rediscover the joy of gathering outdoors, and reinforce their public library as a place for respite, reflection, and community.

Joleen Sterk, Public Library Director, has worked at MPL since 2005, and served as Director since June 2021. She has always preferred being outside, especially when reading.

Contact: Joleen Sterk, [email protected], 715-232-2164 ×233

Dunn County Supervisors Support Expanded Medicaid, Crisis Support

Source: Dunn County

MENOMONIE - The Dunn County Board of Supervisors has passed two resolutions asking the state to provide additional resources for residents who are not getting the medical care or mental health and crisis services they need.

One resolution calls on the state of Wisconsin to tap into the federal Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid coverage in the state. The board, at its October meeting, also supported increased state funding for medical assistance and Community Support Programs.

“The board recognized that we have many residents who are not getting the medical care or mental health and crisis services that they need,” said Paula Winter, Director of Human Services for Dunn County. “The board is asking the state to provide adequate resources so our constituents can obtain these essential services.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand the number of people covered under Medicaid in exchange for increased federal matching funds, but, as the resolution stated, “historically the State of Wisconsin has declined Medicaid expansion funds.”

If Medicaid were expanded in Wisconsin, the resolution said, more than 700 additional county residents would qualify for Medicaid; statewide, some 90,000 additional individuals would qualify for Medicaid if the state participated in the expanded federal program. Health care officials have indicated that providing unreimbursed care for those who fall short of qualifying for Medicaid drives up costs for everyone and could factor in the closing of health care facilities.

Studies have shown that participating in Medicaid expansion programs “reduced disease-related mortality among older adults” and encourages better participation in preventative care and compliance with medication, the resolution added.

The resolution asks the Wisconsin Counties Association to support the expansion of Medicaid as the state develops its 2025-27 state budget.

The board also requested that Wisconsin increase funding in the 2025-27 state budget to provide expanded Medical Assistance for Community Support Programming and Crisis Intervention services.

Counties are required to provide crisis intervention services, including emergency mental health services for persons in crisis situations. Community Support Programs offer community-based care for adults whose mental illness and functional limitations might otherwise require them to be institutionalized. Officials also said the expansion of Medical Assistance could save property tax dollars and allow more people to receive treatment.

The closure of the HSHS hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, as well as the Prevea Clinics, has affected the ability of county residents to access mental health services, the resolution said, and counties must bear a disproportionate share of the costs of both the Community Support Programming and Crisis Intervention services. State-imposed levy limits make it difficult for counties to maintain these mandated services, the resolution said.

The resolution concluded: “the Dunn County Board of Supervisors does hereby request that the state of Wisconsin, in its 2025-27 state biennial budget, provide state GPR funding to cover the full non-federal share of MA CSP and Crisis services.”

Contact: Kristin Korpela, Dunn County Manager, [email protected]

Health Department Invites Community to Help Shape Health Plan

Dunn County — Community members are invited to attend a meeting on December 6 to discuss the results of the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment and help plan next steps.

KT Gallagher, Director of the Dunn County Health Department, explained, "Every three years, we work with our partners to survey the community and find out what the biggest health issues are that need attention.

This year's results highlighted the following health priorities for Dunn County residents: access to childcare, water pollution and environmental concerns, access to healthcare, alcohol misuse, and access to safe and affordable housing. The full report can be found HERE.

To address these issues, the Health Department and Health Dunn Right, a community health coalition, will hold a Kick-Off Meeting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Rassbach Museum, 1820 John Russell Road, Menomonie. The meeting will discuss the report and plans for future action. To register call 715-232-2388.

Gallagher said the Health Department encourages everyone in Dunn County who cares about these issues to come to share their ideas.

"We need the community's help to come up with solutions that make sense for Dunn County," Gallagher said. "Your life experience may be exactly what we need to help solve these issues."

Guest speakers at the event include Steven McCarthy, Executive Director of the United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, and Dr. Corrie Norrbom from the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service. Speakers will discuss the survey results, next steps, and how the community can work together to take action.

There will also be small discussion groups at the meeting to talk about the different health priorities, where participants can help set goals for action.

Contact: KT Gallagher, Director/Health Officer, [email protected], 715-231-6440

United Way Awards $50,000 in Community Impact Grants to Nonprofits in Dunn and Pepin Counties

Source: United Way

Dunn and Pepin Counties, WI – United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys (UW Valleys) is proud to announce the approval of $50,000 in Community Impact Grants to local nonprofits in Dunn and Pepin counties. These grants, which will be disbursed by the end of the year, will provide crucial support to organizations focused on improving the lives of area ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families.

The Community Impact Grants are part of UW Valleys’ ongoing commitment to advancing health, education, and financial stability within local communities. ALICE families, who are working but struggling to make ends meet, will directly benefit from these funds through nonprofit partners, which are aimed at providing long-term solutions in critical areas of need.

“The ALICE population is one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities,” said Steve McCarthy, Executive Director of UW Valleys. “We’re excited to partner with local organizations to help ensure that these families have access to the resources they need to thrive. These grants will make a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and families in Dunn and Pepin counties.”

“We are so grateful that your organization will help us” said a director of one of the grant recipients. “What a boost to our morale around here. Sometimes when we meet with challenges our greater community rises up to help. That's what this feels like. I will definitely share the good news with the community repeatedly.”

These Community Impact Grants are part of UW Valleys’ mission to fight for the health, education and financial stability of all people in Western Wisconsin. By supporting local nonprofits that are directly addressing community needs, UW Valleys aims to foster a stronger, more equitable region.

UW Valleys is committed to ensuring that all individuals and families, regardless of their economic status, have access to the tools and resources they need to succeed. These Community Impact Grants are part of UW Valleys’ mission to fight for the health, education and financial stability of all people in Western Wisconsin. By supporting local nonprofits that are directly addressing community needs, UW Valleys aims to foster a stronger, more equitable region.

For more information about the Community Impact Grants and how United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys is making a difference in the community, please visit uwvalleys.org.

Contact: Steve McCarthy, Executive Director, [email protected]

93 Years Later—A Burial Located?

by David K. Williams

MENOMONIE - Sofi Doane is collections manager at the Dunn County Historical Society and president of the group Friends of Potter’s Field. The Friends have been working for the past dozen years to document and restore Potter’s Field, located on the east side of Menomonie.

In November of 2023, researchers from UW-Eau Claire’s Department of Geography and Anthropology conducted a first ground-penetrating radar scan of a portion of Potter’s Field. That scan has allowed The Friends to pinpoint 42 gravesites on the western edge of the cemetery, including one double grave. The organization speculates that that double grave may be the final resting place of the infamous Kraft State Bank robbers from 1931. In October of 2024, 42 new steel crosses were planted to mark these newly located graves. Further research continues.

Readers may find interesting an account of the funeral held for the two robbers. More information about Dunn County Potter’s Field is available on the website including how to visit.

Lambrigtsen Brightens World, Honored with Stout Luminary Alumni Award

Source: UW-Stout

MENOMONIE - For 23 years, Wade Lambrigtsen’s hand-painted signs, murals and marquees have provided regional businesses and organizations with professional graphics that are visually dynamic and aesthetically creative, raising the Chippewa Valley’s expectations of high-quality public art. Lambrightson recently received UW-Stout’s Luminary Alumni Award.

Lambrigtsen, owner and proprietor of Vintage Sign Shop in Menomonie, started his business from scratch in his basement after earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from UW-Stout.

His signs adorn, among other locations, UW-Stout’s Memorial Student Center, Leinenkugel’s, the Silver Dollar Saloon and the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, for which he also recently hand-stenciled the lower-level Spirit Room. He also designs and produces lighted, dimensional, window and vehicle signage.

Vintage Sign Shop was named the 2014 Menomonie Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year and received the 2023 and 2024 Downtown Menomonie Preserving Our Heritage Award.

Lambrigtsen has painted murals in eight states and offers his expertise to students through paid apprenticeships. Serving as a role model and mentor, he guides them through the mural installation process and speaks in-depth about how to establish their own business. He encourages them to work hard, take chances, join workshops and find a network of fellow artists or muralists.

He has collaborated with students on several murals in downtown Menomonie, including at Town and Country Antiques, C&J’s Candy Store, Ted’s Pizza and Toppers Pizza. 

As a guest lecturer in UW-Stout’s School of Art and Design, Lambrigtsen elevates the visibility of students’ public art through the Graffiti and Street Art course, which he co-developed and co-teaches with Professor Cynthia Bland.

The end-product of the course is a high caliber student-designed and installed mural. Three murals have been installed on the university’s Applied Arts Building since summer 2022.

“This mural collaboration has generated an effect that will not only create beautiful art around our campus and community, art will bring people in, pique their curiosity, increase business and teach our town’s history. Not to mention giving students something to be proud of and bring their family and friends here to show what they helped create and understand that they can make a good living creating murals and make a positive impact in our world,” said Lambrigtsen, who grew up in Northfield, Wis.

Bland, who nominated her colleague for the award, believes that “Wade’s time and support for our students’ development as artists and designers has been invaluable. He showcases how to create a successful and lucrative career as a painter.”

Lambrigtsen’s contribution to public art in Menomonie will continue in summer 2026, when he will act as project leader and events coordinator for the Menomonie Open Walldogs Festival, which will run June 24-28. 

Over the course of five days, more than 200 international artists will complete 15 large-scale murals across the city, representing the community’s history, culture, values and stories through a diverse range of artistic styles.

A veteran Walldogs muralist since 2012, Lambrigtsen has participated in 12 festivals across the country, six as project leader. He is a member of the Menomonie project’s executive committee, collaborating with city leaders and community members in the festival planning process.

“I will always be truly grateful to UW-Stout for my art education and for the opportunity not only to make signs throughout the years for the university, but also for inviting me back as a guest instructor to teach the joy of mural painting to students,” said Lambrigtsen, who was a nontraditional student, starting at UW-Stout at age 24 after serving as an infantryman in the Marine Corps for four years.

Menomonie Collegians

UW-Stout’s Brooks Brewer Finds Home Close to Home

by Layne Pitt

MENOMONIE - In his first year as a starter on the UW-Stout football team, Brooks Brewer, a 2022 Menomonie High School graduate, earned second team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) defensive honors, was second in the conference in total tackles, led the league in interceptions and saw the Blue Devils advance to their first post-season game since 2000.

As a Stout freshman in 2023, Brewer played in seven games and tallied eight total tackles, five solo. Brewer turned up the jets in 2024, getting in on 103 tackles, 44 solo, a mark that was 35th in the NCAA Division. He led the league with four interceptions, had five pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss. Brewer recorded five double-digit tackle games, recording a career-best 13 tackles, nine solo, against UW-River Falls.

Brewer was a two-way player at Menomonie, earning first-team all-conference honors as a running back and all-region as an outside linebacker. At 6-foot, 195-pounds, Brewer plays defensive back for Stout. The Blue Devils finished the season 6-5, wrapping up the season with a 35-32 loss to Wheaton College Nov. 23 in the Isthmus Bowl.

• Menomonie grads Ben Bystol and Isaiah Giron are also on the Blue Devil roster. Bystol, a 6-5, 280-pound sophomore offensive lineman, started all 11 games on a Blue Devil team that averaged 34 points per game, 124.1 yards rushing and 272.9 passing yards. Giron, a 5-10, 200-pound freshman linebacker, saw action in one game, recording one tackle.

Cross Country
Menomonie graduates Connor Norby, Gaby Skorczewski and Madison Lehman wrapped up their 2024 collegiate cross country seasons last month.

Norby is a sophomore at Winona State University and ran in six meets this season for the Warriors, setting a personal best of 32-minutes, 55.62-seconds in the 10-kilometer at the NCAA Division II Regional at Missouri Southern University, Nov. 8. Norby, who was an All-Big Rivers Conference runner and team captain while at Menomonie, also set a career-best time in the 8-kilometer run of 25:34.4 at the NSIC Championship, Oct. 26 at Minot, N.D.

Skorczenski is a sophomore at Lawrence University in Appleton and competed in six of the Vikings’ seven meets. Skoczenski competed at the Midwest Conference Championship Nov. 2 where the Vikings captured the team title. Skorczenski took 50th individually at the meet with a time of 25:44.3 in the 6K run and set a personal-best of 25:21.0 at the Gene Davis Invitational Oct. 12. Skorczenski is a member of the Vikings’ track and field team and last season ran in the 400- and 800-meter runs and as a member of several relay teams.

Lehman is a freshman at UW-Eau Claire and competed in five of the team’s seven meets, setting a personal best time of 24:34.2 at the Luther College Saga Cup, Nov. 8, in her final meet of the season, placing 12th. At Menomonie, Lehman was a cross country all-conference selection in 2023 and honorable mention in 2022

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/

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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