Menomonie News Net

October 8, 2025, Issue 47

Author

Local News Group
October 08, 2025

Welcome to Issue 47 of Menomonie News Net. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.

This week we feature another unique program in our great community…this time in the Dunn County Jail: Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT). Judy Foust interviews Class of ‘57 grad Bill Grambo. And a Volume One article about Menomonie News Net is shared.

Thank you for donating as you are able…online OR by mail: checks payable to MNN, Address: P.O. Box 63, Menomonie. Your contributions help keep Menomonie News Net free for all!

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

In this Issue…

Annual Walk for Paws during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Facebook Page

Sunday, October 12 — Noon - 3 pm — Holtby Hall at the Rassbach Museum

Join us for the Annual Pet Walk hosted by The Bridge to Hope and Dunn County Humane Society. Help us raise awareness about domestic violence and support a safer, brighter future for both people and pets in our community.

Admission is $10 per individual or $25 per family. All proceeds support The Bridge to Hope and the DC Humane Society. Register HERE.

Enjoy a fun-filled event featuring: Walkathon, raffles, vendors and community partners, food trucks, bouncy houses, photo booth, and ugly pet portraits!

Bring your furry friends, your family and your big heart.

Source: Facebook Page

Editor’s Note: the following article was originally published in Volume One magazine on September 20th. Reprinted here with permission.

Menomonie News Net is Part of Growing Citizen-Led Journalism Efforts

ran almost entirely by volunteers, digital weekly newsletter provides free-to-view hyper-local news

By McKenna Sherer

Menomonie News Net is a digital-only nonprofit news organization funded by the Community Foundation of Dunn County. An official ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 9 was held just shy of one year since Menomonie News Net's first digital newsletter launched. Photo: McKenna Sherer

It’s no secret: Traditional media is, at best, a shifting landscape. At its worst, it’s dying out. This summer, a new report from Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News put a finer point to that not-so secret when it showed a roughly 75% decline in total journalists across the United States since 2002.

Zooming in on the Chippewa Valley, the Local Journalist Index report states about 22 local journalist equivalents in Eau Claire County; about eight in Chippewa County; and effectively zero in Dunn County. While new data, what it represents – for Dunn County, its status as a news desert – was already noticeable to residents.

About three years ago in the backroom of Menomonie’s Golden Leaf Café, a few locals talked about that noticeable gap in local media coverage. The casual get-together would later be recalled as the spark that created Menomonie News Net.

Menomonie News Net, a nonprofit media organization operated almost entirely by volunteers, delivers a weekly digital newsletter sharing hyper-local news to its subscribers – over 1,100 individuals – for free.

Though the organization’s newsletter made its debut on Nov. 20, 2024, its official ribbon-cutting event was held at the Menomonie Public Library on Sept. 9. About 30 people attended including those part of Menomonie News Net’s 12-person Advisory Board, which is made up of familiar former news media folks like Pat Eggert (Dunn County News, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram), Barbara Lyon (Dunn County News), Layne Pitt (retired Sports Information Director at UW-Stout, Dunn County News), and others.

Roughly 30 people turned out for the ribbon-cutting event. Becky Kneer, co-editor of Menomonie News Net, is pictured holding a pair of scissors. Photo: McKenna Sherer

Its structure – a nonpartisan, nonprofit media org – is unique but not entirely uncommon. (The Chicago Reader and Madison's Isthmus are prime examples of current nonprofit, alternative publications providing print and digital news to their respective communities.)

“When I grew up, you always had a paper or community voice. Those days are kind of gone in our area. There’s a need for this kind of model – online only, citizen- or volunteer-led journalism,” Becky Kneer, co-editor of Menomonie News Net, said in a recent interview.

Kneer also pointed to similar citizen- and volunteer-powered resources in Menomonie, including Menomonie Minute and Eye on Dunn County, as additional proof of area residents rising to help meet the need.

In ideating what and where Menomonie News Net's coverage would include, organizers held a three-part community forum called “Where’s the Local News?” in 2023 which served as a temperature-check on the wider community’s desire for local news. A community survey conducted in Spring 2024, garnering around 400 responses, informed what topics the group would cover.

Today, Menomonie News Net’s goals are threefold: Help fill the gap in local news, support citizen journalism, and increase civic involvement.

While certainly unique when compared to traditional media, Menomonie News Net's nonprofit structure – backed in part by the Community Foundation of Dunn County – is not entirely uncommon. Regional publications like the Chicago Reader and Madison's Isthmus are also nonprofits. Photo: McKenna Sherer

The organization’s creation is proof of a shared desire among Menomonie residents for hyper-local news, be it city and county government coverage or human interest stories. The group is hopeful donations from community members and additional grants will fuel its continued growth and increased coverage.

“My background is not in journalism but in nursing, and I’m very passionate about local news,” Kneer said. “With my background in nursing, I looked at the health of a community. If you don’t have local news, it’s tough to be a healthy, vibrant community.”

Menomonie News Net’s next digital newsletter releases on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 11am (stories are also posted at menomonienewsnet.org). Signup is free and only requires an email address. Of course, donations are always welcome – whether in the form of financial support or lending your pen to write an article.

Keep up with and subscribe for free to Menomonie News Net online at menomonienewsnet.org.

McKenna Sherer is managing editor at Volume One Magazine, Eau Claire.

United Way Day of Caring

Facebook Page

Be part of a powerful day of community service as volunteers across Dunn County come together to complete projects that make a difference. Whether you're painting, planting, cleaning, or building, your time and energy help strengthen the community!

Thurs Oct 9: Event by United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys

Location: Bill's Distributing, 5900 Packer Drive, Menomonie

Hours: 7:30am - 1pm

Learn more HERE. If you are interested in participating, please contact Megan Hausch, [email protected], 715-231-3066

Source: United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys Facebook Page

RESCHEDULED: Menomonie’s Got Talent, originally scheduled for October 3rd, has been postponed due to unexpected contestant cancellations. New date is Friday, January 16, 2026, 6pm at the Mabel Tainter Theater.

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

William (Bill) Grambo - Class of 1957

By Judy Foust

This week’s column suggestion came from an interesting source. It seems that our subject, Bill Grambo, has a fan club called “the Porch Group!” This group (members of the Congregational Church) wrote to tell me they unanimously approved of Bill being interviewed for this column. Naturally I concurred.

I have known Bill since I was in high school when I worked as a cashier at Lammers Foods and Bill was the Produce Manager. We hadn’t seen each other for over 56 years, so we had a lot of fun reminiscing. Oh, the stories we could tell!

But that isn’t the purpose of this article, so let’s get down to business.

First, we talked about Bill’s high school memories. He confessed with a guilty grin that he took great pride in never having taken a single textbook home during his four-year career. His best memory was that he was a member of MHS’s first baseball team (serving as a pitcher) during his sophomore – senior years in school.

When I asked him about teachers he most remembered, he listed some well-known educators from Menomonie’s past—Les McKay—algebra teacher and head basketball coach, Bob Melrose—world history. Bill described him as “quite a character” and shared this humorous story: once Bob, who was a pipe-smoker, came to school with pipe in hand and then snuffed it out before sticking it into the pocket of his suit coat. After hanging his jacket on a hook on the back of the door, he began class. Shortly after class started, students began to smell smoke and then watched as Bob’s jacket ended up in flames. I guess he hadn’t put the pipe out completely before putting it in his pocket after all!

Another memorable teacher was Hattie Bates—math. According to Bill, she was an outstanding teacher but very strict. This was back in the day when teachers could use corporal punishment. She had no problem keeping her students under control.

High School Photo - Submitted

After high school graduation, Bill enrolled at UW-Stout. Unfortunately, he was unaware that he had to attend classes and do the required work. “I had a good time there but finally figured out that they didn’t offer a degree in socializing,” Bill quipped.

It was at this time that he went to work at Lammers as the Produce Manager staying on for eight years. Bill’s story was featured in an excerpt from “News & Notes” (a section of the CVTC newsletter): “I was 30 years old and had two small children (with his wife June, whom he had met at Stout). I was kicking around in the grocery business and not getting any younger. I had to figure out something different for myself. It turned out that I was pretty good at math, so I decided to try the Accounting program.”

It took Bill some time to adjust since most of his teachers and the students were younger than he was. But it didn’t take long for him to feel at home. He flourished in the program, making the honor roll before graduating in 1970.

Landing a job with Bob Schumacher who had just started his own accounting business, Bill rose rapidly to the role of partner. By the time Schumacher retired, the firm had five partners. It provided complete bookkeeping and tax preparation services for roughly 400 business customers and more than 1,000 individual customers as well.

Bill noted with pride that all five of the partners were graduates of the CVTC Accounting program. Bill retired in 1997, but the firm lives on in Eau Claire as Johnson, Runkel & Anderson, Inc.

Bill treasured his business accomplishments. “My time at CVTC was truly life changing.” Financially it turned out to be a great move. But more importantly, it changed how I felt about myself. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.”

Current Photo - Submitted

Bill’s most significant accomplishments revolved around his family. He and his wife June raised two sons—David, who was an ROTC student at UW-Madison—and Jeff, a graduate from UW-Eau Claire. The Grambos also have four grandchildren and one great- grandchild.

Son David currently works for the Defense Department after 22 years in the Navy, serving in both Iraq and the Persian Gulf. He and his family live in Virginia Beach, VA.

Son Jeff is a CPA and worked in Racine before moving to Northwest Airlines. While there, he was able to have June and Bill participate in the airlines program where they fly free as long as vacant seats were available. Jeff is now retired and lives in Hudson.

Bill and June’s biggest adventure was a trip to Japan. They’ve also been to the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and taken a number of cruises. Bill notes that June loves to travel and has been to many other destinations—France, England and Switzerland— while he heads up to the Otter Creek area where they own 160 acres of hunting land.

Bill has been active in the Menomonie community through the UCC Congregational Church where he’s been a member for 60 years and a Lions member for 28 years. In addition he served on the board for WESTconsin Credit Union.

It was a wonderful morning’s interview catching up with each other’s lives. I’m so glad the “the Porch Group” brought us together!

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]

CFDC grants total over $70,000 through August

The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Dunn County recently awarded over $70,000 in grants through its August Competitive Grant Cycle.

Twice a year (Feb and Aug), the Foundation invites area non-profit organizations and community groups to apply for grant funding to support projects or programs that fulfill a community need across a broad range of program areas, including health, the arts, the environment, education, and basic needs. These grants come from the earnings built by funds that were created by local families, philanthropists, and businesses alike that want to support local organizations that are working to create positive change in the community.

Through the August grant cycle, the CFDC has provided funding to 18 area nonprofits, totaling $70,811 in competitive grant funding for its second and final grant cycle for the year.

Congratulations to the following grant recipients: ● Arbor Place: Furnishing the Women and Children’s Treatment Unit - $5,000 ● Colfax Public Library: Colfax Veterans’ Memorial Project - $4,000 ● Dunn County Health Department: System Silos and Mental Health Stigma - $2,000 ● Dunn County Historical Society: Wetland Restoration, Natural History and Land Protection Project - $5,000 ● Explore Menomonie, Inc.: Murals in Menomonie, Community Engaement Activities - $4,625 ● Free Clinic of the Greater Menomonie Area: Dental Care Assistance - $3,500 ● Hmong Friendship Center: Wellness & Socialization Programming for Hmong Seniors - $2,000 ● HWCC Advancement Center, Inc.: Building Economic and Leadership Capacity for Underserved Communities in Dunn County - $5,000 ● Landmark Conservancy, Inc.: Lower Stairway Handrails at Devil’s Punchbowl - $5,000 ● Mabel Tainter Theater: Free Holiday Performances for Seniors - $5,000 ● Menomonie Farmers Market: Market Match Program - $5,000 ● Menomonie Pickleball Club: Resurfacing of Pickleball and Tennis Courts at Wakanda Park - $5,000 ● Menomonie Public Library: Board Game ‘Library of Things’ - $1,141 ● Red Cedar Film Festival Foundation: Red Cedar Film Festival - $1,445 ● REACH, Inc.: Craft/Art Supplies and Sensory Tools - $1,000 ● Stepping Stones of Dunn County: Pop-Up Pantry Food - $5,000 ● United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, Inc.: Diaper Bank - $5,000 ● YMCA of the Chippewa Valley: Menomonie East Child Watch - $6,100

The Community Foundation of Dunn County recently held its annual Evening of Gratitude on September 18 at the Barn at Copper Creek, a celebration recognizing the impact of philanthropy and the vital work of local nonprofit organizations in Dunn County. The event honored grant recipients, donors, and community partners. August's grant recipients were also recognized for their grant award and had the opportunity to share how the funding has supported their missions and advanced their work.

The Community Foundation also encouraged attendees to consider deepening their philanthropic engagement by establishing a fund, supporting a scholarship, or leaving a legacy gift. Guests learned more about Donor Advised Funds, Scholarship Funds, and other charitable giving options that can create lasting impacts on the community.

About The Community Foundation of Dunn County

For 30 years, the Community Foundation of Dunn County has enhanced the lives of all its residents by connecting donors with causes they care about and providing funding for nonprofits. Each year, the Foundation partners with donors and nonprofits to make a difference, now and for the future. For more information about the Community Foundation of Dunn County or to learn about giving opportunities, please visit cfdunncounty.org.

Source: News Release

Dunn County Jail Awarded Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Grant

Dunn is one of only three WI counties to receive jail-based funding

Menomonie – The Dunn County Sheriff's Office, Jail Division, through the Dunn County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council (DCCJCC) was awarded $80,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) in September of 2024 with an additional $100,000 awarded in September 2025. 

This grant is aimed at developing and implementing a jail-based program for individuals with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders who are incarcerated in the Dunn County Jail.

Dunn County is one of only three counties in Wisconsin awarded this state grant. This grant is being used to support the implementation of a jail-based program that adheres to the federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) objectives designed to break the cycle of drug addiction and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. Funds are also being used for recovery support and post-release aftercare services for program participants.

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved the use of local opioid settlement funds for the required grant match of 25% that partially funds the staff position delivering these services. The use of local opioid settlement funds must be used for opioid remediation to address the polysubstance crisis communities are facing in Wisconsin and across the country.

The Dunn County Jail’s Therapeutic Community (TC) Program started in February of 2025. The TC is a stand-alone program in the jail setting; participants are focused on their substance use recovery through classes, groups and by actively participating in peer-based community activities. They also meet weekly with the Substance Use Counselor to discuss release needs and with a peer mentor to discuss continued support needs for their reentry.

The overall goal of the TC program is to provide a safe community that encourages the participants to develop and utilize skills for their reentry into the community. This includes continuation of recovery after release, continuing self-help activities, continuing medication for addiction treatment, and reducing recidivism. 

For more information contact Sheli Jo Metzger, Substance Use Counselor, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office – Jail Division at 715-231-2980 or [email protected] 

Source: News Release

The Joy of Unlined Paper

 By John Wilkerson

Editor’s Note: This is the 4th installment in our series “The Journal Speaks Back” in which Menomonie resident John Wilkerson invites you to join him in his love for journaling.

We tend to think that journaling requires us to have a notebook, a paper reservoir of the important thoughts that percolate in our heads. I have stacks of journals. Some are filled with notes of books I’ve half written; others are filled with pencil scratches that I can no longer decipher. Nowadays, I rarely write journals on paper.

During my university years, I struggled with notetaking. I was plagued with the belief that you had to keep your words contained within the lines on the paper. As I transferred my thoughts to the lined paper, I found that I forgot what I was thinking and instead became fixated on making everything fit. Fit as I would write smaller, with a clumsy hand. Bad grades… a cycle of stress and writing even smaller because I thought I just needed to cram more words onto the page.

Trying to force the words onto the page closed off the emotional side of my writing. The page became a testament to survival, not one for learning.

At the time I fancied myself to be an analytical thinker, and of course, I should be able to write within the lines. That was why there were lines, right? Wrong. Some people thrive on lined paper. Others of us think of the lines as prison bars.

Plain, white paper might be the new friend you need to invite into your journaling practice. If the plain paper comment excited you, consider going one step further. You can draw pictures, too. Colored pencils and pens add a lot of intrigue to your writing. You are not bound by just words.

Think of the Victorian travel journals from more than a century past. Many of those journals were filled with watercolor paintings and charcoal sketches. We can do the same.

My grocery list is on old envelopes because they are already the correct size to fit in my pocket. They’re also blessedly free of lines and anything to distract my mind from writing “eggs.” If I use lined paper, I will stress over the double “g” swinging below into the next space. It seems crazy to fixate on this but some of us do.

This is the point in most conversations where the person tells me they stopped journaling because they never have their notebook with them. I’m the same way, no book, no writing.

To solve this, I moved to digital journaling. My smartphone, laptop, and even the old laptop I have connected to the TV are all connected via a singular notetaking app. This is not cheating; it’s survival. This allows me to write anywhere I have a screen. Every few days, I move my notes into a large word processing document and hit save.

Do I miss the plain white paper? Oh, yes. I miss the scratch of the pencil on the paper. I do however consider it a more than an equitable tradeoff to be able to write anywhere and anytime. It was a process decision for me.

Keep in mind that you're looking to create a memory. An art teacher told me once, “the purpose of art is to generate emotion.”

Writing is an art form. Journaling is art. The medium you choose, be it lined paper, plain paper, or a digital notetaking app…you are the artist. You are free to choose whichever medium you wish to pursue.

Let your weird show. Draw pictures, doodles, connect lines, it doesn’t matter as long as you scribble something. 

Today’s assignment

Get a piece of copier paper and a handful of colored pens and pencils. Write!

Today I tried something new…

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 long stretch in marketing and advertising.

John may be contacted at: [email protected]

Dunn County 4-H Youth Win at State Dog Competition

Roxanne and Charlotte Walz. Submitted photo.

Dunn County 4-H members Roxanne and Charlotte Walz won first and second place in the 4-H Dog Rally Competition at the State Dog Show held at the Langlade County Fairgrounds in Antigo on Sept 27-28. Roxanne and Charlotte both also placed in the top ten in their class.

Congratulations Roxanne and Charlotte.

Source: Dunn County 4-H Newsletter

Community Invited to Join SDMA ParentSquare Community Groups

The School District of the Menomonie Area is excited to invite community members to stay connected and informed through ParentSquare Community Groups.

By joining, you’ll receive timely updates on:

  • District-wide news & announcements

  • School closure alerts

  • Event notifications

  • Bus delays & cancellations

It’s easy to join! Just click HERE to get started.

Note: These groups are designed for community members who are not parents or SDMA staff. (Parents and SDMA staff: No need to sign up—you're already connected through your existing ParentSquare account).

Let’s stay connected and informed—join today!

Source: SDMA Facebook Page

Dunn County Transit - The Stout Route is Back

DC Transit Facebook Page

By MNN Staff

With the return of fall semester at UW-Stout, the Dunn County Transit “Stout Route” is back. The route is open to community members with the same fees as if using the Community Route.

Here are links with more information:

MTG’s “Charley’s Aunt: A Menomonie Farce” Opens this Weekend

Menomonie, WI – This fall, Menomonie Theater Guild invites audiences to step back in time with a fresh, steampunk-inspired adaptation of Brandon Thomas’s classic farce Charley’s Aunt.

Directed and modified by Russell Slack, the production will take the stage at the historic Mabel Tainter Theater—built in 1889—on October 10, 11, and 12, as well as October 16, 17, and 18.

Set in 1905 at a fictionalized UW–Stout, this version blends Victorian and Edwardian style with whimsical steampunk flair. While rooted in the charm and wit of the original 1892 play, the local adaptation brings a unique visual style and Midwest flavor that makes it unlike anything Chippewa Valley audiences have seen before.

“This isn’t just a period comedy—it’s a heartfelt look at the sometimes ridiculous, sometimes tender lengths we go to for the people we love,” says Director Russell Slack. “My hope is that audiences leave the theater smiling, feeling entertained, and maybe even recognizing a bit of themselves in these characters.”

The story follows a group of young students whose plans for romance are upended by unexpected guests, mistaken identities, and a whirlwind of comedic situations. The inventive steampunk design adds an extra layer of visual delight while honoring the historic beauty of the Mabel Tainter stage.

“Working in such a beautiful, historic venue inspires us to blend history with creativity,” adds Slack. “This show is going to be a feast for the eyes and the heart.”

Tickets: Visit Menomonietheaterguild.org online or in person at the Menomonie Theater Guild Box Office (502 2nd St W) Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30-3:30.

Location: All performances will take place at the Mabel Tainter Theater, 205 Main Street, Menomonie

Performance Dates & Times:

● Fri Oct 10 @ 7:30 PM ● Sat Oct 11 @ 7:30 PM ● Sun Oct 12 @ 2 PM ● Fri Oct 17 @ 7:30 PM ● Sat Oct 18 @ 7:30 PM ● Sun Oct 19 @ 2 PM

Menomonie Theater Guild is a nonprofit community theater organization committed to bringing high-quality theatrical productions to the Menomonie area. Since its founding, the Guild has fostered local talent, nurtured creativity, and provided a space for the community to come together through the power of live theater.

Source: Menomonie Theater Guild

Public Meetings: Week of Oct 8-15

City of Menomonie

Mon Oct 13 Recreation Advisory Board, 7pm

Tues Oct 14 Tourism Commission, 11am

Wed Oct 15 Urban Forestry Board, 1 pm

Click HERE for summary of the Oct 6 City Council Meeting.

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

Fri Oct 10 No School

Mon Oct 13 No School; School Board Meeting, 5:45 pm, ASC

Click HERE for full calendar, additional details

Dunn County

Wed Oct 15 Planning, Resource & Development, 8:30 am; Board of Supervisors, 7pm

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance

Photo: Debra Bell

Wed Oct 8 Farmer’s Market, 10am - 6pm

Thur Oct 9 Day of Caring, 7:30am to 1 pm, begins at Bill’s Distribution

Fri Oct 10 MTG’s “Charley’s Aunt” opens, 7:30pm, Mabel Tainter (performances through Oct 19)

Sat Oct 11 Farmer’s Market, 8am - 1pm;

Sun Oct 12 Walk for Paws, 12-3pm, Rassbach Museum

Mon - Oct 13 Medicare Pathfinder Workshop, 2:30-4:00 pm, ADRC, Govt Center (call 715-232-4006)

Wed Oct 15 Farmer’s Market, 10am-6pm (LAST MARKET)

MHS Extracurricular Activities

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

Wed Oct 1

Congratulations to the Girls Tennis Team on a successful performance at the BRC tournament yesterday! Isabel Sorensen at 1 singles finished 2nd place in the tournament earning first team all conference! Kylah Gilbertson and Elodie Long at 3 doubles also finished 2nd place earning 2nd team all conference, ending the regular season with a 14-3 record! Presley Verdon at 3 singles and Emma Lorenzen at 4 singles both finished 3rd place.

Congratulations to the Girls Cross Country Team for their outstanding performance on Friday at the Marshfield Night Meet. There were 43 teams and 323 runners total in the race. The Mustang girls placed first as a team and had 5 runners finish in the top 15. Lauren McCalla won the meet by 45 seconds, tying the school record with a 5k time of 17:32. Bree Barfknecht finished 8th while Bella Drake, running a lifetime PR, finished 9th overall. Bennett Schmidt was 12th while Addie Schuler finished 15th. Special congratulations to Aubrie Schlueter, who won the homecoming queen title before running a massive PR to finish in the top third of the race.

Fri Oct 3

The JV Boys Soccer Team tied River Falls last night with Seth Ray & Landon Delany leading from the net. The Varsity Soccer Team took home a win over River Falls with a clean sheet held by Aidan Kroening and a goal scored off of a header in the box from Ryan Xu. Congratulations Mustangs!

The Mustangs Girls Golf Team ended their season in the Regional Finals at Lake Wissota Golf in Chippewa Falls Thursday finishing in 9th place. Leading the way for the Mustangs were Maggie Winsand carding a 90 good for 15th place out of 45 golfers. Unfortunately Maggie was 1 shot out of qualifying for the individual Sectionals. Others scoring for the Mustangs were Lucia Santibanez with a 93 good for 19th place, followed by Evy Asher, Cierra House & Zoey Cleveland. Thank you to our Seniors Maggie & Cierra for your 4 year dedication to the Mustangs Girls golf team. You have set a foundation for Girls Golf for years to come! Coach Hastings is very proud of how this young team competed this year!

Last night, the Girls Swim and Dive Team had a home dual meet against Chippewa Falls. Some notable performances include: a first place finish for the 200 medley relay consisting of Elsa Bowman, Addison McKown, Kalyn Fisher, and Ellie Zydowsky, a 6 dive personal record for Ofelia Prechel, and the academic weapon Bri Klimek with three swimming personal records in freestyle events. Great job swimmers and divers!

Mon Oct 6

Congrats to the JV Girls Tennis Team on a successful weekend at the Big Rivers Conference tournament. The #1 doubles team of Kaitlyn Oberle and Caitlin Dunbar took 1st place, Darla Woodford and Kate Schofield at #2 doubles took 3rd place, and the 3 doubles team of Valeria Valdelamar and Tristynn Englund took 3rd place. Pearl Swaenepoel at 3 singles and Raegan Upadel at 4 singles both took 3rd place as well. Great season and good luck to the varsity team who is competing at the sub sectional tournament today!

Tues Oct 7

The Sophomore Football Team lost to New Richmond 30-16 last night. The are now 5-2 on the season and will play River Falls next week Monday the 13th at the MHS sports complex. The Varsity Reserve Football Team battled the St. Croix Central Panthers last night at home. The Mustangs played great and won 52-18. The Mustangs finished the season at 5-1, great job this year! Go Mustangs!  

Congrats to the #3 doubles Girls Tennis Team of Kylah Gilbertson and Elodie Long on making it to Sectionals after beating New Richmond in a super tiebreaker. They will play in Eau Claire tomorrow! Great season to everyone else who competed.

Menomonie Collegians

Former Mustangs Shine on Collegiate Cross Country Courses

Brooklyn Hoff is in her second year as a distance runner for UW-Stevens Point. Photo: UW-Stevens Point Sports Information

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

The Mustang stampede is stretching well beyond Menomonie this fall. Former standouts Brooklyn Hoff, Gaby Skorczewski, Bella Jacobsen, Peter Cimino, Grant Burns and Conor Norby are carrying their cross country strides into college, showcasing the program’s reach across Wisconsin, Minnesota and beyond.

Brooklyn Hoff – UW-Stevens Point
Brooklyn Hoff, a 2024 Menomonie graduate, is in her second season at UW-Stevens Point and is one of the Pointers’ top distance runners. She has competed in three meets this season — placing 35th in the 6-kilometer run at the Phoenix Open (23 minutes, 53.4 seconds); setting a personal best of 22:53.4 at the UW-Oshkosh Titan Fall Classic; and competing at the Blugold Open, placing 94th of 337 runners in a time of 24:16.1 in the 6K.

During the 2024 season, Hoff ran in six meets, finishing 60th at the Roy Griak Invitational (24:39.6) and logging a personal best of 23:09.2 at the WIAC Championships. She led the Pointers at the NCAA Division III North Region Championship, finishing 45th (23:20.5).

At Menomonie, Hoff earned eight varsity letters in cross country and track and field. She was the first Mustang girl to qualify for state all four years, was named district runner of the year as a junior, and earned first-team all-conference that same season. She received second-team all-conference honors as a freshman. Hoff is majoring in biology.

Gaby Skorczewski – Lawrence University
Now in her third season with the Lawrence University women’s cross country team, Skorczewski has yet to compete in a meet during the 2025 season. The Vikings return to action Saturday, Oct. 11, when they host the Gene Davis Invitational.

Last season, Skorczewski ran in six of the Vikings’ seven meets. She competed at the Midwest Conference Championship on Nov. 2, where the Vikings won the team title. Skorczewski finished 50th individually (25:44.3) in the 6K and set a personal best of 25:21.0 at the Gene Davis Invitational on Oct. 12. She earned Academic All-Midwest Conference honors in 2024.

Bella Jacobsen – University of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin women’s cross country team posted a perfect score in winning the Badger Classic on Sept. 19, and 2022 Menomonie graduate Bella Jacobsen, a redshirt junior, led the way with a first-place finish in 21:45.9 in the 6K run. The Badgers swept the top five spots to score a perfect 15 points. Jacobsen opened the season by placing 26th at the Mizzou Opener (18:14.8) on Aug. 29.

The Badgers are next scheduled to host the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, Oct. 17.

At Menomonie, Jacobsen was a conference and sectional champion, district runner of the year, and placed fifth at the state cross country meet as a senior. As a junior, she won her first conference individual title and earned all-state honors. Jacobsen also received second-team all-conference recognition as a freshman and sophomore.

Peter Cimino – UW-Stout
A freshman at UW-Stout, Peter Cimino has competed in three meets this season. He placed 20th at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational with a time of 16 minutes, 48.2 seconds in the 5K (xxx location); 98th at the St. Olaf Invitational in 28:02.1 for the 8K; and 268th of 322 at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational at Whitetail Golf Course with a time of 27:44.2 in the 8K.

Cimino, a 2025 Menomonie graduate, was a member of the Mustangs’ team that advanced to the WIAA State Cross Country Championships. He was Menomonie’s second finisher at state, placing 71st (17:09.2) in the 5K. Cimino finished 13th (16:54.1) at the 2024 Big Rivers Conference meet, earning second-team all-conference honors, and placed 12th (16:36.8) at the Division I sectional meet.

Grant Burns – Taylor University
Taylor University, an NAIA program in Upland, Ind., is currently ranked No. 5 nationally and is coming off an eighth-place finish at the 2024 NAIA Cross Country Championship. Grant Burns, a 2025 Menomonie graduate, is recovering from an injury and awaiting his first collegiate race.

As a Mustang captain in 2024, Burns finished the season 11th on the Big Rivers Conference honor roll, clocking 16:35.10 at the Menomonie Relays before his injury cut short his season. He earned seven varsity letters between cross country and track and field and was named team MVP. Burns is majoring in biochemistry.

Conor Norby – Winona State University
Conor Norby is in his third year at NCAA Division II Winona State. Last season, he competed in six meets, including the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship, where he finished 45th in the 8K (25:34.4), and the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship, where he finished 104th in the 10K (32:55.7).

This season, Norby ran at the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota, placing 81st (28:26.2) in the 8K and finished 14th (27:56.70) at the Griffon Invitational at Missouri Western Oct. 4.

A 2023 Menomonie graduate, Norby was a Mustang captain, earned all-conference honors, and was a state qualifier.

Blue Devils Earn NCAA Golf Bid, Capture WIAC Crown

Congratulations go out to the UW-Stout women’s golf team who captured its first WIAC women’s golf championship since 2016, cruising to a 48-stroke victory. Junior Julia Imai repeated as individual champion with a 230 (+14), while Brin Neumann was runner-up. All five Blue Devils finished in the top nine as Sophia Connett earned her second straight WIAC Coach of the Year honor. The Blue Devils will compete at the NCAA Championship in May, 2026.

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/

For a Calendar of Events in the Menomonie Area, visit Kathy Weber’s Menomonie Minute.

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