Welcome to Issue 18 of Menomonie News Net! If you’ve missed past issues you can catch up HERE. Please share and encourage people to join our email list. MNN is free and we plan to keep it that way. We particularly hope to build our base of donors who contribute monthly since these donations help us plan our budget. Click the button below and choose the recurring option OR one-time donation. Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

Now read on for your Menomonie news! For the community, by the community….

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

Website: menomonienewsnet.org Submit News: [email protected]

In this Issue…

• No Roundabouts in Menomonie??

• Bridge to Hope Fundraiser

• MHS Grads: Justin Schwarz

• Free Electronics Recycling May 1

• Museum Welcomes Four-Legged Visitors

• Apr 1 Election: What’s on My Ballot?

• Mayor Wants Everyone to Love Menomonie

• Discover Opportunities at Rotary Social

• Public Meetings This Week

• Dartball Still At-Bat

• UW-Stout Blue Devils Advance to Final Four

No Roundabouts in Menomonie??

Why there aren’t any and what’s being considered

By Linda Olson

The City of Menomonie together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) have been exploring the use of roundabouts for at least a decade. At the April 2024 meeting of the Menomonie City Council a resolution was passed endorsing the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 25, County Road BB West and Wilson Street. Also under consideration is the intersection of Highway 25, County Road BB East and Northline Road.

The fate of the proposed roundabout north of Menomonie rests with whether funding will be provided from the Wisconsin DOT. Those funds originate from the federal government, and it is unclear whether those dollars have been released to the State. A decision is expected within six months.

These two intersections just north of Menomonie account for a total of 35 crashes since 2001 according to the Wisconsin DOT’s Community Maps statistics. The types of injuries range from property damage only to severe injuries including one fatality in February of 2024.

The University of Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Lab states that “converting two-way stop control intersections to single lane roundabouts decreases fatal and injury crashes by 51.9% in rural areas.” Potential reasons for these reductions include reduced speeds while navigating roundabouts, no red traffic signals to beat, and one way traffic within roundabouts.

However, while crash severity may be reduced, accidents will still occur. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that crashes most commonly occur when a vehicle merges into the circular roadway or upon exiting a multilane roundabout.

According to David Schofield, Menomonie’s Director of Public Works, reduction of injuries and property damage is the among the factors taken into consideration when evaluating an intersection for construction or renovation. He said that engineering, safety, traffic, intersection control studies, public support and funding are key factors.

For example, in 2013 a roundabout was strongly considered at the intersection of Highway 12 and Red Cedar Street on the east side of Menomonie. However, the traffic signal was the most cost effective since the necessary electrical infrastructure had already been installed during the reconstruction of Highway 12. The frontage roads which parallel Highway 12 made the space requirement for a roundabout impractical.

Another proposed roundabout at Pine Ave and Highway 25 in north Menomonie was deemed unfeasible because easements could not be attained from at least one property owner.

Public support of any proposed roadway is critical. Roundabouts are no exception. Menomonie resident Joan Pougiales describes roundabouts as being good for locals, but if you are unfamiliar with the area they are confusing and difficult to navigate.

The IIHS found in a recent survey that prior to roundabout construction about 31% of drivers support roundabouts. But, after gaining experience, drivers favored roundabouts by 63% of those surveyed.

The IIHS states roundabouts have a variety of design features that can help to alleviate driver confusion and anxiety. Examples include decreased speed limits, yield signs, “roundabout ahead” signage, pavement marking and good lighting.

Linda Olson is a Menomonie resident.

Editor’s Note: Linda Olson provided an update to this article: On March 12, two crashes occurred at the intersection of Hwy 25 and John Deere Implement (one of the sites being considered for a roundabout). The crashes involved multiple vehicles and injuries.

Bridge to Hope Fundraiser on May 3

Designer Purse Bingo is a fun way for individuals to get together to play bingo with a chance at winning a designer purse! Purchasing a ticket will allow individuals to play 10 rounds of Bingo with 2 additional specialty games that will give you a chance to win either a Coach, Michael Kors, or Kate Spade purse. There will be 50 purses up for grabs during this event, with multiple chances to win one! Doors open at 11:00am and Bingo will start at 1:00pm.

A $50 ticket will allow participants to play 10 rounds of Bingo. Any purses that are remaining at the end of the 10th round will be raffled off at the end of the event. There will also be other raffle items and specialty games that will be played during the event. Raffle tickets will be sold during the event.

Tanglewood Greens will also have a buffet option for participants to purchase for a lunch option prior to bingo starting, from 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. This is an additional cost and can be purchased as an add-on with your ticket.

Source: The Bridge to Hope

The Bridge to Hope in Menomonie provides FREE & CONFIDENTIAL services to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

Dunn County Free Electronics Recycling May 1

Menomonie, Wis.  – Dunn County is holding a free Electronics Recycling Event from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Dunn County Rec Park, 620 17th Street SE, Menomonie. 

This event will be in the Small Animal Building and gives residents a convenient and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unwanted electronics. A wide range of items will be accepted, including: 

✅ Flat Screen & Tube TVs ✅ Projection & Wood Console TVs ✅ Flat Screen & Tube Monitors ✅ Desktop Computer Towers ✅ Laptops & Chromebooks ✅ Keyboards & Mice ✅ Computer Speakers ✅ Tablets & Cell Phones ✅ Small Scale Servers ✅ DVD, VHS & Blu-Ray Players ✅ VCRs & DVRs ✅ Satellite Receivers ✅ Routers & Modems ✅ Desktop Printers & Scanners ✅ Desktop Fax Machines ✅ Hard Drives & Flash Drives

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to recycle their electronics safely, responsibly and for no charge. By participating in this event, community members can help reduce electronic waste and promote sustainability. 

Dynamic Lifestyle Innovations, a registered Wisconsin electronics recycler, is partnering with the county for this event.  More information is available at https://thinkdynamic.com/solutions/electronics-recycling/. 

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations will be transporting and recycling all materials collected at this event. Dynamic has stringent security measures to ensure any data on hard drives and other electronic devices will remain secure. Dynamic wipes all data from electronic devices. 

Contact Scott Nabbefeld, Dunn County Facilities & Parks Manager [email protected] (715) 231-6471  

Rassbach Museum to Welcome Four-Legged Visitors March 29

Attend to learn about Can Do Canines service dogs

Volunteers with service dogs in training will soon explore the galleries of the Dunn County Historical Society’s Rassbach Heritage Museum as part of their dogs’ preparation. On Sat, March 29 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the museum will host a “pack outing” to provide the canines an experience they might have assisting a future client.

The outing will also provide other museum visitors an opportunity to observe and learn more about how service dogs can transform the lives of the people they’re matched with.

The volunteers are associated with Can Do Canines, a Minnesota based non-profit organization that trains dogs to assist clients who live with disabilities involving mobility challenges, hearing loss or deafness, seizure disorders, autism or diabetes. They also train ‘facility dogs’ to be placed in locations such as hospitals or with a community service provider.

Volunteers in Wisconsin and Minnesota host dogs in their homes while the dogs are getting trained on the important tasks that they will assist clients with.

“We take them out in public and work on skills that they might need as an assistance dog one day,” said Erin Whitfield, volunteer and ‘pack leader. “Taking a dog out in public can be more stressful for dogs than it seems. The world is full of sights, sounds and smells that we take for granted, but that our dogs pick up on. We, the volunteers, have to become tuned in to our dogs. We have to start noticing small changes in them and then figuring out how best to train them in each situation.”

Whitfield noted that taking dogs to various public spaces exposes them to different stimuli. “When they are positively exposed to many different things, it should be easier for both the dog and the client down the road,” she said. “We don't know what the lifestyle of each client will look like, so we want to prepare the dogs for many different situations.”

Whitfield has volunteered for seven and a half years and has worked with about 115 dogs in training.

“The Rassbach Museum welcomes the opportunity to work with other non-profits and service organizations,” said Melissa Kneeland, executive director of the historical society. “This event is a first for us, and we’re excited to play a small role in such important work.”

An information table will be available in the museum lobby to help visitors learn more about Can Do Canines and service dog etiquette. Visitors can also talk to the volunteers to learn more about their work and opportunities to volunteer. A ‘career-changed’ dog will be on hand for museum visitors who would like to be able to pet a dog.

Can Do Canines is one of the largest assistance dog organizations in the country and relies on volunteers to help raise and train dogs in their homes, helping them learn basic obedience and social skills.

For more information contact Melissa Kneeland, Executive Director Dunn County Historical Society 715-232-8685 [email protected]

Source: Media Release

April 1 Election: What’s on My Ballot?

By MNN staff

Want to see what’s on your ballot for the April 1 election?

The easiest and best way is to visit the website called MyVote Wisconsin, according to Andrew Mercil, Dunn County Clerk. Just fill in your street address, city and zip code and you will be taken to the sample ballot.

Information on your polling place is also given as well as absentee/early voting information.

Visit this website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot 

Note: an explanatory statement on the statewide ballot referendum question “photographic identification for voting” can be found HERE

Questions contact Dunn County Clerk’s Office: 715-232-1677 or [email protected]

The League of Women Voters also hosts a website with ballot information, how to register to vote, a voters guide where candidates answer questions, and much more at vote411.org

Mayor Randy Knaack Wants Everyone to Love Menomonie

By Naomi Cummings

Menomonie Mayor Randy Knaack says he is a strong believer in giving back. "It's not about the title; it's about community service," he said.

When he was elected mayor in 2010, he imagined that he would be doing a lot of administrative work. "Lowell Prange, the City Administrator at the time, told me, 'We don't need you here in the office; we need you out there talking to people.''

"I also received some great advice from former Mayor Chuck Stokke. He said to ask folks what their opinions and thoughts were first, and then offer my perspective."

Along with being the mayor of Menomonie, Knaack also drives a 4K school bus, and runs an advertising business with his wife. "I just love driving the bus; those kids are so much fun," he said.

In the past sixteen years, Menomonie has seen increased recreational opportunities for individuals and families. "My number one goal is to make Menomonie a family-friendly community. The more fun things we have for families to do, the more fun for everyone," he said. New bike trails, such as the extension of Junction Trail over the Red Cedar River to Menomin Park is one example. Another is the wintertime transition of Wolske Bay into a fun place for families to ice skate and enjoy bonfires and camaraderie.

"I'd like to put electric bikes downtown for folks to rent, as well as surrey bikes. Families could use them in town, or on the bike trails," said Knaack. His future plans includes a community ice shack with pre-drilled holes to introduce kids to the joy of ice-fishing. He'd also like to offer cross-country skis that folks can check-out, and more pickle ball courts.

Along with recreational opportunities, business growth and affordable housing are his top concerns, he said. "I'm really proud of our 'Home Sweet Menomonie' program that helps families purchase a home within city limits." Twenty-four area businesses and agencies partner with the City of Menomonie to fund a revolving $10,000 home loan program. City Administrator Eric Atkinson says, "We have given 75 loans, and some have already been paid off."

Mayor Knaack says, "My job is to promote Menomonie, and to get other folks around the state to consider moving their business to our industrial park. We've had continued growth in that area."

Another project Mayor Knaack said he is proud of is Project Hope. "When I became mayor, I met with the chief of police and I told him if he could figure out a way to curb the problems of drug addiction in our community, I'd make every effort to give him everything he needs." The City Council voted to provided some initial funding and a special youth response program was started in the schools. Additional funding grants of almost $600,000 from the State of Wisconsin provided funds to expand the program into the community.

Project Hope employs evidence-based strategies to provide people with treatment and to reduce the stigma of addiction. Eric Atkinson, the former Chief of Police, said, "Project Hope was part of the mayor's vision to truly help families struggling with the many facets of drug addiction, and bring an end to the cycle of drugs and violence."

Mayor Knaack added that both he and Chief Eric Atkinson, (now City Administrator), have traveled around the country to share the success of Project Hope, and encourage other communities to adopt similar programs.

"I'm proud of the many ways that Menomonie has gotten more inviting and welcoming. From the four “Welcome to Menomonie” signs to the growth in the Industrial Park, Menomonie lives up to its motto of Traditional yet Progressive," said Knaack.

Mayor Knaack said that he hadn't yet decided if he'll run for office again in 2026. "I initially ran on cleaning-up the lake. Being mayor has been a lot of fun. I want to see Project Hope, the Menomonie Lake clean-up project, and business growth continue. So, we'll see," he said.

"I'm probably the luckiest mayor in the whole state. We're right here in the middle of God's country, with so much to offer. We want folks to say, "We love Menomonie!"

Naomi Cummings is a retired nonprofit director and proud Menomonie resident since 1980.

Discover Opportunities at Rotary Social

Tuesday, April 1 - 5 - 7 p.m. - 6th Avenue Cidery - Free Event

Join us for an evening of great conversation, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and community connection as we welcome spring!

See Rotary in Action. Learn about service projects like Rotary Feeds and sign up to volunteer.

Be Inspired. Hear from retired Judge Rod Smeltzer on how service transforms communities.

Make a Difference. Connect with community leaders and find hands-on volunteer opportunities.

RSVP by calling 715.232.8019 or online here 

Hosted by the Noon Rotary Club of Menomonie & the Menomonie Sunrise Rotary Club

Public Meetings This Week

City of Menomonie

Wed Mar 19 Urban Forestry Board - 1 p.m. - Rm 058 City Hall

Mon Mar 24  City Council Meeting - 7 p.m. - Council Chambers

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

Mar 17-21  Spring Break

Mon Mar 24 School Board Meeting - 5:45 p.m. Knapp Elementary School

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed Mar 19: Board of Supervisors - 7:00 p.m.; Thur Mar 20: Health & Human Services 6 p.m.; Fri Mar 21: Traffic, Safety & EMS - 9 a.m.; Mon Mar 24: Judiciary & Law - 5:30 p.m.; Wed Mar 26: Facilities - 5 p.m.

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Dartball Still At-Bat

At One Time, Menomonie Had 24 Teams, 359 Players

Editor’s Note: Dartball has been played in Menomonie and the Dunn County area for more than nine decades, almost since the sport’s invention by a Philadelphia dart company in 1923. Popular in church basements, with a heyday in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, the indoor game based on baseball is played during the winter and still is played in the Menomonie area. The Menomonie dartball scene at one time boasted 24 teams from around the city and county, with many churches fielding two or three teams. Menomonie News Net contributor Phil Diser put together a history of dartball in the Dunn County area.

By Phil Diser

MENOMONIE – Dartball barely hangs on today in the Dunn County area with one small league after being introduced to the area 91 years ago and being very popular for more than 40 years.

From the 1940s,  when the first local tournaments were held, to the early 80s, when nearly 20 teams competed in two divisions of the league, hundreds of players competed in dartball. Today, the only league in the Menomonie area, the Colfax Church League, has only six teams— Big Elk Creek Lutheran Church, Salem Iron Creek United Methodist Church, Menomonie UMC,  Popple Creek Lutheran Church, Tainter UMC, and Trinity (Elk Mound) UMC.

The league holds three competitions every Tuesday evening from October 14 last year to March 10, with a tournament scheduled Monday, March 17 at the Memomonie United Methodist Church. During the season, each team plays the others four times, two as the home team, two as the visitors.

The league was founded Jan. 20, 1947, when Colfax Methodist Church met with other churches to organize it. At one time the league had 15 teams, including one at Colfax (now UMC) and two at Tainter Evangelical (now UMC). Now players from both churches play on one team. Memomonie UMC joined last year.

Go to Phil’s complete story at our website to see if you can spot a brother, father, grandfather who played dartball.

Phil Diser is a former UW-Stout English instructor, PR guy, and publisher of “Visitor’s Guide to Memomonie” 1988-2007.

UW-Stout Blue Devils Advance to Final Four

Menomonie’s Mary Berg Plays Vital Role in Blue Devil Season

By Layne Pitt

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Final Four for the first time in school history with two wins last weekend in Scranton, Pa. The Blue Devils' Mary Berg, a freshman from Menomonie, has not just been along for the ride, but has played a pivotal role for the Blue Devils off the bench throughout the season and during the NCAA tournament.

Berg, a 5-11, guard, was the one of the first off the bench for UW-Stout all season. The Blue Devils (23-7) hosted the first two rounds of the playoff, March 7-8. Berg drilled three 3-pointers to finish with nine points in the Blue Devils' 87-57 first round romp over Ripon College. Berg added two points and an assist in Stout's second round 75-69 win over seventh-ranked Whitman College.

In Stout's 62-56 win in the Sweet Sixteen over UW-Whitewater, March 14, in Scranton, Pa., Berg hit a key 3-pointer to give Stout a seven point lead with six minutes remaining, finishing with five points and two assists. The next night, in an 81-77 Elite Eight win over the University of Scranton, Berg helped to put an end to the Royals 32-game home winning streak with a pair of rebounds and some tough-nosed defense.

Since coming up short in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament, falling to Whitewater, 69-63, in Johnson Fieldhouse in the semi-final game, the Blue Devils have been on a tear. Stout would go through the tournament, ending the seasons for four teams that had a combined 103-12 record before meeting the Blue Devils. Ripon, the Midwest Conference champion, was 23-4 coming and was the only team that was not ranked in the March 2 D3hoops.com national poll. Whitman College (27-1) was ranked sixth, Whitewater (24-6) was ranked 16th and Scranton (29-1) was ranked third. The Blue Devils entered the tournament ranked 22nd in the D3hoops.com poll.

The Blue Devils will face their biggest and most lofty team of the season in the opener of the Final Four, when they meet No. 1-ranked and defending national champion New York University (29-0) Thursday, March 20 at 4 pm (CT) in Salem, Va. Ticket information and streaming information can be found at the Blue Devils Athletics site: UW-Stout Blue Devil Athletics or at: the Women’s Basketball Division III Championship site | Streaming at ESPN+ ($)

To read the complete story, including a preview of the upcoming game, go to the Menomonie News Net website.

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

The story “Blue Devils Advance to FInal Four” 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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