Menomonie News Net

August 27, 2025, Issue 41

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Local News Group
August 27, 2025

Thanks for reading Issue 41 of Menomonie News Net. If you missed previous Issues, you can catch up HERE.

In this issue…more on the proposed data center…hear from the new county manager Dan Dunbar….learn about a state hearing on Fair Voting Maps to be held in Menomonie. And…the Mabel Tainter welcomes Menomonie native Jason Day West to the stage.

Inform - Connect - Engage is the goal of MNN.

Please donate as you are able…online OR by mail: check payable to MNN, Address: P.O. Box 63, Menomonie. We are moving toward the next phase of hiring a part-time editor.

By the community, for the community….

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

In this Issue…

Potential Data Center FAQs

Since the discussion of the proposed data center project at the Common Council meeting in early July, the City has received many thoughtful questions and feedback from community members.

To help address these concerns, we have created a new webpage featuring Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) along with other relevant documents related to this potential project.

View the latest FAQ here.

We will continue to publish updated FAQs and documents as new information becomes available, both on our webpage and on our Facebook page. If you have more specific questions, please email us at [email protected].

While this process is still in its early stages, we know how important it is to provide information in a timely and transparent way. We are committed to continuing to grow in both areas throughout this process.

Source: City of Menomonie Facebook Page

Back-to-School Shop With a Cop

Back-to-school smiles all around! Earlier this month, our Shop with a Cop event brought together Menomonie Police officers and local kids for a day of fun, friendship, and shopping for school essentials. Seeing the excitement and confidence on these kids’ faces as they prepared for the year ahead was truly special.

This day would not have been possible without the generosity of our amazing sponsors:

  • Walmart

  • Papa John’s

  • Kwik Trip

  • The Women’s Giving Circle

  • J.J. Ahern Co

  • Cardinal Glass

  • Stout Craft Co

  • WESTconsin Credit Union

Thank you for investing in our youth and helping make sure they start the year ready to succeed.

Source: Menomonie Police Dept Facebook Page

Jason Dea West Performs at the Mabel Tainter

Menomonie native returns to his hometown Fri Sept 5

Facebook photo

Jason Dea West and the Siskiyou Crest

Friday, Sept 5 - 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

American poet, songwriter and troubadour (Folk, country, western, traditional and alternative) Jason Dea West is an American troubadour who sings what he lives and lives what he sings.

Wests’ poignant lyrics are brilliantly blended with vintage country, folk and blues, and timely sensibilities. From epic guitar and harmonica instrumentals to humorous song as story, Jason never strays very far from the anarchic punk-folk roots of his beloved former band Barefoot Surrender and his celebrated current band Intuitive Compass.

Tickets here.

Read more at the Mabel Tainter Center website .

August County Manager Message with Dan Dunbar

‘Round One’ of the 2026 budget

We’re excited to share the first County Manager Message from Dan Dunbar, Dunn County’s new County Manager!

In this video, Dan talks about an important annual event — the County Board’s August Budget Workshop. This workshop is the first step in shaping next year’s county budget. It gives supervisors the chance to see the big picture, discuss priorities, and prepare for the decisions ahead. Click HERE to watch the video.

Highlights include:

  • What “Round One” of the budget means

  • Key differences between 2025 and the proposed 2026 budget

  • How Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) helps us focus on programs and services that matter to residents

  • Major decisions the Board will consider in the coming months

The county budget is the most important decision the Board makes each year — and this workshop helps set the stage.

Source: Dunn County Facebook Page

Red Cross Blood Drives in September

By MNN Staff

Five blood drives are scheduled in Menomonie for the month of September.

To view a list and/or make an appointment click here.

  • Tues Sept 2: Stout Craft Co, 1501 N Broadway - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Wed Sept 3: New Hope Lutheran Church, N2698 460th St, Downsville - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • Mon Sept 8: Brewery Nonic, 621 4th St W, Menomonie - Noon - 5 p.m.

  • Wed Sept 10: UW-Stout, 302 10th Ave E - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

  • Fri Sept 19: Grace Episcopal Church, E4357 451st Ave - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Watch this video for Busting Blood Donation Myths.

Source: American Red Cross

Farmland Owners: Survey Input Requested

Photo: Facebook Page

From field to future—help us plan it.

Farmland owners: Your input will help guide how Dunn County grows, farms, and preserves our land for the next decade.

Take the survey now.

Source: Dunn County Facebook Page

MHS Grads: Where are They Now?

John Higbee O’Neill - Class of 1959

By Judy Foust

John O’Neill is a jovial man who made this interview a pleasure! Sitting among the gorgeous summer flowers on a friend’s patio, we talked at length about his life experiences and career. A master storyteller, John shared some wonderful tales of life in Menomonie and beyond.

John’s family moved to Menomonie in 1946. One of his early memories took place in kindergarten. As John was walking to school on the first day, a boy (who shall remain nameless) came out of his house and punched John in the stomach. John had never seen this boy before, so had no idea what had compelled him to use John as a punching bag. The next day, the same thing happened. In order to sidestep the situation, on the third day of kindergarten, John took a different route to school. And yet, the boy intercepted him and delivered another stomach punch! Later during his elementary school years, John and this neighbor boy became friends.

Although John was never an athlete in high school, he was manager of the boys’ basketball team and he wrestled. He also was in the choir. In addition, since by this time, John’s mother Jean was a single mother (an English teacher in Menomonie) with five children, John—as the oldest—held two different jobs at area gas stations, serving as an attendant at Carrol (C.J.) Stratton’s DX Station and pumping gas/washing windows for Oz Topdahl at Standard Oil. He also worked at a gas station while in college.

John O’Neill - High school photo

Busy as he was, John did, however, have time to be one of a group he called the “naughty boys.” One of their tricks was throwing water balloons at passing vehicles on Highway 12. Because John was never one of the taller boys in his class, he remembers that when the police would chase the group, they described him as “a little boy that runs like a baby.”

Between their third and fourth year of high school, John and three friends took a driving trip to New York City, camping along the way. They were perhaps more self-confident than they should have been; he remembers that on their way back, they were twice woken by Chicago police officers concerned about their safety.

John attended Wisconsin State College-LaCrosse (now UW-LaCrosse) because it was close to home. He confessed, “my parents, when they were students at the University in Madison, had been members of a fraternity and a sorority. My mother hoped that La Crosse would not be a party school; but she was wrong!”

It was while John was at La Crosse that he met his wife Mary (Cookie) Buschmann when they were both acting in the play “Inherit the Wind.”

After graduation from La Crosse, John went on to the University of Minnesota, where he earned his PhD. in English Literature. In 1972 he accepted a position at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, a small liberal arts college. It was a perfect fit for John.

Current photo - John with wife Cookie

During his time at Hamilton, John was named to the Leavenworth Chair and the LeFevre Chair (the second faculty member to receive this honor at Hamilton). In addition, he won the Hamilton College Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.

After retirement from Hamilton in 2011, he continued to teach one course per year until COVID struck. That course studied the novels of Jane Austen and films of her works. John’s interest in “all things Austen” led him to become a scholar of that author. In 2014, he led a Jane Austen tour of England for Hamilton alumni, parents, and friends.

Cookie, too, found her niche at Hamilton. She served as the Director of the Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Center there. She participated in the Joint Math meetings of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America conference.

The couple has two children—John Markos O’Neill and Amy Elizabeth O’Neill Houck. John Markos and his wife live in San Francisco, where he works in the tech industry. They have two adult children. Amy, who lives in Alaska with her family, is a food writer and co-editor/publisher of the “Edible Alaska” magazine. She, too, has two children.

John and Cookie have been fortunate to have opportunities to become international travelers. Off the top of his head, John listed eleven different countries that he and Cookie have visited! But as the saying goes, “there’s no place like home.” The O’Neills still live in Clinton, New York in the house they moved into in 1972.

John Higbee O’Neill is an interesting man who has come far since his life in Menomonie.

As we closed our interview, John stated, “I was fortunate to have people help me everywhere I’ve been. I very much value their friendship and help.”

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]

Fair Voting Maps: Community Hearing on Proposed Independent Commission

Menomonie is one of several statewide hearing locations being held to gain input

Join the Wisconsin League of Women Voters and the Fair Maps Coalition for a community hearing at the Dunn County Judicial Center, 815 Stokke Parkway, Menomonie, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 11.

While Wisconsin currently has fair state legislative voting maps, they are only in place until the 2030 Census. To ensure fair voting maps for the future, an independent redistricting commission is being proposed. Statewide hearings are being planned to gain input.

Register here.

For more information contact Ellen Ochs at 715-235-0412.

Public Meetings: Week of Aug 27 - Sept 3

City of Menomonie

No meetings scheduled

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

No meetings scheduled

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed Aug 27 Board of Supervisors Budget Workshop - 5 p.m.

Thurs Aug 28 Neighbors Committee - 9 a.m.; Committee on Administration - 3 p.m.

Wed Sept 3 Planning Resource & Development Committee - 8:30 a.m.; CJCC Executive & Operations Committee - 11 a.m.

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance Aug 27 - Sept 3

Photo: Debra Bell

Wed Aug 27 - Farmer’s Market 10am - 6 pm; Red Cross Blood Drive, Andersen Corp, 201 Lookout Rd, 10 am to 4 pm.

Thur Aug 28 - Make It! Thursday at Fulton’s Workshop Rassbach Museum 5 - 8 pm; Trivia Night at Spirit Room, 7 - 9 pm

Fri Aug 29 - David Cook performance at Mabel Tainter 7:30 pm; Races at the Red Cedar Speedway 7pm

Sat Aug 30 - Farmer’s Market 8 am - 1 pm; Colfax Model Railroad Show & Sale 9am - 2pm

Mon Sept 1 - Labor Day

Tue Sept 2 - Red Cross Blood Drive, Stout Craft Co, 1501 N Broadway, 10 am to 4 pm; Dementia P.A.C.T Training by ADRC at Brewery Nonic 2 - 4pm

Wed Sept 3 - Farmer’s Market 10am - 6 pm; Red Cross Blood Drive, New Hope Lutheran Church, Downsville, 9 am - 3 pm

MHS Extracurricular News

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

Photo: Debra Bell

By MNN Staff

August 27

Congratulations to the Sophomore Football Team on winning their season opener against Eau Claire North 48-12. The sophomores will play Marshfield on Tuesday Sept 2 at the MHS sports complex.

The Lady Mustangs Golf Team are into the 2nd week of the season. This past Monday Aug 25 they competed at the 9 team 18 hole Chippewa Falls Invitational at Lake Wissota Golf finishing in 9th place. Leading the Mustangs were Senior Maggie Winsand carding a 103 good for 22nd place, Sophomore Evy Asher 106 (27th place), followed by Senior Cierra House 121, Sophomore Zoey Cleveland 142.

Tuesday the Lady Mustangs Golfers were at the 18 hole 9 team Old Abe Invitational at Wild Ridge. Leading the way were Evy Asher carding a 99 good for 21st place, Maggie Winsand 103 (24th place) followed by Cierra House 116 & Zoey Cleveland 142. The Lady Mustangs improved 31 shots since the first invite last Thursday. They continue to improve every meet. Next up is the first 9 hole event of the season at the BRC meet at New Richmond Golf this Thursday Aug 28. Go Mustangs!

The Menomonie Boys Soccer team kicked off the season with a win against Central yesterday in Tomah. Goals by Ryan Xu & Carlos Flores and leadership in the goal by Josh DeVries helped to lead the team to a big win last night! Great work, boys!

MHS Cross Country Primed for Another Big Year

Veteran Cores, Pack Running and the 50th Menomonie Relays Highlight Season Outlook

Menomonie High School will open their 2025 cross country season when they travel to the Husky Invitational Saturday, Aug. 30 in Eau Claire. Photo: MHS Cross Country

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

MENOMONIE — The Menomonie Mustangs enter the 2025 cross country season with veteran lineups, postseason expectations and a milestone meet to celebrate.

The girls team returns all seven varsity runners from a squad that swept through the 2024 regular season, captured conference and sectional championships, and placed seventh at the WIAA Division 1 state meet.

The boys team brings back five members of its state-qualifying lineup and will rely on its pack running to stay competitive in a deep Big Rivers Conference.

Girls return top seven

Head coach Craig Olson, now in his 28th year with Menomonie and 22nd leading the girls, said this year’s group may be one of the most balanced he has coached.

“This team has experience, talent and leadership,” Olson said. “They’ve had a great offseason and they’re ready to go.”

The Mustangs are led by Lauren McCalla, who finished sixth at the state meet last fall and added runner-up finishes in the 800m and 1600m at the WIAA state track meet. McCalla, the defending conference and sectional champion.

Supporting her is a strong cast. Bree Barfknecht was 23rd at state and earned all-state honorable mention. Bennett Schmitt took sixth in the 3200m at the state track meet after an all-conference cross country season. Bella Drake and Addison Schuler both broke 19:45 for 5k and ran on the Mustangs’ state 4x800m relay. Sara Palmer has shown offseason gains that could push her into the conference’s top 20. Schmitt and Palmer are team captains.

The team also adds Lexi Thalacker, a transfer from Elmwood who swept three Dunn-St. Croix Conference track titles.

Menomonie will be the Big Rivers favorite, although Eau Claire Memorial, Hudson and New Richmond will provide challenges. The sectional meet could be even tougher with Bloomer, the Division 2 state runner-up, joining the field alongside Memorial and Holmen.

At state, Neenah returns as the defending Division 1 champion, but Olson believes his team belongs in the mix with the state’s elite.

“We’re one of those teams that can be in the hunt,” Olson said. “If the girls keep progressing and stay healthy, we can do some special things.”

Boys return five from state

On the boys side, Adam Topper begins his 27th season as head coach with 26 runners on the roster, including five seniors, five juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.

The team will be anchored by five returners from last year’s state squad: Evan Olson, Luke Ray, Logan Topper, Owen Pelzel and Noah Winder.

“They all finished within 60 seconds of each other at state last year, with just a 17-second spread between our top five,” Topper said. “They’ve had a tremendous track season and offseason, and they’re ready to take the next step together.”

Depth will be a key question for the Mustangs, who graduated Peter Cimino (now running at UW-Stout), Ben Bowman, and captains Grant Burns and Caleb Cameron. Burns will compete collegiately at Taylor University once healthy.

“There’s a bit of a drop-off after our front five, and that will be our weakness this fall,” Topper said. “But the next group of eight to 10 boys are a great pack with similar abilities. If they come together and push each other, we could end up with very good depth.”

Assistant coaches Jake Cimino, Tanner Dehnke and Joel Anderson round out the staff.

Relays turn 50

This fall also marks the 50th annual Menomonie Relays, scheduled for Sept. 13. The meet was first organized in 1976 by Ed Roethke, run for years by Bob Peterson, and has been directed by Topper since 2002.

“It’s a unique meet in the area and now enjoys a long history,” Topper said. “It’s pretty special for our program to be hosting the 50th this fall.”

Tradition continues

Between the girls’ recent state appearances and the boys’ steady presence in sectional and state races, Menomonie cross country has built a tradition defined by pack running and consistency.

Menomonie opens the season Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Husky Invitational hosted by Eau Claire North.

With veteran rosters and the strength of tradition, Menomonie enters the 2025 season positioned for another memorable fall.

Chat GPT assisted in the production of this story.

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

“MHS Cross Country Primed for Another Big Year” 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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