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Your local Menards home improvement store is now serving as a drop site for a local food pantry through the month of March, 2026.Menards offers a wide variety of non-perishable food items that can be donated to the food pantries.There is a large collection box near the exit doors to place donations.

Among the class of nearly 130 Graduate Studies students who crossed the commencement stage at University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Dec. 20 ceremony, four were recognized by faculty and staff as inspiring graduates whose stories represent what it is to be Stout Proud.  The graduates shared their university experiences, setbacks and successes in UW-Stout’s Inspiring Graduate Q&A series:  Inspiring Graduate: Hanahh Eggum, M.S. Training & Talent Development Eggum transferred to UW-Stout during her undergraduate years because it offered the only retail merchandising and management major

The case against an Eau Claire man accused of killing a neighbor is moving forward.  Shane Helmbrecht is charged with intentional homicide in the fatal shooting of neighbor Jenn Ward in 2016.  Helmbrecht had previously been found incompetent to stand trial, and was sent to a group home that he later walked away from — only to later be found in Mexico.  He has been appealing a September ruling that he is now competent to stand trial but that claim

Investigators have identified a wood-burning fireplace as the source of a Monday evening house fire in La Crosse.  The home on Cliffside Drive suffered significant damage in the blaze.  No injuries were reported.

A Sparta man charged in the fatal shooting of an elderly man in Tomah is pleading guilty.  Police arrested Ryan Goad a couple of hours after the New Year’s Eve 2024 shooting.  Goad pleaded guilty yesterday to charges including attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was committed to the Department of Health Services for a period of 40 years.

Bond is being set for the second of two men charged in connection with a deadly accidents on Lake Wissota.  Two jet skis collided on the lake on the night of May 23rd 2025 resulting in the death of 24-year-old Elle Jo Kramschuster.  Kramschuster had been a passenger on Bruce Sanborn’s jet skis.  Sanborn and Sean Irvine have each been charged with second-degree reckless homicide.  Bond for Irvine was set Tuesday at ten-thousand dollars.

 Two of Wisconsin’s largest pediatric hospitals are hitting the pause button on gender-affirming care for minors.  UW Health and Children’s Wisconsin confirmed the move yesterday.  The decision comes weeks after the federal Health and Human Services Department announced it would stop Medicaid and Medicare payments to healthcare facilities providing the treatment.  Children’s Wisconsin said it would continue mental and behavioral health services for those who seek it. 

A Watertown Culver’s is helping out the family of a man hit and killed by an alleged drunk driver.  The restaurant on Church Street gave 25 percent of its proceeds from yesterday’s sales to the family of Cole Strohbusch, who was killed in an alleged hit-and-run last month.  The driver of the truck was later arrested and charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and hit and run causing death.  Strohbusch, who was 35 years old, is survived

A Janesville-based grocery store is among the best in the US. Retail consumer data company Dunnhumby looked at the 81 largest grocers in the country, and ranked them based on customer perception and their financial results. Woodman’s Market came in third on the list, thanks in part to the prices it offers and promotions for more savings. The grocery store has several locations in our state, including here in Altoona. CLICK FOR MORE!

Sheriff Travis Hakes recently shared the following information on a missing persons case: