Headlines

• Many races and referendum questions were called early Tuesday night, Nov. 3, in the General Election. The Barron Area School District’s $7.5 million operating referendum failed with 1,328 ‘Yes’ votes to 1,809 ‘No’ votes, which was 57 percent of school district voters. The referendum would have allowed the district to exceed the property tax levy limit by $1.5 million for 5 years and would have been used to help the district sustain educational programs and services.

• A major provider of frac sand will idle its town of Sumner mine for the winter season, but is not closing permanently, a company official said Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 Brett Walsh, regional manager for the Eau Claire-based business office of Source Energy, said that his company plans to continue operating both its mine and a rail offloading yard in Weyerhaeuser. Walsh confirmed the statement that workers who would be idled by the wintertime closure would be offered transfers.

• Barron County is experiencing a significant boom in new home construction, with single-family housing permits surging 54.3% so far this year as part of a steady statewide trend of housing growth. According to third-quarter data released by the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA), Barron County was one of the state’s strongest markets for residential construction, trailing only Sheboygan County in year-to-date growth. The local spike outpaces the broader state average, as municipalities across Wisconsin issued 10,678 permits during the first nine months of 2026—a 2.7% overall increase compared to 2025.

• Facing a budget deficit, the Rice Lake Area School District voted Oct. 26 to close Haugen Elementary School. At the meeting the School Board was presented with a number of options for cuts by Superintendent Randy Drost. Discussion of closing the school, which has much lower enrollment than the district’s other elementary schools, has been ongoing for some time.

• Milwaukee Brewer fans everywhere reveled in the team’s dominant October run to its first World Series championship. Among the many who followed the series to Tampa Bay were longtime Barron resident Mike Dietrich and his son, Rece.

  The Dietrichs’ decision to shell out for World Series tickets was a quick one.

  “Rece told me ‘You don’t have another 44 years to wait,’” said Mike, in reference to the team’s last appearance in the Fall Classic, a 4-3 series loss to St. Louis in 1982.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: A lot of people were surprised by the lopsided results of Tuesday’s election. So what are Republican’s saying about the reasons why? WPR has the story: Did Trump cause blue wave? Not all Wisconsin Republicans agree.

Headlines

• Voters have a lengthy ballot for this Fall General Election, from statewide and federal offices to a local school referendum. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. In addition to three statewide referendum questions, The Barron Area School District’s referendum asks to exceed the tax levy by $7.5 million, spread out over five years of $1.5 million per year.

• Retired Barron Area School District teacher Daniel Richard Hoffmann is being remembered by friends and colleagues here and in his hometown of Cumberland after he was killed in a two-vehicle crash on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, on the southern outskirts of Barronett. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a utility terrain vehicle operated by Devin James Guggenberger, 25, of Barronett, was crossing U.S. Hwy. 63 at 29 ½ Avenue when it collided with a southbound motorcycle operated by Hoffmann.

• Three people convicted 11 years ago in a murder-for-hire case have made official requests to have their sentences commuted or shortened, according to state court records. Trista Hrabak, who has been in prison since February 2015, is scheduled to appear at a hearing next Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2026, at the Barron County Justice Center. Two others convicted in the same case have also relocated from the state prison at Waupun to lesser-security facilities.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: For more election preview coverage, I would recommend the Wisconsin Public Radio Voter Guide and Wisconsin Eye’s Candidate Interviews.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• State and federal agricultural officials have confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Barron County, resulting in the euthanization of more than 41,000 birds to contain the highly contagious virus. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are coordinating a joint incident response following the discovery on Sunday, Oct. 19.

• A former Rice Lake woman charged with vehicular homicide after a fatal crash on U.S. Hwy. 53 more than two years ago has “met elements for” a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, according to Barron County Circuit Court records. Defendant Patricia L. Kronquist, 58, had been scheduled to go on trial Oct. 28, 2026, after entering the plea last July.

• The Barron News-Shield was among seven individuals and/or businesses honored Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at the Barron County Economic Development Corporation’s annual awards breakfast. The News-Shield, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026, earned one of two Longevity Awards, the other going to Barron Electric Cooperative, a 90-year-old operation this year. Other winners included Cameron-based 6FourAccord, which also hosted the breakfast, as Entrepreneur of the Year, Agonic Brewing and Cheese Louise, Rice Lake, Rising Star award, Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Outstanding Growth award, and Rice Lake real estate agent Casey Watters, Commitment to Community award.

• The Barron Area School District’s new childcare center is on the cusp of opening.

  With renovations nearly complete, the district is preparing to officially open Coco Nana’s Early Learning Center, located in the former district administration building across from Riverview Middle School. According to Andrew Sloan, Director of Business and Finance, the facility is targeting an opening date of around Nov. 1.

• Pioneer Village is gearing up for its second annual “Halloween In The Village,” and this year, the local scares are getting a competitive edge. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the historic grounds will transform into a spooky destination featuring family-friendly trick-or-treating by day and terrifying thrills by night. Expanding on the fresh direction introduced last year, the highlight of this year’s expanded event is a haunted building competition between students from Cameron High School and Turtle Lake High School.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: If you’ve been subjected to any political ads this election season, here’s s healthy dose of truth to balance things out. Wisconsin Watch offers this piece: 11 claims about the candidates for Wisconsin governor — and the facts.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Read more at www.news-shield.com or check out the archives for more news and editor’s picks. Check back next week for our Election Preview.

~Ryan Urban

Headlines

• Barron County recorded its third fatal accident of the year when a 62-year-old Chippewa County woman died Saturday morning, Oct. 10, 2026, in a single-vehicle crash along Wisconsin Hwy. 25 just north of the village of Ridgeland.

  A report from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department identifies the victim as Debra M. Conrad, of Cadott. She was driving a sport utility vehicle owned by a Ridgeland relative at the time of the crash, records said.

• Town of Dallas residents and Barron County landowners gathered Saturday morning at the Whitmore Family Farm to establish a formal legal defense ahead of the proposed Sandhill Solar Project’s official state filing. Organized by Save Barron County Farms Inc., the Oct. 10 community meeting brought together over 100 neighbors, local officials, and legal experts to map out strategy before developer MN8 Energy formally files its application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC).

• Barron native Summer Hammann was the 2026 Merle Howard Award winner at the World Dairy Expo in Madison on Friday, Oct. 2. The award is considered the highest honor a young person can receive in the dairy industry. Daughter of Scot and Becky Hammann, she grew up on her family’s rural Barron dairy, Triple-H, milking and showing 45 registered Holsteins and Jerseys. She’s now a junior at UW-Madison studying Dairy Science.

• “Happy 250th Birthday, America!” is the theme for the Red Cedar Symphony’s fall concerts, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church in Cumberland, and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake.

• Pioneer Village Museum in Cameron is hosting a fundraiser at the new Welcome Center building Thursday, Nov. 12, 5-8 p.m. The evening will include a great lineup of entertainment, good food, silent and live auctions, and a walk through of the new building . Wisconsin sportscaster of the year and Rice Lake native Lance Allan will speak and host a live auction. Alan Kurschner, world champion ice cream maker, will provide ice cream for dessert and the silent auction.

IN THE NEWS: We had a photo on our front page this week celebrating a gas prices below $4 a gallon—these are the times we’re living in. Such prices are hitting us in more ways than we know. I found this recent Marketplace story on the other ways oil prices affect inflation interesting.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• An accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound is presumed to be the cause of death of a 21-year-old Barron man late Tuesday evening, Sept. 29, 2026, following an investigation by the Barron Police Department. In a press release issued Friday morning, Oct. 2, Chief Joe Vierkandt said that the victim was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System-Northland by members of his family. He was later pronounced deceased.

• The Barron County Housing Authority (BCHA) showcased the culmination of an ambitious $16.5 million, countywide renovation project on Monday, Oct. 5, during a public open house at the newly upgraded Berger-Woodland Apartments. The event celebrated the end of an 18-month construction period spanning seven phases that breathed new life into 70 affordable housing units across the county, many of which had not seen major updates since they were built decades ago.

• Cosponsored by three Barron County Rotary Clubs and the Chippewa Valley chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Chippewa Falls, Wis., a “bed build” drew an estimated 150 volunteers who worked in three shifts starting Saturday morning and winding up late the same afternoon.

• A spaghetti dinner to benefit the Community Cat Rescue & Adoption Center of Barron County will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Cameron Senior Center in Cameron. There will be a free-will offering taken with no charge for the dinner. A 50/50 raffle, raffle baskets, free desserts, and a good time guaranteed.

• And here’s a little history feature, complete with H.H. Denison photos, on perhaps Almena’s most famous—turned infamous—resident was John Till. “Doc Till” peddled famous plaster remedies, which initially earned him the reputation as a wonder healer but later a fraud.

• And one more thing. The News-Shield has officially passed the 150-year mark. Here’s what was in the first issue: The first sheet of the Barron County Shield was put on the press by JohnRusk and printed by John Quaderer while “Bone from Black River” bossed the job.——The new county building in this village has been accepted by the County Board, and the county officers will take possession of their
  rooms as soon as stoves can be procured.—— John Quaderer is making preparation to go into camp. Don’t forge to check out the rest of “The Way It Was” on page 6A.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: Voting in the General Election is imminent. Aside from picking politicians, be prepared for a trio of referendum questions. Wisconsin Watch reports proposals would limit the governor’s veto power, allow religious gatherings during health emergencies and ban government DEI programs if approved.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• A $1,000 expenditure may not seem like much when compared to a budget of more than $23 million. But the moral questions surrounding the distribution of birth control pills -- part of next year’s Barron County Health and Human Services budget -- gave rise to a long discussion Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at the County Government Center. At issue -- whether the County Board Health and Human Services Committee could remove the so-called Plan B pill distribution from its budget next year without threatening state and federal aid.

• Finding affordable housing for industrial workers in Barron and neighboring counties is becoming a high priority for area economic development authorities.

  That was the message delivered Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2026, at the start of a three-hour seminar entitled “Economic Development 101.” The program attracted about two dozen people from three agencies that cosponsored the event – including the economic development corporations of Barron, Rusk and Sawyer counties.

• As we mark the 150th anniversary of this newspaper, we’re continuing a series of articles on the newspaper’s history. The last installment told of the establishment of the Barron County Shield, with the first issue published on Oct. 6, 1876. But how did it become the Barron News-Shield? The Barron County News—initially titled the Weekly Call—was a rival newspaper established in 1900. The paper’s name became the Barron County News only in 1903 after an ownership change.

  Later, during WWI, scarcity of materials led to mass consolidation of newspapers in Barron County and across the country.

• Autumn traditions and community spirit take center stage in Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 3, as the village hosts its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Packed with traditional games, live music, local vendors, and family-friendly entertainment, the day and many park events will directly support local park improvements. Here’s a schedule of the day’s events.

Editor’s Picks

GIVE IT A LISTEN: Marketplace recently had this brief report on dairy prices, “As grocery prices rise, cheese and butter get cheaper. Productive cows, sluggish sales to restaurants, and the protein craze are all playing roles in bringing prices down.”

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• A New York-based power producer has taken preliminary steps toward the establishment of a solar energy facility on more than 1,000 acres in the Town of Dallas. On Sept. 9, MN8 Energy, operating as Sandhill Solar LLC, submitted to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission a pre-application engineering plan on Sept. 9. The PSC opened a formal docket for the project on Sept. 18. The proposed facility would pair a 100-megawatt solar array with a 50 MW battery energy storage system.

• Barron Electric Cooperative and its community partners are inviting members and area residents to celebrate Cooperative Month on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Barron Electric’s office at 1434 State Highway 25 North in Barron. The Cooperative Month celebration is a chance to stop by, pick up a cashback credit check, enjoy lunch, visit with local organizations and learn more about the cooperative difference.

• The parish cluster of St. Joseph, St. Boniface, St. Peter, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Churches is sponsoring a winter coat and blanket drive for the Barron County area. New and used winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats, mittens and warm blankets will be collected and distributed. Donated items should be in clean, usable condition. Outerwear for all ages is needed. A community donation site is located at the Barron County Government Center, 335 E. Monroe Avenue, Barron inside the south entrance. This donation site is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• The Barron County Fairgrounds will host the annual Barron County Truck Show on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, bringing the region together under the theme “Giving Back One Truck at a Time.” This year’s benefit event focuses on raising critical financial support for Deidra Meyer and her family. The annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities at the Barron County Fairgrounds in Rice Lake culminating with the Saturday night light parade, which includes Barron and Cameron on this year’s route.

Editor’s Picks

GIVE IT A LISTEN: Marketplace Tech is a branch off of the bellwether Marketplace program. It’s good for a quick listen, with episodes typically spanning 8-12 minutes. These days almost every episode is about AI. Here’s one that I thought was particularly interesting. How attitudes toward AI differ across generations.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• State and federal agricultural officials have confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial poultry flock in Barron County. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are responding jointly to the outbreak. Authorities have quarantined the infected premises to restrict the movement of poultry and related products. The operation is located near Rice Lake, with 79,088 birds affected.

• The Barron Area School District is bringing a $1.5 million operational referendum to local voters this November, seeking additional funding to maintain current academic programming and attract qualified staff amid widening state revenue shortfalls. School officials stated in the most recent district newsletter that state funding formulas have failed to keep pace with inflation over the last decade and a half. Such referenda are commonplace nowadays. About 88% of public school districts across Wisconsin have relied on operational referendums to sustain day-to-day functions.

• Barron County officials are grappling with a projected 20% increase in employee health insurance costs for the upcoming 2027 budget, which translates to a nearly $1.5 million shortfall. The $1,498,410 hike stems from a preliminary renewal calculation based on claims data through July 2026. In a letter to the county’s Executive Committee dated Sept. 2, insurance advisory firm the Horton Group warned that this number could still fluctuate in the coming months as claims finalize and stop-loss renewal numbers are locked in.

• The Barron County Fairgrounds will host the annual Barron County Truck Show on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, bringing the region together under the theme “Giving Back One Truck at a Time.” This year’s benefit event focuses on raising critical financial support for Deidra Meyer and her family. The annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities at the Barron County Fairgrounds in Rice Lake culminating with the Saturday night light parade, which includes Barron and Cameron on this year’s route.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• The City of Barron and the Village of Cameron will receive nearly $1.8 million in combined grant funding to support local street and utility improvements, Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday. Barron was awarded $1 million, and Cameron will receive $785,530. The local allocations are part of a broader $19.7 million distribution of Community Development Block Grant Public Facilities funding awarded to 20 communities across Wisconsin.

• Two senior citizens on their way home to Rice Lake from a California vacation were allegedly in possession of more than five pounds of methamphetamine when they were arrested Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, near Cumberland, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, Sept. 3, in Barron County Circuit Court. The nine-page complaint includes information from investigators who reported that they got some “information that a vehicle ... was returning to Wisconsin from California and may be (carrying) narcotics.”

• When it comes to ice cream, do you prefer vanilla or chocolate? Either way, at Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream in Chetek you’ll be tasting a grand champion. For the second year in a row, Alan Kurschner’s small batch ice cream creations took several top spots in the annual World Dairy Expo Champion Dairy Products Contest. Kurschner’s won first place in three categories—Regular Vanilla, French Vanilla and Chocolate. The shop also earned a second place award in the Dark Chocolate category with its Triple Dutch Chocolate flavor.

• The 20th Annual Cameron Bluegrass Festival kicks off this Friday, Sept. 11, running through Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Pioneer Village Museum in Cameron. Celebrating two decades of music, the weekend features a full schedule of regional favorites alongside nationally acclaimed headliners, with the museum’s historic buildings open to attendees on both Saturday and Sunday. This year’s headliners include many fan favorites from the festival’s history as well as some new names.

• Barron is gearing up to celebrate community ties with the return of the Farm N’ Feather Fest, scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 10-13. Operating under the theme “Rebuilding the Tradition,” the four-day event brings together civic groups, area businesses, and residents for a full weekend of music, food, sports, and family entertainment. The festival unites a collection of individual local events under one umbrella, with most central activities hosted in the parking lot near the Fire Department and 5th Street.

Editor’s Picks

GIVE IT A LISTEN: It has been 3 years since I assisted with a BBC investigation involving the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch and a Rice Lake man involved in an alleged international sex trafficking operation. It was a year before they were arrested and the court case has moved slowly. That’s due in large part to the question of the competency of former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries. Finally the judge has made a ruling—Jeffries has been deemed competent to stand trial. For more details, check out this new podcast episode from World of Secrets.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• The Barron County Board of Supervisors is considering a moratorium on the development of data centers. Barron County officials held a special Committee of the Whole meeting, lasting more than 3 hours, on Monday, Aug. 31, where they heard informational presentations by Wisconsin Counties Association President and CEO Mark O’Connell and Attolles Law, S.C. Attorney Rebecca Roeker. The meeting document packet included a draft moratorium of 9 months, though it could be made shorter or up to a year in length.

• Facing ongoing national scrutiny, safety concerns, and mounting public records requests, the Chetek City Council voted Friday morning, Aug. 27, to immediately bag the city’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras and attempt to terminate its contract with Flock Safety. The action came during a special 11:30 a.m. meeting called by the council, following months of intense debate and online pushback that began after Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis had the two cameras installed in May. Ambrozaitis also stepped down as police chief, going on administrative leave with his official retirement being Jan. 1, 2027.

• A major television network left out one important detail as it prepared a “true crime” story about skeletal remains found on property in the town of Maple Grove almost nine years ago, according to Barron County Circuit Court records. A civil suit filed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, alleges that the New York-based CBS network neglected to ask permission from property owners to enter land where the remains were found. Plaintiffs Kusilek Farms, LLC, allege that TV journalists didn’t ask them to allow reporters and camera crew members to walk onto their property as the network gathered information for its broadcast.

• The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed Christopher Anderson, a native of Barron, to serve as the next United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia. An Army combat veteran and seasoned Capitol Hill strategist, Anderson steps into the diplomatic role during a highly strategic period for U.S. relations in Southeast Asia. Anderson most recently served as National Security Advisor to Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who enthusiastically championed his former staffer’s nomination before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

• Among the towering white pines at Pioneer Village Museum in Cameron, a new Ojibwe village is preserving traditional ways and correcting a longstanding historical oversight. Unveiled at a grand opening on Friday, Aug. 22, the village is the newest addition to the Barron County Historical Society’s 60-year-old museum. The village entrance is a walking path scattered with pine needles and lined by logs. The path leads to four wiigiwaaman (wigwams) that represent the annual seasonal migrations of the Ojibwe people.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported this week that the City of Milwaukee Police Department is putting new guardrails on how Automated License Plate Readers can be used. Only supervisors will retain access to Flock and be allowed to use it only in the investigation of "Part 1" crimes. Those include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assaults (including non-fatal shootings), burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson and human trafficking.

GIVE IT A LISTEN: Automated License Plate Readers, AKA Flock cameras, are far from a local issue. Backlash against their use is spreading across the U.S. I noted several news podcasts/radio shows this past week aired episodes on the controversial cameras, including The Daily, The Journal and On Point.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• A cherished local tradition is being revived in Barron this September after a two-decade hiatus. After concluding a 25-year run in 2004, the community’s iconic Farm N’ Feather Fest is officially making its comeback for 2026 under the theme “Rebuilding the Tradition.” Scheduled for September 10–13, 2026, the four-day event brings together civic groups, area businesses, and residents for a full weekend of music, food, sports and family entertainment. The festival is bringing together a collection of individual events under one umbrella, with a few new features as well. A preliminary schedule of events is as follows.

• The Barron City Council approved Tuesday, Aug. 11, a swimming pool condition evaluation contract for the Barron Municipal Swimming Pool at 27 West River Avenue. The City contracted Neuman Pools, Inc. for $1,800. The agreement authorizes a non-destructive visual assessment of the facility’s pool shell, surrounding deck, and key mechanical infrastructure, including pumps, filters, heaters, valves and chemical treatment systems. There has been much discussion in recent years among City officials of the pool’s infrastructure needs, which could be significant.

• A full-time Sheriff’s Department job whose duties would include processing Freedom of Information bodycam and dashcam requests from YouTubers and TV outlets is once again under consideration by the Barron County Board Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Committee. But paying for the job – which could cost upwards of $100,000 per year including salary and benefits, according to department estimates – is likely to come from other sources than county taxpayers. A County committee was told that the job could be paid for if the county jail were to accept inmates from the State of Wisconsin’s overcrowded prison system.

• The 103rd Ridgeland Fair (which begins just nine days from now on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026), is famous for events like the huge truck and tractor pulling contests (this year on Sept. 6), which bring thousands of people to the northern Dunn County village. But many other smaller events take place over the weekend, designed to entertain, stimulate participation, and build a sense of community.

  Here are just a few.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• The Barron County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to have the County apply for a loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to purchase 200 acres to add to the County Forest Block in the Town of Doyle.

  The land is surrounded by the existing County Forest Block, known as the Pipestone Quarry area. Doug Brown, County Forest and Public Land Specialist, told the Supervisors at their Monday, Aug. 17, meeting that the loan is interest-free and there is no term limit on paying back the loan. Repayment occurs over time as the DNR receives 20 percent of timber sales.

• A six-month investigation by a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conservation warden has resulted in a total of 16 misdemeanor hunting-related charges filed against two men on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Barron County Circuit Court. The 14-page complaint details incidents of deer poaching, illegal wildlife shining and discharging crossbows from vehicles, all alleged to have taken place in September and October 2025.

• The City of Barron has filed a court action as officials move ahead with the process of demolishing a condemned house on South Mill Street. The property is at 211 S. Mill St. and is co-owned by Charles Groehler and Lance L’Heureux. L’Heureux has been fighting the raze order, and doing so quite publicly on social media.

• The Pioneer Village Museum is inviting the public to a two-day celebration of Native American heritage, kicking off with the grand opening of its new Ojibwe Village on Friday, Aug. 21. The free-admission grand opening event will run from 5-7 p.m. and is open to everyone. Festivities begin with a Grand Opening Ceremony and Dance at 5 p.m., followed by a feast at 6 p.m. Visitors can also explore seasonal wigwam exhibits and walk nature trails. The celebration continues the following day on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Native American Heritage Powwow Celebration.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Hello readers,

I’m sure I’m not alone in being stunned by some of the results of Tuesday’s Partisan Primary. First, I was surprised that Michael Alfonso won handily. I thought Hermening would come in closer than that.

I did not think the race on the Democratic side would be that close, with all three candidates virtually tied for much of the night. Chris Armstrong was favored in Barron County, though he hardly campaigned here to my knowledge.

And the Democratic Primary for Governor—what a comeback by Crowley. I personally wrote him off after he dropped out. But a crazy series of unforeseen events somehow put him on top, starting with Hong’s ascension to frontrunner in a crowded field, the failure of other center-left Democrats like Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys to gain traction, the implosion of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s campaign, Crowley’s re-entry, and the withdrawal of early favorite Mandela Barnes.

Feel free to drop a comment on this post with your thoughts of why the Primary shook out like it did.

November should be interesting. We’ll have to endure a barrage of political advertisements first I’m afraid.

Headlines

• Firefighters from three local departments got hands-on training in a controlled burn of a house on Saturday, Aug. 8. Firefighters from the Barron-Maple Grove, Cameron and Dallas-Sioux Creek departments participated in live burn training at 1262 18th Street (Hwy. O). This kind of hands-on training was months in the making. These types of live burns usually begin with the property owner offering a structure. Then the Department of Natural Resources has to sign off on the burn, ensuring that various hazardous materials have been removed from the building.

• As the debate over Automated License Plate Readers, or Flock Cameras, rages nationwide, local cops insist that the success stories of their use outweigh public concerns. The cameras have been in use in Barron County for about 5 years, with the distribution of them steadily increasing during that time. At its July 14 meeting, the Chetek City Council faced criticism from residents over the implementation of Flock license-plate cameras without prior public discussion or a council vote, though city officials later confirmed the police chief acted within his delegated spending authority and Wisconsin law.

• People working for an out-of-state blacktop company are allegedly misrepresenting themselves to residents who live near active county highway reconstruction projects, members of the Barron County Board Highway Committee learned at their regular monthly meeting Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. Highway Department officials said that the workers recently showed up at a Hillsdale home where County Hwy. D is being repaved. They told the property owner that county officials recommended that her driveway apron be repaved to match up the with county’s highway work.

• The Barron News-Shield will celebrate the newspaper’s 150th anniversary by hosting a community get-together 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Barron VFW.

  The first edition of the “Barron County Shield” was published on Oct. 6, 1876. Among the festivities at the VFW will be a chicken dinner prepared by Michael Thompson with a free will donation going to the Barron/Chetek Youth Hockey Association. Free beer will be served while supplies last and music will be provided by the trio of Steve Midboe, Mark Thompson and Charlie Uhelin. In honor of the year 1876, a progressive giveaway will be held, with prizes totaling $1,876.

• Tractors, antique machinery, live demonstrations, music, food and family activities will be featured Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16, as the Moon Lake Threshermen’s Association hosts its 42nd annual Old Time Farm Fest. The two-day event, located five miles south of Turtle Lake on Highway K at 862 2-3/8 St., Clayton, will feature a wide variety of antique and classic farm equipment, steam-powered machinery, tractor parades, pulling events and other activities celebrating agricultural history. Held at the George Sollman Farm, the festival welcomes all brands of tractors, cars, trucks and collections. Gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

  ---

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• Wisconsin voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 11, to choose party nominees in several closely watched races, including competitive primaries for governor and the 7th Congressional District. Because Wisconsin’s primary is partisan, voters must choose candidates from only one political party. A valid photo ID is required for in-person voting. Sample ballots and polling place information are available at myvote.wi.gov. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early absentee voting began July 28 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 9.

• Barron County is looking to add nearly 200 acres to its county forest lands with the potential purchase of five 40-acre parcels in the Town of Doyle. The parcels connect to the north side of an existing 1,800 acre county forest property known as the Pipestone Quarry area on the east of the county among the Blue Hills.

• Innovations such as Family Recovery Court and placing children in the homes of close relatives or trusted adults are having positive effects on child welfare cases in Barron County. That was the good news delivered to members of the County Board Health and Human Services Committee on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Barron.

• Firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers and other first responders who wish to engage in psychological counseling after violent and/or traumatic incidents will now be connected with professionals from Chippewa Valley Emergency Support Services. A nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency, CVESS offers its services to first responders free of charge, according to a presentation by Julie Bates-Maves, a psychologist and therapist who, herself, is married to a firefighter.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Hello readers,

Sorry to be a day late this week. I was out of the office. Here’s a quick and dirty rundown of the week’s news.

Headlines

• As Wisconsin voters prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, August 11, primary ballots across the state will showcase a crowded field of candidates vying for party nominations. Early absentee voting began Tuesday, July 28 and runs until Sunday, Aug. 9. It’s crunch time in the campaigns of several Democrats vying for a shot at succeeding Gov. Tony Evers after eight years in office. The winner will almost certainly face off against Republican Tom Tiffany, currently a U.S. Congressman, who has only one challenger on the ballot in Andy Manske, a 26-year-old medical service technician. Meanwhile, there’s a five-person race on the Republican side for Tiffany’s seat.

• The Barron Area School District is accepting applications for appointment to the Board of Education with the resignation of a board member from the Dallas area.

  Orin Thompson notified Board President Brittany Stephens of his resignation on July 13, with him vacating the seat effective Aug. 1. Candidates to complete Thompson’s term, running into the spring of 2027, must reside in the Dallas area. The deadline to apply is Friday, Aug. 7.

• Truck and tractor enthusiasts will once again gather at Shadyside Park as Almena Fun Days returns this Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, featuring what organizers bill as the “Biggest Small Town Truck & Tractor Pull in Northern Wisconsin.” The two-day community celebration, hosted by the Almena Community Club, offers free admission and a lineup of family-friendly activities, highlighted by tractor and truck pulls, a parade, games, and a pancake breakfast.

• A full day of family-friendly activities, food and fundraising is planned as Alfalfa Fest returns to Pioneer Park on Saturday, Aug. 1. The annual volunteer-run event benefits Home Health & Hospice at Marshfield and St. Croix while also supporting educational needs for students in the Prairie Farm, Ridgeland/Dallas, Clayton, Clear Lake, Boyceville and Glenwood City school districts.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: In case you’re still trying to make up your mind ahead before the Aug. 11 Partisan Primary, listening directly to what the candidates have to say is a good way to make a choice. Replays of live debates are available on YouTube. This week WISN hosted a debate for the Democratic gubernatorial candidates. WJFW has hosted debates for 7th Congressional District candidates, both Democrats and Republicans.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• Barron City officials are contemplating the future of the Upper Dam on the Yellow River after receiving notice from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that repairs are needed. The council approved Tuesday, July 14, moving ahead with an Ayres Associates proposal for a feasibility study. A seven-member dam committee has met twice to review the issue and recommended that the council consider commissioning a feasibility study prepared by Ayres Associates.

• A house at 211 S. Mill St. that has been condemned as uninhabitable by the City of Barron. After fighting the raze order for several months, owner Lance L’Heureux said he has come to agree with the city after discussing the condition of the property with the general contractor and Mayor Rod Nordby.

• The Barron County Board of Supervisors voted Monday, July 20, in support of an effort by Cameron-based Mosaic Technologies to obtain a state grant to expand broadband internet access to residents of Barron and Dunn counties who either lack service or are “underserved” by broadband. Mosaic representative Chris Fitzgerald said the grant would help expand broadband access across the eight counties served by Mosaic. In Barron County, towns benefiting the most would likely be Crystal Lake, Lakeland, Maple Plain and Stanfold.

• An as-yet-unknown number of Barron County citizens will be affected by new work rules governing their eligibility for Medicaid benefits, members of the Barron County Commission on Aging learned at their monthly meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the county Government Center. The federal budget, adopted last year under the name Big Beautiful Bill, will impose the rules on individuals ages 19-64 who now qualify for Medicaid (or Badger Care, as the program is known for younger adults).

• A former Rice Lake resident changed her plea in a vehicular homicide case to not guilty by mental disease or defect during a hearing on Friday, July 17, 2026, in Barron County Circuit Court. Defendant Patricia L. Kronquist, now of Burlington, Wis. is scheduled to go on trial Oct. 28 through 30 at Barron in connection with a felony charge of homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle, filed in connection with a crash two years ago on U.S. Hwy. 53 north of Rice Lake.

• Thanks to a grant obtained through the efforts of Ridgeland area residents and the Dunn County Historical Society, a mural measuring 10 feet high and 30 feet in length was hung late last month on the east wall of the building that now houses Ridgeland Appliance. Dedicated to the Ridgeland Fair, the mural is a tribute to village history. Not only is it mounted on the historically-important site of the old Jorstad Store, it will also stand proudly as a backdrop on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, when the 102nd Ridgeland Fair grand parade is scheduled to take place.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: According to WPR, a project to drill for metals on federal land in northern Wisconsin has been added to the Trump administration’s list of infrastructure projects taking part in a fast-tracked permitting process.

Headlines

• Another large-scale solar project could be on the horizon for southern Barron County. The Sandhill Solar Project, spearheaded by MN8 Energy, is proposed to be built on approximately 900 acres in the Town of Dallas. The project aims to install a 100-megawatt solar array alongside a 50 MW Battery Energy Storage System.

• A multimillion-dollar project to renovate 70 units of low-income housing in six Barron County communities is in the home stretch. Barron’s Berger-Woodland (24 units) is the last of the buildings to undergo improvements. Several contractors are now at work on the inside and outside of Berger-Woodland, with a target completion date of October 2026, according to Bob Kazmierski, director, Barron County Housing Authority.

• Voters in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District will have an opportunity to hear from candidates seeking nomination for Congress during a public candidate forum later this month. The forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Candidates invited include Don Raihala, Michael Alfonso, Jessi Ebben, Kevin Hermening, Niina Baum, Chris Armstrong, Fred Clark and Ginger Murray. Potential voters can watch the forum at several live watch party locations throughout northern Wisconsin, including Northwood Technical College in Rice Lake, 1900 College Drive.

• Three people were found dead last Thursday evening at a home in the town of Hawkins in what authorities believe was a double homicide-suicide. Based on the preliminary investigation and evidence collected at the scene, investigators believe the incident was a double homicide followed by a suicide, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

Editor’s Picks

IN THE NEWS: Here’s some coverage of a recent debate among Republican candidates for the 7th Congressional District seat. Wisconsin Public Radio headlined its piece “Northwoods Democrats promise to stand up to Trump in primary debate.” Wispolitics headlined its coverage “Dem 7th CD candidates call for greater federal regulation of data centers.”

GIVE IT A LISTEN: WPR recently did a piece on one of my favorite bits of Wisconsin lore, when Winneconne was left off a map and proceeded to declare sovereignty in protest. One of these days I’m going to go to Sovereignty Days in Winneconne.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• A Barron man was among two people killed in a crash near Superior on Tuesday, July 7. The victims have been identified as Devern Bender, 36, of Barron, and Martha Lippai, 62, of Superior. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lippai and Bender were standing near the rear of a flatbed semi-trailer along Hwy. A while loading a wooden storage shed. They were struck by an SUV traveling northbound on Hwy. A before it crashed into the rear of the trailer.

• Barron County is moving ahead with a new position to handle an increasing load of open records requests. The job was approved by the County’s Executive Committee at its Wednesday, July 1 meeting. The position will be filled by a limited term employee, working 24 hours per week with no benefits.

• What turned out to be a prank phone call that locked down Marshfield Medical Center-Rice Lake for about two hours last Thursday, July 2, 2026, came from an out-of-town source, according to a press release from the Rice Lake Police Department. And although an investigation continues, authorities will likely have a difficult time tracking the perpetrators of what appeared to be a series of so-called “swatting calls” that day in various locations around the state of Wisconsin.

• The annual Turtle Lake Inter-County Fair returns Friday through Sunday, July 10-12, at Turtle Lake Village Park, offering three days of free family entertainment, carnival rides, livestock shows, live music, truck and tractor pulls, horse pulls and the community’s annual Grand Parade.

• Prairie Farm Dairy Days will return Friday through Sunday, July 10-12, offering a full weekend of community events, competitions, entertainment and family activities throughout the village. Sponsored by the Prairie Farm Area Lions Club, Prairie Farm Civic Club, Prairie Farm American Legion Post 259 and Auxiliary, the annual celebration includes tractor events, livestock shows, sports tournaments, fireworks, a parade and activities for all ages.

IN THE NEWS: Here’s some coverage of a recent debate among Republican candidates for the 7th Congressional District seat. Wispolitics.com headlined its piece “7th CD GOP candidates debate Trump agenda, private sector experience.”Another article from the Wisconsin Examiner was headlined “Trump loyalty, experience separate Republicans seeking 7th CD nomination.”

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• Barron has been on edge this past week as a half dozen gruff miscreants remain at-large after escaping custody. Yes, the community of Barron has been on goat watch after a bunch of meat goats escaped to freedom from the Equity Cooperative livestock barn on the east side of town. Local authorities have received frequent tips as to the caprines’ whereabouts, but the majority of them remain at-large as of press time Tuesday evening.

• A Rice Lake jail inmate serving time for four felony sex-related offenses has now been charged with trying to hire someone to murder his ex-girlfriend, Barron County Circuit Court records said. A criminal complaint filed Monday, June 29, 2026, identifies the defendant as Tyler J. Crotteau, 44. The complaint said that the investigation was a joint effort by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. An inmate living in the same cellblock as the defendant approached jail staff in early June 2026, alleging that the defendant asked him to kill a former girlfriend, the complaint said.

• A question-and-answer event regarding data centers is planned for Tuesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the Rusk County Community Library. Blaine Halvorson of Uniting West Wisconsin and Great Lakes Neighbors United will be presenting and answering the public’s questions about data centers.

• Based on the Ridgeland Fair, the gigantic mural image was completed in time for an unveiling celebration at Ridgeland Tuesday evening, June 30. As described by Ridgeland correspondent Betty Glaser almost a year ago, Dunn County was chosen by the Wall Dogs after working with the county Historical Society and other stakeholders, including the Ridgeland Community Improvement Group and the Ridgeland Area Library. Fifteen murals were painted in Menomonie last week, on buildings in the city or in area parks, to be delivered to other participating communities like Ridgeland.

• A century and a half after six residents gathered to form a small congregation dedicated to worship and Christian fellowship, First Baptist Church of Hillsdale will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, July 5. The celebration will begin with a special worship service at 10:30 a.m. at the church, 743 14 3/8 St., Hillsdale. The morning will feature special music, guest speakers, a look back at the church’s history and opportunities for former and current members to reconnect. A catered fellowship meal will follow the service.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban

Headlines

• Electrically propelled bicycles and scooters, driven by powerful lithium batteries, are becoming increasingly popular around the state of Wisconsin and in Barron County communities, where they are also causing traffic problems. Those issues were discussed earlier this month when the Barron County Board Traffic Safety Commission met at the County Justice Center.

• Barron County’s efforts to respond to web-generated open records requests have now reached a point where at least one new part-time position is under consideration by county authorities. The issue came up for discussion Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the monthly meeting of the County Board Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Committee.

• A former local priest convicted of sexually assaulting young boys in the 1980s has a parole hearing set for July. Thomas Ericksen, 79, is incarcerated in the Sawyer County Jail. He will go before the parole board on July 22. Ericksen is eligible for parole on Sept. 11, according to Wisconsin’s inmate locator. Otherwise, his mandatory release date is set for Dec. 5, 2032.

• If you see Ken and Teresa Barrick near a bridge or out on a lake in their boat, you can be sure that they’re fishing. But it’s a different kind of fishing. There’s no catch and release, only keep, because they’re magnet fishing. Magnet fishing is the practice of using a strong magnet attached to a rope to retrieve metal objects from lakes, rivers, ponds and other waterways.

• The 56th Annual Hungry Hollow Steam & Gas Engine Club Show will return to the Hungry Hollow Show Grounds, 1509 19th Ave., Rice Lake, on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, offering a weekend packed with antique machinery, tractor displays, family activities and demonstrations of Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage.

  This year’s featured brand is Allis-Chalmers. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.

• Community members are invited to gather in downtown Barron on Wednesday, July 1, for a patriotic celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is being organized as a family-friendly community celebration featuring music, food, local history and activities for all ages.

Editor’s Picks

GIVE IT A LISTEN: I don’t often feature sports here, but I like to throw it in the mix once in a while. The Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter, where the future is unclear. The 2021 championship run was magical, and I think Giannis will always be a Bucks legend. My interest has waned since then, and I pretty much checked out on the Bucks this past year. The action on the court was tepid at best and I was sick of hearing about the trade rumors. It almost seemed like the sports media talked Giannis into leaving Milwaukee. One media source worth listening to when it comes to Wisconsin sports is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which has put out a lot of great retrospective pieces on the Giannis era—what went right and what went wrong. This recent episode of their Bucks podcast Point Forward also summarized the big news quite well.