Menomonie Minute

If you missed the Winter Daze parade last week, you can watch a video of it " rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE.

From the Downtown Menomonie Facebook page.

Join Mr. Ray on Mondays after school (4-5pm) Jan 6-Feb 24 for Stem+Art Explorers Club. Geared for 2nd-5th graders and held in the Library meeting room.

Dive into a world of discovery as we build, create, experiment, and explore. So much fun to be had!

From the Facebook event page.

Check the Menomonie Public Library's calendar for all of their programming.

More than 450 students expected for Jan. 11 regional competition 

By Abby Goers, UW-Stout

University of Wisconsin-Stout will host the 53rd annual DECA District I Career Development Conference on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The event kicks off with an opening session at 8:45 a.m. in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall, followed by competition from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m. An orientation for judges begins at 8:30 a.m.

The event, organized and run by UW-Stout’s Marketing and Business Education Association, is an applied learning experience for high school marketing students.

“DECA is a great opportunity for students because it prepares competitors for success in future careers, education and personal growth,” said AnuTye Her, a marketing and business education junior from Eau Claire.

More than 450 students are anticipated to participate in 28 events from 20 area high schools:

Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire Memorial, Eau Claire North, Elmwood, Glenwood City, Holmen, Hudson, La Crosse Central, La Crosse Logan, Alma Center Lincoln, Melrose-Mindoro, Menomonie, Northwestern, Plum City, Sparta, Stanley-Boyd, Superior, Tomah and West Salem.

They will compete in 15 individual and eight team events. Students’ skills are tested in business services, marketing management, hospitality and tourism, marketing strategy, retail sales and services, sports and entertainment marketing, financial services and entrepreneurship.

Winners and runners-up in each category advance to the State Career Development Conference competition Monday, Feb. 24, to Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva. 

“This is also a great opportunity for many UW-Stout marketing and business education students because it gives them the background knowledge of DECA related to how the event is planned, and what they can expect as future DECA advisers,” said Her, who is serving as the DECA District 1 coordinator.

“I’ve learned many things while being the DECA Districts coordinator. Connecting with advisers from across the state and networking with different departments here at the university, I’m so grateful to be in this position where I can say that I’ve helped plan a DECA event with amazing people,” he added.

Approximately 70 regional business and marketing professionals are needed as volunteer competition judges.

To volunteer, register online.

Judges have the opportunity to connect with and guide marketing and business career-focused high school students while networking with fellow professionals. Judges are provided a light breakfast, refreshments and lunch.  

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. It has more than 250,000 members in more than 3,900 high school chapters and 203 collegiate chapters.

UW-Stout’s marketing and business education degree, available both on-campus and online, is part of UW-Stout’s School of Education, which offers nine undergraduate and five graduate degrees, as well as nine certificates and certifications.

For more information about the competition, contact Debbie Stanislawski, MBE program director, at [email protected] , 715-232-3195, or Melissa Andrle, judges coordinator, at [email protected].

UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

Join us for an early evening celebrating the NEW YEAR! We'll have the Jay Collins Trio playing from 6-8pm and an early Champagne toast to ring in the New Year, because we like to be in bed by midnight. The perfect way to celebrate or kick off your evening festivities if you're in it to see the ball drop!

Space is limited, we encourage you to pre-register, see you there friends!

Cost: $15/person with pre-registration, $20/person at the door.

Includes a glass of champagne or Sparkling N/A bubbles, doors open at 5:30 pm. Click the link below to register today.

https://hiveandhollow.myshopify.com/products/new-years-eve

From the Facebook event page.

DeGruson, Brown recognized by Universities of Wisconsin at annual ceremony

By Abby Goers, UW-Stout

Menomonie, Wis. – Two University of Wisconsin-Stout staff members have been named special award recipients by the Universities of Wisconsin and were honored at a ceremony on Dec. 4, in Madison.

Associate Professor Min DeGruson, packaging program director, is one of 12 honorees of the Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award. This year is the 29th anniversary of the award, through which more than 400 women of color have been recognized for their transformational work.

LGBTQIA+ Program Manager Fred Jomo Brown is one of 13 honorees of the Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People. The award is in its 16th year.

Each UW campus was invited to submit nominations for the annual awards.

Outstanding Women of Color Award

The Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award honors faculty, staff, students and community members for their achievements in advancing equity and inclusion for people of color within the Universities of Wisconsin as well as communities across the state.

DeGruson joined UW-Stout’s packaging program in 2015. As well as her faculty role, she is chair of the Food Packaging Division under the Institute of Food Technologists and the Executive Committee member of Kilmer Innovation in Packaging.

When Provost Glendalí Rodríguez, vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, first met DeGruson, “I quickly realized that she is incredibly approachable and radiates positive energy when she enters the room. As a packaging engineer, Dr. DeGruson’s professional accomplishments are noteworthy, and she focuses on creating opportunities for students.”

DeGruson thinks the most significant part of her work in connection with the award is “creating a sense of belonging and passion for students in their field of study. By empowering them through initiatives like industry connections, research opportunities, various scholarships, study abroad programs and encouraging diversity in engineering, I aim to inspire students to excel and realize their full potential,” she said.

Rodríguez also noted that approximately only 20% of packaging engineers are female-identifying and only 13% are Asian.

“Min is a role model,” she said.

UW-Stout’s packaging faculty team is entirely female, the only one of its kind in the nation, DeGruson added.

“The Universities of Wisconsin have a longstanding commitment to inclusion at our universities,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “We are proud to honor these women of color whose achievements are helping our campuses and communities.”

Dr. P.B. Poorman Award

The Dr. P.B. Poorman Award is given to people in the LGBTQIA+ community who have helped to create a safer and more inclusive climate. It celebrates the memory and legacy of Paula B. Poorman, a faculty member at UW-Whitewater who dedicated her life to improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ people.

Brown joined UW-Stout in 2020 as an adviser in the Multicultural Student Services office, where he spent two impactful years. Now, as the LGBTQIA+ program manager, he has shaped many students’ experiences and lives.

“Through Fred’s leadership and guidance, students discover new identities within themselves, find new communities and chosen families, and reinvent their voices to show that they too can make an impact in the world around them,” said Executive Director of Student Inclusion and Belonging Mai Khou Xiong.

“Fred’s purpose is centered around helping others to see the world in a broader context, and Stout has been a supportive platform for him to do just that.”

“My life’s mantra is informed by a quote from Peter Finley Dunne, ‘to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable,’” Brown said.

Rodríguez received the Regents Diversity Award last February. Xiong received the Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award in 2023.

UW-Stout’s Focus2030 strategic plan includes five goals, including inclusive excellence by investing in, and ensuring access to, equitable, diverse and inclusive learning, student living and work environments that reflect the university’s regional and global connections; and fostering employee success through an equitable environment that invests in, supports, encourages and values diverse faculty and staff development opportunities.

UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

Calling all cooks with a big heart!  We need YOUR support by Adopting a Dinner at Cairn House.

For more information, reach out to Julie at [email protected] or call us at 715-235-2920.

From the Facebook post.

By Cynthia Romano 

In an era when information is at most people’s fingertips, the role of local journalism has never been more important. Many communities, however, struggle to produce timely and accurate news coverage. This struggle can be seen in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where local news content has been minimal. 

An upcoming citizen journalism workshop, taught by UW-Stout professor Kate Edenborg, aims to make a change by educating and equipping community members with the tools and skills needed to produce well-researched and accurate content. 

“I've connected with many members of the community who want to do something to help ensure our citizens are well-informed,” Edenborg said. “Providing this class can help them learn how to write local news content which can fill the need we have in Menomonie.” 

By the end of the course, participants should have acquired the skills to write and produce their own journalistic content which can be used to fill the gap of local news in the community. Whether interested in journalism as a career or as a hobby, this workshop provides the resources necessary to improve the local journalism landscape in Menomonie and surrounding areas. 

“I'm especially hoping that those who take the class tell stories of their neighbors and all the interesting things that happen all the time in our town,” Edenborg said.

The course will be held in person on Stout’s campus January 28 and March 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and virtually on February 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The cost for the workshop is $29 with a scholarship and $149 regular. Scholarship applications can be found on the UW-Stout website where applicants will be asked to complete a short survey and submit a few paragraphs about their interest in the program. 

No prior journalism experience is required to participate in the workshop. Throughout six sessions, those interested in sharing news with their community will gain experience in interviewing, editing, writing, and publishing stories. 

For more information on the workshop and how to register, visit 

https://www.uwstout.edu/outreach-engagement/continuing-education-conferences/mini courses/citizen-journalism. 

Cynthia Romano is a communications student and journalism intern at UW-Stout focused on community engagement and local journalism.

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors has adopted a set of core values for employees and elected officials to follow. 

“Core values are the bedrock of an organization’s identity,” said Kris Korpela, Dunn County Manager. “They serve as a compass to guide decision making, actions, and behavior across all levels of county government.” 

The values, adopted in November, "shall be embraced and upheld by all members of the organization,” according to the resolution.

The core values are: 

• Dedication: Unwavering commitment to those we serve. 

• Professionalism: Upholding competence, courtesy, and respect in all interactions and responsibilities. 

• Ethics: Consistently acting with honesty and integrity. 

• Betterment: Making things progressively better, more effective or improved. 

• Collaboration: Working together to achieve a shared goal. 

Korpela said the values were developed by the Dunn County Employee Relations Workgroup over the past six months and were “validated by all county staff through inclusion in the employee satisfaction survey conducted earlier this year.” 

The values also were reviewed and approved by the Committee on Administration and the Executive Committee, as well as the full County Board. 

The values, Korpela said, “provide a common language and understanding of what Dunn County stands for. They build trust with the public by demonstrating a commitment to ethical behavior. Values-driven organizations tend to have higher employee morale and engagement.   

Korpela also said it is important that the supervisors approved setting up a mechanism to monitor how the values were being followed so they remain relevant and are upheld consistently. 

Media release.

Take the survey HERE.

On December 12th, 2024, at approximately 3:16 PM, the Dunn County Communication Center was notified of a train vs. car crash at the railroad crossing near the intersection of 970th St and US Hwy 12 in the Village of Elk Mound, Dunn County, Wisconsin.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin  State Patrol, Elk Mound Police, Elk Mound Fire, Colfax Rescue, and Eau Claire Ambulance responded to  the scene.  

Preliminary investigation shows the driver of a southbound SUV, failed to yield right of way from  the stop sign at the railroad crossing, causing the collision on the passenger side of the SUV, with the  eastbound train. The SUV had three occupants inside. The driver of the SUV was flown from the scene by  Mayo Helicopter.

The two juveniles in the vehicle were transported to the hospital by private vehicle.  This crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Elk Mound Police  Department.  

Media release.