Menomonie Minute

From the Boyceville Action Club Facebook page.

Chancellor, three students, two alumni to speak in two ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse

By Abbey Goers, UW-Stout

Fall commencement will be held for 510 graduates on Saturday, Dec. 14, at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

A total of 414 undergraduate and 96 Graduate Studies students will receive degrees.

Two ceremonies will be held in Johnson Fieldhouse:

• 10 a.m., College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management; and College of Arts and Human Sciences

• 2 p.m., Graduate Studies

The ceremonies also can be seen via livestream on the UW-Stout commencement website and at the Memorial Student Center.

Provost Glendalí Rodríguez will host the ceremonies. Chancellor Katherine Frank will provide remarks to the graduates and confer degrees. 

Three graduates also will speak:

• 10 a.m., Ethan Myers, of Pleasant Prairie, packaging; and Hannah Timm, of Fremont, family and consumer sciences education

• 2 p.m., Kalsow, of Menomonie, master’s in clinical mental health counseling.

Two alumni will be guest speakers. The undergraduates will be addressed by Emily Fanucci, engineering manager at Advanced Molding Technologies, in Circle Pines, Minn. She is a 2010 UW-Stout graduate in technology education and manufacturing engineering.

The Graduate Studies graduates will be addressed by Laura Knudsen, a registered dietitian nutritionist and clinical dietitian with Mayo Clinic Health System. She is a 2005 dietetics alum and earned her master's in food and nutritional sciences in 2008.

The ceremonies will include music by the UW-Stout Symphonic Band and the Jazz Orchestra, directed by Erika Svanoe; and the Chamber Choir, Symphonic Singers and Devil Tones Acapella, directed by Jerry Hui.

Students and members of the UW-Stout community can share comments and photos on UW-Stout social media platforms using the hashtag #StoutGrad2024.

Diplomas will be mailed to students four to six weeks after final grades are issued.

More information

For more information, contact Commencement Coordinator Bethany Risler, 715-232-1279, or email [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.

We've got some young philanthropists on our hands! 5th graders from St. Joes Parish had a food drive and brought in 424 pounds of food for our pantry

Edward Jones in Menomonie Stepped Up for GivingTuesday and donated 562 pounds of goods collected from their clients!

We received our first food donation from the Menomonie Police Department Food For Fines program! What a unique way to pay a parking ticket while supporting your community.

Donations can be made in person or online: https://www.steppingstonesdc.org/how-you-can-help 

From the Stepping Stones Facebook page.

The Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) is accepting grant applications from Dunn County area non-profits, government organizations, and community groups that support the betterment of Dunn County. Eligible areas of interest include the arts, culture, health, heritage, the environment, recreation, education, basic human needs, and other civic initiatives.

Community Impact Grants allow organizations in Dunn County to meet critical needs and opportunities while setting measurable objectives to demonstrate impact. Grants are made possible by CFDC funds created by local families, philanthropists, corporations, and private foundations for charitable investment in the community, which include: The Elizabeth Fenton Fund for Health, the Clarence Heckle Fund, the Healthy Futures Fund, and the Common Good Fund. 

The deadline for applications is Saturday, February 1, 2025, by 5 pm.  Complete grant details and procedures, including the grant application form, can be found on the Community Foundation website at cfdunncounty.org/grants. The Community Foundation uses an online application system for all competitive grant requests. Any questions about the grant process or a proposal idea can be directed to [email protected]. Applicants are reminded that health-related grant requests previously made to the Menomonie Community Health Foundation should now be directed to the Community Foundation through this process.

New applicants, or anyone interested in refreshing their grant writing skills, are encouraged to attend the CFDC’s free Pop-Up! Workshop: Grant Writing 101 on Wednesday, January 8 from 3-4:30 pm at the Menomonie Market Food Co-op (814 Main St E, Menomonie WI). Register by visiting cfdunncounty.org/workshop.

It is the mission of the Community Foundation of Dunn County to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Dunn County. For more information about the Community Foundation or how you can become involved, contact Executive Director, Georgina Tegart at 715-232-8019 or by e-mail at [email protected].  

Media release from the Community Foundation of Dunn County.

The Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) and the Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) of Dunn County are excited to announce that the WGC’s endowment fund has officially reached a quarter of a million dollars!

The WGC was established in 2013 through the CFDC to strengthen the spirit of women, children, and families through collaborative philanthropy, giving, and grantmaking. The WGC strives to empower women to become stronger and self-sufficient to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of the people for whom they are responsible.

The WGC distributes grants to nonprofit organizations that serve women, children, and families in Dunn County in August each year. In 2024, the WGC awarded grants to 6 organizations including The Bridge to Hope, Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley, Junior Achievement, Literacy Chippewa Valley, The Menomonie Theater Guild, and the Boys & Girls Club, totaling $12,646. In addition, they collected over $500 for Dunn County’s Birth to Three Program during their Fall Gala in October.

The WGC is currently accepting renewal and new yearly memberships. Getting involved is simple: an annual contribution of $250 is required to be an active member of the WGC. Half of each member’s membership contribution is added to the grant pool each year. The other half goes into the WGC endowment fund. The more members, the more money can be granted to the community.

Women between the ages of 18 and 40, are eligible for a half-price membership of $125/year for up to 5 years (or until you turn 41). The option to have their second-year membership sponsored may also be available. Other membership options are also available.

To learn more about the WGC, visit cfdunncounty.org. In the main menu, navigate to Initiatives & Programs and click The Women’s Giving Circle of Dunn County.

Media release from the Community Foundation of Dunn County.

Taken from Instagram.

Believers City Church invites you to celebrate the season with us at Wolske Bay Winter Wonderland!

From 7:00–9:00 PM, we will be giving away peppermint hot chocolate, s'mores, and coffee.

Find us near the central bonfire and join us for ice skating and other activities (skates available for free). All are welcome!

From the Facebook event page.

Let's celebrate Jane Austen's Birthday by drinking some tea and playing Marrying Mr. Darcy.

From the Facebook event page.

Live music with Leif Triller and Band at 6th Avenue Cidery on Friday, December 13th from 6pm-9pm.

From the 6th Avenue Cidery Facebook page.

By Chad Zutter, Sports Reporter

Time to Refuel! 

The Menomonie hockey team will have to find some new scorers in the 2024-25 hockey calendar. The Mustangs lose a large part of their offensive contributors from a year ago and will need new skaters to put the puck in the back of the net. Coach Matt Ellis said, “Next up mentality” talking about who will fill the skates left a year ago. Ellis added, “role players from a season ago will have to be goal scorers.”  

Eighth year head coach Matt Ellis commented, “We gotta find scoring this season as we lost almost 100 points in three skaters.” Cody Dahms, Colton Szotkowski and Parker Marincel all graduated and combined for 95 points, including 43 goals. Returning All-BRC honorable mention selection forward, Hayden Weir is the best returning offensive weapon for the Mustangs. Weir ended the 23-24 campaign with 36 points - 18 goals and 18 assists.

Also lost is two year starter Jack Drout, who protected the net and was an honorable mention All-BRC selection for the Mustangs. Who will replace Drout in the net? Early season competition between Davin Ellis and Carl Rabeneck will give us this answer, but it also may be a two-headed tendy for the Mustangs initially. Ellis did mention, “goaltending is our biggest strength coming into the season.” 

Coach Ellis is assisted by Bob Weir and Terry Watkins, both in their fourth season. Watkins, the former UW-Stout Head Hockey coach and member of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame, brings over 30 years of coaching to the bench. 

View the Menomonie Mustangs Hockey Roster below:

Home Games: at Fanetti Community Center: 620 17th St SE, Menomonie, WI 54751

To view the 2024-25 Mustangs varsity hockey schedule visit the Menomonie Mustangs athletic website.

Livestream games can be viewed on Mustangs TV.

Season Notes:

• Head Coach: Matt Ellis 8th Season (Overall Record 53-126 | Playoff Record 8-6 | BRC Record 11-76)

• 2023-24 Team Stats: BRC Goals Scored 44 | Goals Against 65

• Menomonie has one BRC Conference Title - 2004