All three of Buffalo County’s weekly newspapers—the Mondovi Herald-News, Buffalo County Journal and the Cochrane-Fountain City Recorder—will merge into one newspaper, the Buffalo County News, starting Aug. 6.

Trio of Buffalo County newspapers to merge

by Beth Kraft After a 130-year press run as the Mondovi Herald-News, the newspaper will be changing its masthead to the Buffalo County News starting next week to reflect a merger of the county’s...

A facility on N. Eau Claire St. in Mondovi is one of seven area group homes and CBRFs operated by Garlick’s. Owner Mary Jo LaBair says another round of rate cuts handed down by Inclusa on April 1 will make it difficult for the business to make ends meet.

‘It’s a significant hit’—Local care provider faces another rate cut from MCO

by Beth Kraft Frustrations with forced financial realities continue for many who own and operate group homes and community based residential facilities (CBRFs) for people with varying degrees and...

Members of a new group, Hope 4 U, founded in Sept. 2018, are working to raise awareness about suicide and mental health to better connect people to key resources and life-saving information. A Suicide Awareness Walk is set for Sept. 7 in Cochrane.

Hope 4 U represents grassroots effort for suicide prevention resources

by Beth Kraft Members of a Buffalo County group have had enough. They feel there are too many local people wrestling with thoughts of self-harm and mental health issues who can’t get the help or...

A huge feedlot shed just north of Hwy. Z off Hovey Valley Road owned by Scott Werlein was flattened by the storm.

Fourth of July storm downs trees, damages buildings in Bennett Valley

by Beth Kraft A brief, yet strong, storm on the Fourth of July swept down County Road Z in the area southeast of Mondovi known as Bennett Valley, leaving a haphazard path of destruction. Large...

Firefighters sprayed water on the wreckage to knock down dust and douse any hot spots as a backhoe exposed the interior of Leebo’s Bar & Grill in downtown Gilmanton. Due to the nature of the fire early Thursday, June 6, authorities said the building had to be torn down.

Leebo’s Bar torn down following fire

by Beth Kraft In less than 12 hours, Leebo’s Bar and Grill—one of the original buildings in downtown Gilmanton—was gone. An early-morning fire on Thursday, June 6, scrambled multiple fire...

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Erickson Auto Repair opens in Mondovi, bringing new business to long-vacant shop

Erickson Auto Repair opened in Mondovi this week at the former Polzer’s Auto location at 165 W. Riverside Ave. Wes Erickson officially purchased the shop from Chuck and Nancy Polzer April 5 after they searched for more than eight years to find a buyer. Pictured are Wes Erickson (back), his daughter, Jessica Erickson (front), Erickson’s staff (left to right) Jonathan Medeiros, Devin Popham, Amy Popham, and Ryan Popham, and former shop owners Nancy and Chuck Polzer.

by Beth Kraft “For Sale” signs from a few different realtors have graced the grounds of Polzer’s Auto on West Riverside Ave. for over eight years. Several times owners Chuck and Nancy Polzer had...

City of Mondovi opts to settle lawsuit with former police officer

by Beth Kraft At the direction of its insurance company and in an effort to avoid “protracted litigation,” the City of Mondovi announced last week its decision to settle a sex discrimination...

Drug-use trend inspires Community Awareness Nights

Buffalo County Investigator Mike Osmond gave an example of drugs improperly secured in a home with children. The padlock is not actually keeping the box locked, Osmond pointed out, and the 4-H sticker could help conceal the presence of drugs to an untrained eye. Osmond’s presentation at the Mondovi School last week was packed with both stunning and useful information related to drug use and identification.

by Beth Kraft Drug-related arrests are on the rise in Buffalo County and statewide, but local law enforcement is working to raise awareness of the far-reaching consequences of drug addictions...

Nygaard takes the reins as Mondovi Conservation Club president

Longtime Mondovi Conservation Club president Al Urness recently passed the leadership torch to Krista Nygaard. The club’s Board of Directors nominated Nygaard as a candidate for president at its Feb. 6 meeting and she came out ahead in the ensuing vote. Nygaard is the first woman to lead the Conservation Club in its nearly 60-year history.

by Beth Kraft The Mondovi Conservation Club Board recently voted in favor of a first in the club’s more than half-century of history: a female president. Krista Nygaard was nominated and...

Myren tabbed for 2018 MFD Firefighter of the Year

Mondovi Fire Chief Steve Anderson (left) recently presented the fire department’s 2018 Firefighter of the Year award to Bob Myren, a 10-year member of the MFD who handles all routine vehicle maintenance work for the department’s fleet.

by Beth Kraft Small communities rely heavily on volunteers in many capacities, and fire protection services are no exception. To keep pace with ever-present demands, recruitment is a must for the...

ALC in process of expanding assisted living within existing facility space

Work began in mid-November to create a new, 12-bed assisted living wing within the existing ALC facility. Here, a wall between two former short-term rehab rooms was removed to make way for a common area for the new Hillview Senior Living unit.

by Beth Kraft Responding to a growing trend in senior care that favors assisted living over the traditional skilled nursing format, Mondovi’s American Lutheran Communities is again expanding its...

E-S students given green light to hit the playground

E-S fourth and fifth grade students tried out the climbing web at the new E-S Elementary playground.

by Beth Kraft Eleva Intermediate students went without a real playground for over two years, but fourth- and fifth-grade students were finally allowed to test out a new playground early last...

Life after farming—Two Mondovi barns enjoy new purposes as part of growing trend

Brenn’s Barn Boutique is home to old, new, used, repurposed and rustic home decor and antiques to suit a wide variety of customer tastes. It’s open four weekends per year with additional items offered year-round via consignment at “The Attic” in Eau Claire.

by Beth Kraft and Nash Weiss As the number of working farms across Wisconsin declines in favor of larger operations, countless barns across the state are left vacant and without purpose. But that...

Non-profit donates AED to MPD

Mondovi Police Chief Colin Severson (center left) accepted the donation of a new AED unit from the family of Steven D. Larson of Donnelly, Minn., on Nov. 23. The AED was gifted by the non-profit group “Papa’s Angels."

by Beth Kraft A non-profit group founded in honor of a cardiac arrest victim led to the recent donation of a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to be placed in a Mondovi Police Department...

Former Mondovi teacher shares experiences as Red Cross volunteer

Red Cross volunteer Linda Nicastro presented to Mondovi Elementary students on Monday, Nov. 12, about ongoing disaster relief efforts. The elementary student council initiated a Penny War this week to raise money that will be donated to the Red Cross to assist with relief efforts in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Michael. Penny War donations will be accepted in the Mondovi Elementary office through Friday, Nov. 16.

by Beth Kraft With so many natural disasters in the news, from major hurricanes to devastating wildfires, the Mondovi Elementary Student Council was looking for a way to pitch in. It had been...

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