Submitted by Sen. Stafsholt

MADISON, WI – Senator Rob Stafsholt (R – New Richmond) has authored legislation, SB 580 and SB 581, that attempts to significantly grow manufacturing and CDL education opportunities and programs for our high schools and tech colleges. The Senator testified in support of his bills in committee in the Senate, after they easily passed through the State Assembly by a wide margin of bipartisan votes earlier this fall.

“Many of our students here locally and around the state are interested in learning the skills of manufacturing and truck-driving but our schools lack the instructors and resources to get our students on their career paths. The bills I’ve authored put instructors in the class room to teach these skills and gives our schools additional resources to offer these programs. Jobs in the manufacturing and truck-driving industry can be high paying and are in demand. At a time when the price of college is at an all-time high, students are looking for alternative career paths, and our schools are eager to train them in these fields. These bills address a workforce issue right here in our rural area, as well as all around our state,” said Senator Stafsholt.

SB 580 and SB 581 specifically accomplish the following:

– Provides $5,000 signing bonuses for qualified instructors at tech college to teach courses on manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and CDL training.

– Makes $16 million available to Wisconsin’s Tech Colleges to purchase or upgrade manufacturing equipment to train students in these fields.

– Doubles the maximum amount of grant money High Schools can apply for with the Technical Education Equipment Grant Program.

– Allows High Schools to upgrade their already existing technical education facilities with this grant money.

– Requires the Department of Workforce Development to prioritize rural school districts when awarding these grants.

Senator Stafsholt also testified alongside Chief Craig Yehlik from New Richmond and Chief Dan Orr from Hammond, in support of his bill SB 573, which doubles the payments issued to our law enforcement agencies after officers receive their annual recertification training.

He added, “Our local officers are in need of updated training to match the growing demands for safe communities. This bill significantly helps this by ensuring Wisconsin has the best trained and most qualified law enforcement officers as they work day-in and day-out to keep our communities safe.”

SPRING VALLEY & ELMWOOD, WI – Happy New Year (almost) to all!

As we say farewell to 2023, let’s take a little time to look back on some of the events in Spring Valley and Elmwood and the surrounding communities in this interesting past year from the pages of your hometown newspaper, the Sun-Argus.

On the front page the January 12, 2023, Sun-Argus we learned, “Madeline Shafer selected as one of only 33 State Senate Scholars – Junior to participate in week-long program designed to challenge Wisconsin’s best students” By Paul J. Seeling

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the December 28, 2023 issue of the Sun-Argus newspaper. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (715) 778-4990. Single issues are also available at area newsstands and our office in Spring Valley, WI.

By Rosa Magnus, WWH Development Manager, with Ryma Lindquist, WWH Community Relations Director

BALDWIN, WI – On Friday, December 8, 2023, the Hardenbergh Foundation awarded the Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) Foundation a $125,000 grant for the WWH Obstetrical and Medical-Surgical Unit expansion. In 2022, the Hardenbergh Foundation contributed close to $6,000,000 to support local communities in the east metro, including Ramsey, and Washington Counties of Minnesota as well as the St. Croix River Valley in Wisconsin.

“The Hardenbergh Foundation has provided opportunities for organizations across many disciplines from environment and education to housing, health, and wellness. Western Wisconsin Health is so appreciative of their support to help our families and community stay close to home,” Rosa Magnus, Development Manager stated.

With recent birth center closures in the immediate area, WWH has seen a significant increase in birthrates over the last year, with 276 total births in 2022. In addition, there has been an ever-increasing hospitalization rate pushing WWH to its capacity causing WWH to make the difficult choice of sending patients to Twin Cities hospitals. To address WWH’s growing needs for inpatient services, a hospital expansion began in August 2023 that will add four rooms to the medical-surgical wing and three rooms to the birth center wing. Upon completion, WWH will have a total of 22 inpatient rooms (three unfinished) that will allow WWH to provide care for patients in our community and keep them close to home.

This expansion will allow WWH to provide the best patient care to a broader spectrum of people in the service area. Although very costly, WWH realizes this expansion is the right thing to do for local patients; and with that sentiment the WWH foundation along with a committee of WWH leaders have been applying for multiple grant opportunities.

Interested in learning more or how you can help the hospital expansion? Please visit the WWH foundation page: wwhealth.org/contribute.

Thank you to the Hardenbergh Foundation for this generous donation to help us imagine a healthier tomorrow!

Submitted by Chief Deputy Brent Standaert, St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office

TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD, ST. CROIX COUNTY, WI — The St. Croix County Emergency Communication Center received a 911 call at about 7:14 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2023, advising of a two-vehicle crash at the north junction of Hwy 128 and CTH E, in Springfield Township, in St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

Deputies arrived on scene and located a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado which had been operated by Jeffrey A. Good, age 54, from Spring Valley, Wisconsin, and a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by Jessica L. Peterson, age 39, from Boyceville, Wisconsin, in the southeast ditch.

The investigation revealed the Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by Jessica Peterson, failed to stop at the stop sign while traveling eastbound on CTH E at Hwy 128 and was struck by the Chevrolet Colorado, operated by Jeffrey Good, who was traveling southbound on Hwy 128.

Good was wearing a seatbelt; he was evaluated at the scene for minor injuries by EMS and released. Jessica Peterson was pronounced deceased at the scene by the St. Croix County Medical Examiner; she was not wearing a seatbelt.

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Glenwood City EMS, the Glenwood City Fire Department, Baldwin EMS, the Woodville Police Department, and the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s Office.

This incident represents the 14th traffic fatality recorded by St. Croix County in 2023. The crash remains under investigation.