Submitted by Adam Kastonek, Public Information Officer, St. Croix County

HUDSON, WI – Are you wondering what to do with old TVs, computers, appliances, scrap metal, or tires? St. Croix County is making it easy for residents to responsibly recycle these items with a series of free and low-cost collection events in 2025. These events provide a convenient way to dispose of items that cannot go into curbside bins.

Electronics Recycling Events (Free!)
Accepted items include TVs, computers, cell phones, gaming consoles, and more. Batteries, appliances, and fluorescent bulbs are not accepted.

• Tuesday, April 29: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., Bethel Lutheran Church, 504 Frontage Road, Hudson, WI.
• Thursday, September 11: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., St. Croix County Highway Facility, 300 Oak Ridge Parkway, Baldwin, WI

Appliance and Scrap Metal Collection Events (Free!)
Residents can drop off washers, dryers, microwaves, lawnmowers, power tools, and other metal items. Please plan to unload your own items. Proceeds support the St. Croix County Sheriff’s K9 Unit.

• Tuesday, May 20: Noon – 6:00 p.m. St. Croix County Highway Facility, 300 Oak Ridge Parkway, Baldwin, WI.
• Wednesday, October 8: Noon – 6:00 p.m.

St. Croix County 2025 Recycling Collection Events
At the St. Croix County Highway Facility, 300 Oak Ridge Parkway, Baldwin, WI

Tire Collection Event – Recycle up to 16 tires (22-1/2” or smaller) per household. Rims cost $1 each (cash only). Proof of residency required. Businesses are not eligible.

• Tuesday, June 10: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., St. Croix County Highway Facility, 300 Oak Ridge Parkway, Baldwin, WI.

Where can I find more information?
A full list of accepted items and event details can be found on the County’s Collection Events Webpage. While you are on the County website, check out our hazardous waste voucher program and the A-Z recycling guide for helpful tips on properly disposing of unwanted items. And don’t forget to stay connected by subscribing to the St. Croix County Recycling Newsletter. You’ll receive notifications for upcoming recycling events and tips to help you safely dispose of unwanted items – sent directly to your inbox.

• Collection Events: sccwi.gov/Collection-Events.
• Subscribe to our Newsletter: sccwi.gov/Subscribe.

Submitted by Danny Akenson, GROWW

BAY CITY, WI – On Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW) members and other locals are speaking with Minnesota author and farmer’s daughter Sonja Trom Eayrs on the impacts and history of corporate consolidation in farming.

“This is a conversation and history many of us need right now,” says Danny Akenson, Field Organizer with GROWW.

Eayrs, attorney and author of “Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America,” will share her experience in fighting massive factory farms in Minnesota that threatened her home. “Dodge County, Incorporated” recounts the Trom family’s three rounds of litigation against county officials to prevent a corporate factory farm from going up across the road from their intergenerational family farm in Dodge County, Minnesota. With the factual rigor of an attorney and the passion of a farmer’s daughter, Eayrs weaves together her family’s struggles to fight corporate injustice in rural America and the larger story of corporate livestock production in the United States: the air and water pollution, the cancer clusters, the destruction of local communities and economies, and the erosion of the democratic process.

The book provides a rare insider’s account, showing how the corporate restructuring of rural areas and profiteering of Big Ag corporations impacts the political, economic, and cultural fate of a single rural community.

With corporations like Breeze Dairy Group (Ridge Breeze Dairy) moving into Pierce County, (and doing business in St. Croix County) Western Wisconsin community members are invited to come discuss and learn more.

Eayrs’s story mirrors the story of many local residents. As many have organized in opposition to expansions to preserve local water, roads, and small farms, residents continue to explore a contested case with the DNR over the approval of Ridge Breeze Dairy’s permit.

Interestingly, it was reported that the Public Hearing regarding the Ridge Breeze expansion that had been scheduled in the Town of Salem, has been cancelled and delayed until further notice.

This public hearing was concerning an $18 million public loan that Ridge Breeze has secretly been pursuing through the Public Finance Authority (PFA) for months. However, PFA policies allow local governments to deny these loans if they’re not in the public interest… that means the Town of Salem can simply say, “No” to giving Ridge Breeze the funds.

Without a hearing, Ridge Breeze’s grab for public funds can’t move forward.

“Sonja’s story shows that no matter where we live, when a community bands together, we can create a better future for our families,” says Akenson. Community members across western Wisconsin are invited to join the conversation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Bay City Village Hall, on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

GROWW is a grassroots organization based in Western Wisconsin. We build power in our communities and create the change we need for all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how much money we have, or who we love. Together, we work toward a future where we all make ends meet, live with dignity, and have a voice in shaping the decisions that impact us. We began our work in 2019 as Pierce County GrassRoots Organizing, and grew out of the name as we began to organize with communities in seven Western Wisconsin counties: Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix.

To get connected or learn more about GROWW, visit us at GRO-WW.org, on Instagram at @GrowWisconsin, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/GROWWisconsin.

Submitted by Amanda Connelly, SCEDC

NEW RICHMOND, WI – The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) announced the winners of its Business of the Year awards that honor outstanding businesses for their exceptional growth, community impact, and contributions to the local economy. The three award winners are: Perceptive Avionics as the Emerging Business of the Year, Knoke’s Nuts and More as the Small Business of the Year, and RESCO as the Large Business of the Year.

“These are great businesses that bring energy and innovation to our community and our local economy,” said Susan Yohnk-Lockwood, SCEDC’s 2024-2025 Board President and Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness for Northwood Technical College. “There is great energy here across the county and we are excited to be able to recognize these organizations.”

Each of the winners received a glass award from SCEDC, a legislative citation from Representatives Kreibich and Zimmerman, a citation from Congressman Tom Tiffany, a citation from Senator Tammy Baldwin, and a citation from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Missy Hugues.

The SCEDC Annual Banquet was one of SCEDC’s top attended banquets in history, drawing a crowd of over 200 attendees. “The event had such great energy, and it was inspiring to watch connections be made between attendees from all sectors,” said Melissa Meschke, Executive Director for SCEDC. “We were so glad to see so many people come out to congratulate our award winners as well.” Representatives from healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, insurance, banking, childcare, construction, utilities, commercial real estate, municipalities and more industries were present.

The event was sponsored by St. Croix County, Xcel Energy, Derrick Building Solutions, St. Croix Electric Cooperative, Royal Credit Union, First State Bank and Trust, Valley Agencies, OEM Fabricators, Bakke Norman, FNC Bank, Hiawatha National Bank, Cannaday Bloom, Alera Group, Citizens State Bank, Daymakers Moving and Storage, WBD, Hudson Hospital & Clinic, Westfields Hospital & Clinic, Market & Johnson, Northwood Technical College, Nucor, Hudson Physicians and First National Bank of River Falls.

“Emerging Business of the Year” – Perceptive Avionics
Perceptive Avionics, an FAA-certified repair station in New Richmond, Wisconsin, specializes in aircraft avionics sales, installation, and design services. Since its founding, the company has grown rapidly, doubling sales in 2024 with an even stronger outlook for 2025. “Receiving this recognition is an incredible honor,” said Jay Schrankler, President and co-founder at Perceptive Avionics. “Our highly trained team works tirelessly to provide exceptional service to the general aviation industry, and this award reaffirms our commitment to excellence and innovation in avionics.”

“Small Business of the Year” – Knoke’s Nuts and More
Knoke’s Nuts and More, a staple in Hudson, produces high-quality chocolates, caramels, nuts, and popcorn. In 2023, the company expanded with a renovated downtown storefront and a larger production facility. Its products are now available nationwide. “We are truly honored to be named Small Business of the Year,” said Dave Knoke, Owner at Knoke’s Nuts and More. “This recognition is a testament to our dedicated employees and loyal customers who have supported us for over twenty years.”

“Large Business of the Year” – RESCO
RESCO, based in Hudson and River Falls, has been a cornerstone of the local economy for over 38 years. Recent expansions include a facility of 54,000 sq. ft. in Sterling Ponds Corporate Park and a 16,500 sq. ft. addition to its Hudson headquarters, creating 15+ new jobs. “It is a great honor to have our team be recognized by the SCEDC. Most of our employees live right here in Western Wisconsin and are part of the fabric of the larger community.” said Tim Strand President at RESCO. “Our people ‘Honestly Care, Push for Better and Don’t Miss’ for our clients. To be able to support national brands from our small but mighty corner of the world is something we are extremely grateful for. You can do big things from right here in the St Croix Valley and we see the area as a vibrant home for growth and opportunities in business and beyond.”

SCEDC congratulates all the winners and looks forward to celebrating their continued success.

The SCEDC is a 501(c)6 that serves all of St. Croix County, Wisconsin by focusing on fostering economic development through workforce development, housing, entrepreneurial development, business expansion and retention, business attraction and recruitment, and ecosystem building. St. Croix EDC also strives to grow collaboration between the 35 towns, cities, and villages in St. Croix County as well as working closely with Pierce and Polk County to grow the St. Croix Valley as a whole. To learn more please visit stcroixedc.com.

Submitted by John Groh, District Administrator

SPRING VALLEY, WI – On April 1, 2025, electors in the School District of Spring Valley will have the opportunity to vote on two referendum questions. The outcomes of these votes will have lasting effects on our students and staff, and will shape the future of our district. Both ballot questions are the culmination of over two years of gathering information, listening, communicating and finally determining the next steps.

Question #1 will ask voters for support for essential upgrades to security, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and some classroom updates along with the remodel or construction of an adequately spaced transportation building for our school buses and vans.

Question #2 asks for approval to make electrical and mechanical upgrades to Syverson Pool and construct an 8-lane competition track and field facility with a grass practice/Phy Ed field.

The process for identifying these priorities began in November 2022 when the Board approved a comprehensive facility study. Those results were shared publicly in April 2023. In December 2023 the Board hired Nexus Solutions as a long-term facility planning partner. District staff and the Nexus team have been actively working for over the past 14 months to research, inspect, and listen to users in each space and each program associated with the district. Areas in need of improvement were then shared with all residents this past fall through a community-wide survey. At the same time over 50 community members have participated in a facilities task force whose ultimate goal was to make a recommendation to the school board about priorities.

The community survey results were essential in guiding our next steps. The first two most supported projects were updates to the 1998 middle/high school HVAC and mechanical systems. The second most widely supported project addressed the bus garage built in the early 1960’s. The third most supported area was for Syverson Pool, also built in the early 1960’s. Finally, 58% of those surveyed showed high or medium priority to construct a track and field complex. The results of the community survey can be viewed on the school website by clicking on the “District Information” tab and then clicking on the “2024 Ten-Year Facility Plan.”

In recent years Wisconsin school funding has forced record numbers of school districts to turn to their communities to fund both operations and capital improvements. For example, in 2016 voters in Spring Valley approved a four-year referendum, which provided a total of $3.2 million. Those funds had two huge impacts. The first is it allowed the district to tackle large maintenance projects such as a new metal roof and new more energy efficient windows at the middle/high school. Besides major projects like these, those funds provided some breathing room for the district, which has been one of the lowest-funded out of the 421 districts in the state. This positive ripple effect has provided the funds in recent years to remodel the middle/high school library and weight room. This past summer most student and teacher furniture were purchased and replaced old and worn-out furniture, some of which was used at the old high school.

Spring Valley is an incredibly supportive community that prioritizes education and invests in its children. We are thankful for working hard to honor this trust by holding high standards for learning, singing, performing, and competing. We are also very grateful for the generosity of so many that volunteer and give back to the school district. If you or someone you know has the time, talent and resources and would consider a donation to go towards the projects listed in the referendum, please let me know.

Communication and information are vital to making an informed decision. Look for information in your mailbox over the next few weeks. You can also access referendum information and details on our school website. The community is cordially invited to attend the upcoming referendum talk and tour meetings. All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. The first two will take place at the Middle/High School library. The first meeting will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025, and the second meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11.  Finally, a Facebook Live virtual meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 25.  Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions.

“Get the facts, then vote.”

By Julie Huebel, Pierce County Historical Association

ELMWOOD, WI – In January of this year, we lost Dorothy Allen, a staple in the neighborhood where I was raised. She lived just over a half-mile from Tripple Hill School, her grade school alma mater and the very place I grew up. I say I grew up in Tripple Hill and people will look at me doubting I am old enough to have attended a country school, I will see the confusion on their face and have to clarify that my parents converted the school to a house and it is literally where I was raised.

Dorothy was part of a singing trio with her sisters, the Binkowski Sisters. Yes, B is for Binkowski.  John (Johann) Binkowski and Johanna (Matzkowitz) show up in Rock Elm Township on the 1920 federal census with two kids at home, Albert (age 19) and Anthony (age 16). The boys were both born in New York and their parents both born in Germany. The family arrived in the U.S. on April 3, 1894, aboard the ship Saale with their four-year-old daughter, Marie. I can find no other mention of Maria, assuming she passed away as a child. They seem to have also lost a boy, John Jr., in 1902 while living in New York.

I was able to locate the family on the 1905 New York state census living in Elmira, New York just over the border from Pennsylvania, there were three children in the household at that time: Anna (age 9), Albert (age 4), and Anthony (age 2). John was listed as working in the blacksmithing trade both on the 1905 and 1910 census records in NY. Anna, was listed as working as an operator in a knitting mill at age 14 in 1910.

It was reported in the May 6, 1914, Elmira Star-Gazette newspaper that a farewell party was held for daughter, Anna by her friends and was presented with a gold ring before she was to leave for Elmwood, Wisconsin. Anna would sadly pass away at the young age of 22 in 1918 only four years after moving to Elmwood. The mother, Joanna passed away in 1945, her husband John in 1950, they are buried in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Farm Hill.

Albert’s obituary says he married his wife Helen Studer and lived in NY a bit, but records show he was married in Pierce County in 1926 and had been living here since 1914, so I think the obituary was incorrect.  (someone correct me if he had temporarily moved back to NY as a young adult). Albert passed away in 1979 at age 78 and is buried in the Free Home Cemetery just outside Plum City.  Anthony passed away at age 82 and is also buried in Farm Hill. It is from him the Elmwood Binkowski’s descend.

If someone has a photo of John and Joanna and family or Anthony or Albert’s families, please share! (info@PierceCountyHistorical.org)