Submitted by Syttende Mai Queen Katelyn Gustafson 

WOODVILLE, WI – Hello Woodville Community! This last weekend, June 15 and 16, 2024, your Syttende Mai Court tackled three different parades!

On Saturday the 15th, all four of us went to Clayton for their 56th Annual Clayton Cheese Days Parade and Queen’s Tea. The Clayton Royalty threw a great, sunflower-themed Queen’s Tea, and we even left with some sunflower seeds of our own!

On Sunday, the 16th, the Court split up, having Princesses Jessica and Addisyn go to Osseo, for Osseo Lake Martha Days, while Princess Adeline and I went to Frederick for the Frederic Family Days Celebration.

In Osseo, Jessica and Addisyn went to the Queen’s Tea and even saw a unique koi fish pound at the school. After the parade, they went to the famous Norske Nook restaurant and enjoyed some of their fabulous pies.

After the drive to Frederick, Adeline and I attended the Queen’s Tea, where we met some Royalty Courts, we hadn’t seen before. Before going through the parade, Adeline and I took some fun pictures with a provided polaroid camera!

Happy summer everyone!

Submitted by Ryma Lindquist WWH

BALDWIN, WI – Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) hosted its 22nd annual 5K Health Hustle run/walk (formerly the Booster Shot Run) on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The event kicked off with a ¼ mile Kid’s Fun Run, where many children joyfully ran in the rain around Mill Pond Park, cheered on by the 5K runners. A total of 65 participants enjoyed the chip-timed 5K race, which started and ended at Mill Pond Park as part of the 150th Baldwin Windmill Days Celebration. This year’s winners set new course records: Elijah Perry finished first among males with a time of 18:32, and Natalie Bolstad led the females with a time of 20:58.

Kerri Stiller, Wellness Program Coordinator, expressed gratitude for the volunteers and fitness center staff. “We are extremely grateful to have outstanding volunteers and fitness center staff members that helped make everything run smoothly! This year we brought back giving homemade pies to the winner of each age category and it was a huge success! We would like to thank the 15 generous bakers for taking the time to bake and donate the delicious pies. We were also excited to give each 5K participant a custom-made t-shirt and finisher medal.”

Western Wisconsin Health would like to extend a special thank you to our generous sponsors. Without these sponsors this event would not have been possible.

Proceeds from the race will support future fitness center projects. If you would like to contribute to the fitness center general fund, please visit wwhealth.org/contribute or email Rosa Magnus at Rosa.magnus@wwhealth.org.

The Western Wisconsin Health Fitness Center is excited to announce the Spooky Shuffle Trail Run on the Western Wisconsin Health community trail on Friday, October 25, 2024. For more information about becoming a Fitness Center member, please call 715-684-1642. Western Wisconsin Health’s Fitness Center strives to provide state-of-the-art equipment and classes to empower members to “Build a healthier tomorrow, together.”

Submitted by Ryma Lindquist, Community Relations Director, WWH

BALDWIN, WI – The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) recently bestowed their 2024 Rural Health Ambassador Award to Katie Carstens, Family Practice/Oncology Physician Assistant (P.A.) at Western Wisconsin Health (WWH).

The award recognizes health care employees at RWHC hospitals who have gone above the call of duty in promoting their respective organizations, while making significant contributions to rural health. Nineteen individuals from across the state received awards this year. Each recipient demonstrates a history of fostering positive communication and relations within the hospital’s respective service area by serving on community boards/service organizations; taking advantage of volunteer or public speaking opportunities; and supporting community health activities beyond the scope of the hospital.

Katie Carstens’s work in the organization started in the WWH Fitness center in 2009 inspiring members to get fit and healthy in their wellness journey. This role grew to supporting community health and wellness programming working with WWH employees, local employers, and community members as the Wellness Program manager and health coach from 2013-2017 positively impacting the lives of hundreds of community members. Katie furthered her career to become a Physician Assistant to more directly impact patients’ health using a whole person approach resuming her work with WWH in 2018.

Katie has been an engaged Family Practice provider participating in various clinical work groups. In 2023, a need was identified to expand Oncology provider services to meet the needs of patients in the community. Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. Katie stepped up to meet this need and is currently seeing patients in our Oncology Clinic part time alongside her family practice work.

Incorporated in 1979, RWHC receives national recognition as one of the country’s earliest and most successful models for networking among rural hospitals. RWHC serves as a catalyst for regional collaboration and as an influential and creative force on behalf of rural communi­ties and rural health. Owned and operated by 44 acute, medical-surgical hospitals, RWHC offers its members a wide range of shared services that meet local community health needs, including: staffing, consulting, management, networking, and education. Western Wisconsin Health is an active member of RWHC; their employees support the shared mission of “strengthening and sustaining rural health.”

Submitted by Luann Emerson, Administrator

SPRING VALLEY, WI – On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Village of Spring Valley held their June Board Meeting. President T. Koch called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. in Council Chambers. Members Present: T. Koch, Erickson, Jorgenson, Lukes, O’Connell. Members Absent: M. Huepfel, P. Koch. Staff: Administrator Emerson.  Chief of Police Dulcie Lilly.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve May 1, 2024, Board minutes. Carried. Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve agenda as adjusted: Clinic from #10 to #3, remove #5. Carried. Appearances: none.

Library Monthly Report:  O’Connell reported: Summer reading kick-off is tomorrow with root-beer floats and entry into drawing for summer pool pass valued at $150. Remi is the head of our snake; she is on the sidewalk outside the building entrance closest to the library at the orange cone.  Anyone can add their painted rock to grow Remi’s tail, we’ll see how long it gets by end of summer! Red Cardinal takes his first flight this Friday at noon, first clue being released at 9:00 a.m. Monday June 10. The library sent out an Amazon Wishlist to the community to help pay for summer reading prizes and craft supplies. The $500 list was covered by Friday May 31, thank you everyone! Painting on the Patio first class is Thursday June 13 and it’s already full. Two additional classes July 11 and August 8. Director Katie Schneider met with other Pierce County librarians in May to plan their “ask” for 100% reimbursement from the county.  Currently they reimburse at 85%, all other counties in the area are at 100%. The circulation is climbing, book club keeps growing, book challenge gets more and more people reading each month.

Action items:

1. Motion to approve Mooney’s Rusty Horse bean bag league in back parking area behind the bar, cone off the lot, open container, Thursdays 6:30 – 10:15 p.m. June 6 through August 22 and September 14 for playoffs and party. Carried.
2. SVHRC updates Megan Corcoran and Stephanie from HDG reviewed financial and other information. Accounts are still co-mingled so accurate information remains unavailable. Budget numbers were reviewed, Stephanie began in detail, but several assumptions were made, and the amount of detail being reviewed would warrant a meeting for Finance Committee or the workgroup, the Board would not be able to review or approve this much information for a budget that begins in three weeks. Megan continued with the other items in the handout. Occupancy is at 38, issues with EPIC and E-Fax have been resolved. Social media posts were reviewed, there were no posts for the Sun-Argus this month. President Koch requested inserts in July and August for nursing home upcoming events. Projected citations were 11 but only eight were issued and all have been corrected.  There is a new Interim Director on site; a permanent Director is still being sought. HDG is working on getting names changed on bank accounts.
   1. Clinic – The Board was updated on where the renovation process is at and the costs that need to be approved. Bids were reviewed. Charlie Forbush from WWH was present and reviewed costs as well as benefits to the community to have a clinic in the Village. The Board approved the $650,000 reconstruction costs with the already negotiated cost reductions to be left to the discretion of the committee working with Gavic Construction. The State Trust Fund will be used to finance the project until tax monies are available the next three years. Motion to approve the application for borrowing funds from Board of Commissioners of Public Lands as well as Resolution 6-5-2024(a) which was given to Board members prior to the meeting. Vote – Carried.
3. Motion to approve Resolution 6-5-2024 (a) Compliance Maintenance Annual Report Resolution for reporting year 2023. Vote: Carried.
4. Lions Club sign was presented for approval by Liz Erickson. The Lions Club would like the sign put up at the Pickleball court in recognition of their contribution to the facility. President Koch requested that a joint sign be put up to include all those involved in the Pickleball project. Other Board members agreed. Table to review. Emerson will coordinate with Lions Club for a joint sign.
5. Comprehensive plan update: Finance reviewed the request for $10,000 for a Cedar Corporation contract to help update the Comprehensive Plan. The Committee has committed $5,000 to the project for now, additional funds may be available at year end but they don’t know that at this time. Additional money can be put into the 2025 budget to complete the project as well, it is an ongoing project, and a full Committee has not been established yet. O’Connell will talk to Cedar to update the contract. Motion to accept $5,000 for a contract with Cedar Corporation at this time for updating Comprehensive Plan. A contract will be signed when it is available. Carried.
6. Emerson relayed what was found out from Attorney Helgeson, that the cost to survey and correct the property description would cost $2,500.00. Schilling will continue to look for alternative fixes to the title.
7. Motion to approve Liquor and Operator licenses for 2024-2025 licensing year. Carried.
8. Public Works – small street projects were relayed to the Board to include general maintenance, Golf View culvert, Terrace St overlay, 1^st St/Cty B alley, Wagon Trail Rd, chip seal business park, Hillside Drive grader patch, Sabin at N300 block. The immediate future for 2025-2026 were also noted as well as one long term that could be an LRIP project.
   • Van Buren Road project and walking path: Motion to approve the application for borrowing funds from Board of Commissioners of Public Lands as well as Resolution 6-5-2024(b) which was given to Board members prior to the meeting. Vote: Carried.
9. Koch reported on the Spring Valley Area Emergency Services quarterly meeting: the ES Board voted to borrow $105,000 and add it to the existing loan in order to replace unit 9301.
10. Pay requests and Treasurers Report approved as presented.
11. Next Board meeting is July 3, 2024 at 6:15 p.m. confirmed.

Police monthly update: 56 incidences handled by local PD; 18 calls handled by PCSD.

Finance: 2024 budget to date was reviewed, ARPA funding has been spent and reported for the year, debt summary page needs to be updated.

MD: Community Center wrap-up, reviewed purpose of the committee and difference between MD and Planning Commission, Urban Forestry grant was closed out, plan for 2025 grant was discussed, Jay Arneson is currently working with the DNR on tree inventory in the Village. Handy Andy sidewalk from pavilion to main parking lot will be one of the main focuses of the committee.

Personnel: Forest Rohr was hired for Public Works Assistant position. A step chart for wages/salaries will be introduced.

Clerk’s report: Building permits: one for a deck valued at $7,800.

President’s Report:  The car show was well attended, and the food stands were good.

Motion to adjourn – Carried