Here is a selection of brief news items from this week's paper edition.

Kohl Foundation scholarship applications available

Student Scholarship applications for the 2009 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Excellence Scholarship can now be obtained in the principal’s office at Wisconsin public, religious and independent high schools, from the Wisconsin Parents Association and at www.kohleducation.org.

A total of 100 students will be chosen to receive $1,000 scholarships from among all applicants throughout the state.

Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin who will graduate from high school in 2009 and plan to continue their education at a college, university or vocational/technical school. Students will be evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, citizenship and school and community activities.

Completed applications are due Nov. 14. The exact date is determined by individual schools. Students should contact their high school principal or go to www.kohleducation.org as soon as possible for a copy of the application form and detailed information on the eligibility criteria. The number of applications each high school may submit is based on enrollment.

Home-schooled students can also obtain information from the Wisconsin Parents Association at P.O. Box 2502, Madison, WI 53701-2502 or www.homeschooling-wpa.org or (608) 283-3131.

Selection of recipients will be made by a state-level panel composed of representatives from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools, Wisconsin Parents Association, several education-related associations, and community representatives.

Since the program was established in 1990, the Herb Kohl Foundation has awarded 1,900 fellowships to teachers, 1,900 grants to their schools, and 2,935 scholarships to graduating high school students throughout the state for a total of $6.7 million.

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship program is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools and Cooperative Educational Service Agencies.

Jackson County officials attend WCA conference

County-elected officials from Jackson County attended the Wisconsin Counties Association conference in Sauk County on Oct. 12-14.

This year’s conference theme, “Wisconsin Counties: Shaping the Future of Wisconsin,” focused on the diverse and complex issues currently facing counties around the state.

Jackson County supervisors who attended this WCA Annual Conference in Wisconsin Dells included: Dennis Eberhardt, from District 10; Roger Stevens, from District 4; Charles Jensen, from District 7; Gary Olson, from District 8; Steve Aldach, from District 9; William Cornell, from District 11; Norman Stoker, from District 13; Lois Ferries, from District 14; Donald Evenson, from District 15; and Jeff Amo, from District 17.

Featured sessions at this year’s conference, which was held at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, included such topics as emergency government, healthcare costs, renewable energy and agriculture, budgeting trends in Wisconsin government, Family Care expansion, land information programs, zoning issues, county and state sales taxes and courts.

Speakers included National Association of Counties president Don Stapley, NBC News political director Chuck Todd, Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Michael Morgan, Ret. Major General Albert Wilkening, Chancellor of UW colleges and UW Extension Dr. David Wilson and UW-Extension Cooperative Extension Interim Dean and Director Richard Klemme.

In addition to breakout sessions and featured speakers, Eberhardt, the Jackson County Board chair, participated in the WCA Annual Business Meeting. Representatives from all 72 counties were invited to participate in the event, in which resolutions were voted on and will be placed in the WCA Platform.

“The WCA Annual Conference is a wonderful opportunity to work with our peers from around the state and hear from experts on all the complex issues facing counties,” Eberhardt said. “It is always beneficial to hear what works from other counties, discuss possible solutions to our shared issues and bring home fresh perspectives that will help us guide our counties into the future.”

The WCA represents the interest of county governments at both the state and federal levels and is located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Snowmobile club to hold meeting

The Black River Trail Riders Snowmobile Club will hold its next monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls.

The BRTR is a local non-profit group responsible for maintaining 52 miles of snowmobile trails in Western Jackson County ranging from Black River Falls to Hixton and over to the Merrillan/Hatfield area. The club is responsible for signing, grooming and general upkeep of the trail system, 99 percent of which is on private land. The group has been in existence since around 1972 and currently has around 40 members.

Membership meetings are held once per month from September to March. Members receive a free meal at each meeting. Membership fees are an annual price of less than $20. This club boasts a diverse group of members and is always looking for new members.

One topic of discussion at the November meeting will be the state’s newly proposed Club Assistance Program. Under this proposal, the state would raise snowmobile registration rates but in turn give a significant discount to those riders that belong to a local club. Interested individuals and families are encouraged to attend the next club meeting as well as future meetings.

Although the club’s next meeting is Nov. 13, normal membership meeting dates are the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Skyline. For questions, contact Andy at (715) 896-4901.

Crop Decisions 2009: How to manage expensive P and K fertilizer

In this time of volatile prices for both inputs and commodities, growers can get assistance in decision making by attending Crop Decisions 2009, a series of seminars hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

The first seminar, scheduled for Nov. 7, focuses on managing phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Expensive fertilizer prices make it a challenge for producers to maximize their profit per acre. This seminar addresses options a grower should consider when determining if or how much phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to apply.

Carrie Laboski, UW-Madison/Extension soil fertility specialist, will co-host the session along with local county Extension agents. There will be two 30-minutes presentations, followed by 15 minutes of local discussion. The audience will be able to pose questions to Laboski after each local discussion.

The seminar series will be conducted via a web-based distance education system. The Nov. 7 session begins at 12:45 p.m. and runs until 3 p.m. and will be held at the UW-Extension office at 227 South 11th St. in Black River Falls. CCA credits will be available for certified crop advisors.

For more information or to register, contact Trisha Wagner, ag agent at the Jackson County UW-Extension office at (715) 284-4257.

Goodwill nets nearly 10,000 pounds of goods from drive

During its recent donation drive in Black River Falls, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin received 9,920 pounds of gently used items.

“We are grateful to the residents of the Black River Falls area for their generous donations,” said Mary Bloomer, Goodwill NCW’s director of community relations. “We would also like to thank Burnstad’s Market for being our donation drop-off site for this drive.

“When you donate to Goodwill, it creates jobs in our stores; and when you shop, you support our programs, which improve lives and our communities,” Bloomer added. “This is our Goodwill promise and why your support is so important to help us fulfill our mission in the Black River Falls community.”

Goodwill NCW is a not-for-profit human services organization that helped improve the lives of more than 36,000 people across north central Wisconsin in 2007 through more than 20 programs and services. It covers 35 counties and includes 21 retail stores/training centers in communities from Manitowoc to La Crosse and as far north as Rice Lake and Rhinelander. For more information, www.goodwillncw.org.

Miss Coulee Region pageant accepting applicants

Applications are being accepted from young women for the 2009 Miss Coulee Region Scholarship pageant, which will take place Saturday, Nov. 15 in Westby.

The regional preliminary to the Miss Wisconsin and Miss America programs is seeking women between 17 and 24 who live, work or attend college in the southwestern portion of the state, which includes those in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland and Vernon counties. Any qualified young woman who attends Western Wisconsin Technical College, UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville or UW- Richland Center may also compete, as well as high school seniors.

There is no sponsorship entry fee to compete. Contestants must be a high school graduate by next June and will compete in personal interview, swimsuit, evening gown and present a 90-second talent routine of her own selection.

Entrants will also speak about a personal platform issue of her choosing and help raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, the pageant’s official charity.

For more information and an application, contact pageant director Dawn Theige-Parr at (608) 634-4737 or e-mail her at dawnn@mwt.net or midwestcoaching@yahoo.com.

The winner of the fourth annual Miss Coulee Region pageant will be crowned by the current titleholder, Kristina Ann Gross, 23, of La Crosse, and will advance to the 2009 Miss Wisconsin Pageant on June 20, 2009, in Oshkosh.

A Bible Evangelical Free Church to hold lock-in event

What do you get when you mix 100 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders with 12 hours of high energy and team building exercises? A Bible Evangelical Free Church lock-in event!

The Bible Evangelical Free church at 625 W. Veterans, Tomah, will be hosting a lock-in on Nov. 7, starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 7 a.m. on Nov. 8.

The lock-in will to teach children how to work in teams and have a message on pressures they encounter as youth in everyday life. “Equipping the next generation is the ultimate goal, and that starts with the youth,” said Wendy Patterson, the youth lock-in organizer for the Bible Evangelical Free Church.

The Bible Evangelical Free Church looks to use the event as a way to have kids from the community in a safe environment and promote relationship between kids their own age. This is the second annual lock-in. “Kids are still talking about last years lock-in and are looking forward to this years Expedition Theme," Patterson said. “We going to have games, food and fun.”

Kids participating in the event will not only have fun, they will also be engaged in beneficial activities designed to help them with everyday pressures of life. The cost for this event is free, which includes midnight snack, breakfast, crafts, games and activities. For more information, contact the church office at (608) 372-9377.

Flu shots offered locally

Jackson County Public Health will hold a flu shot clinic in October. This will be an opportunity for the pubic to receive low cost immunizations to protect against respiratory influenza.

The clinic will be Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The immunizations will be given at the Jackson County Health and Human Services building at 420 Highway 54 West in Black River Falls. The cost for the vaccine will be $20 for adults and free for children.

For more information, call Jackson County Public Health at (715) 284-4301, ext. 375.

Childbirth Education Class scheduled for Nov. 4

Black River Memorial Hospital's next "Childbirth Education Class" will begin Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 6:30-9 p.m. in the hospital's Dorothy Halvorson (first floor) conference room. The class is designed for women who are in their fifth to seventh month of pregnancy and their partners. The class will run for four consecutive Tuesdays concluding Nov. 25.

The class is designed to create a feeling of well-being for the family during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period. Topics will include the physical and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy; maternal and infant nutrition; how to tell if you are in labor; labor and delivery; the role of the coach; birth plans and medical options; massage; relaxation and breathing; pain relief; cesarean section; recovery and the postpartum period; normal newborn characteristics; parenting; and safety. Participants will also tour the obstetrics unit.

The cost to attend all four sessions is $40 and advance registration is requested. For more information, contact the OB unit at the hospital at (715) 284-1329.

String Quartet to perform in Black River Falls

The International String Quartet from UW-La Crosse will beperforming at the United Methodist Church, in Black River Falls, on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. This classical musical ensemble is made up of David Phipps on the violin, Enaldo Oliveira on the violin and Bucha Lugoviyer on the viola, and it’s brought to you by the Black River Arts Alliance.

Pre-Concert entertainment will feature three area Handbell Choirs “Ju’Bell’ation” from the United Methodist Church, under the direction of Carol Kolodjuck and “Ringspiration” from the Evangelical Lutheran Church and ‘Ring of Fire” from the Black River Falls High School both under The direction of Barbara Olson. All the choirs will combine to form a 33 ring Massed Handbell Choir. A free will offering will be taken.

Hospice is recruiting volunteers

Black River Memorial Hospice is recruiting for additional volunteers who are interested in helping people in need. Cindy Clark, coordinator of hospice volunteers, says there are several different levels of volunteer involvement and people can choose what area they feel would be most comfortable for them.

"We have hospice helpers, regular hospice volunteers and transitions volunteers," said Clark. "We also have a Teen Volunteer Program and volunteers are needed in all areas."

Clark explained that hospice Helpers are needed to lend a helping hand by sewing items such as equipment bags, Memory Bears and patient gowns.

"Helpers can also help create and distribute posters or hospice information, make copies and assemble training material, help with fundraising events, knit or crochet comfort shawls and do other things needed to support the program that do not involve patient or family contact," she said.

Regular hospice volunteer duties can include occasional office work, running errands, household chores, cooking, providing help with transportation and visiting with patients to review their lives and support their families. "Sometimes we even just need a good strong back to put up or take down a bed," said Clark.

Transitions volunteers are specially trained to sit with patients in their final hours. Clark explains that some patients do not have immediate family, or the family may be too far away to make it in time before the patient passes away.

"These volunteers may be there to support the family or just be a needed presence in the room at this time," she said. "Transitions volunteers can also help work with the family through a bereavement period. The family may have become accustomed to a life with hospice care, including nursing and home health aide visits from once a week to twice a day. After the patient passes away, it can be lonely for those left behind when services end."

Black River Hospice also has a Teen Volunteer Program for motivated teens, ages 14 to 18, who can participate in a variety of ways. Responsibilities may include being a friendly visitor, doing light housekeeping, running errands, shopping, helping to provide respite care, visiting patients in long-term care facilities, and completing yard work. "This could be an opportunity for parents and teens to team up for visits or chores," said Clark.

The need for all levels of hospice volunteers is especially great in the smaller, outlying communities. "We really need volunteers from Hixton, Taylor, Northfield, Pigeon Falls, Melrose, Cataract, Millston, Merrillan, Humbird, Fairchild, Hatfield and Neillsville," said Clark. "It may be your neighbor who someday needs your help. With the price of gas, I would like to be able to send volunteers from the patient's own community."

For anyone interested in becoming a regular, Transitions or Teen volunteer for Black River Memorial Hospice, a training session has been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the first floor Dorothy Halvorson Conference Room at Black River Memorial Hospital. Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information about any of these volunteer opportunities, or to RSVP for the training call Cindy Clark at (715) 284-1391.

Neighbor Saver Saturday CPR Course

Would you know how to help someone who is choking or having a heart attack? If not, then you may want to attend a Neighbor Saver Saturday CPR Course on Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Black River Memorial Hospital.

The course is sponsored by the Greater Black River Area Safety Council and is available at no charge to community members who are interested in training for adult CPR and choking relief measures.

Advance registration is required by Nov. 13 and can be made by calling Sue Nordahl at Black River Memorial Hospital at (715) 284-1312.

Public is invited to A ‘Frosty’ Country Christmas

The public is invited to Black River Memorial Hospital Partners' annual Holiday Tea that will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the hospital. This year's theme is A "Frosty" Country Christmas.

Because of the hospital's construction project, the tea was not able to be held last year. But with the construction now completed, members of the Holiday Tea Planning Committee are busy preparing for this year's tea, which will be held in the new expanded lobby, cafeteria and Dorothy Halvorson conference room, all on the first floor.

Chairing the event are Barb Hanson and Ann Pederson with committee members Carolyne Hensel, Yvonne Richard and Jan Hudson, tea table; Ellen Relyea and Georgia Button, kitchen; Gertrude Bue, bake sale; Judy Hansen and Sue Pearson, artists; Brenda Hanson, Pricilla Rosin and Carrie Stanley, decorations; Jean Hagenbrock, letters from Santa; Jill Kaphengst, Margaret Legois, Judy Hansen and Marilyn McKeeth, raffles; and Jenni Hill and Mary O'Brien, publicity.

The Tea will feature the traditional Tea Table with many delicious baked goods to sample. There will also be a bake sale, artists displaying and selling their works, order forms for Letters from Santa and Love Lights, a visit from Santa at 12:30 p.m. and raffle items. Also, the Partners' Gift Shop will have all of their new holiday merchandise for sale.

The artists will be: Pam Clafton Lee from Onalaska with watercolor paintings; Charlotte Overlien and Rhonda Shoemaker from Black River Falls with unique lamps and crafts; Wendell Ziegler from Neillsville with custom-turned wood crafts; Jennifer Damrow from Wausau with hand-crafted jewelry; Howard Munson from Winona with nature photography; Bob Kolodejchuk and Jill Prochaska from Black River Falls with seasonal crafts and decorative solar lights; and Lori Scharlau and Deb Marg from Black River Falls with handmade mittens, doll clothes, fiber-optic holiday decor and other items.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Partners' programs and services, including their pledge to the hospital for specialized equipment for the Homecare Program.

Feingold recognized for environmental voting record

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold received a perfect score in a recently released scorecard by the League of Conservation Voters for his support of environmental conservation and energy independence.

In its annual nonpartisan National Environmental Scorecard, LCV recognized Feingold for his record of consistently voting to protect the environment and reduce our dependence on oil. Feingold’s support for reducing global warming pollution, investing in renewable energy, protecting public lands and increasing low-income energy assistance all factored into his perfect score.

“I am honored to be recognized by the League of Conservation Voters, an organization committed to making environmental protection a national priority,” Feingold said. “Now more than ever we need to pursue alternatives to oil, invest in clean renewable energy technologies, and protect our most precious public lands. As we prepare for a new Congress and administration, we must take bold action to address the critical environmental and energy challenges threatening our planet.”

Feingold has been a strong supporter of many of the LCV’s priorities for its 2008 scorecard including passage of a renewable energy tax incentive package. The renewable energy measure passed by the House and Senate in October will provide tax incentives for homeowners and industry to spur more efficient homes and appliances, renewable electricity, alternative vehicles and renewable fuels, helping to create local green jobs. Feingold also strongly supported another one of LCV’s priorities, to suspend filling the strategic petroleum reserve, which would have helped lower gas prices that reached all-time highs.

Lastly, Feingold has been a long-time champion of fully funding the Low Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program. After years of pushing for stronger support for LIHEAP, Feingold was pleased when Congress voted in September to fully fund LIHEAP for only the second time since its inception in 1981.

A copy of the LCV National Environmental Scorecard can be viewed online at http://lcv.org/2008-pdf.pdf

Burger King raising money for VFW program

Local Burger King owners are collecting donations to raise money for the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Unmet Needs Program that provides emergency assistance to active-duty military families.

There are more than 700,000 military spouses across all services. In addition, almost half are married to enlisted members who make less than $20,000 a year in basic pay. The Unmet Needs Program is set up to alleviate the financial burdens of families during such hardships.

Since 2007, Burger King has assisted more than 1,250 families providing them with emergency aid such as mortgage assistance, rent, home repair, vehicle repair and maintenance, medical expenses, groceries and transportation expenses. While some of the needs are basic and others more significant, they are all the result of unforeseen financial burdens, complicated and amplified by a family member’s absence.

To make a donation to this cause, simply go to your local Burger King and donate to the VFW Unmet Needs Program; those who donate can sign a flag and have it posted inside Burger King to show their support of military families. Money raised at local Burger Kings stays in the area.

The campaign will run from Nov. 1-30 in honor of November’s Military Family Month. To find out more about this program, go to www.unmetneeds.com.

Project Christmas book

"Old Bear" is Black River Falls Public Library's pick for 2008 Project Christmas book. The book was chosen for all it represents of Wisconsin. The story is about an old bear who is dreaming of his youth through all four seasons of the year. Award-winning author Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison.

The Project Christmas book has been an annual project of the Library since 1998. The goal is to provide 100 books to be included with Project Christmas boxes to families with children from age 3 to 10.

The cost of the book is $10. For each book donated, the donor may purchase a copy for themselves at this discounted price.

The American Red Cross blood drive held at Melrose-Mindoro High School on Oct. 13 collected 65 units. Of the 65 units, 32 were given by Mel-Min students. Thanks to the great response by the students, the Red Cross was able to meet its goal of 60 units.

The champion donor of the day was Mike Kunes, reaching two gallons. Dairy Farmers of America, Mindoro Lions Club and the Melrose-Mindoro High School and maintenance staff helped.

The next drive at Mel-Min will be on Tuesday, Dec. 23

Beauty and the Beast

The Falls Players will present Beauty and the Beast on Friday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.

The Broadway musical version of Disney's classic fairy tale will be directed by Larry P. Hansen and produced by Kay Zinn at the Lunda Theater in Black River Falls.

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