blackriverfalls.com

BRF School District makes deep cuts

Details: Written by Jackson County Chronicle

Over the last 10 years, the BRF School District has had to make deep cuts to its budget to be able to serve its students. The 2017-2018 budget proved to be no different as the school board clamored to come up with $355,243, the amount they are projected to lose from this year’ budget due to a reduction in their revenue limit.

A revenue limit is a cap set by the state that prevents a school from spending over a certain level. Due to the reduction in the revenue limit, the Black River Area Green School (BRAGS) was on the chopping block.

BRAGS is a project-based learning environment. There are currently 18 students enrolled in the program, which is currently led by Jessica McNamara who is the student’s teacher.

Details: Written by Jackson County Chronicle

Black River Memorial Hospital has scheduled the fourth annual Pace and Pedal event at Wazee Lake Recreation Area. The date for this year’s event is Saturday, May 20, 2017. The day features three separate events. The chip-timed duathlon begins at 8 a.m. and includes a 5.7-mile trail run and a 10.3-mile bike ride. Participants can enter individually or register as a team. The cost is $20 per person or $30 for a two-person team.

The second event, beginning at 8:30 a.m. is the 5k Wazee Color Fun Run/Walk. This is a non-competitive, fun event for all levels. The 5K course is fully paved and accessible for all individuals. As a new twist this year, color zones are spread throughout the course, where participants have the option of running through colored powder.

Details: Written by Jackson County Chronicle

The season for the Blair-Taylor Wildcats could best be summed up as a roller coaster with some big ups and downs.

The Wildcats started its season with a great 6-0 run before Christmas break. It was followed up by some tough losses to Bangor, GET and Arcadia.

Then B-T went to Melrose and gave the Mustangs a great run but, in the end, they just could not close the gap. The team matured that night as individual players and as a team.

The Wildcats had a great game against Augusta going into overtime and McKenna Nehring hit the game winner, which would secure a three-seed for B-T later down the line.

Its record in the Dairyland conference would turn out to be the best conference record Coach Waldera has ever had finishing at 11-3.

Details: Written by Jackson County Chronicle

Authorities Sunday arrested a Merrillan woman wanted in the 2015 heroin death of Vernell Pugh.

Harley Est, 24, was arrested in Galesville after authorities spotted her inside a car, according to the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department.

Est is charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree reckless homicide. Prosecutors argue she injected Pugh with heroin while he was asleep, which aided in his death, according to the complaint.

Est for weeks taunted authorities, writing that she would turn herself in on the Black River Falls Police Department's Facebook page.

She will appear in court Thursday.

A man arrested with Est, 32-year-old Zachary Wittenberg of La Crosse, faces charges of harboring or aiding a felon.

Details: Written by Jackson County Chronicle

HAYWARD, Wis. -- Stanley Strainis Jr., 77, of Hayward passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Golden Living, Valley of Hayward Nursing Home with his family by his side.

Stan was born July 22, 1939, the first of three sons of Stanley and Helen (Krebs) Strainis in Springfield, Ill. He was raised in Riverton, Ill., on the family farm and was an excellent baseball player while attending school. After graduating from high school he was extremely proud to sign a contract with the N.Y. Yankees to join their farm club. After some time with the Yankees he returned to Springfield, where he was joined in marriage to Carol Jaenicke Nov. 19, 1960. He attended Springfield Junior College and then Illinois State University-Normal. He graduated in 1964 with a major in biology and teaching.