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West Central MEG sees strength in numbers Part1: The Coordinator’s insight

Investigative Coordinator for West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group (WCMEG), Rob Walensky (Standing - far left), is pictured here with the dedicated law enforcers from the six counties that make up the WCMEG: La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Trempealeau, Jackson, and Crawford. Walensky answers to the WCMEG Board, which consists of the Sheriff's from the six counties mentioned. While not mandatory to join the WCMEG, great information is gleaned from sharing knowledge on criminal cases, between all police departments and Sheriff’s offices, regardless of size. Herald photo by Benny Mailman.
It is no secret that drug use and the criminal enterprises that push such destructive agendas in Western Wisconsin have been on the rise for quite some time. Percentages of use have shot up …
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Evans Print and Media wins big at WNA awards Monroe County Herald Brings home 17 awards

On March 15th, staff from the Monroe County Herald attended the Wisconsin Newspaper Association awards banquet and convention, in Madison. At the awards banquet, the Herald received 17 separate …
Jenny Betthauser (left) and Peggy Anderson (middle) clap for the blushing Pam Buchda (right) during the AAUW Tomah Branch recognition reception on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024. Betthauser, Anderson, and Buchda were recognized as women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion by the organization.

Three local women celebrated for equity, diversity, and inclusion Tomah’s AAUW branch holds annual recognition reception

Back in 1972, a Tomah branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) was formed. One of the founding members, Mary E. Wedin, was an avid promoter of Women’s History Month. …

2024 Festmaster and Lady Butterfest announced in Sparta

Recently, the coveted titles of the top Butterfest positions were announced in Sparta, Wisconsin. Mike Bernath was given the news, in quite a unique fashion, that he was chosen as the 2024 …
When NOAm set out on the effort, they saw that most all kazoos were made from hard plastics, made from bad chemicals.

Spirited Spartan guest demo FLL team headed to Houston Holmen-based team in need of financial support to make trip of a lifetime

For their Week O scrimmage event, on the weekend of February 17th and 18th, the Sparta Robotans reached out to the Holmen community based First Lego League (FLL) team, NOAm, to come and provide …
Obituaries
Calvin C. Roberts
LA CROSSE - Calvin C. Roberts, 71, died on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Bethany St. Joe’s in La Crosse. He was born on June 30, 1952 to Gilbert and Eloise (Yahnke) Roberts in La Crosse. He grew …
Joan Christine Knott
SPARTA- Joan Christine Knott, 76, of Sparta, WI, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Rolling Hills Senior Living in Sparta.  Joan and her twin sister, Jane, were born January 24, …
Melva M. Harkness
TOMAH- Melva M. Harkness, 69, of Tomah, died Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Mulder’s Health Care Center in West Salem. A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at 10:00 …
Shirley E. Schwemmer
TOMAH- Shirley E. Schwemmer, 94, of Tomah, died Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in Lacrosse. She was born October 9, 1929, to Edward and Myrtle (Fields) Bunde in …
LaVerne Douglas Grandall
LaVerne Douglas Grandall, township of Portland, passed away April 17 th , 2024, at Journey Home Hospice at the VA, Tomah, WI surrounded by his loving family. LaVerne was born on March 31, 1947, …
Geraldine Vera Jacob
Geraldine Vera Jacob, age 98, formerly of Tomah, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Burlington, Iowa.   She was born February 2, 1926, to James and Vera Robertson at the farm …
REAL ESTATE

Property taxes throughout Monroe County

In gathering data from the Monroe County Treasurer, the Herald requested a list of mill rates for each township and the different school districts. The Herald put this data together in a map that is …
Sports
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BASEBALL: Mitchell brings MVC background to Sparta head coaching role

New Sparta head baseball coach Nate Mitchell, who spent the past several seasons as an assistant under predecessor Bob Stuessel, is no stranger to the MVC given his background both playing and coaching at La Crosse Logan.
New Sparta head coach Nate Mitchell is no stranger to the Mississippi Valley Conference, and he's ready to put his imprint on the Spartan baseball program.
Coming off a season that saw him named as the 2023 Scenic Bluffs Player of the Year, Bangor senior Chase Horstman kicked off 2024 with a bang by tossing a no-hitter in the Cardinals' season opener against Onalaska Luther.
BASEBALL: Horstman tosses no-hitter in Bangor's season-opening win over Luther
Bangor's Chase Horstman earned himself the honor of being named the 2023 Scenic Bluffs Player of the Year thanks to his dominance last spring. If the Cardinals' season opener against the Luther Knights was any indication, it could be more of the same from Horstman during his senior campaign.
Pat Howard, a Monroe County hunter and fisherman, has found a passion aside from hunting: awesome photos of wildlife in their natural habitat. Howard works for REVEAL Trailcams, and is mastering the art associated with trail cams.
Through hunting, Monroe County native developed passion for nature Howard speaks on REVEAL trailcams and love for outdoors
Many folks here in Monroe County are gearing up for the upcoming hunting and fishing seasons, here in Wisconsin. While the hunters, fishermen and fisherwomen are doling out dollars for proper …
Cashton assistant Chad Dull, left, and head coach Scot Wall won a pair of conference titles as players and reunited this year to help bring the Eagles their first regional title since 2000.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Wall, Dull reunite to help bring regional title back to Cashton
Before these last several years, it had been a long time since the Cashton boys' basketball program enjoyed a high level of success. But as this year's group of Eagles put together one of the best campaigns in Cashton basketball history, all you needed to do was take a look over at the sidelines to catch a glimpse of a connection to some of the program's glory days of yore.
Brookwood senior first baseman Tim DeWitt was just one of three Falcon batters to collect a hit in the team's season-opening loss to Blair-Taylor.
BASEBALL: Brookwood quiet at the plate in season-opening loss to Blair-Taylor
The Brookwood bats were kept largely quiet in a loss to Blair-Taylor to start the 2024 season.
BASEBALL: Riverdale's late onslaught leads to mercy-run win over Cashton
Despite a stellar day at the plate by Cashton senior third baseman/right fielder Brady Hemmersbach and the Eagles only trailing by three going into the bottom of the sixth, a late rally from Riverdale allowed the Chieftains to quickly turn things into a rout.
Tomah senior Owen Gerke fires in a pitch against Black River Falls in both teams' 2024 season opener on Thursday, March 28.
BASEBALL: Tomah outdueled by Black River Falls in season-opening scoring bonanza
The start of the baseball season can sometimes bring with it rust for players to kick off. That seemed to be evident for both Tomah and Black River Falls, who put up plentiful runs combined with some shaky defense in their season opener.
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Business

Easter Sheep are back

On Easter Sunday, the Herald made a trip out to 11277 Janus Avenue, to the farm of Matt and Diana Ornes. Once again, the landscape was dotted with brightly colored clover eating sheep that roam …

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Matt Ornes sits with the polka dotted goat, who the Herald learned may have been spared from the freezer, do to having an outstanding personality and humorous actions. A cat also sits on Matt’s lap; an indication of the awesome atmosphere that envelopes the Ornes Farm.
Matt Ornes sits with the polka dotted goat, who the Herald learned may have been spared from the freezer, do to having an outstanding personality and humorous actions. A cat also sits on Matt’s lap; an indication of the awesome atmosphere that envelopes the Ornes Farm.
Matt Ornes sits with the polka dotted goat, who the Herald learned may have been spared from the freezer, do to having an outstanding personality and humorous actions. A cat also sits on Matt’s lap; an indication of the awesome atmosphere that envelopes the Ornes Farm.
Matt Ornes sits with the polka dotted goat, who the Herald learned may have been spared from the freezer, do to having an outstanding personality and humorous actions. A cat also sits on Matt’s lap; an indication of the awesome atmosphere that envelopes the Ornes Farm.
Matt Ornes sits with the polka dotted goat, who the Herald learned may have been spared from the freezer, do to having an outstanding personality and humorous actions. A cat also sits on Matt’s lap; an indication of the awesome atmosphere that envelopes the Ornes Farm.