Around Town
WATERCOLOR CLASS: A watercolor painting class by Carolyn Rosenberger will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Lessons from the Art. The class will be painting birch trees set against a richly colored autumn meadow. The cost is $25 and includes all supplies.
BASKETBALLS NEEDED: Iola-Scandinavia High School boys varsity basketball coach Sam Bertsch is seeking donors to purchase basketballs for the upcoming season. Spalding basketballs cost $85 each. Persons wishing to donate should mail or drop off a check at the high school office.
DANCE CLASSES: Now is the time to sign your children up for classes at Precision Dance. Classes start the week of Oct. 26.
IOLA MILLS DETAILS its final month of the season as it gears up for fall activities. The historic venue announced plans for a yoga and sound session this Saturday morning, alongside upcoming October events including the Witches & Wizards Paddle on Lake Iola and the annual Haunted Mill.
SCHOOL DISTRICT MOVES forward with strategic planning after concluding its second major task force meeting Wednesday evening. Officials confirmed the session at the school complex focused on long-term district goals, following the initial planning group assembly held earlier in September.
CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL autumn events as the Hidden Studios Art Tour officially launches today across the region. The Iola-Scandinavia Chamber is promoting the three-day weekend event while making final preparations for Saturday’s Taste of Norway and the Fire & Ambulance Fall Festival.
Job Opportunities
CRYSTAL CAFÉ is hiring for multiple restaurant positions. Management at the Main Street diner posted openings for waiters, waitresses, cooks, and kitchen help, directing local applicants to submit details via their web portal.
Around the County
WCLEOA SUPPORTS WILZ: The Waupaca Law Enforcement Officers Association surveyed its 35 members on whom they support in the November sheriff election. A total of 96.7 percent support Tim Wilz, the incumbent, while 96.7 percent do not have confidence in Justin Malueg’s ability to perform the duties of sheriff. Wilz for Sheriff posted the Oct. 1 letter on its Facebook page.
THE CITY OF WAUPACA officially opened its new public AV Studio on Thursday inside the city’s recreation complex. The newly established business facility provides local residents with public access to high-grade media production equipment, digital software tools, and professional recording infrastructure. (Source: NBC26)
THE WAUPACA Common Council approved temporary street closures and open alcoholic container allowances Thursday for the upcoming Halloween on Main event on Oct. 30. The authorization provides municipal logistics security for the annual two-hour festival, which remains free to the public. (Source: WFRV Local 5)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
DATA CENTERS: The report says tax incentives for data centers could be partly offset by new economic activity. It also notes that long-term declines in water use mean some communities may have more capacity than critics assume. But big questions remain — especially around electricity demand, transmission costs and whether existing utility customers could end up helping pay for the buildout. Read the Wisconsin Watch article here.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY supervisors approved an $812 million renovation package for the century-old courthouse complex on Thursday. The massive project passed with all but one vote to address decades of deferred maintenance and a convoluted layout that officials say slows down the court system. (Source: TMJ4)
DANE COUNTY Executive Melissa Agard proposed a nearly $947 million budget Thursday that would increase average Madison property tax bills by about $20.67 next year. The package aims to reduce a projected shortfall while allocating $3 million to expand body cameras for sheriff’s deputies. (Source: Channel 3000)
MILWAUKEE COUNTY Executive David Crowley presented a $1.5 billion budget proposal for 2027 on Thursday. The balanced plan aims to close a projected $50 million deficit by increasing overall spending by 6% and raising the county property tax levy by 2.6%. (Source: FOX6)
FIVE MEN were arrested by Madison police early Friday morning following a beating in the downtown area. Authorities took the suspects into custody shortly after responding to reports of the physical assault, which remains under active investigation by local detectives. (Source: WKOW)
TWO TEENS were arrested by Wausau police following an incident involving a firearm near John Muir Middle School on Thursday afternoon. The suspects were taken into custody after a brief search, and officials confirmed no injuries were reported during the scare. (Source: WSAW 7)
WISCONSIN IMMIGRANT advocates warned Friday that a White House funding halt could strip legal representation from children in federal immigration detention. President Donald Trump withheld $810 million in congressional spending, defunding programs like the University of Wisconsin Law School’s clinic. (Source: Wisconsin Public Radio)
Today in History
Here are notable moments from Today in History:
1187—SULTAN SALADIN captured Jerusalem from the Crusaders, ending 88 years of Christian rule. The Muslim leader took control of the holy city after a two-week siege, allowing citizens to ransom their freedom.
1835—THE BATTLE of Gonzales erupted in Texas, marking the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. Texan rebels refused to surrender a cannon to Mexican authorities, rallying under the famous “Come and Take It” flag.
1836—NATURALIST CHARLES Darwin returned to England aboard the HMS Beagle following a five-year global voyage. The specimens and observations he collected during the expedition later formed the basis for his groundbreaking theory of evolution.
1869—INDIAN LEADER Mohandas Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India. Gandhi pioneered the philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which guided India to independence from British rule and inspired civil rights movements worldwide.
1919—PRESIDENT WOODROW Wilson suffered a severe, debilitating stroke at the White House that left him partially paralyzed. The medical emergency, which occurred after a grueling tour promoting the League of Nations, was largely kept secret from the public.
1935—BRITISH AUTOMAKER Rolls-Royce announced its ambitious Phantom III chassis, introducing a 12-cylinder engine layout to the flagship line. The advanced model, debuted ahead of the London Olympia Motor Show, became the manufacturer’s premier prewar luxury vehicle.
1950—THE COMIC strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz was published for the first time in nine newspapers across the United States. The debut introduced readers to Charlie Brown and his dog, Snoopy, launching an iconic pop-culture franchise.
1959—CHEVROLET SHOWROOMS across the United States introduced the 1960 Corvair to the general public. The compact car featured a highly innovative, rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, making it one of the most discussed and controversial American automotive designs of its era.
1967—THURGOOD MARSHALL was sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first Black member of the nation’s highest court. Marshall, a prominent civil rights lawyer, served until his retirement in 1991.
1971—SINGER ROD Stewart earned his first No. 1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Maggie May.” Co-written by Stewart and originally released as a B-side, the song spent five weeks at the top of the American music charts.
