Around Town
NEW PASTOR: Freddie Kirk is the new pastor at Iola United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Harry, have a dog and a cat. Welcome to Iola-Scandinavia!
IOLA-SCANDINAVIA CHAMBER announced the third annual Back to Class Family Week, running Aug. 22-28 at 180 S. Main St. with localized programming, promotions, and family activities. The event aims to support the community ahead of the new school term.
Job Opportunities
LAKE IOLA LAKE DISTRICT: Weed harvester operator, 40 hours per week, seasonal, training provided, $20 per hour starting. Call 715-572-9040 or email iolalakedistrict@gmail.com.
IOLA-SCANDINAVIA SCHOOL DISTRICT: The district is seeking enthusiastic, dedicated candidates to join its team for the 2026–27 school year. Open positions include substitute teachers, an MS/HS special education assistant, head cook, substitute support staff, server/prep staff, and a 4K–6th grade elementary art teacher. To apply, use this link.
SCHMIDT’S CORNERS: Hiring bartenders, cooks, and cross-trained bartender/cook. Apply in person or call 715-445-2577.
Around the County
WAUPACA COUNTY SHERIFF’S deputies partnered with local police departments Sunday to host the Cops at Culver’s event, raising funds for the Police Lights of Christmas program. Officers from Waupaca, Clintonville, and Manawa helped serve meals to support area families in need. (Source: WBAY)
THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE Fund announced emergency financial relief for Waupaca County families recovering from recent flash flooding. The fund will distribute grants directly to impacted households to help cover immediate housing repairs and property damage costs. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
CLINTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT administrators released the final results of a comprehensive community survey detailing public input on future facility needs. The data will guide the school board’s upcoming capital improvement and potential referendum planning. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
Around the Area
SENTENCED: Benjamin C. Smith, 37, of Nelsonville, was sentenced Aug. 14 to 27½ years in prison and eight years of extended supervision after his Portage County home-invasion case concluded a second time. Smith, credited with 2,013 days served, was convicted May 6 on murder, armed robbery, false imprisonment and battery charges. (Source: USA Today Network)
CANNED COCKTAILS: Central Waters Brewing Company, the Amherst craft brewery that has spent more than two decades building one of the most respected bourbon barrel-aging programs in the Midwest, has taken its most decisive step yet into the spirits-adjacent world: a full launch of bourbon-based canned cocktails. (Source: Stevens Point Journal)
CWD: A Portage County deer farm is under quarantine after a 3-year-old buck tested positive for chronic wasting disease, state agriculture officials said. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the case. State and federal veterinarians are conducting an epidemiological investigation into the infected premises.
HOME LOST: A fast-moving fire destroyed a home in a heavily wooded area of Buena Vista in Portage County on Friday morning, prompting a large response from several fire departments. The homeowners safely escaped after calling 911. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters. Authorities deemed the home a total loss. Source: WSAW)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
HOME LOST: A fast-moving fire destroyed a home in a heavily wooded area of Buena Vista in Portage County on Friday morning, prompting a large response from several fire departments. The homeowners safely escaped after calling 911. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters. Authorities deemed the home a total loss. Source: WSAW)
MULTIPLE FIGHTS broke out late Sunday on the final night of the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. At least one officer was punched in the face near the rides area known as Spin City. Police requested backup as they cleared the section early. No immediate arrest or injury totals were released. (Source: WISN 12)
A NEW BADGER BATTLEGROUND poll of 500 likely voters shows Democrat David Crowley leading Republican Tom Tiffany 48% to 44% in the race for Wisconsin governor. Crowley holds a wider edge among independents. The survey was conducted Aug. 12-13 after the primaries. (Source: WKOW)
SEPARATE SHOOTINGS in Milwaukee on Sunday left two people wounded. A 28-year-old was shot about 10:40 p.m. near 91st and Silver Spring. A 37-year-old was shot about 11:50 p.m. near 37th and Florist. Police are seeking information. (Source: FOX6)
A 68-YEAR-OLD man died Saturday evening in a three-motorcycle crash on County Highway K near Biesek Road in the Town of Winfield, Sauk County. Two passengers were flown to a Madison hospital. Authorities say speed and alcohol were factors. (Source: Channel 3000)
AN 18-YEAR-OLD Wausau man faces an OWI charge after a crash early Saturday on South 5th Avenue. Police said he was traveling more than twice the speed limit, lost control, and struck multiple parked cars. No one suffered significant injuries. (Source: WSAW 7)
A BLOOMER MAN was taken into custody following an armed home invasion Friday night after a two-day search involving multiple agencies, the Bloomer Police Department said. (Source: WEAU 13)
A 20-YEAR-OLD Juneau man suffered serious injuries Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash in the Town of Lowell, Dodge County. He was taken by Flight for Life. (Source: FOX6)
MADISON POLICE arrested a 30-year-old man Monday afternoon after recovering a loaded gun during a traffic stop on Williamson Street. (Source: FOX47)
Today in History
Here are 10 notable moments from Today in History:
1807 — THE STEAMBOAT Clermont, designed by inventor Robert Fulton, left New York City on its inaugural voyage up the Hudson River to Albany. The successful 150-mile trip proved the commercial viability of steam propulsion, revolutionizing American water transportation and commerce.
1896 — BRIDGET DRISCOLL became the first pedestrian recorded to be killed by an automobile when an Anglo-French Motor Carriage Company demonstration car struck her at Crystal Palace in London. Witnesses testified the vehicle was traveling at a reckless speed of 4 mph.
1943 — AMERICAN BOMBERS suffered devastating losses during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission over Germany. The U.S. Army Air Forces dispatched 376 B-17 Flying Fortresses to destroy strategic ball-bearing factories and aircraft plants, but German defense forces shot down 60 Allied aircraft.
1945 — INDONESIAN NATIONALISTS Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta officially declared Indonesia’s independence from Dutch colonial rule in Jakarta. The proclamation triggered a four-year diplomatic and armed conflict against the Netherlands before the Dutch government formally recognized Indonesian sovereignty.
1959 — FORD MOTOR Co. introduced the modern midsize luxury vehicle segment by debuting the 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V. The premium automobile featured a distinctive unibody construction design and a massive 7.0-liter V-8 engine to compete against Cadillac.
1969 — THE WOODSTOCK Music and Art Fair officially concluded its legendary three-day run on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York. Jimi Hendrix delivered a historic solo electric guitar rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to a remaining crowd of roughly 40,000 attendees.
1970 — SOVIET UNION space engineers successfully launched the Venera 7 robotic probe from the Baikonur Cosmodrome toward Venus. The unmanned spacecraft survived intense atmospheric pressure, achieving the first successful landing and transmission of data from another planet.
1985 — POP STAR Madonna achieved her second number one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with the ballad “Into the Groove.” The dance-pop track gained widespread popularity after its featured inclusion in her breakout feature film, “Desperately Seeking Susan.”
1998 — PRESIDENT BILL Clinton admitted in a nationally televised address that he had an inappropriate relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The historic public confession followed his testimony before a federal grand jury investigating the matter earlier that afternoon.
2008 — AMERICAN SWIMMER Michael Phelps made Olympic history by winning his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games during the 400-meter medley relay. The historic victory broke the previous single-Olympics record of seven gold medals set by Mark Spitz in 1972.
