Around Town
T-BIRDS WIN: Iola-Scandinavia earned a convincing 34-8 victory over Marion/Tigerton at Marion on Thursday, Aug. 20, using a powerful running game and timely passing attack. Aiden Bowen sparked the Thunderbirds with three rushing touchdowns on runs of 89, 8 and 43 yards. Quarterback Mason Kriesel completed three of six passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Korz Loken caught two passes for 83 yards, including a scoring reception. Iola-Scandinavia led 12-0 at halftime. The T-Birds play at Highland on Friday, Aug. 28.
UTV PURCHASE: The Iola Village Board of Trustees approved purchasing a 2026 Can-Am Defender XT HD utility vehicle for $15,510.99 from Prime Powersports during a July 28 meeting. Funded by the Public Works Vehicle Replacement Fund, the utility vehicle includes optional blinkers and mirrors. Trustees also voted to sell the village’s old four-wheeler on the Wisconsin Surplus Auction Site. Additionally, the board reviewed the 2025 village audit and discussed creating an overnight rental license.
PARKS COMMITTEE TO MEET: The Village of Iola Parks Committee will meet on Monday, Aug. 24, at 4:30 p.m. at Iola Village Hall. Agenda items include dog park sign update, outdoor rec plan update, rabbit control, and fundraising ideas.
PIE IN THE PARK returns Aug. 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Iola. The free event offers pies, cupcakes and ice cream via Iola Mills, with proceeds aiding veterans. Sponsors include Too-Dar’s Diner and Trout Bum Bakery.
IOLA VILLAGE FACEBOOK PAGE: Ali Johnson conducted an informal survey on Facebook as to how the Village of Iola should have its own Facebook page. There were 34 comments. As a result, Ali will present the idea to the Iola Village Board.
Business Hours
IOLA MILLS: Starting Friday Aug. 21, new hours are Friday 4-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Around the County
SHERIFF CANDIDATE FORUM: Candidates for Waupaca County Sheriff, Justin Malueg and Tim Wilz, is scheduled for Tuesday6, Oct. 6, in the Waupaca Middle School Auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m. The forum will feature speeches by each candidate and allow for questions. Each candidate will also have a table with election materials available to the public.
WAUPACA: A former Roman Catholic priest surrendered to law enforcement authorities following the issuance of a new warrant stemming from an ongoing undercover investigation. The suspect faces two counts of child pornography possession in Waupaca County alongside separate child grooming charges in Marathon County. (Source: FOX11)
WAUPACA COUNTY: The Equine Disease Communication Center confirmed two active cases of “strangles” within Waupaca County this month. State agriculture officials are warning local horse owners to monitor livestock for the highly infectious bacterial disease, which spreads rapidly through direct contact and contaminated community surfaces. (Source: WBAY)
MUKWA: A teenage pedestrian remains hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle on State Highway 54 near Ferry Street. The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which occurred in the Township of Mukwa during the late evening hours. (Source: WLUK)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
ALMA CENTER: An Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan High School football player has died from traumatic brain injuries sustained during a game. The student-athlete was injured during a tackle in a varsity matchup, prompting widespread community mourning and counseling services across the regional school district. (Source: WKOW)
MILWAUKEE: Separate shootings on Sunday left one person dead and another injured across the city. Authorities said a 25-year-old victim died at the scene of the first shooting, while a second overnight incident left a victim hospitalized as Milwaukee police continue searching for suspects. (Source: TMJ4)
MADISON: Three demonstrators were arrested near the Wisconsin State Capitol following protests that escalated into skirmishes with law enforcement. Authorities confirmed the overnight arrests occurred after individuals refused municipal orders to disperse from the streets surrounding the government plaza. (Source: Channel 3000)
GREEN COUNTY: A motorcyclist was hospitalized with severe injuries after striking a deer on a regional highway. Sheriff’s deputies confirmed the operator hit the animal during the overnight hours, causing the vehicle to overturn and blocking traffic for several hours. (Source: WISC-TV)
MADISON: The criminal trial for a man accused of killing a Sun Prairie woman at a regional lodging facility is scheduled to begin in Dane County Circuit Court. The defendant faces felony charges following an extensive investigation into the fatal shooting. (Source: WISC-TV)
Today in History
Here are 10 notable moments from Today in History:
79 — POMPEII AND Herculaneum were completely destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted violently in ancient Italy. The catastrophic volcanic eruption buried both Roman cities under massive layers of ash, pumice, and volcanic rock, preserving the sites for future archaeological discovery.
410 — THE VISIGOTHS, led by King Alaric, began a devastating three-day sack of Rome. The historic breach marked the first time the ancient city had fallen to a foreign enemy in nearly 800 years, signaling the rapid decline of the Western Roman Empire.
1814 — BRITISH FORCES invaded Washington during the War of 1812, burning the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and several other government buildings. President James Madison and federal officials fled the city ahead of the destructive military occupation.
1932 — AMELIA EARHART landed in Newark, New Jersey, to become the first woman to fly nonstop across the United States. Earhart completed the grueling 2,448-mile solo transcontinental flight from Los Angeles in just over 19 hours.
1949 — THE NORTH Atlantic Treaty officially went into effect, establishing the NATO military alliance. The landmark collective defense pact was signed by 12 Western nations to counter Soviet political influence and military power in Europe during the Cold War.
1964 — THE RANCHERO, Ford’s popular coupe utility vehicle, received major body redesigns for its new model year. The automotive manufacturer introduced a more compact, angular design based on the Falcon platform, capitalizing on a growing American market for smaller utility vehicles.
1968 — THE ROLLING Stones achieved their sixth number one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with the hit single “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The track spent multiple weeks atop the charts, cementing the British band’s global commercial success.
1991 — THE PARLIAMENT of Ukraine approved a declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The historic legislative vote followed a failed coup attempt in Moscow and led to a national referendum that finalized the country’s sovereignty.
1995 — MICROSOFT CORPORATION officially released Windows 95 to consumers worldwide. The highly anticipated software introduction revolutionized personal computing by debuting iconic user interface elements, including the Start menu and the taskbar, alongside built-in internet support.
2006 — THE INTERNATIONAL Astronomical Union voted to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet during a conference in Prague. Astronomers stripped Pluto of its full planetary status because it fails to clear its orbital neighborhood of other debris, reducing the solar system to eight planets.
