Around Town
WINTER DANCE SHOWCASE: Precision Dance Company of Iola will feature its Winter Showcase at the Jensen Community Center in Amherst on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 2-6 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and available at the door or at www.precisiondancecompany.net
DONKEY BASKETBALL: The Iola-Scandinavia High School Softball team is sponsoring an entertaining evening of Donkey Basketball on Thursday, Jan. 29, starting at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. Advanced tickets are $10, and at the door entrance is $15. Tickets can be purchased at either the elementary or high school offices.
FAMILY LITERATURE NIGHT: Iola-Scandinavia Elementary School is hosting Family Literacy Night on Monday, Jan. 19, from 5-6 p.m. It will feature fun, games, hot cocoa, and reading.
YOUTH BASEBALL CAMP: There will be baseball camps starting on Saturday, Feb. 21, and continuing on March 1, March 8, and March 15. The first Youth Winter Baseball Camp, designed to build strong fundamentals for elementary players and help middle school athletes prepare for the spring season, will be led by I-S High School baseball coaches. The sessions will be held at the high school gym in the afternoon. Cost is $25, and the youth receives a T-shirt. Inquiries can be directed to Jon Berg at bergj@iola.k12.wi.us or Tanner Bockhop at bockhopt@iola.k12.wi.us. The form is available online here.
CLOSED TODAY: The Iola Winter Sports Club’s trails are closed today. They may reopen tomorrow or be further delayed depending on snowfall.
ELECTRIC LOAD INTERRUPTION: Due to projected high demands, CWEC will be interrupting load on Wednesday, Jan. 14, for Heating Systems from 5-7 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 15, for Heating Systems from 7-9 a.m.
Around the County
FARMING BURNOUT: On Monday, Feb. 23, the Winchester Academy of Waupaca will sponsor Inga Witscher-Orth, creator and host of PBS’s Around the Farm Table, at the Waupaca Public Library starting at 6:30 p.m. Witscher-Orth has been dairy farming in Wisconsin for nearly two decades. This talk is an honest look at what happens when you hit burnout—and what it really takes to rebuild. Inga shares the breaking points that pushed her to finally set boundaries, untangle old family patterns, and create a life rooted in clarity and self-trust. With a mix of personal story, humor, and practical insights, she offers a grounded path forward for anyone ready to heal and come back to themselves.
Around the State
GROOMING BILL: In Jan. 13’s floor session, Representative Brent Jacobson (R – Mosinee) voted to pass Assembly Bill 677. This legislation would define and criminalize the sexual grooming of a child. He also voted to send Assembly Joint Resolution 102 to the voters of Wisconsin for approval. Following these votes, Rep. Jacobson released the following statement: “Like all parents, nothing scares me more than my children coming to harm,” said Rep. Jacobson. “Grooming does lasting harm to kids, families, and communities, and this harm is made worse when a predator who abused their position of trust can get away with it with just a slap on the wrist. I am proud to vote for this legislation to ensure those who would prey on children are prosecuted to the fullest extent, and kept away from other kids.”
DISCRIMINATION BILL: Assembly Joint Resolution 102 amends the Wisconsin Constitution to prohibit any government entity from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. If approved by the voters, this amendment would end racist programs that hire or grant preferential treatment in the name of diversity or equal outcomes. AJR 102 passed on a party-line vote. “Denying someone opportunities for employment or education on the basis of their skin color is not just wrong, it goes against the fundamental promise of the American Dream,” said Rep. Jacobson. “No one should be held back from achieving success or getting the services they need because of racial quotas masquerading as social justice. I’m disappointed that my Democrat colleagues do not seem to agree, but I look forward to sending this amendment to the voters for their approval.”
