Like her artwork, educator’s dissertation explores using AI to supplement student creativity By Tom Giffey, UW-Stout Menomonie, Wis. – For more than 125 years, University of Wisconsin-Stout’s stately Bowman Hall and its distinctive clock tower have served as landmarks for the campus and the community. This holiday season, they provided artistic inspiration for a doctoral student who designed an annual greeting card sent by UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank to hundreds of r

Rev. Lyle Allan Rich July 9, 1932 - January 8, 2026 Lyle Rich, 93, of Menomonie, WI formerly of Moorhead, MN died on January 8, 2026 at Comforts of Home in Menomonie under the care of St. Croix Hospice. Lyle was born in New Rockford, ND the son of Lyle E. and Bergetta (Midstokke) Rich. He grew up in Hannaford, ND. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (graduated in 1954) and Luther Seminary, St. Paul (graduated and ordained in 1958). In 1954 he married Joan Knutson an

Students’ products inspired by Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, more; share final project experience in photo essay By Abby Goers, UW-Stout Menomonie, Wis. – The warm, sweet, earthy smell of fresh sawdust, the roaring sound of bandsaws and ventilation hoses, and the shush-shush-shush rhythm of sandpaper on wood grain greet you as you walk down the long ramp tucked away on the first floor of the Applied Arts Building. Tie your hair back and put on your safety glasses, because y

By Sydnie Hoppa Menomonie High School’s dance team officially began their 2025-26 season in early November, alongside many other winter sports. MDT currently has twenty members split into two teams: a varsity and a JV. Varsity consists of fourteen dancers, and have three routines that they will perform at competitions throughout the winter, along with solos from a select few. JV has six members and will perform two routines at their competitions. Off-season practices too

Front row L-R: Bryce Shepard, Luke Pember, DJ Butler. Back row L-R: Charlie Mikesell, Luke Bystol, and Max Branch. Bailey Casey / photo by Siri Benrud The Menomonie Mustangs had eight athletes selected to the 2025 Big Rivers All-Conference football team. Senior Bryce Shepard earned 1st team honors. Seniors Luke Pember and Max Erickson, and Junior DJ Butler earned 2nd team honors. Seniors Bailey Casey, Max Branch, Luke Bystol, and Charlie Mikesell were named honorable mention.

Front row: Gracie Miller, Ayala Hilson, Emmi Marlett, Lauren Ohman. Back row: Reese Barfknecht, Mya Romsos, Mariana Ramirez, Eme Gamez, Jordan Ohman, Caitlin Dunbar. By Josh Spicer and Ian Kistner With a new season on the horizon, the Menomonie girls’ basketball team enters preseason preparations determined to build on last year’s progress, blending returning experience with emerging young talent as they shape their identity for the months ahead. The girls’ basketball tea

The Menomonie Mustangs had three athletes selected to the 2025 Big Rivers All-Conference soccer team. Earning all-conference honors were, left to right: Senior Miles Ogden (2nd team), Senior Keebtxuj Xiong (honorable mention), and Senior Ryan Xu (honorable mention). Congratulations! Find all the selections at the Big Rivers Conference website -- https://www.bigriversconference.org/fall-sports/football/#allconference

The Menomonie Mustangs had five runners selected to the 2025 Big Rivers All-Conference boys cross country team. Earning all-conference honors were, left to right: Senior Luke Ray (1st team), Junior Noah Winder (1st team), Junior Owen Pelzel (1st team), Sophomore Logan Topper (2nd team), and Junior Evan Olson (honorable mention). These young men led the team to both the conference and sectional titles, which earned them a trip to state, where they finished 8th. Congratulations

L-R: Bella Drake, Lauren McCalla, Addison Schuler, Kyah Barnhart, and Bennett Schmitt Bree Barfknecht The Menomonie Mustangs had six runners selected to the 2025 Big Rivers All-Conference girls cross country teams. Making 1st team all-conference were Seniors Lauren McCalla and Bennett Schmitt, Junior Bella Drake, and Sophomore Bree Barfknecht. Earning 2nd team honors was Sophomore Addison Schuler, and earning honorable mention was Senior Kyah Barnhart. The team captured the

On Friday, January 2, 2026, Aaron Williams and Andrew Johannes were sworn in as police officers with the Menomonie Police Department. They will begin the law enforcement academy at CVTC next week and, upon graduating in May, will start field training with our department. Officer Mitchell Moe graduated from the Chippewa Valley Technical College 720-hour Law Enforcement Academy on Thursday, December 18. He will begin his field training program with our department on Monday, Dec