Dec. 7, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. — Local communities across Vernon County saw a dynamic week of news, beginning December 1, covering topics from academic excellence and major economic investments to local political transitions and public safety incidents.
Viroqua Area Schools “exceed expectations” on DPI report card The Viroqua Area School District announced on Dec. 1, that it received a four out of five star rating on its 2024 to 2025 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction report card, indicating the public school district “exceeds expectations” overall. The overall score rose to 72.7 out of 100, marking an improvement from the 2023 to 2024 school year when the district was labeled as “meets expectations”.
Individual schools receiving a four star rating included Viroqua Elementary School, Viroqua Area Montessori School, Viroqua Middle School and Laurel High School. The district outperformed state averages in key academic areas, scoring roughly nine points higher in English Language Arts (72.6 versus 63.9) and slightly more than four points ahead in mathematics achievement (69.7 versus 65.6).
Coon Creek Watershed Council creates project maintenance program, seeks requests The Coon Creek Community Watershed Council (CCCWC) announced the creation of its new Post Project Maintenance Program, set to launch in January 2026. This program aims to address a critical funding gap by assisting landowners with necessary repairs to adopted conservation practices,. CCCWC President Nancy Wedwick noted that the difficulty in securing long term maintenance funding often prevents landowners from adopting practices needed to mitigate flooding,.
Through the program, applicants can request up to $1,500 to offset the cost of unexpected project repairs. The CCCWC hopes to provide this financial contribution while drawing attention to the maintenance gap on a policy level so that cost share programs incorporate long term maintenance.
Viroqua Community Theatre bringing local production ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ to stage Dec. 11 Viroqua Community Theatre (VCT) is launching its new “After Dark” programming series with the dark comedy “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” opening on December 11 at 7:30 p.m,. The series is specifically designed for adult audiences and bold storytelling. The play, written by Sarah Ruhl, is described as an offbeat exploration of life, death, and connection, focusing on the chaos following the discovery of one persistently ringing phone.
VCT is enhancing the experience by offering a pre show cocktail hour beginning one hour before the curtain. The ticket price includes complimentary snacks provided by Noble Rind, and a cash bar hosted by Vernon Vineyards will also be available.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for the week ending Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office issued its report on Dec. 1, detailing multiple public safety incidents from the previous week. Deputies arrested two males on separate occasions for Parole/Probation Violations in the Village of Viola and the Town of Wheatland,. A theft investigation was opened after a ransacked camper was found missing power tools and two Remington rifles, which were entered as stolen.
Deputies and fire services responded to a fully engulfed stolen vehicle fire on State Highway 82, where a male found near the location gave a full confession. Additionally, a single vehicle rollover in the Town of Sterling resulted in the driver being suspected of impairment, transported to a local hospital for evaluation, and cited for Operating While Under the Influence.
USDA Rural Development invests nearly $15.5 million to help Westby Cooperative Creamery expand The farmer owned Westby Cooperative Creamery secured nearly $15.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture via a Guaranteed Loan, announced on Dec. 2, 2025,. This investment will finance a major modernization and expansion project aimed at boosting production efficiency, particularly to meet increasing consumer demand for cottage cheese.
The overhaul includes replacing 100 year old open vats with four fully enclosed vats,. Creamery CEO JD Greenwalt noted this change will reduce production time from 16 hours to eight and increase the yield of cottage cheese by 10 to 15 percent. Greenwalt confirmed that by modernizing, the creamery is protecting current jobs and ensuring long term stability for the 150 jobs the plant supports.
Coon Valley Fire Chief Russ Cornford honored for 45 years of service Coon Valley Fire Chief Russ Cornford retired after 45 years of service to Coon Creek Fire & Rescue, a decision confirmed on Dec. 3,. Cornford was honored at a surprise gathering with family and area fire leadership for his dedication to the tight knit Vernon County village.
The department saw a change in leadership following the election held that same night. Ken Phillips, who served as Assistant Chief under Cornford, was elected as the new Chief. Jacob Nichols was elected to the role of Assistant Chief.
Viroqua Mayor Justin Running announces he will not seek re-election Viroqua Mayor Justin Running announced on Dec. 3 that he will not seek re-election, choosing to step down when his term expires in April 2026. Running cited the need to dedicate more time to his family as the “wholly and totally personal” reason for his departure,. The demands of the part time mayoral role often conflicted with his daughter’s high school sports schedule.
Running expressed pride in the city’s cooperative successes, including securing 65 units of affordable housing, advancing the Hanson Farm Development, completing the new fire department project, and facilitating the move into the new City Hall. He advised future leaders to avoid partisan politics and embrace collaboration and humility.
UPDATE: Vernon County man previously arrested for arson faces additional charges for jail incident A Vernon County inmate, Ora H. Wallace, 67, faced additional felony accusations on Dec. 4 after allegedly spitting in the face of a correctional officer at the Vernon County Jail,. Wallace was already incarcerated following his Nov. 27 arrest on an arson charge.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson stated that the officer was treated at Vernon Health for exposure to bodily fluids. Prosecutors plan to pursue charges under the Wisconsin statute for Prisoner Throwing or Expelling Bodily Fluids, with Torgerson adding he will not tolerate criminal activity within the facility.
Two people injured in two vehicle crash near Westby The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office reported on Dec. 4 that two drivers were injured in a rear end collision near Westby,. The crash occurred around 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 27 and Rudie Road in the Town of Christiana.
Jessica L. Godbold, 50, stopped her vehicle on Highway 27 to turn left when she was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Jerita L. Hubele, 40. Both drivers sustained injuries but refused ambulance transport from the scene.
Black Hawk Bridge demolition date set, car ferry service will be paused for several days The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation announced Dec. 5 that the next phase of the Mississippi River Bridge Project at Lansing Iowa will be the planned implosion and removal of the main section of the existing Black Hawk Bridge on Thursday, December 18,. The demolition is necessary to allow safe construction of the new crossing, which is planned to open in 2027. The implosion is scheduled for approximately 9:30 a.m.
Due to the operation, the Cassville Car Ferry service will be suspended. The last service will be offered the evening of Wednesday, December 17, and service will resume on the morning of Sunday, December 21. Officials are working to plan for public safety and traffic mitigation, with additional details about the clear zone and safety procedures to be released on Tuesday, December 15.
VIDEO: Toys for Tots Chili Supper at new Viroqua Station draws a crowd The annual Vernon County Toys for Tots Chili Supper, the program’s main fundraiser, successfully drew significant support when it was held Wednesday at the new Viroqua Fire Station on Nelson Parkway,. The event operates on freewill donations or new, unwrapped gifts, consistently reaching hundreds of local families,.
Organizer Kay Deaver confirmed that the current most critical needs are for gifts for boys aged 10 to 12 and games. The deadline for families seeking assistance is Friday, December 12.
VIDEO: Italian research study at Viroqua farm shows barn swallows are natural pest control allies A video report published Dec. 6 highlighted a conservation study conducted at Keewaydin Farms near Viroqua in partnership with a University of Milan researcher, demonstrating the efficacy of barn swallows as natural pest control,. Farmers Rufus Haucke and Joy Miller encourage swallow nesting because the birds improve animal health and biodiversity.
The research found that the presence of barn swallows alone reduced fly activity inside barns by an average of 60 percent. Researcher Francesca Roseo noted that biodiversity offers resourceful solutions for farmers beyond conservation efforts.
Viroqua Park and Rec Committee discusses fundraising, possible timelines for Dragon Park The Viroqua Park and Recreation Committee met on Dec. 2 to determine the timeline for replacing the Eckhart Enchantment playground, known as Dragon Park,. The committee granted authority to the project’s leadership team to move forward with setting the dismantling and construction timeline, aiming for a Spring 2026 build date. Committee members emphasized this move would expedite the process by avoiding delays caused by seeking monthly committee approvals.
The overall project budget is approximately $776,000. The committee is relying on ongoing fundraising efforts to cover the costs of desired amenities like a fence and a double zipline. The remaining fundraising goal needed from the community is estimated at $152,365.
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