March 22, 2026
VERNON COUNTY, Wis. — Over the past week, the Driftless Region grappled with an array of critical decisions, from high-stakes infrastructure funding and the cessation of a regional transit program to intense environmental pushback against a massive transmission line. Our local news coverage since March 15 highlighted the Vernon County Board’s strategic, multi-million-dollar borrowing measures, an escalating landfill capacity crisis, and a sudden leadership resignation.
Here is a summary of the local stories we covered over the past week, starting with the most recent:
Vernon County Board of Supervisors votes to approve $4.9 million in new borrowing
Faced with strict state levy limits, the Vernon County Board of Supervisors approved up to $4.91 million in general obligation promissory notes during its March 19 meeting. This marks the second year of a multi-year strategy to shift major capital expenses, such as road repairs and heavy equipment, into long-term debt to create breathing room in the operating budget.
The board authorized $3 million specifically for the highway department to repair deteriorating roads. While supervisors acknowledged frustration over being “put in a corner” by state policies, they ultimately agreed that delaying road repairs and equipment purchases would only result in higher costs down the line.
Vernon County Board officially ends support for SMRT Bus program after 2026
The Vernon County Board of Supervisors officially voted to end its partnership with the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus system after the 2026 calendar year. The March 19 decision concludes a regional transit debate driven by declining ridership, a massive projected funding shortfall for 2027, and the withdrawal of support from other partners.
Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Hanan explained that La Crosse County, which administers the program, asked partner counties to drastically increase their contributions, meaning Vernon County’s share would jump from $15,000 to nearly $114,000. Hanan stressed that with strict state levy limits in place, the county simply could not afford to cut $100,000 elsewhere to cover the increase for a service averaging just 11 riders a day.
Vernon County Board passes resolutions fighting proposed mega power lines
In a unified front, the Vernon County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a series of resolutions formally declaring opposition to the proposed 765-kilovolt MariBell transmission line and demanding extensive information from the utility developers. The unified front from local government follows months of growing public opposition over the potential environmental and economic impact the massive lines could have on the Driftless region.
Motor Vehicle Crash on County Road Y
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified of a single-vehicle crash on County Road Y, near Seas Branch Road in the Town of Viroqua, at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
Crawford County supervisors hear transmission line presentation
During a special meeting on March 10, the Crawford County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from La Farge resident Rob Danielson opposing the contentious MariBell transmission line project. Danielson highlighted that developers would be showing preferred and alternative routes at upcoming open houses, noting that state law requires new applications to present an alternative route.
A joint meeting of the Vernon County Finance and Infrastructure committees was held March 17 to confront the mounting financial and logistical hurdles threatening the proposed expansion of the county landfill. The project is facing severe delays after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a second notice of incompleteness regarding hydrogeological testing of the site’s karst geology.
As the solid waste department grapples with financial losses and a space crisis, officials debated an emergency plan to recapture buried airspace and potentially divert waste to neighboring La Crosse or Monroe counties. The meeting featured passionate public testimony, with some residents urging the county to abandon the expansion due to its costs and environmental risks, while others strongly supported keeping the facility open.
Supervisors face Thursday vote on committee proposal to axe SMRT Bus
Ahead of the full board’s vote, the Vernon County Economic Development Committee voted March 5 to advance a recommendation to formally end the county’s support for the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus program after 2026. The committee learned that continuing the service into 2027 would require the county’s contribution to skyrocket by nearly $100,000 due to a regional funding shortfall and La Crosse County subsidies.
Vernon County Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Hanan announces resignation
Vernon County Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Hanan announced she will step down from her position effective May 1, citing a desire for better work-life balance to spend time with her family. Her resignation marks another significant management shift for a county that has experienced a long string of turbulent structural reorganizations since creating its central executive position in 2020.
Vernon County farmer and Bad Axe Watershed Steward Kent McClurg is among 18 grant recipients of the 2026 Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program. The state-funded program, backed by the 2025-2027 biennial budget, aims to refine new methods for optimizing commercial nitrogen application to protect soil and water resources.
Viroqua mayoral candidates to share visions at March 22 community forum
Viroqua voters will have the opportunity to hear directly from mayoral candidates Krista Browne and Roger Call at a community forum on Sunday, March 22, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Viroqua VFW. Hosted by the non-partisan volunteer group Threefold Driftless, the “Shaping the Future of Viroqua” forum will focus on what “Growing Forward” means for the city, featuring moderator questions, a listening session, and an audience Q&A. The candidates are vying to succeed incumbent Mayor Justin Running, who is not seeking re-election. Browne, a local small business owner and interior designer, is running on a platform of building the city’s long-term “Staying Power” and prioritizing “potlucks over partisanship”. Call, a retired plant operator, former county supervisor, and recent chairman of the Vernon County Republican Party, is focusing his campaign on controlling taxes, completing local construction projects, and attracting new businesses
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for the week ending Saturday, March 14, 2026
The weekly sheriff’s report documented several incidents, including a traffic stop in Viroqua resulting in an 85 mph speeding citation, and a trespassing arrest involving a squatter living in a trailer in Readstown.
Deputies also responded to a horse-drawn buggy crash in the Town of Bergen where a buggy tipped over, resulting in the death of the horse but no injuries to the children on board, who had already left for school. Other calls involved a physical altercation between two males in Viroqua and a stolen, altered check that was cashed in the Town of Forest.
Vernon County committees advance resolutions to fight proposed mega power line
The Vernon County Conservation and Education Committee unanimously approved a resolution on March 12 formally opposing the MariBell Transmission Project. The committee advanced resolutions that demand extensive environmental data from developers and declare the county’s firm opposition to the 140-mile, 765-kilovolt power line, preparing the measures for a final vote by the full county board.
Representatives from Dairyland Power Cooperative and GridLiance Heartland faced fierce scrutiny from Driftless Area residents during three public meetings in Gays Mills, Retreat, and Redmound. Citizens and local officials peppered the developers with questions, challenging the necessity, environmental risks, and economic impacts of the proposed 140-mile MariBell transmission line.
Grouse Hollow Journal for Friday, March 13, 2026 (These are the good old days)
In the latest installment of the Grouse Hollow Journal, author Greg Koelker shares his preparations for a looming winter storm, detailing how he moved his tractor and side-by-side into the garage, stored emergency drinking water, and stocked up on birdseed for “The Cardinal Cafe”.
Koelker also shares a humorous story about a friend managing a Colorado estate who had to use an ATV and a pool skimmer pole to extract a dead elk from a swimming pool. On a more practical note, he observes a recent 60-cent spike in local gas prices, taking it to $3.60 a gallon, as he tops off his truck’s tank “just in case”.
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One of the things that was brought up at the Mayoral forum Sunday was for Viroqua /Vernon County to have a newspaper so folks could learn more about the workings of municipal government. I think The Vernon Reporter does a pretty good job and it seems like you are expanding your reach and including a wider subject matter. Congrats, Tim!