Feb. 22, 2026
VERNON COUNTY, Wis. — Over the past week, the Driftless Region has grappled with a wide array of high-stakes community issues, ranging from the future of local education and major environmental battles to winter weather emergencies and the celebration of local arts.
Our local news coverage since mid-February highlighted the growing, organized resistance against a massive proposed transmission line, the difficult discussions surrounding school consolidation in De Soto, and the results of the spring’s only local primary election. We also brought you stories of community resilience, including emergency responses to winter accidents and the exciting return of local cultural staples like the Driftless Area Art Festival and Viroqua Shakespeare.
Here is a look back at the local stories we covered this week:
Lone primary in Vernon County: Westby voters to narrow school board field
Voters in the Westby Area School District headed to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for the only primary race taking place in Vernon County this spring. The primary was held to narrow the field of three candidates—Peter Engh, David Eggen, and Toby Wood—vying for Seat 6, an at-large position on the Westby Area School Board.
While the February ballot was limited strictly to the school district, the upcoming April 7 general election will feature a broader array of contests for statewide, county, and municipal offices, including a race for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a new mayor for Viroqua, and several contested seats on the Vernon County Board of Supervisors.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Report for the week ending Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026
The weekly Sheriff’s report detailed a series of law enforcement activities, including responses to a vehicle break-in resulting in a $2,000 theft, multiple domestic disturbances in Viola, and an abandoned vehicle in Westby.
Deputies also initiated several traffic stops that led to arrests for operating under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and bail jumping. In one incident, a driver in Readstown was arrested for operating with a restricted controlled substance, while two passengers were cited for possessing open intoxicants.
De Soto students turn art into outreach as district launches new community programs
Creative expression is growing in the De Soto Area School District as students sell their artwork to fund field trips and teachers begin offering specialty classes to the community. A newly formed Community Engagement Committee is spearheading efforts to connect with residents who may not have kids in school, offering community education classes ranging from wood projects to charcuterie board-making.
Simultaneously, high school students in the De Soto Art Club are creating their own community connections by selling custom pet portraits and hand-carved linoleum-printed tote bags. The proceeds will fund an annual field trip to an art and science museum in Milwaukee, ensuring students who aren’t involved in traditional sports have access to enriching extracurricular activities.
“Vernon County Over 50” Activities for March 2026
The “Vernon County Over 50” organization announced its packed schedule of activities for March, offering numerous opportunities for senior citizens to stay active and engaged.
The month’s programming features regular low-impact fitness options, including Tai Chi and Easy Chair Yoga, held at Bethel Home Fellowship Hall in Viroqua, with additional access provided at local libraries. The schedule also includes special events like a music therapy session with a Mayo Hospice Music Therapist and an update on Viroqua activities from the Chamber of Commerce.
Engh and Wood advance to general election in Westby School Board race
Peter Michael Engh and Toby L. Wood advanced to the April general election following Tuesday’s primary for the Westby Area School District Board of Education. Engh was the top vote-getter with 453 votes, followed by Wood with 205 votes, eliminating candidate David Eggen from the race.
Engh and Wood will now face off for Seat 6 during the Spring Election on April 7. The school board contest was the only primary election held in Vernon County, setting the stage for a busy April ballot that will decide municipal leadership and county supervisor races.
NextEra, Dairyland defend ‘mega-scale’ transmission proposal in exclusive interview
As opposition mounts across the Driftless Area against the largest transmission line ever proposed for the region, project leaders from Dairyland Power Cooperative and NextEra Energy sat down for an exclusive interview to defend the 765-kilovolt MariBell Transmission Project. The developers pushed back against claims that the line is solely designed to power out-of-state tech data centers, arguing the project is a crucial piece of a regional plan to ensure grid reliability and accommodate general energy demand.
Addressing concerns about the massive 150- to 200-foot towers, developers argued that a single 765-kV line is more efficient and requires less overall land than building multiple standard-sized lines. Despite assurances that the project will adhere to health and safety standards without displacing homes, local residents remain deeply concerned about the permanent environmental, economic, and visual impacts on the unglaciated landscape.
Vernon County officials weigh opposing MariBell transmission line ahead of Dairyland presentation
The Vernon County General Government Committee engaged in a heated debate over how to best voice their near-unanimous opposition to the proposed MariBell Transmission Project. While some supervisors pushed for an immediate, hardline resolution rejecting the project entirely, others advocated for a strategic “information request” resolution designed to force the utility to provide specific data and give the county legal standing in the state’s regulatory process.
Citizens attended the meeting to voice deep concerns over the project’s health impacts, noise pollution, and lack of local economic benefit. The committee ultimately decided to delay voting on any formal resolution until after the full Vernon County Board of Supervisors hears directly from Dairyland Power representatives later in the month.
Vernon County is officially seeking a community representative to serve on the Department of Human Services and Veteran’s Services Committee. The selected individual will attend monthly committee meetings to provide community insight and representation.
Interested residents are encouraged to submit a letter of intent to the Vernon County Clerk or the Director of Human Services. The deadline for submitting applications is March 27, 2026.
Mississippi Valley Conservancy to host presentation: winter birds of the Coulee Region
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy invited community members to a special presentation titled “Winter Birds of the Coulee Region,” led by naturalist and wildlife photographer Dan Jackson. The free event, held at the McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua, was designed to help nature lovers identify and understand the behavior of feeder birds common to the Driftless Area during the winter months.
Driftless Area art festival announces call for artists for 2026 event
The Driftless Area Art Festival announced it is accepting artist applications for its 22nd annual event, scheduled for September 19–20, 2026, in Soldiers Grove. The prestigious blind-juried festival is open to artists who live or create in the Driftless region across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Drawing more than 3,000 visitors annually, the festival features fine art across multiple mediums, including ceramics, glass, jewelry, and wood. Artists have until March 13 to submit their applications electronically or via paper submission.
Two riders safe after ATV breaks through ice near Stoddard
Two Wisconsin Rapids men safely escaped the freezing waters of the Mississippi River after their all-terrain vehicle broke through the ice near the Stoddard Boat Landing on Thursday afternoon. Both individuals made it to shore before first responders arrived and were evaluated for cold exposure by EMS, but neither required hospital transport.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson praised the quick and prepared response of the Stoddard Bergen Fire Department, Tri-State Ambulance, and Genoa-Harmony Fire & Rescue, noting that while a water rescue was ultimately unnecessary, local emergency personnel were fully equipped and ready to serve.
Viroqua Shakespeare announced its fifth anniversary season will feature a production of Romeo and Juliet, bringing the iconic love story to the Viroqua community through free, public outdoor performances. The summer festival aims to remove financial and cultural barriers to theater, creating an egalitarian environment complete with live music, food, and drink.
The production will be directed by Chicago-based theater artist Greta Zandstra, returning for her third Shakespeare production in Viroqua. She will be joined by returning regional talent, including fight choreographer Stanton Davis and local text coach Rose Bruce, supported by recent grants from the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin and Wisconsin Humanities.
Snowplow driver injured in rollover while plowing near Cashton
A 60-year-old snowplow driver from rural Cashton was injured Friday morning after his dump truck rolled over during winter highway maintenance operations. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office reported that the driver, Knowlton Scot Sanders, lost reference to the roadway edges due to heavy snowfall, causing his International Workstar truck to slide off Kelbel Road and roll onto its side.
Sanders was transported to Vernon Health in Viroqua for treatment. Cashton Fire & Rescue and La Farge Area Ambulance assisted deputies at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.
De Soto Schools stakeholder committee proposes consolidating facilities into one 4K-12 campus
A De Soto Area School District community committee has formally recommended consolidating the district’s elementary schools and relocating them to a single 4K-12 campus at the current Middle & High School site. The 33-member stakeholder committee determined that maintaining the current three-building model is financially unsustainable amid declining enrollment and aging facilities.
The recommendation comes after voters rejected three operational referendums over the past two years. Interim Superintendent Craig Gerlach noted that while the single-campus proposal is not a perfect solution, it provides the strongest long-term stability for students. The district anticipates needing another operational referendum within the next six months regardless of the consolidation outcome.
Vernon County Board hears Dairyland Power presentation as opposition to mega power line mounts
The Vernon County Board of Supervisors faced a packed, tense room on Thursday as representatives from Dairyland Power Cooperative presented their plans for the MariBell Transmission Project. The developers argued the 765-kilovolt double-circuit line is a necessary, land-efficient solution mandated by regional grid operators to ensure future energy reliability.
However, the presentation was met with fierce pushback from county supervisors and local citizens who argued the massive infrastructure would ravage the region’s sensitive unglaciated landscape and tourism economy without providing any local benefits. Supervisors expressed deep frustration over their lack of local regulatory control, with some vowing to formally intervene and make the process as difficult as possible for the utility companies, while residents cited fears over property rights, herbicide use, and health impacts.
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