The Broadsheet

Headlines from the Barron News-Shield September 3, 2025 edition, plus some extra, newsy recommendations from the editor.

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Headlines

• Gov. Tony Evers visited Cumberland last week as part of a statewide tour highlighting community projects made possible by special federal funding programs, like Community Development Block Grants. The CBDG program is at risk of being eliminated by President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget. Also at risk is the HOME Investment Partnership, which along with CBDG, are sources for community and affordable housing development administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• The City of Rice Lake will host a public information meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, to discuss proposed safety improvements to the South Access Road and Frontage Road intersection at the north Cedar Mall entrance. The meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Lakeshore Room at City Hall, 30 E. Eau Claire St. A short presentation will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with city staff and design consultants. The city has received funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to address the high crash rate at the busy mall entrance.

• Ground was broken during the second week of August 2025 for an estimated $2.5 million addition to the “sally port” at the Barron County Jail – the part of the building where people under arrest are processed as they enter the jail, and/or meet with their attorneys. The construction work is taking place on the west side of the county Justice Center building, out of sight from most visitor traffic.

• The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) has named Julie Korish of the Turtle Lake School District as its 2025 Teacher of the Year. Korish, who has more than 20 years of experience in education, was recognized for her excellence in the classroom as well as the joy, compassion, and inspiration she brings to students and colleagues.

An attempt to pass other vehicles in a construction zone on southbound U.S. Hwy. 53 resulted in a fiery crash on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 26, 2025, according to the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. A department accident report said that a 2011 Buick Enclave driven by Michael G. Johnston, 26, of Eau Claire, was going south on Hwy. 53 and nearing a bridge over 3 1/2 Avenue, about three miles south of Chetek. Witnesses said that the Buick began to pass other southbound vehicles by weaving in between barrels in the construction zone, and using a closed traffic lane to do so. When the vehicle got to a bridge where construction workers were present, Johnston apparently tried to get back into the proper southbound lane, but collided with a concrete safety barrier. Johnston sustained what the report said were life-threatening injuries. Construction workers provided first aid before the victim was airlifted from the scene. The driver was issued two tickets for operating while impaired and reckless driving in a construction zone. Photo contributed

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Editor’s Picks

GIVE IT A LISTEN: I don’t care about Cracker Barrel—I think I ate there once, maybe. But it seemed impossible to avoid hearing about the whole logo rebranding fiasco. The way I see it, when your average cliental doesn’t like change, it’s probably best not to change anything too drastically. How you balance that with trying to keep up with the times and attract new customers, I don’t know. Anyhow, I enjoyed this episode of The Journal podcast, which digs a little deeper into Cracker Barrel’s corporate struggles.

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That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.

—Ryan Urban