The Broadsheet
Headlines from the Barron News-Shield March 18, 2026 edition, plus some extra, newsy recommendations from the editor.
Headlines
Construction for the Maple Grove Solar project, covering more than 1,500 acres south of Barron, has been delayed following a change in project ownership. Maple Grove Solar parent company ibV Energy Partners sold the interests in the project to Exus Renewables North America earlier this year. While ibV proposed to begin construction of the solar field in 2026, that timeline has been pushed back until at least July 1, 2027, according to the latest correspondence submitted to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.
Construction on bridges carrying southbound US 53 traffic over 20th Street south of Cameron and County I near Chetek will impact the roads under the structures. Beginning Monday, March 16, 20th Street under US 53 will be closed through Friday, March 20 and Monday and Tuesday, March 23-24. County I in both directions between the US 53 interchange ramps is set to be closed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 and ending at 6 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
A recent spike in the number of Barron County jail inmates was a topic for discussion when the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council met for the first time this year on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the county Justice Center. Council members represent municipal and county law enforcement officers, jail personnel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, health and human service officials, and others who deal directly or indirectly with the criminal justice system. It was formed in March 2012. The total jail populations for January and February were 97 and 102, respectively. Of that number, the Barron County inmate count was 95 for both months.
An 83-year-old man was sentenced to 40 years in prison March 6 in connection to multiple sexual assaults of young children, some of which allegedly occurred in Barron County. Robert Karstensen was sentenced March 6, 2026, in Eau Claire County to 40 years of initial confinement followed by 20 years of extended supervision, along with lifetime sex offender monitoring. The sentence follows his guilty plea to five felony counts tied to the sexual abuse of multiple children.
At its Tuesday, March 17 meeting, the Barron County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to refinance $5.5 million in loans for upgrades at the Waste to Energy & Recycling Center improvements. In 2023, the County borrowed $4 million at $5.25% interest from the State Trust Fund Loan for a new acid gas removal system. In 2024, another $1.5 million at 6% interest was borrowed for a new shredder and material handler for the plant. By refinancing, the County will save between $160,000 and $170,000 in interest, according to Sean Lentz, senior municipal advisor for the Roseville, Minn.-based financial consulting firm of Ehlers, Inc., LLC.
Cameron native and UW-La Crosse sophomore Tanner Gerber won the 165-pound NCAA Division III national wrestling title while competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gerber claimed his title Saturday, March 14, with a 4-0 victory over Andrew Supers of Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio).
Urban Rural Column
In case you missed my column about Ski For Light a couple weeks back, you can check it out at https://wordpress.com/home/urbanruralcolumn.wordpress.com.
Editor’s Picks
GIVE IT A LISTEN: After going offline a few months ago due to a lack of funding, Wisconsin Eye is back, including my its Rewind podcast, which I listen to every week. The comeback was made possible by short-term legislative funding and ongoing fundraising, so it’s operating again for now—but its long-term future still depends on stable funding.
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