editorials

Two packed public meetings last week generated copious questions and comments but no accord. Both dealt with issues that need solving but there’s time for that to happen. One was deciding the future of Kinnickinnic’s two hydroelectric dams. A meeting at City Hall was to begin...

A 21-year-old UW-River Falls student is busted off campus for marijuana with intent to distribute and drug paraphernalia possession. Allegedly in his rental house is a designated smoke room with a sign saying “Drug Zone.” In his fridge there’s a plastic container with the student’s...

The National Newspaper Association finished a readership survey in 2013. The gist was that even in the electronic/digital age, two-thirds of small-town residents rely on their local paper for news and advertising information. The survey noted this reliance continues even as more...

Earlier this month a town of Clifton letter writer to the Journal expressed dismay and disgust at having to step over a heap of puke to enter a downtown store. A postal carrier told her such sights are common. The store owner said not only vomit, but “urine and worse” is often...

As reported in last week’s Journal, the coming year will see a modest drop of 1.5% in the school district portion of your property taxes. That’s the first drop in five years. The main reason is more per-pupil state aid. The main reason for that is River Falls gained 70 students...

Perhaps many of you read Axel Bogdan’s letter last week: “Don’t let state Legislature seize local town controls.” Bogdan, a Kinnickinnic town board supervisor, warned about a proposed bill by two Republican state lawmakers — Sen. Tom Tiffany, Hazelhurst, and Rep. Joan...

There seems to be a great deal happening these days, both in River Falls and affecting River Falls, so we cherry-picked a few topics and tossed in our two cents worth: -- Local painter and sign-making guru David Markson continues to redraw the cityscape with his skillful talents....

Is it too easy to recall politicians? That argument’s been made in Wisconsin, especially following the spate of recall elections in 2011 and 2012 after controversial legislation curbed the union rights of most, but not all, public employees, including teachers. A more relevant,...

What happened to June Moyer recently while visiting River Falls should never happen to anyone who has a dog, cat or other animal that’s part of the family. As reported in last week’s Journal, Moyer’s dog Zoey was snatched from her arms, mauled, and, as she describes, had its...

What qualifications are necessary to earn the title “Hero”? By our measure, we think local resident Steve Linehan met and exceeded the bar last Thursday morning. Linehan, whose face might be familiar to some as the guy who plays Santa Claus in Veteran’s Park during the holiday...