STUDENTS CREATE MEMORIAL FOR VICTIMS OF ASSAULT, ABUSE
    Reaching out into the community, five students from an Abuse and the Family class at UW-Stout displayed life-size, wooden figures at the Waterfront Bar and Grill in Menomonie on December 4, representing the real-life stories of victims from across Wisconsin that died as a result of domestic violence or sexual assault. The victims include an unborn child, a 10-week old infant killed by his father, two seven-month-old twins also killed by their father, a 3-year-old killed by her mother, six women who were murdered by their boyfriends or husbands, and two men who were murdered by their wives or girlfriends. This silent witness memorial will be displayed again in April.

WISCONSIN READY FOR DISASTER OF MICHAEL BAY PROPORTIONS
    Disease, natural disaster, and bioterrorism strike fear into Americans, but here in Wisconsin, such large-scale emergencies are well in hand. Wisconsinites can take confidence in the state’s perfect score in this year’s Public Health Preparedness report, entitled Ready or Not? Each state was judged on 10 preparedness indicators, including an emergency vaccination plan, an electronic disease tracking system, and the ability to diagnose foodborne diseases. Wisconsin triumphed as one of five states with maximum preparedness. The Wisconsin Public Health Association recognized the contributions of the Eau Claire City-County Public Health Preparedness Committee through the 2008 Special Achievement of a Public Health Partnership Award.

UNIVERSITY FOUNDER JOINS LIBRARY HALL OF FAME
    On November 6, former Memononie resident James Huff Stout was inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. Stout, who was honored posthumously, founded the Stout Manual Training School in 1891; that school is now the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Stout joined the Wisconsin Senate in 1894, where he advocated for libraries and rural education. Stout’s accomplishments included the creation of the Free Library Commission, the funding of summer librarian training at the University of Wisconsin, and the establishment of Wisconsin’s first traveling library. The Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame was established by the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation Board in July 2008 to promote the understanding and appreciation of libraries and librarianship in the state.

ATTRACTIONS GUIDE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF PHOTO CONTEST
    The work of three local photographers will appear on 2009’s Chippewa County Activities and Attractions Guide, and photos by six others will appear within its pages. The Chippewa County Tourism Council and Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced Julia Tetrault, Bruce Marsh, and Joseph Palzkill as winners of the annual contest, while Nannette Burmeister, Clare Hilgendorf, Kurt Klee, John Lauson , Patti Lorence, and Kathy Moehagen were the finalists. The guide will be available in mid-January at the Chippewa Area Visitors Center.