STATE LEGISLATORS LOWER HUNTING AGE TO 10
Legislation passed through the state senate and assembly recently that lowers the legal hunting age in Wisconsin to 10 years old. The change, which awaits approval Governor Jim Doyle, is designed to help revive an interest in hunting among Wisconsin’s youths. The legislation requires the young hunters to stay within “arms reach” of a parent-approved adult mentor with a hunting license and that the two only carry one firearm. After turning 12, hunters will be required to take, and pass, a hunter’s safety course and purchase a hunting license.

FAIRGROUNDS UP FOR AUCTION
The Wisconsin Renaissance Faire will be up for purchase at the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Auction in July. After three years of supplying the area with medieval entertainment, the festival owners owed more than $800,000. They filed for a foreclosure on the property last fall. The Renaissance Faire ran for five weekends during the summer and held medieval entertainment for families in the Chippewa Valley. The festival was cancelled this summer due to financial trouble. There are restrictions on the land as it can only be used for camping and festivals. The auction will be held on July 30.

WINDOW WASHER FALLS SIX STORIES, ONLY BREAKS ANKLE
A 21-year-old window washer fell six stories in downtown Eau Claire after discovering an unfastened clip in his gear on June 16. Alex Clay hung on with the help of a co-worker outside the U.S. Bank building at South Barstow Street until they became too tired and had to let go. Clay expected the safety line on his harness to catch him but it did not.
Clay hit a little roof off the entryway and landed on the pavement crushing a bone in his left foot and cutting his left leg. Clay was released from Luther Hospital the next day.

DUMPTRUCK THIEF RAMS TWO HOMES, THREE VEHICLES
An Eau Claire man was arrested on charges of stealing an excavating truck from a Chippewa Falls business and damaging several houses and vehicles in Lake Hallie the evening of June 15. Twenty three-year-old Michael I. Frambs is facing charges for criminal damage to property, reckless endangering safety, and operating while intoxicated. Frambs offered no explanation to the Chippewa Falls police. Lake Hallie Police Corporal David Prokopinski tried to block the truck with his patrol car but had to back away after the truck refused to slow. Prokopinski then jumped into the truck though the driver’s side door and stopped the truck. Prokopinski suffered minor injuries and no one else was hurt.

STONES THROW CLOSES
One of Eau Claire’s signature bars and music venues, The Stones Throw, closed on June 23, after three years under its current owners, MarSteiner Hospitality. Discussions are underway with potential new owners, but no new management or reopening date has yet been set. The Stones Throw has been known to change hands several times, but current owners’ variety of local and touring acts will be missed. To show their appreciation to its patrons, the Stones Throw held a three-day customer appreciation party June 21 through June 23. Tuesday’s open mic night was the venue’s last. Now they are holding a “business assets” sale on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, from 11am to 7pm to sell off equipment and bar supplies. In a release, co-owner Todd Pernsteiner said, “Even with our exit from the scene for now, I have faith that the Chippewa Valley music industry will continue to thrive and do well. We wish the new occupants well in their future endeavors.”