1st Place: Schools
2nd Place: Police/Fire/EMS
3rd Place: Clairemont reconstruction

Chippewa Valley schools have had a rough couple of years, between school board controversies, declining budgets, and Mrs. Grunsveld, who totally gives out way too much homework and won’t let you eat in class or anything. None the less, it is reassuring that V1 readers still appreciate public education in the area, as schools take the number one spot. Western Wisconsin regularly blows away other parts of the state in standardized test scores, the students are committed and active, and the teachers are attractive and generally fun to be around. In second place, the emergency responders of the area receive some well-deserved props – our streets are safer and we all sleep a little better because of them. And in third, even though it was a giant, ridiculous, awful pain in the neck all summer long, the brand new Clairemont Avenue is one impressive stretch of concrete. – Eric Rasmussen