EAU CLAIRE WILL HOLD PRIMARY FOR TWO CITY COUNCIL SEATS
A staggering 2009 budget shortfall has not intimidated new candidates from running for City Council. On Feb. 17, Eau Claire City Council Districts 1 and 2 will hold primaries to determine which candidates will face off in the April elections. In District 1, incumbent Dave Duax will run against newcomers David Lamb and Christopher Neitzel. William Sarkauskas and Eric Rosenquist will confront incumbent Dave Klinkhammer in District 2. Thomas Kemp and Bob Von Haden, both incumbents in Districts 3 and 4, respectively, will run unchallenged. Newcomer Andrew Werthmann will be the sole candidate for District 5. Current Vice President Kerry Kincaid will not face opposition for the president seat left open by Dave Adler.

WISCONSIN A SOLID CHOICE FOR JOB GROWTH IN 2009
The looming economic crisis has claimed several jobs in the Valley, as companies are forced to make cuts just to get by. Conveniently, Forbes Magazine released a top-10 list in January that may be of interest if you’re one of the many looking for work. According to Forbes, two cities in Wisconsin have the best potential for job growth in 2009. Madison, No. 1 on the list, “has an unusually healthy outlook for job growth and a strikingly low unemployment rate (3.5 percent).” Milwaukee placed fifth on the list, partially due to its 4.7 percent unemployment rate, but largely due to the booming health care industry, helped by an aging population and the several Chicago-based companies that moved there for cheaper expenses. Others on the list include: Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Boston, Richmond, Baltimore, Seattle, Houston, and Dallas.

GOVERNOR’S CONTEST REWARDS CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS
In a bid to spur economic growth and encourage state entrepreneurs, Governor Jim Doyle is asking business owners to submit business plans for a contest that could lead to a $50,000 prize. The statewide contest provides winners with valuable cash and in-kind prizes, but also constructive feedback and mentoring to help make that dream business a reality. To become a contestant, submit a 250-word abstract of your idea to www.govsbizplancontest.com no later than 5 pm, Jan. 31.

ECONOMY SNAGS ALTOONA STAR
The flaky economy and the nationwide trend of falling newspaper readership recently took hold of The Altoona Star. The publication released its last issue Jan. 16, after four years of serving residents in the Altoona school district. Some felt the publication fell largely under the shadow of the much bigger Leader-Telegram, which also covers Altoona, but The Altoona Star gained quite a following from its interesting reporting and the print/web format that the staff redesigned last year. In fact area readers voted it as third in Volume One’s Best Of Poll for best print coverage in the Chippewa Valley.

THREE NEWCOMERS HOPING FOR CHIPPEWA CITY COUNCIL SEATS
The Chippewa Falls High School student that voiced interest in running for mayor did not file nomination papers in time, however two City Council seats will have contested races in the April 7 election. John McGillis and CW King, a former council member, are running for the Third Ward seat left open by Greg Dachel. Michael Dahlby will challenge Incumbent Jack Covill for the First Ward seat, while newcomer Don Baker is unopposed for the Fifth Ward seat left by Robert Hoekstra. Mayor Greg Hoffman is running unopposed.

FOUR VIE FOR SCHOOL BOARD
Four Eau Claire educators are vying for two school board seats left open by Trish Cummins and Mary Kneer, who aren’t seeking re-election. Those seeking three-year terms on the April 7 ballot include Kathryn Duax, a former UW-Eau Claire music professor; Bob Janke, a retired UWEC geography professor; Nick Smiar, a social work professor at UWEC and president of the Bolton Refuge House board; and Wendy Sue Johnson, a former high school social studies teacher and chairwoman of the school district’s Parent Advisory Council.