PLUNGE RAiSES ALMOST $100,000
    About 660 people took part in the Polar Plunge Feb. 22, raising about $97,000 thus far (more is still coming in) for Indianhead Area Special Olympics. The 10th annual event is a highly successful and popular fundraiser that asks plungers to jump into three feet of near-freezing water during a frigid winter afternoon, collect pledge money, and encourages fanfare like wearing costumes. The Special Olympics has two events approaching: a district basketball and gymnastics meet March 14 at UW-Stout, and an aquatics and track and field event May 9 at North High School.

KIND FIELDS HEALTH COMPLAINTS
    About a dozen locals voiced disdain regarding their health care situations Feb. 18 at a listening session with U.S. Rep. Ron Kind at Eau Claire’s Unitarian Universalist Church. More than 200 people packed the church to call for health care reform, and some detailed the issues that prevent them from adequately and affordably insuring themselves and their families. “I hear these types of stories over and over again all over western Wisconsin,” Kind said. “This is why health care reform is our No. 1 challenge. The economy will not grow until we find solutions to the health care crisis.”

SAND COMPANY’S OPEN HOUSE TRIES TO APPEASE OPPOSITION
    Hundreds of people came to the offices of Canadian Sand and Proppant for its open house on Feb. 24, but most weren’t there to get excited about their proposed $50 million facility. The sand processing company has been jumping through hoops at the city level for several months, contending with loads of locals in staunch opposition, and the open house was no different. They hope to open the facility on a 93-acre site in northeast Chippewa Falls and create 55 jobs as early as next spring. Despite being open for questions, the company’s answers still have not satisfied several locals concerned with traffic, noise, and air pollution.

CONTEST WINNER CAUGHT FOR SMUGGLING PRIZE FISH
    Maybe it was all the bottled water he bought. Maybe it was the “drive it like I stole it” comment. Maybe it was the soaked sweatshirt. No matter what clued organizers in, Lee Shehow no longer has a new Dodge Dakota pickup truck and could face criminal charges for cheating in a Bass Lake ice fishing contest. Organizers say Shehow smuggled a 2.42-pound northern into the contest under his jacket and kept it alive by pouring bottled water down his shirt. After winning the $27,000 truck, Shehow allegedly said he was going to “drive it like he stole it.” Now it’s in the hands of runner-up Monica Slimmen. This may be the best water cooler fodder you’ll see for some time.

BARNES & NOBLE PROJECT CANCELLED AT OAKWOOD
    Plans for a Barnes and Noble bookstore in Oakwood Mall have been shelved indefinitely as General Growth Properties, which operates the mall, tries to avoid bankruptcy. The company is connected to more than 200 malls across the nation and is currently billions of dollars in debt. Needless to say, General Growth Properties is looking to refinance. Besides the 29,000 square-foot book vendor, the new addition would have included a salon, cosmetics, and fragrance store. There is no word yet on when construction for the project may move forward, or what the outlook might be for the mall in the year ahead.