Best Community Advocate

Zach Halmstad, a former software entrepreneur, has taken his interest in technology and used that passion to fuel a boom...

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Best Community Business Leader

Your top choice for local business leader, Brandon Riechers (president and CEO of Royal Credit Union) grew up in the...

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Best Employer

Eau Claire-based PESI turns 40 this year, and the nonprofit continuing education provider got an early birthday present...

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Best Networking Group or Event

It stands to reason that the region’s biggest business group —  the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce...

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Best Project in Progress Last Year

The Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) offers the community a place to experience the...

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Best Teacher / Professor

Laurie Boettcher impresses Chippewa Valley Technical College marketing students with her passion for learning and her...

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Best Thing

The Phoenix Park Bridge lights grabbed the top spot in the Best Thing question once again. A vivid array of colors...

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Best Use of Taxpayer Dollars Last Year

Public education and other school-related issues have been voted Best Use of Taxpayer Dollars in nine out of the last 12...

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Best Volunteer Opportunity

Whether you’re a student looking to get some service-learning hours or a community member of any age hoping to...

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Biggest Thing We Should Make Happen Soon

This top three list is nearly identical to last year in that it’s all about the num-nums. First things first:...

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Favorite Local Nonprofit

The story of the first-place winner begins with a dog named Bob. Since 2009, Bob’s House for Dogs (E3015 County...

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Most Disappointing Thing in the Past Year

Humans love to gripe about things, so let’s gripe! First, what’s with all the drug use in the area? Not to...

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Most Memorable Happening in the Past Year

Three major happenings stand out in our voters’ memories from the past year. The first is, not too surprisingly...

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Most Overrated Thing in or About the Valley

It’s only natural that people get sick of hearing about the same things over and over (and over) again. That...

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Most Underrated Thing in or About the Valley

Too often in our quest for the amazing, we fail to fully acknowledge the ordinary. Teachers may be ordinary people, but...

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Poll Category We Should Add Next Year

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Things the Chippewa Valley is Bad At

Though the Chippewa Valley is a beautiful slice of Wisconsin, we nonetheless face social issues that need attention...

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Things the Chippewa Valley is Good At

Once in a while, even we humble Midwesterners have to brag, which is why our poll asks readers to name Things the...

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Worst Use of Taxpayer Dollars Last Year

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Your Favorite Local Elected Official

For the third year in a row, Joe Luginbill, president of the Eau Claire School Board, was the top vote-getter as...

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