frugal fashion, fun run, old clothes, chris hardie

Don’t throw it out, wear it out

My clothing principle is if it still covers, snaps, buttons or zips — sometimes partially but still enough to prevent wardrobe malfunctions — then it’s still good enou

tannette elie

Former reporter Tannette Elie named UW-Parkside executive director of university relations

Tannette Elie, a UW-Parkside lecturer and longtime journalist, has been named as the school's executive director of university relations.

In the role, Elie is the school's primary legislative liaison and public information officer. She also will serve as a member of the chancellor's cabinet and will lead the communications, branding and marketing efforts at UW-Parkside. Prior to her career in higher education, Elie spent 20 years as a reporter and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

ken troedel

Ken Troedel, former Wisconsin newspaper publisher, dies at 69

Kenneth A. "Ken" Troedel, who enjoyed a 26-year career publishing newspapers in Wisconsin, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, at his home in Waupaca. He was 69. Troedel graduated from West Bend West High School studied accounting and business administration at Moraine Park Technical College, during which time he worked at The West Bend Company.

He started his career in advertising sales and worked his way up to serve as publisher of several Wisconsin newspapers. Over his 26-year career, Troedel ran the Washington County Sunday Post in West Bend, Ozaukee County Sunday Post in Cedarburg, The Chippewa Herald in Chippewa Falls and the Waupaca County Buyer's Guide.

dennis west

Dennis West, former editor and publisher of The Beacon, dies at 78

Dennis West, longtime editor and publisher of The Beacon in Williams Bay, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, at his Williams Bay home. He was 78.

After spending the first two decades of his career at WIFR-TV in Rockford, West attended UW-Madison and earned his journalism degree in 1992. After graduating, he moved to the Lake Geneva area, where he joined The (Williams) Bay Times. He later purchased The Beacon, of which he served as editor and publisher for several years before selling the newspaper in October 2017 to Southern Lakes Newspapers. He continued on as editor of The Beacon until retiring in February 2020.

raymond schoenfield

Raymond Schoenfield, former journalism teacher and newspaper adviser, dies at 86

Raymond Eugene Schoenfield, an award-winning former teacher and newspaper adviser at Beloit Memorial High School, died Saturday, Feb. 5, in Rockford. He was 86. Schoenfield started his teaching career at Beloit Memorial High School in 1961 and was named the head of the English department in 1981. Throughout his 36-year career, he taught a variety of classes, including media and journalism. He also served as the adviser for The Increscent school newspaper. 

Schoenfield served as state director of the Journalism Education Association and vice president of the Wisconsin Journalism Teacher-Advisors' Council. His efforts were recognized through several awards during his career, including Wisconsin Journalism Advisor of the Year in 1974 and Wisconsin PTA Teacher of the Year in 1992.

herbert kohlbeck

Herbert Kohlbeck, hotel owner who also delivered newspapers, dies at 96

Herbert "Herb" L. Kohlbeck, a longtime Manitowoc County business owner who also delivered newspapers, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, at his home in rural Whitelaw. He was 96.

In addition to delivering newspapers for the (Manitowoc) Herald Times Reporter, Kohlbeck and his wife, Marie, owned and operated Kohlbeck's Riverview Inn at Reifs Mills for more than 34 years. 

polco, coronavirus, voter registration, presidential debates, covid-19

New poll question: What is the most important issue for elections and voting in 2022?

A new poll question asking readers what they believe to be the most important issue concerning elections and voting in 2022 is available to be used by WNA members. We are asking this question as a follow-up to our previous poll, in which respondents selected election security and/or voting rights as the top priority for 2022.

WNA members who have signed up for an account with Polco can access their local version of the new question, as well as local poll results, on their dashboards. Those who have not signed up can do so here for their own dashboard.

Wisconsin Policy Forum logo

Recent trends in Wisconsin’s principal and superintendent turnover

Principals and superintendents turn over in Wisconsin public schools and districts at about the national average, state data show, but turnover is most prevalent for those serving the state’s most vulnerable students. For now, at least, a feared pandemic-related surge in school leadership turnover has not yet emerged.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association