Year in review: January-March

The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
Updated ·9 min read

Dec. 22—A new year began with new leadership for area law enforcement and a new look for UW-Stout. By the time spring arrived concerns about the national economy were taking hold, fueled in part by several large layoffs in northern Wisconsin.

JanuaryBridget McCutcheon, a Sanborn resident hoping to become the youngest woman to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle, was winding her way through Mexico.

kAms2G6 #:6H6DE29= 2?5 %C2G:D w2A6E6?4J 962C:?8 7@C $92?6 w6=>3C649E[ H9@ :D 244FD65 @7 66E 2 5625=:?6 E@ C6@A6?] xE H2D @?6 @7 E9C66 3FD:?6DD6D E92E H6C6 724:?8 24E:@? 7@C ?@E @A6?:?8 A@DE\r~'xs]k^Am

kAm&(\$E@FE F?G6:=65 2 ?6H =@8@]k^Am

kAmt2F r=2:C6 2?5 p=E@@?2 @A6?65 ?6H 5:D4FDD:@?D 23@FE 9@H E96 4:E:6D 92?5=6 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46D 2?5 E96 2EE6?52?E 4@DED]k^Am

kAmw@A6 v@DA6= |:DD:@? 5@F3=65 E96 365D 2G2:=23=6 7@C >6? 2E E96:C D9@CE\DE2J D96=E6C]k^Am

kAmr9:AA6H2 u2==D D49@@=D 2??@F?465 >2A=@J66D E@ C6A@CE DFDA64E65 7C2F5[ 2 3:5 E@ :>AC@G6 =@DD AC@E64E:@?]k^Am

kAmp J@F?8 t2F r=2:C6 >@E96C D2H E96 4@>>F?:EJ DE6A FA H96? D96 A@DE65 2? @?=:?6 C6BF6DE 7@C 323J DFAA=:6D H96? D96 C2? D9@CE @7 3@E9 E96 DFAA=:6D 2?5 >@?6J]k^Am

kAm}6DE=6 2??@F?465 :E H@F=5 :?G6DE Scb >:==:@? :? :ED t2F r=2:C6 724:=:EJ[ A2CE @7 492?86D E92E H@F=5 255 2? 6DE:>2E65 e_ ?6H ;@3D]k^Am

kAmq2CC@?'D r9C:D zC@6K6 E@@E:>6 E@ E2=23@FE 9:D >FD:4 42C66C 2?5 9:D C@@ED :? ?@CE9H6DE6C? (:D4@?D:?]k^Am

kAms6CC:4'2? ~C56? C646:G65 2 4@G6E65 DA@E @? E96 w@FD6 p8C:4F=EFC6 r@>>:EE66]k^Am

kAmsF?? r@F?EJ 3682? :?G6DE:82E:?8 27E6C 2 56AFEJ 72E2==J D9@E 2 DFDA64E :? 2 4@?7C@?E2E:@?]k^Am

kAmp >F=E:\J62C 677@CE E@ A2G6 2==6JH2JD :? t2F r=2:C6 H2D ?62C:?8 :ED 4@?4=FD:@?]k^Am

kAmt2F r=2:C6'D 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 3682? 4@?D:56C:?8 6?5@CD6>6?E @7 E96 "?@\>@H |2J" >@G6>6?E] q24@C:2= 8C25F2E6[ H2D ?2>65 (:D4@?D:?'D a_ab\ac A@6E =2FC62E6]k^Am

kAm{26?E H2D 8:G6? :? 2 3:5 E@ EC2A D2?5 367@C6 :E 86ED :?E@ E96 =26?E2E:@? 92D 366? 2? @?8@:?8 4@?46C?[ 42FD:?8 5:77:4F=E:6D 7@C AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD 2?5 4@DE=J 5C658:?8 3:==D]k^Am

kAm%96 uC6D9 $E2CE AC@8C2> :? r9:AA6H2 r@F?EJ @776C65 2E\C:DJ@F?8 25F=ED 2 492?46 E@ =62C? ;@3 DD]k^Am

kAmt2F r=2:C6 @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96 4:EJ :D >2:DD65 2 =2HDF:E 7:=65 3J E96 72>:=J @7 2 r9:AA6H2 u2==D 8:C= H9@ H2D 3FC?65 5FC:?8 2 H6=5:?8 4=2DD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu63CF2CJk^DEC@?8mx? @?6 @7 E96 J62C'D DEC2?86C 4@FCE 42D6D[ 2? pF8FDE2 H@>2? H2D D6?E6?465 7@C E2D6C:?8 96CD6=7 2?5 96C EH@ 49:=5C6?]k^Am

kAmq:D9@A (:==:2> !2EC:4 r2==292? G:D:E65 |4s@?6== DEF56?ED E@ >2Cr2E9@=:4 $49@@=D (66A6C2EFC6D A=F?865[ D6?5:?8 E96 C68:@? :?E@ 2 566A 7C66K6 H:E9 DF3K6C@ E6>A6C2EFC6D]k^Am

kAm$@>>6C $>:E9[ 2 r'%r DEF56?E[ E2=26 :?E@ 67764E @? E96 w@=4@>36 qC:586 @G6C E96 r9:AA6H2 #:G6C]k^Am

kAmt2F r=2:C6 2??@F?465 2 C64@C5\D6EE:?8 Scda >:==:@? :? 4@?DECF4E:@? AC@;64ED E@@A=246 :? a_aa] %96 2>@F?E H2D 6?@F89 E@ 62D:=J 64=:AD6 E96 @=5 C64@C5]k^Am

kAmp ?6H 9@>6=6DD D96=E6C :? |6?@>@?:6 3C@A6E6?4J 6G2=F2E:@? 7@C $92?6 w6=>3C649E] (9:=6 E96 6G2=F2E:@?'D C6DF=ED H6C6 ?@E 2??@F?465[ E96 4@FCE =2E6C D4965F=65 9:D 2CC2:8?>6?E @? >FC56C 492C86D]k^Am

kAm%96 t2F r=2:C6 r:EJ r@F?4:= 3682? 5:D4FDD:@?D @7 2 A@DD:3=6 H966= E2I] %96 AC@A@D2= H2D 4@?EC@G6CD:2=[ ?@E =62DE 3642FD6 :E 5:5 ?@E 2==@H 7@C 2?J ?6H C@25 H@C36:?8 5@?6 H:E9 E96 ?6H C6G6?F6]k^Am

kAmr@?46C?D 23@FE @=5 FE:=:EJ A:A6D :? t2F r=2:C6 >:CC@C65 E9@D6 @7 @E96C C68:@?D] $@>6 @7 E96 A:A6D DE:== :? FD6 52E65 E@ E96 'gg_D[ @77:4:2=D D2:5]k^Am

kAm{:?5D6J z?649E 3642>6 E96 7:CDE (:D4@?D:? DEF56?E E@ 62C? 2 (!v 2?:>2E@C 46CE:7:42E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 AC:46 E28 7@C 562=:?8 H:E9 !up$ 496>:42=D :? t2F r=2:C6'D H2E6C D:==:@? 4@DE 32==@@?65 E@ Sac >:==:@? H96? 4:EJ @77:4:2=D 564:565 E@ 3F:=5 2 ?6H 724:=:EJ E@ 6?E:C6=J C6>@G6 E96> 7C@> E96 H2E6C DFAA=J]k^Am

kAm!6J r2CE6C >2C 6?E6CE2:?65]k^Am

kAm(:?E6C 4@?E:?F65 H:E9 >F=E:A=6 C@F?5D @7 D?@H[ EFC?:?8 E96 r9:AA6H2 '2==6J :?E@ 2 =:G6\:? D?@H8=@36]k^Am

kAmw@>6 D2=6D D=@H65 27E6C D6G6C2= D4@C49:?8 9@E J62CD]k^Am

kAm%FC?@FE :? E96 C68:@?'D AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?D H2D FA 2D C6D:56?ED EF?65 :? E@ D6G6C2= 4=@D6 C246D]k^Am

kAmr9:AA6H2 u2==D 2??@F?465 A=2?D 7@C 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 @? E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 >F?:4:A2= A@@=] %96 A@@='D 7FEFC6 925 366? F?46CE2:? 27E6C A=2?D 7@C :ED 4=@DFC6 H6C6 2??@F?465[ E96? H:E95C2H?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m|2C49k^DEC@?8mr:EJ @77:4:2=D :? t2F r=2:C6 72465 2 E@F89 D6== H:E9 2 AC@A@D65 H966= E2I 2?5[ :? C6DA@?D6[ C2:D65 E96 AC@A@D65 766]k^Am

kAm{2J@77D 6=:>:?2E65 >@C6 E92? b__ ;@3D 2E |2CD97:6=5 r=:?:4D] s2JD =2E6C >@C6 E92? a__ A@D:E:@?D H6C6 4FE 2E wFE49:?D@? %649?@=@8J]k^Am

kAm|6?@>@?:6 4FE E96 =:DE @7 42?5:52E6D 7@C :ED ?6H 4:EJ 25>:?:DEC2E@C 5@H? E@ 2 92?57F= @7 A6@A=6 :? AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C 2 564:D:@?]k^Am

kAm$FA6CG:D@CD :? t2F r=2:C6 D2:5 E96J 5:5?'E E9:?E96 4@F?EJ H@F=5 ?665 E@ 3@CC@H >@?6J :? a_ab] u:?2?46D H6C6 :? 36EE6C D92A6 E92? 2?E:4:A2E65[ 2?5 E92E C6>@G65 E96 ?665 E@ DFAA=6>6?E C6G6?F6D]k^Am

kAm%96 r9:AA6H2 u2==D !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E H6=4@>65 s@?FE[ 2 ?6H E96C2AJ 5@8 2DD:8?65 E@ 96=A 6>A=@J66D 92?5=6 E96 DEC6DD @7 E96 H@C 2:>65 2E AC@E64E:?8 ?@CE96C? =@?8\62C65 32ED 2?5 EC:\4@=@C65 32ED] (9:=6 E96 7=J:?8 >2>>2=D 2C6?'E 2=H2JD A@AF=2C[ E96J 2C6 :?4C65:3=J 677:4:6?E 2E 36CD :? 496465 E96 ?6H 4:EJ 25>:?:DEC2E@C :? |6?@>@?:6]k^Am

kAmpAAC@G2= @7 2 =26?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J 2??@F?465 ?6H =:>:ED 7@C !up$ :? 5C:?:?2E:@? @7 E96 496>:42=D]k^Am

kAmr9C:DE@A96C v:==2> C6D:8?65 7C@> E96 r9:AA6H2 u2==D 4:EJ 4@F?4:=]k^Am

kAm&(\$E@FE 925 8@@5 ?6HD 23@FE :ED 8C25F2E6D[ 2??@F?4:?8 E92E A@DE\8C25F2E6 6>A=@J>6?E C2E6D 925 9:E 2 ?6H 9:89]k^Am

kAm~FC #6566>6C {FE96C2? r9FC49 :? t2F r=2:C6 3682? 46=63C2E:?8 '__ J62CD :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

kAmr9:AA6H2 r@F?EJ >@G65 E@ 6I6>AE >:=92F=6CD 7C@> E96 D62D@?2= H6:89E =:>:ED E92E 2CC:G6 H:E9 E96 DAC:?8 E92H]k^Am

kAmp C2==J :? t2F r=2:C6 AFE 2 DA@E=:89E @? 23@CE:@? C:89ED[ 2 7C2F89E :DDF6 7@C DE2E6D 27E6C E96 a_aa 564:D:@? 3J E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE E92E @G6CEFC?65 #@6 G] (256]k^Am

kAm&(\$E@FE H2D 56D:8?2E65 2D 2 >:=:E2CJ\7C:6?5=J 42>AFD]k^Am

kAms2? $49F>2496C[ E96 &(tr 2E9=6E:4 5:C64E@C[ 2??@F?465 9:D C6E:C6>6?E] $49F>2496C'D E6?FC6 :?4=F565 E96 C6EFC? @7 32D632== 2?5 E96 4C62E:@? @7 >6?'D D@446C 2?5 H@>6?'D =24C@DD6 E62>D]k^Am

kAmp ?F>36C @7 ?@CE96C? (:D4@?D:? D49@@=D H6C6 5:DCFAE65 H:E9 4@@C5:?2E65 C6A@CED @7 G:@=6?46] %96 "DH2EE:?8" 42==D AC@>AE65 D:8?:7:42?E 6>6C86?4J C6DA@?D6D 7@C E96 72=D6 C6A@CED]k^Am

kAm#J2? #65:?8E@? H@? E96 x5:E2C@5[ @?6 J62C 27E6C 9:D E62> H2D CF? @G6C 3J 2 DFDA64E65 5CF?@3:=6C H9:=6 EC2:?:?8 :? ?@CE96C? (:D4@?D:?]k^Am

kAm#6D:56?ED @7 E96 %@H? @7 (2D9:?8E@? FC865 @77:4:2=D E@ 4@?E:?F6 7:89E:?8 677@CED 3J t2F r=2:C6 E@ 2??6I =2?5]k^Am

kAmp? t2F r=2:C6 >2? H2D D6?E6?465 E@ AC:D@? 7@C 9:D C@=6 :? 2 3FC8=2CJ E92E DE@=6[ 2>@?8 @E96C :E6>D[ 2 C@46?E @7 E96 EC@F3=65 #686?4J x?? 2?5 $F:E6D :? t2F r=2:C6] %96 562= =2E6C 76== E9C@F89]k^Am

kAm$6G6? A6@A=6 H6C6 9FCE H96? 2 D49@@= 3FD H2D :?G@=G65 :? 2 4C2D9 ?62C ~DD6@]k^Am

kAmr9:AA6H2 r@F?EJ D:8?65 2 ?6H 562= :? DFAA@CE @7 E96 r9:AA6H2 '2==6J #68:@?2= p:CA@CE]k^Am

kAm%96 s6H6J $EC66E qC:586 C6@A6?65 :? t2F r=2:C6] }6H H6:89E C6DEC:4E:@?D H6C6 :? A=246 27E6C @77:4:2=D 7@F?5 2 9@=6 :? E96 C@25H2J]k^Am

Featured Local Savings