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• New co-owner's back, aims to upgrade SV store
• Plum City man charged with reckless endangerment
• Hastings man charged with animal cruelty
• Ellsworth Chamber to host beer garden fundraiser during Pierce County Fair

By Bill Kirk, RiverTowns staff

SPRING VALLEY-Most of Kyle Glenn's working career has been at two area supermarkets under common ownership.

Glenn has been employed by Brian and Tammy Ormson at both of their stores, in Glenwood City and Spring Valley. "I've worked for them off and on for nine years," he said Thursday.

Last month, Glenn joined management in the Ormsons' corporation as co-owner of Spring Valley Supervalu. He's since been trained in bookkeeping and office procedures, overseeing ordering, decision-making on advertising and more, Mrs. Ormson said. He's also moving some displays to best suit the interests of the local store's customers.

"He's especially emphasizing meat," she said, noting the new co-owner is an expert meat cutter.

The Spring Valley store, which the Ormsons bought from Brian's brother Tim in 2003, offers produce, dairy, frozen foods and groceries, besides meat, she said.

For more please read the Aug. 12 print version of the Herald.

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

A Plum City man was charged Tuesday in Pierce County Circuit Court with multiple counts relating to an incident last month when he allegedly threw a liquor bottle through a teenager's windshield while he was driving.

Michael C. Lifto, 35, was charged with felony first degree reckless endangerment and two misdemeanors--criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct. The felony carries a maximum penalty of $25,000 and/or 12 years and six months prison if found guilty. He makes his first court appearance on the charges at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31.

According to the criminal complaint, a 16-year-old reported around 7:10 p.m. July 19 to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department that, while he was driving his car in Plum City, a liquor bottle was thrown through his windshield.

When law enforcement interviewed the teenager, they noticed blood on his chin as well as on both of his hands and arms. A look at his car, a 1997 Dodge Neon, showed a large hole on the driver's side and glass all over the interior of the car.

The teenager explained he was driving south on Main Street past a house just north of Cherry Street on the west side of the road, where people were partying. He told officers he turned onto Cherry Street, and turned around and headed back downtown. When he did that, a man, described as wearing dark shorts and no shirt, walked out in the middle of the road, waving his arms at him. He said the man threw a bottle onto the roadway and shattered it.

For more please read the Aug. 12 print version of the Pierce County Herald.

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

A Hastings man was charged in Pierce County Circuit Court last month with five misdemeanors from three separate incidents that allegedly occurred in a seven-hour span.

Christian A. Rech, 35, stands accused of mistreating animals, possession of THC and drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct that happened on July 29 within the City of Prescott. His next court appearance on the charges is a 3:30 p.m. Aug. 24 Pre-Trial Conference.

Animals

On July 30, Prescott Police Chief Mike R. Bondarenko visited the victim of the battery case to investigate an alleged violation of the no contact order. While there, the victim said that Rech had injured her brother's dog around 4:30 p.m. the previous day.

The victim explained that Rech was at her house and was upset because he had backed into her car and had also backed into her garage door with his vehicle.

She explained that she was in the dining area of her home, which is adjacent to the living room, where a sofa lined the north wall of the room. She said she saw Rech walk into the living room, walk up to the sofa, pick up the dog, "Peekachoo", a part Pekingese and part Chihuahua, with one hand, raise his arm and throw the puppy onto the floor with great force. It's estimated the dog was thrown from a height of approximately five feet. Bondarenko said the dog was three months old and weighed less than a pound.

For more please read the Aug. 12 print version of the Pierce County Herald.

The Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce's Cheese Curd Festival committee will host a beer garden as a fundraiser for the festival during the coming week's Pierce County Fair.

The beer garden will be located in the back parking lot of JoJo's Jewelry and Gifts, which is in a retail mall along N. Maple Street in front of the fairgrounds. The garden will be open during the run of the fair, on Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday starting in the afternoons.

The public is invited to attend the beer garden, also serving soda and water. It's an opportunity to take a break and socialize with friends and neighbors. Daily door prizes will be given away.

The committee hopes to raise funds for next year's festival. Members appreciate all of the businesses which have donated many dollars as well as the workers who donated their valuable time to make this year's festival a success.

Any suggestions for the 2010 Cheese Curd Festival can be e-mailed to: cheesecurdfest@sbcglobal.net.