Downtown River Falls is being used to extend a colorful tradition into autumn.

A pickup truck overturned early Tuesday afternoon on County Highway MM near the intersection with Radio Road in the town of Troy. Driver Tammy Herum, 31, River Falls, had to be extricated by River Falls ambulance workers as the truck lay on its side. Herum was taken to the River Falls Hospital, treated and released later Tuesday. River Falls police officers and firefighters assisted at the scene. The accident is being investigated by the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department.

What would it be like for an adopted child to receive regular visits from its birth parents?

Thanks, but no thanks. That's what local school representatives say to a state-mandated school year start of Sept. 1 or later.

By 2002, high school seniors will need to take a graduation test. However, the test will just be one of three criteria to determine graduate qualifications.

Cassandra Zevnik, left, Katelyn Borgren and Cathy Jacobsen soak in the atmosphere last Friday night at Hunt Arena as they are introduced as members of the very first women's varsity hockey team ever at UW-River Falls. Women's hockey had been played as a club sport at the university since 1979 before gaining varsity status for the 1999-2000 season. Former club team members were honored during special pre-game ceremonies and Chancellor Gary Thibodeau dropped the ceremonial first puck before the team hit the ice against Gustavus Adolphus.

After a special ceremony christened the Falcons' inaugural hockey event on Friday night, the UW-River Falls women took the ice for their first-ever weekend of varsity competition, and they succeeded in scoring against one of the region's top-ranked squads.