Sparta WI

From left, Jeremy Haldeman, Izzy Garcia and Kali Scholze are pictured with the coat rack located inside Haldeman’s office, American Family Insurance in Tomah. Herald photo by Nicole Vik.

Tis the season for generosity and kindness

Monday, December 9, 2019 - 10:35am

The winter weather in Wisconsin can be relentless and even dangerous at times. For low-income families, it can be a terrible struggle to find affordable, warm clothes, especially winter coats and boots, which can be very expensive. When 10-year-old Izzy Garcia saw kids in her Tomah neighborhood...

Two Monroe County Sheriff’s Department personnel man a road block on Hazelwood Avenue Tuesday during a manhunt for two suspects who abandoned their car near the area and fled on foot. The 28-year-old suspects from Minnesota were eventually captured without incident. Herald photo by Pat Mulvaney

Minnesota pair nabbed in Sparta after manhunt

Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 10:21am

A pair of suspects involved in a high-speed chase Tuesday before abandoning their car near Sparta and leading officers on a manhunt, are in custody. According to law enforcement officials, Janssen McGee and Paris Akon, both 27-year- old Minnesota residents, are facing a raft of charges, including...

Sparta woman honored with Gundersen nursing award

Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 10:15am

Paige Hafner, a licensed practice nurse in Gundersen’s Renal Dialysis Unit in Onalaska has only been a part of the unit since October 2018, but she is already making an impact, not only on her patients, but her co-workers as well. Hafner, a Sparta resident, was honored recently with the 2019...

Kriskindlmarkt opening weekend is a big hit

Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 10:12am

The 5th annual Sparta Kriskindlmarkt kicked off on Friday, Nov. 29th with opening remarks from the event’s founder, Reinhard Mueller, and Mayor Kristen Gust. Both touted not only the Holiday spirit the market brings to the downtown area, but also the sense of community and the volunteer spirit...

Manny Hedrick, Savannah Stendel, Gage Bath, Lily Bloyer, and Ali Amparo attended a conference earlier this month. Also attending but missing from photo is Nathan Allen.

Sparta FFA members attend FFA 360º Conference

Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 9:58am

A contingent from the Sparta High School FFA attended the National FFA Organization’s 360º Conference at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells Nov. 15-16. They included Manny Hedrick, Savannah Stendel, Gage Bath, Lily Bloyer, Ali Amparo and Nathan Allen. Over 500 FFA members and advisors from...

SASD classes resume after safety concern investigated by law enforcement

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 - 4:34pm

On Dec. 2, it was reported to staff at the Sparta Area School District that a photo had been posted on a social media platform of a current student holding a handgun. “We perceived this to be a credible concern and moved forward per district protocol,” Superintendent Dr. Amy Van Deuren wrote in a...

SASD cancels classes district-wide

Monday, December 2, 2019 - 6:22pm

At approximately 2:45 p.m. today (Monday,) Sparta High School went into a secure perimeter and classroom hold. These procedures were enacted as precautionary measures in response to a potential safety concern. Shortly before the secure perimeter and classroom hold were called, high...

Nottestad to take helm at SPD

Monday, December 2, 2019 - 10:10am

Sparta Police Department Deputy Chief Emilee Nottestad will become Sparta’s first female police chief on Jan. 11 The city’s police commission chose the nearly four-year veteran of the force to succeed current Chief Dave Kuderer, who is retiring. Gary Ascher, chairman of the Sparta police commission...

Chris Moretti and Sandy Schlicher at Decals With Distinction have settled into their new location at 219 S. Water Street in downtown Sparta. Herald photo by Nicole Vik.

Decals With Distinction settles into new location

Monday, December 2, 2019 - 9:53am

Decals With Distinction has a new home in downtown Sparta at 219 S. Water Street, just a block from its former location. Owner Chris Moretti got his start in the industry making decals for Mathews Archery. Moretti owned retail stores in New York and Pennsylvania where he sold Mathews bows. At the...

Firefighters battled a house blaze on Walrath Street in Sparta early Saturday morning. A mother and daughter were rescued but two dogs perished in the blaze. Contributed photo

Two rescued from Sparta house fire

Tuesday, November 26, 2019 - 10:07am

A mother and daughter barely escaped a house fire early Saturday morning in Sparta, while one of the paramedics sent to the scene collapsed and had to be taken by helicopter to a La Crosse hospital. The fire began sometime before 5:40 a.m. at the two-story residence located at 302 Walrath St. The...