Sparta WI

As the new owners of Rudy’s Drive-In Sparta location, Terrelle Wilson and Shelley Gates and their seven kids, are excited to continue the legacy of Rudy’s in Sparta. Herald photos by Macy White.

Anchoring past memories to Sparta Rudy’s

Monday, April 19, 2021 - 11:21am

Every year the Sparta community patiently (or not so patiently) awaits the seasonal re-opening of Rudy’s Drive-In. This year, the beloved restaurant will open under new ownership as long-time employee Shelley Gates and her partner Terrelle Wilson take the helm. An Onalaska native, Gates started...

The playground at Sparta’s Memorial Park is in need of replacing, while the park’s shelters are need a little TLC. Herald photos by Pat Mulvaney

Park board mulls Memorial Park makeover

Monday, April 19, 2021 - 11:08am

With limited funding available, the Sparta Parks Department is looking for ways to make improvements to some of its recreational facilities without breaking the bank. Parks Director Brad Gilbertson presented a few ideas to the Park Board Monday for replacing playground equipment at Memorial Park,...

Sparta’s Matt Biever lands on top of Holmen’s Troy Knutson while making a catch in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game. Biever would maintain his balance, avoid spin off of Knutson to add a few extra yards to his recpetion before being tackled. Biever finished with two catches for 52 yards. The Spartan offense as a whole, however, was held to just over 200 total yards in a 41-21 loss Friday night. Herald photo by Nate Beier.

NOWHERE TO RUN

Monday, April 19, 2021 - 10:55am

In a normal season, Friday’s match with Holmen would have been a high caliber, conference rivalry game for Sparta. However, as none of the games this spring count towards a conference championship, this year’s matchup becomes just another mundane note in the series between the Spartans and Vikings...

The History Room’s current exhibit, Monroe County Chooses: The Toys We Love, is available to view Thursdays through Saturdays; reservations no longer needed. Contributed photo.

Reservations no longer needed to visit History Room

Monday, April 19, 2021 - 10:51am

A recent county policy change has permitted the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum to end the reservation system to see the museum’s exhibits. Effective April 9, the public can now visit the History Room’s exhibits without having to call ahead to make an appointment. The museum will be...

Presenters showed the committee a few preliminary sketches of what the new uniforms might possibly look like. Herald photo by Nicole Vik.

SHS Marching Band looks to purchase new uniforms

Thursday, April 15, 2021 - 12:07pm

At its meeting this week, Sparta Area School District’s Curriculum/Instruction, Co-Curriculars & Personnel Committee heard from band instructors Carrie Thompson and Hope Larson regarding purchasing new uniforms for the Sparta High School Marching Band. The band’s current uniforms were...

Sparta DECA members move on to International Conference

Thursday, April 15, 2021 - 11:58am

This week started the 2021 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC), which is being held virtually this year; prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was scheduled to be held in Anaheim, California. Wisconsin DECA hosted a Virtual District Conference back in January, which was...

The first flamingo flocking for SACS this year was along Franklin Street in Sparta. Contributed photo.

SACS’ Flock of Flamingos comes out of hibernation

Thursday, April 15, 2021 - 11:45am

Flamingos travel in flocks and during hard times, everyone could use a flock of supporters around them. After a cancer diagnosis, individuals will need even more support to help them through their cancer journey and for so many, Sparta Area Cancer Support (SACS) has been that flock. The...

Sparta firefighters mop up after battling a blaze on Jancing Avenue that destroyed a large pole shed last Thursday. Contributed photo

Pole shed destroyed in rural Sparta blaze

Monday, April 12, 2021 - 11:32am

A pole shed and thousands of dollars’ worth of farm equipment and vehicles were destroyed in an early morning blaze in the Town of Wells last Thursday, April 8. Sparta Area Fire District Chief Mike Arnold said his crew was called out to 10515 Jancing Ave. shortly after 1 a.m. When he arrived at...

The City of Sparta is looking for a buyer for its current Sparta Police Station at 121 E. Oak St., which will be vacated later this summer. Herald photo by Pat Mulvaney

Wanted: Buyer for old police station

Monday, April 12, 2021 - 11:30am

Now that the new Sparta Police Station is well on its way to completed by late summer in the former Lakeview Elementary School, the city is turning its attention to the present building that houses the police department. Last week, the Finance Committee agreed to put out requests for proposals (...

Marcus Cox and Brett Stuessel work together to stop a Memorial ball carrier in the first half of Friday’s game. Herald photo by Jameson Anderson.

Old Abes Quell Spartans' Momentum

Monday, April 12, 2021 - 11:10am

The Spartan defense didn’t have an answer for the Eau Claire Memorial offense in the second half this past Friday. The Spartans were taken down by Memorial 38-14. The Spartans were held scoreless going into the second quarter, but found a way to cut an early deficit with an aerial scoring strike....