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From left, Martha Airth-Kindree, Rebecca Deist, and Renee Stroh stand together outside Bluff & Ridge, an equine-assisted therapy organization in Tomah. The nonprofit provides equine-assisted therapy to children and adults with physical, emotional and mental challenges.  Photo by Bluff & Ridge Equine Assisted Therapies Inc.

Healing Strides

For Rebecca Deist, Martha Airth-Kindree, and Renee Stroh, horses aren't just a casual hobby. The trio has combined their backgrounds in teaching and medicine with their shared love of horses to …

Tomah Resident Backs Local Blood Drive

Chad Madson knows the importance of giving blood. The Tomah resident and owner of The Breakroom Sports Bar & Grill in Tomah decided to support the cause and donate blood Sept. 17 during a two-day …

THE SPARTAN NEWSPAPER: Looking forward is exciting

The time I have thought about since I walked into the school as a freshman has finally come. I am a senior in high school and in less than 9 months I will be walking across the stage with a diploma …

THE SPARTAN NEWSPAPER: A mix of emotions

In preschool, many of us cried when separating from our parents for the first time, walking through a door that marked the beginning of a fifteen-year story, with new chapters every day. Those …

Looking back: This week in History

130 Years Ago (1896) W.H. Leverich exhibits the rare phenomenon of strawberries growing to a first-class size and quality as late as October – something we doubt has occurred before. 120 …

State wildlife expert to talk deer in the Driftless at October 7th CCCWC Meeting

As deer season gets underway in Western Wisconsin, wildlife biologist Scott Craven underscored the importance of the hunt not only for the state’s economy and culture, but for the critical role …
Obituaries
Jennifer Lee Prissel
Jennifer Lee (Williams) Prissel, of Zebulon, North Carolina, and formerly of Tomah, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. A Celebration of Life will …
Mack Clarence Frye
Mack Clarence Frye (formerly known as Clarence LeRoy Frye), 71, of Winona, passed away peacefully at his home in Winona, MN. Mack was born on April 24, 1955, to Kathryn (Bollin) and Ernest Frye …
Richard E. Steen
Richard “Rick” E. Steen, 74, of Tomah, and formally of Camp Douglas, died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Tomah Nursing and Rehab Center. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, …
Robert L. Andersen
BLACK RIVER FALLS - Robert “Bob” Louis Andersen, 90, of Black River Falls, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Black River Health Center, in Black River. He was born on October 21, …
Julia A. Smith
CATARACT - Julia A. Smith, 89 of Cataract, passed away Thursday, October 1, 2026 at her home. She was born on September 3, 1937 in Woodstock, IL to Clarence and Rose Marie (Stone) Shaffer. She grew …
Michelle M. Moore
Michelle M. Moore, 59, of Sparta, died Friday, October 2, 2026 at UW Health University Hospital in Madison. She was born on September 13, 1967 in   Sparta to Michael and Lillian (Kelley) Guy. …
Sports
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VOLLEYBALL: Sparta earns back-to-back MVC wins

Sparta’s Addie Kent posted a team-high 27 digs during the Spartans’ win over Aquinas on Tuesday.
With playoffs fast approaching, the Spartans took their opportunity to move up the Mississippi Valley Conference standings with two clutch wins earlier this week. The Spartans (12-13, 4-5 MVC) …
Tomah freshman Gavin Garvin blasts a shot past the outstretched leg of Sparta junior Pearce Mathison during last week’s renewal of their rivalry.
Spartans sink Tomah on late goal
With the final minutes of the game winding down, it looked like Sparta and Tomah were headed toward a scoreless draw in the latest edition of their rivalry on the pitch. Axel Botello Quintero had …
Bangor secures share of SBC title
Thanks to a perfect storm of results, the Bangor volleyball team heads into the final week of the regular season having already clinched at least a share of the Scenic Bluffs title. During a …
Bangor pulls away from Falcons
Locked in a close game at halftime, Bangor asserted total control over the final 24 minutes to race past Brookwood and further solidify their playoff positioning. The Cardinals (4-4, 4-2 SBC) …
Tomah bounces back with a conference sweep
After dropping the last three Mississippi Valley Conference matchups, Tomah bounced back with a dominant sweep. The Timberwolves (17-13, 4-6 MVC) put aside the La Crosse Logan Rangers (3-19, …
Tomah senior Kian Vernon had four catches for 78 yards in the Timberwolves’ Week 8 loss to Onalaska.
Tomah remains winless after loss to Onalaska
After starting the season 0-7 Tomah looked to get their first win of the season, but Onalaska kept them winless in Mississippi Valley Conference play. The Hilltoppers (4-4, 3-3 MVC) put away the …
Tomah junior Klara Hall chases down a return during a match at last week’s D1 subsectional meet at La Crosse’s Green Island Tennis Courts.
Tomah doubles teams bow out at sectionals
A pair of Tomah doubles teams earned themselves berths at sectionals with a chance to make it to Madison for the state girls tennis tournament, but both duos came up a little short of achieving that …
Business

A new name, and familiar faces

Wayne Butterfield could have walked away. After nearly four decades in printing, he had plenty of experience and other work to keep him busy. But there were customers to think about. Employees, …

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