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Jessica Christianson

 Christianson Earns National Scholarship for Veterans Service Training

Jessica Christianson of the Dunn County Veterans Service Office was one of only 10 applicants selected nationwide to receive a scholarship to attend the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Service Officer Training Conference in Annapolis, Maryland. 

The training, held twice annually, gives VFW-accredited service officers and select representatives from other veterans service organizations and government agencies with the latest information on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies and procedures.  

Christianson said she needs 16 hours of continuing education a year. The VFW training involved learning the best practices for assisting veterans and their families with VA claims, appeals and benefits navigation, with the curriculum covering claim preparation, evidence development and updates to VA policy, allowing employees like Christianson to maintain access to federal VA systems. 

 “We got into more of the nuts and bolts, a deeper level, of what we assist veterans with in writing disability claims,” Christianson said, adding she was chosen from 40 applicants for the scholarship.  

Each county in Wisconsin has a Veterans Service Office to help veterans apply for all the benefits they are eligible for.  The training, Christianson said, gave attendees information on “how to properly present that claim to the VA and provide a good case and evidence ... so we are writing the best claims for folks. 

“I’m honored to be chosen for this opportunity,” Christianson continued. “This training will strengthen my ability to serve Dunn County’s veterans and ensure they receive the benefits they’ve earned.” 

Christianson said that as Veteran’s Day approaches, now is the time for all veterans in Dunn County to review what benefits they are receiving to determine if they are now eligible for additional assistance. 

“The most important thing is to at least learn what is out there for you,” Christianson said.  “Come in for a benefit overview and make informed decisions: Know what you are eligible for and how we can help you obtain those benefits.” 

To contact the Dunn County Veterans Service Office, visit https://www.co.dunn.wi.us/veterans or call (715) 232-1646. 

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 Fatal Structure Fire

On October 16, 2025 at approximately 12:53 PM, the Dunn County Communication Center received a call from an individual who advised of a structure fire at a residence with a person still trapped in the residence. The person had mobility issues and was unable to get out. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Elk Mound Fire Department responded to scene at E9099 570th Ave in the Township of Elk Mound, Dunn County, Wisconsin. 

The Dunn County Communications Center received another call from a delivery driver that was passing by. He reported that the house was fully engulfed in flames and he attempted to make entry but had to turn around due to the flames and smoke.

The residence was fully engulfed in fire upon the arrival of law enforcement and they were not able to make entry due to the flames. Elk Mound Fire Department along with Colfax Fire, Wheaton Fire, Eau Claire Township Fire, and Menomonie Fire Departments, worked for several hours to extinguish the fire. Colfax Ambulance along with Menomonie Ambulance, also responded to the scene.


Once the fire was out the body of a female was located in the residence. She was pronounced deceased by The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause and origin remains under investigation. The case remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Dunn County ME’s Office, and Elk Mound Fire.


Names will be not be released at this time pending notification of family.

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Christopher_Barr_(1)

 Motor Vehicle Thefts

On October 13th, 2025at 11:00 a.m. the Colfax Police Department assisted by the Sheriff’s Office was requested to check an address in the Village of Colfax for a vehicle stolen from Bloomer that was showing a GPS location in the village. The vehicle was located
unoccupied. A search of the area located no suspects. On October 14th, 20025 at approximately 10:27 a.m. a vehicle was reported as stolen from a business in Colfax to the Colfax Police Department. Shortly thereafter a Dunn County Deputy reviewed his in-car
camera records and observed the vehicle on CTH M at 10:07 a.m., before it had been reported stolen. A picture of the vehicle was shared with other deputies. At 11:04 a.m. a Dunn County Deputy observed the stolen vehicle on 670th Street just off STH 170 in the
Township of Tainter. The deputy followed the vehicle until additional deputies could respond. At 11:13 a.m. a traffic stop was conducted, and the operator of the vehicle was taken into custody without incident. The operator, identified as Christopher P. Barr, 31 of Colorado, was linked to the stolen vehicle from Bloomer. It was also discovered that he had broken into the Synergy Gas Station and a camper in Colfax the previous evening.


Chriostopher Barr has been charged in Dunn County with:
• WI SS 943.23(2) Take and drive vehicle without consent
• WI SS 943.10(1m)(a) Burglary

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  Dunn County Releases 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

The Dunn County Health Department has released its 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This report outlines the goals and strategies that the Health Dunn Right Coalition action teams will take to improve the top health priorities for community members.

What is the CHIP?

Every three years, Health Departments are required to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to identify the top health priorities. After this assessment, departments are required to create a Community Health Improvement Plan to address those priorities before the next one. The most recent CHNA & CHIP can be found at https://dunncountywi.gov/healthdepartment

The action teams will work to accomplish the following goals in the next 3 years:

Childcare:

  • Improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of childcare for Dunn County families.

Healthy Environments:

  • Provide Dunn County residents with information and resources to make environmentally conscious decisions.

Access to Mental Health Care:

  • Improve the overall mental health, well-being, and access to mental health care for Dunn County residents.

Housing:

  • Form and advance local partnerships, initiatives, and programs to develop safe, affordable, quality housing options for all Dunn County residents.

For more updates and information, you can follow the Dunn County Health Department on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunncountyhealth or check out our website: https://dunncountywi.gov/healthdepartment

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  Dunn County launches Park Power Up initiative to spiff up all parks

Visitors to Dunn County parks this summer might have noticed the facilities have more sheen: The county this year launched the Park Power Up initiative to restore and maintain county parks while building teamwork among county staff.
 
The program began after officials noticed that many parks needed attention, said Austin Witt, county Facilities, Parks and Transit Director; each month, county employees go to a county park and do whatever is needed to improve the facility.
 
“We saw a need and a way to spruce them up without going overboard on employee hours or resources,” Witt said. “It started as a way to bring our facilities team together and focus on improving one park each month.”
 
Witt added: “The whole idea was to create a steady, manageable way to give our parks the care they needed while also building a sense of teamwork and pride among everyone involved.”
 
So far, crews have worked at the Russian Slough, Champney Park and Pine View Park. About 10 more parks remain, with the county aiming to complete them within 12 to 18 months.
 
Witt said the work typically includes pressure washing pavilions and picnic tables, treating concrete surfaces, trimming brush to restore views, repainting structures and replacing grills “that brings new life to the parks and makes them more inviting for visitors.
 
“We’re pacing ourselves to get through all the parks roughly within a year to a year and a half,” Witt said. “This schedule helps us make sure we’re giving each park the attention it needs without overwhelming our team or the budget.”
 
Funding comes from savings on supply orders, staffing adjustments and the county’s parks budget, Witt said, adding, “Overall, it's a combination of being resourceful and making the most of the budget we have."
 
Participation has included facilities, maintenance, custodial and office staff. Witt said the county is open to involving other departments or community groups in the future.
 
“We're always looking at ways to expand participation as we move forward with this initiative,” he said.
 
The biggest impact, Witt said, has been the pride and teamwork the effort has created, as well as the community response.
 
“It’s been really rewarding to see everyone come together,” Witt said. “The parks look better, but just as importantly, our team feels stronger, and the community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
 
More information is available at dunncountywi.gov/parks.
Park Power Up at a Glance
  • Launched by: Dunn County Facilities, Parks & Transit Department
  • Director: Austin Witt
  • Purpose: Restore and maintain county parks through monthly workdays, while fostering teamwork among staff and volunteers
  • Parks completed: Russian Slough, Champney Park, Pine View Park
  • Parks remaining: About 10
  • Timeline: One park per month during good weather; estimated 12–18 months to complete all
Typical work:
  • Pressure washing pavilions and picnic tables
  • Treating concrete surfaces
  • Trimming brush and overgrowth
  • Repainting structures
  • Replacing rusted grills
  • Replacing
Funding sources:
  • Savings on supply orders
  • Staffing adjustments
  • County parks budget
 
Participants so far: Facilities, maintenance, custodial and office staff; potential for community volunteers in the future
 
Biggest impact: Cleaner, safer parks and stronger teamwork among county employees
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 Dunn County follows through on pledge, improves more roads in 2025

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved additional money in 2024 to begin an accelerated road improvement project, and it paid off in 2025, county officials said.
Dustin Binder, Dunn County Highway Commissioner, said his department completed 16.07 miles of Highway improvements in 2025, a 31 percent increase from the 12.28 miles completed in 2024 and a far cry from the 8.18 miles completed in 2021 and 10.68 miles in 2022.
 
“The County Board decided to bond extra funds for highway maintenance because we were falling behind,” Binder said. “Roads have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and we want to get county roads as close to that replacement schedule as possible.”
Binder added: “We have done more road construction projects than we normally completed to get on 20- to 25-year replacement cycle. That is the ultimate goal.”
 
Three of the higher profile 2025 projects were a reconstruction project on Highway D from 420th St. to Highway K in Irvington; a reconstruction project on Highway D from Highway 25 to 816th Avenue in Tainter; as well as pavement replacement on Highway BB from Highway 12 to Highway 25.
 
Other projects completed were: Highway S (STH 170 to Highway N) 1.65 miles, pavement replacement; Highway G (Highway D to STH 25) 3.04 miles, pavement replacement; Highway Y (STH 25 to 350th St.) 1.76 miles, pavement replacement; ; Highway J (510th Ave. to 410th Ave.) 3.07 miles, reconditioning; Highway G (Highway BB to Highway D) 0.75 miles, reconditioning.
 
Binder said the County Board will be asked to support improving nearly 17 miles of county roads in 2026. The county has a total of 425 miles of roads, and it costs approximately $150,000 to resurface a mile of roadway, while pavement replacement costs $250,000-$300,000 a mile. The lifespan for resurfaced road is eight to 10 years; pavement replacing, 20 years; reconditioning, 20 to 25 years; and reconstruction, 20 to 25 years.
 
“We have had a lot of support from the County Board and administration,” Binder said. “They are willing to invest in road improvements.”
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