October 21, 2020 $ 50 Vol. 10, No. 43 1 Per Copy 75¢ Delivered 715-538-4765 • 36435 Main St., Whitehall • www.trempcountytimes.com In Your Arcadia superintendent apologizes for posts Board hears By Andrew Dannehy politics and COVID-19, we I bet you also just bought Arcadia school board does Times… Times Editor are all seeing anxiety we have your child that toy so you not condone our superin- from angry Arcadia School District never seen in our lifetime.” wouldn’t have to have a tendent’s social media posts NEWS Superintendent Lance Bag- Some area residents had backbone and be a parent. about politics. In fact, we community stad issued an apology after voiced their displeasure You follow trump because find these comments divisive posts he made on his per- over posts in which Bagstad you have no backbone to and not acceptable from the sonal Facebook page were criticized President Donald stand up to his behavior leader of our school district.” members Bagstad’s apology and brought to the attention of the Trump and those who sup- and you won’t stand up to By Zac Bellman discussion relating the posts district’s board of education port him. your friends because you are Times Staff was limited to closed session, last week. In a post dated Sept. afraid they might be upset The Arcadia school board however the apology was The posts began to circu- 30, which was shared with with you. Again, be an adult heard just under 30 minutes shared with the Times: late throughout the area and the Times, Bagstad wrote: and have a backbone.” of public comments at their on social media last week, “Trump is a child. He is like In another post he wrote “Last week, I regretta- Page 2: regular meeting Monday Pilgrim’s to in- before a special meeting the kid in the toy isle (sic) “If you are blind enough to bly posted some comments night in regards to recent vest $230,000 in Arcadia was called on Wednesday, throwing a tantrum when he continue to support the clown related to the presidential social media postings by as part of new ‘Hometown in which Bagstad’s apology doesn’t get what he wants. in the White House right election on my personal their superintendent, Lance Strong’ initiative was accepted by the board in If you continue to support now, please unfriend me. I Facebook page. The com- Bagstad. Page 3: Threat brings closed session. him, you are simply being have no time for someone ments upset some individu- About one third of the caution about county unof- “I’m asking for calm,” controlled by a child. Think who continues to support als in the School District of approximately 30 audience ficial vote tally Paul Servais, board presi- for yourself. You might have a complete liar, racist and Arcadia community. members in attendance Page 4: Mill rate flat in dent, said. “We are in a highly to become a gown (sic) up. complete narcissist.” I am writing to apologize. voiced concerns ranging Arcadia School District politically charged environ- If you blindly follow trump On Monday, the board (continued on Page 4) from the content of the posts budget ment right now between and his childish behavior, issued a release saying “the themselves, to transparency in the discipline process. COURT Some outright called for Bag- Page 8: Criminal Court stad’s firing, or suggested the board would be held account- Page 9: Sheriff’s Log able for retaining Bagstad if SPORTS another issue arose. Those who did speak elicited nodding heads and affirmative remarks from many of those who did not, suggesting the majority of those in attendance took issue with the posts. The consensus of many who spoke were concerns of the example the incident set for the district. Some claimed they would be withdrawing future sup- port of the district, indicating Page 12: Norse football their trust in leadership was team rushes past Cardinals fractured. Bagstad acknowl- edged after the meeting that Page 13: WHS volleyball he would work to regain the team sweeps two more faith of the community. Page 14: G-E-T girls, The Wisconsin Army National Guard reported 70 tests were issued at the drive-through community testing site “I need to work to rebuild AHS’ Michalak first at held in Independence on Friday. There will be two more tests held at the same location — the Trempealeau County the trust by continuing to CC championship Healthcare Center Annex building — within the next month, one on Oct. 30 and the other on Nov. 13. focus on the good work that Page 15: Raider netters (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy) our staff and our students do split with Westby, G-E-T every single day, while always looking out for the best inter- OBITUARIES County sees third highest new case total est of the district,” Bagstad Page 11 By Andrew Dannehy the most new cases with 21, while Ar- between the ages of 30 and 39, 166. said. “I will work to rebuild Times Editor cadia had 19; Trempealeau, 12; Osseo, Of the first 511 cases, the health trust through my deeds and After a decrease two weeks ago, the 10; Galesville and Eleva/Strum nine; department reported that 57 percent actions as we move forward.” number of new COVID-19 cases in Independence, eight and Whitehall, had moderate symptoms, 29.9 percent School board president Trempealeau County has surged back four. Location information for the other showed mild, 5.7 percent were severe Paul Servais said the district up with 92 cases last week, according nine new cases was not available as of and 7.5 percent of the people who tested did not condone the political to the Wisconsin Department of Health press time. positive did not show any symptoms. posts, adding that they did Services. Of the 122 active cases the Trem- The health department reported one per- not represent the views of The number of new cases last week pealeau County Health Department son is currently hospitalized and there the district. He continued is the third-highest total on record in reported late last week, 35 were in have been two deaths in the county. by saying that disciplinary Trempealeau County and snapped what Arcadia, 15 were in Whitehall and Os- Last Friday was the first of three action, as is the case with had been a downward trend. The county seo, 13 in Trempealeau, 11 in Ettrick, community testing events held at the any district employee, would had seen a decrease of new cases in 10 in Blair and the rest were spread Trempealeau County Health Care Cen- remain confidential. the last few weeks, but there were 27 throughout the county. ter Annex in Independence, hosted by The district is pursuing so- more new cases last week than there The health department also reported the health department and the Wiscon- cial media etiquette training were two weeks ago. The percentage 13 new cases amongst school-aged sin Army National Guard. The National to be implemented district- of positive tests was not available as residents (ages five to 19). Of the 879 Guard reported that 70 tests were issued wide, and the drafting of so- local health departments are adjusting total positive tests, people between 20 that day. The next community test at that cial media policy guidelines to a new computer system. and 29 years old have had the most location will be held next week Friday for staff and administration The DHS reported the Blair area had positive tests, 197, followed by people with another scheduled for Nov. 13. going forward. Land & Home Realty LLC Dan Reit: Broker/ Owner/ Land Specialist • 210 East Main, Arcadia MOBILE: 608-484-1900 | [email protected] Page 2 Trempealeau County Times Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Trempealeau County Times Page 3 Pilgrim’s to Invest $230,000 in Arcadia as part of new ‘Hometown Strong’ initiative Threat brings caution about county unofficial vote tally Building on its ongoing determine projects that will the value Pilgrim’s brings The Pilgrim’s Arcadia has invested nearly $5 mil- the United States. Nation- By Debbie Foss authenticity of unofficial vote ing election systems. He said election vote counting would gained approval for an ap- “We’ll use this only if there sustainability and social have a lasting impact.” each day as an employer, production facility employs lion in capital improvements ally, the Hometown Strong Times Staff tallies. county employees should be proceed as usual and that plication that will help his has been a complaint and in responsibility efforts, Pil- “Businesses like Pil- business supporter and char- more than 470 people with an over the last three years. initiative is a $20 million The county’s director of “While both the county cautious with any email or unofficial results would likely department monitor county conjunction with the corpora- grim’s recently announced grim’s help make our com- itable giver all while being annual payroll of more than Pilgrim’s anchors doz- investment from Pilgrim’s, information technology called clerk and the IT department other communications that be posted in the early hours employees who are working tion counsel,” Robinson told plans to invest $230,000 munity strong and serve as one of the larger employers $23 million. The facility also ens of rural communities which is part of a $50 mil- on county employees to be are confident in the safety invite them to download of Nov. 4. Absentee ballots remotely, including the abil- member of the executive in Arcadia to support the an economic engine in this in the area, providing steady supports nearly 150 growers.