UW-Eau Claire student Julie Lilla recently
took second in the Junior National Curling
Championships.

UWEC CURLER GETS SILVER IN JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Even though it hasn’t been very cold this winter, UW-Eau Claire junior Julie Lilla has still been hot on the ice as part of a nationally recognized curling team. Lilla is a member of the Minnesota 1 curling team, which took second place at the Junior Women’s Curling National Championships in Minneapolis on February 4. Lilla and her team are a part of Project 2018, which hopes to groom young curlers into Olympians by the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. According to a UW-Eau Claire press release, Lilla isn’t banking on the Olympics, but it’s not out of the question.

THREE VIE FOR MAYORAL CROWN IN ALTOONA

In the upcoming race for mayor, Altoona residents have a wide variety of candidates to choose from. Currently in the running are: Ray Henning, a current council member who is also a retired postal worker and current owner of Golden Spike Awards & Gifts; Charles Wysocky, a retired Altoona police officer and investigator and current H&R Block employee; and Jack Blackburn, a retired 3M engineer who currently writes the newsletter People Across Altoona, and occasionally works as a consultant. Incumbent Mayor William Spangler will not be in the running. The primary election, held on Tuesday, February 21, will serve to limit the number of candidates from three to two. The general election will be held on Tuesday, April 3.

BIRDS, SMALL MAMMALS MAY ENJOY NEW DIGS AT IRVINE ZOO

The Chippewa Valley’s beloved Irvine Park Zoo is in the process of drawing up plans for a possible new building for the small mammals and birds exhibit. The new building would feature large glass windows and skylights, creating a better viewing experience for zoo visitors. Possibly multi-purpose, the new building could also function as a welcome center and an Irvine Park museum of sorts. In line with the past several exhibits that have been constructed at Irvine Park, the new exhibit would not be using funds from the City of Chippewa Falls to cover the costs of construction. Rather, it would be funded completely by grants and private donations. Currently in the planning stages, the park does not yet have a timeline for the project.