Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is commemorating the 40th anniversary of its incorporation, which took place on December 26, 1978. A celebration was held at the System Services Center in Springfield, Ill. on January 22, 2019 to recognize the vision and leadership of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis and the historic milestone for the system. 
 
On February 6 at UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Rose-Marie Avin was presented with the university's 2019 MLK Social Justice Award. This award recognizes a campus community member who has demonstrated an exceptional ability to advocate for underserved and underrepresented groups and who leads, organizes and engages the community in the difficult work of equity, diversity and inclusion through their voice, vision and actions.
Avin, professor of economics and director of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, has focused her career efforts on amplifying the voices of women, particularly those living in poverty in the developing world.
 
For the fifth year, Mayo Clinic Health System will offer its Hometown Health Grant program to help improve the health of communities in northwest Wisconsin. The grant application is open to nonprofit organizations in Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pierce, St. Croix and Trempealeau counties.  Last year, $205,000 was issued in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations.

The Hometown Health Grant program supports innovative efforts to improve mental health, prevent obesity, reduce chronic disease, and address substance use and alcohol misuse. Recipients are eligible to receive up to a maximum of $25,000. Grant funding can be used to launch new projects or improve existing projects.
 
Prevea Health has announced the addition of Dr. James Herron, an internal medicine physician at the Prevea Chippewa Falls Health Center.  Dr. Herron specializes in routine care for adults, as well as preventive medicine and medication management. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.  Dr. Herron is one of three internal medicine providers at Prevea Health in the Chippewa Valley region.   
 
The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $2.5 million grant to Chippewa Valley Technical College as the lead institution on an open textbook pilot project in which all 16 Wisconsin technical colleges will take part. CVTC partnered with Gateway, Northeast and Madison Area technical colleges in developing the proposal, with all playing major roles.
 
Over the four-year grant period, faculty from the four partnering technical colleges will create and review open educational resources, including open textbooks, for WTCS nursing programs across the state. The grant will help alleviate rising textbook costs, which can be a barrier to student success. The materials developed will eliminate the need for students to purchase textbooks for certain courses.
 
An estimated 6,100 students will benefit from reduced textbook costs in hundreds of nursing course sections statewide, with an average cost savings of almost $700 per student. On average, WTCS students spend over $1,300 on textbooks throughout a two-year associate degree program. 
 
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital has recently been awarded three-year accreditation renewals by the American College of Radiology (ACR), for the hospital’s digital mammography program and tomosynthesis mammography program. Mammography is a specific type of imaging test that uses a low-dose X-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report that can be used for continuous practice improvement.
 
 

​Congratulations to Northstar Middle School for utilizing your referendum dollars to improve the safety features of your building as well as changing the location of the office so you can have a better view of the main entry. #safetyfirst — at Northstar Middle School.

Dennis Beale’s commitment to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students of color is impacting their success in college and beyond. In recognition of his work, Beale, the assistant director of the university’s Blugold Beginnings program, will be recognized Feb. 8 with a UW System Board of Regents 2019 Diversity Award.

This is the third year in a row that a UW-Eau Claire individual or team has received a Regents Diversity Award. Up to three are awarded annually from around the UW System. Beale will receive the $5,000 award during the regents meeting in Madison. The honor, as described in Beale’s award notification letter, recognizes “institutional change agents who have had a significant impact in promoting equity in educational outcomes for historically underrepresented student populations.”
 
Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Shawn Dachel Branch Manager at the Moholt office in Eau Claire, WI. His responsibilities will include ensuring the branch meets financial, operational, and growth goals, as well as overseeing daily actions. In addition, Dachel will work with his team to provide an exceptional experience for Royal Members.
 
Dachel comes to Royal with nearly eight years of experience in the financial industry. Starting as a part-time teller, Dachel worked his way up to the role of branch manager. Dachel earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Applied Mathematics. 
 
UW-Eau Claire will take part in a two-year national study of academic advising set to establish institutional benchmarks to evaluate and improve academic advising, and acknowledge the central role of these services in student success.  UW-Eau Claire is committed to supporting students through a holistic approach to advising, and their unique academic advising model has earned their selection as the only Midwest university to participate in a national program aimed at furthering excellence in academic advising.

The “Excellence in Academic Advising Project” is sponsored by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising and the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. The Gardner Institute has earned a reputation of being at the forefront of evidence-based strategic planning for student success and change management in higher education.
 
At a ceremony held earlier this month at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, a registered nurse was honored for the extraordinary, compassionate care he provides daily in his role. Russell Sciandra, a registered nurse in the hospital’s orthosurgical department, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®. Sciandra, who has served at the hospital for 13 years, was nominated by the sister of one of his patients. 

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has moved up in its ranking among the top U.S. master’s universities for its number of students who receive Fulbright grants through the U.S Department of State’s prestigious international educational exchange program.
​
In the 2018-19 Fulbright top-producer list, UW-Eau Claire is tied for fourth among all public and private U.S. universities that offer master’s degrees. This is the first year UW-Eau Claire has broken into the top five in its category. In 2017, the last year in which UW-Eau Claire was a top producer, it was tied for 15th. The Fulbright Program’s top-producing universities were announced Feb. 11 and published in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
 

Several employees at Security Financial Bank were recently honored with a Lifetime Service Award from the Wisconsin Bankers Association. The award recognizes bankers who have completed at least 30 years of service in the industry. The following SFB staff members were recipients: Marcia Berger, Durand location; Mary Berger, Eau Claire Corporate; Cheryl Carter, Ladysmith; Cindy Koller, Durand; Laurae Mallionson, Ladysmith; Jean Marcon, Ladysmith; Faye Owen, Durand; Paul Rudersdorf, Eau Claire Corporate; and Julie Sabelko, Eau Claire Corporate.
 
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned renewed accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for a period of three years for the hospital’s comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program andcomprehensive stroke specialty program. This means that both programs continue to meet the highest industry standards possible – ensuring risk reduction, accountability and the best possible patient outcomes. 
 
Public libraries have always offered free access to information and entertainment, and as the digital age introduces more options, the library is keeping pace. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire offers an extraordinary selection of fee-free digital media services to cardholders. Stream or download e-books, audiobooks, magazines, music, or video from nearly any device: anytime, anywhere. Check out www.ecpubliclibrary.info/digital for more information on digital media resources including: hoopla, freegal music, Freading, Overdrive, and Flipster.
 
Melissa Peterson has joined Merchants Bank as Vice President/Commercial Banker, according to Larry Accola, Market President for Merchants Bank in Eau Claire. 

“Melissa’s unique background in both banking and accounting will provide a beneficial perspective for our business clients,” said Accola. “She’s committed to working with businesses and understands the many unique financial challenges they face.” 

Peterson has more than 20 years experience in the financial industry, including 10 years in banking. She was most recently the President for First Security Bank in Detroit Lakes. Peterson is a Certified Public Accountant and also a former Chief Financial Officer. 

“My background enables me to bring a lot of value to my business customers and truly be a partner in meeting their financial needs. Part of the reason I chose to join Merchants is their unique community banking philosophy and the importance they place on building relationships with customers,” said Peterson.   

Peterson has a Master of Business Administration in Accounting. She and her husband, Paul, and their son will be relocating to the Eau Claire area. 

The Merchants Bank Commercial Lending team is comprised of more than 40 local experts, available throughout our regional footprint. In addition to traditional commercial loans, Merchants bankers specialize in SBA loans, floor plan financing and equipment lease financing and ag banking. As a regional banking leader, Merchants can assist businesses of any size with their business financing needs, including Cash Management services. 

Merchants Bank has 21 locations, including Wisconsin locations in Eau Claire and Onalaska and Minnesota locations in Winona, Goodview, St. Charles, Rochester, Caledonia, La Crescent, Spring Grove, Rushford, Lanesboro, Red Wing, Cannon Falls, Hampton as well as Twin Cities locations in Lakeville, Apple Valley, Cottage Grove, Hastings and Rosemount. Merchants Bank was founded in 1875. All banks are Equal Housing Lenders and Member FDIC. Merchants Bank Equipment Finance, the company’s leasing arm, is based in the Twin Cities. 
 

​

Congratulations to Lakeshore Elementary on the renovated entryway to increase school safety!

Congratulations to Justin and all the folks at Stone Countertop Outlet on their beautiful new location at 3445 E Hamilton Avenue.  

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the recent renovations to Manz Elementary.

The best in community banking from a local institution.  Making More Possible.  

At CCFBank, we strive to:

• Make more possible for our customers by developing personal relationships and meeting your financial objectives;
• be your trustworthy partner to provide financial products and solutions;
• provide financial education for the communities we serve.

United Bank is merging with CCFBank.  The combined organization will make your banking experience even better.  

​WNB Financial was recently recognized by The Minnesota Bankers Association (MBA) for their community involvement. To honor and recognize their involvement, the MBA created the Community Champion recognition program. WNB Financial is one of thirty-five Community Champions that worked with hundreds of organizations in their communities, providing funding, volunteers, materials, supplies, or food for their neighbors. Recipients of the recognition range in size from small community banks to large banks with multiple branches.
 
WNB Financial has announced Erica Jerowski, Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, as the recipient of its 2018 fourth quarter Community PRIDE Award. Awarded quarterly by the Bank’s Public Relations Committee, Community PRIDE Awards recognize WNB employees for exceptional volunteer service to programs, organizations, and initiatives that contribute to the strength and vitality of the communities served. This includes volunteering efforts made during and outside of work hours.
 
The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees was presented with the final report of the Campaign Readiness Study to assess the strategy and feasibility of raising $11.5M in private funds for its proposed $23M library expansion project at their regular meeting on Thursday, January 17.  The study, led by Crescendo Fundraising Professionals, LLC, identified philanthropic interest and capacity, the area’s financial climate, volunteer leadership interest, and the importance community residents place on the expansion to continue improving area quality of life. The Campaign Readiness Report features feedback from a public survey as well as insight by community stakeholders. The full report, executive summary, and information on the preceding Building Feasibility Study & Space Needs Analysis report are available online at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/building.

 It's fur'real, a lot of doggone fun was had at the ribbon cutting to celebrate Paws and Claws new doggie daycare!