Small Street Journal: January 29, 2021

1/29/2021

**Chippewa Valley Book Festival Hosts Virtual Event with New York Times Bestselling Author Brit Bennett**

For the first time in 21 years the Chippewa Valley Book Festival will be bringing authors to our community on a virtual stage. Registration is now open for a virtual event on Friday, February 12, with award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Brit Bennett as she discusses her blockbuster novel, The Vanishing Half.

Moderated by Allyson Loomis, Associate Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the program will include a casual conversation with Bennett as well as a question-and-answer segment allowing for audience participation. This FREE event requires registration. Learn more at www.cvbookfest.org/festival-events/bennett.
Winner of the 2020 Goodreads Historical Fiction Award, #1 New York Times Best Seller, and one of Barack Obama’s favorite reads of 2020, The Vanishing Half is an emotional family story about African American identical twin sisters in the 1950s and ‘60s. One passes for white and moves to California while the other returns to her tiny southern community to raise her dark-skinned daughter. The Vanishing Half touches on themes of race, class, family, gender, community, love, and the cost of secrets. HBO also recently purchased the rights to develop The Vanishing Half into a limited series with Bennett as an executive producer.

The February 12 event featuring Brit Bennett, is one of two virtual events hosted by the Chippewa Valley Book Festival this winter. Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life, will be taking the virtual stage on Friday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m. CST. More details about that event can be found at www.cvbookfest.org/festival-events/taylor.

Author photos, book jacket graphics, social media graphics, as well as Chippewa Valley Book Festival logos can be found at: www.cvbookfest.com/media

The Chippewa Valley Book Festival partners with the Pablo Center at the Confluence, and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Foundation to provide literary programming for all Chippewa Valley residents

UWEC News

Billy Felz named interim vice chancellor for enrollment management

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt announced today that Billy Felz has been named interim vice chancellor for enrollment management. The two-year appointment is effective Jan. 25.

Felz has worked as the executive director for enrollment management, the special assistant for the vice chancellor of enrollment management and the executive director of the Advising, Retention and Career Center (ARCC) prior to taking on his current role.

“Since March, Billy has overseen our Admissions, ARCC, Barron County director and Blugold Central student service functions. During that time he has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing our recruitment and retention efforts at our UW-Eau Claire campuses,” Chancellor Schmidt says.

“Our planning for 2025 calls for a clear focus on enrollment, and under Billy’s watch we have seen applications increase by more than 50%. I am confident that Billy will bring the vision and leadership needed to support and guide the Enrollment Management division and to serve our students well.”

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Nursing research team educates teens and young adults about dangers of vaping

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated concerns about the significant number of teens and young adults who vape, with early reports showing that the coronavirus poses a greater danger to young people who use the products than to their non-vaping peers.

With that in mind, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire nursing faculty-student research team is leading an effort to educate young people and the adults who interact with them about the effects and dangers of devices like vapes and e-cigarettes.

“Preliminary reports are finding that young people who had used e-cigarettes are five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than never-users,” says Lindsey Boehm, a senior nursing major from Eau Claire. “It’s critical for young people and others to understand the dangers associated with vaping.”

Boehm and Dr. Lorraine Smith, assistant professor of nursing, are leading a project titled “Implementing an Educational Initiative on Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping: A Nurse Led Intervention.”

Their work builds on an initiative that Dr. Diane Marcyjanik, a nursing professor who passed away in April 2020, and her students began two years ago, shortly after vaping was deemed a national public health epidemic among teens and young adults.

The original project focused on educating school staff about electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) such as vape pens and electronic cigarettes. Before COVID-19, Marcyjanik and her students presented their research to more than 100 middle and high school staff members in Wisconsin.

Smith and Boehm are continuing their work, though adjusting their focus because of the pandemic.

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UW-Eau Claire expert says suicide is not just a behavioral health issue

Anyone can become suicidal, not just patients with mental health issues, and most are looking for help, says Dr. Jennifer Muehlenkamp, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire psychology professor and nationally recognized expert on self-injury and suicide during a recent presentation at Mayo Clinic Health System Northwest Wisconsin Academic Grand Rounds.

"Most people want their suffering to end, not their lives," says Muehlenkamp, who is director of UW-Eau Claire’s Suicide Prevention and Awareness Research Collaborative. “They want to find a way to live but their hope is starting to fade away.”

During the Academic Grand Rounds presentation titled "Preventing Patient Suicide: A Guide for Providers," Muehlenkamp said health care professionals need foundational knowledge to detect risk factors in an effort to help prevent suicide.

The Academic Grand Rounds virtual presentation was a vehicle to showcase what is coming from the master collaborative research agreement between Mayo Clinic Health System and UW-Eau Claire, says Dr. Andrew Calvin, a cardiovascular medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and Bloomer who helped coordinate the presentation.

The research agreement is intended to increase opportunities for research collaboration between the institutions, provide new learning opportunities for UW-Eau Claire students and improve the health and wellness of the community.

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COVID-19 tests available to community at UW-Eau Claire beginning Feb. 2

Free rapid-response COVID-19 surge testing will be available to the community in February on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus.

The community surge testing, which was conducted at Memorial High School the past two months, will now take place at Zorn Arena on UW-Eau Claire’s lower campus. Antigen testing for UW-Eau Claire faculty, staff and students is also being conducted at Zorn Arena, but community members will be tested at different times than the campus community.

The surge antigen testing is for people without COVID-19 symptoms and will be available to the community on Tuesdays and weekends in February. The first testing window for the community will be from 4:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2. On weekends in February, the testing will be available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We are excited to be able to offer this testing to the community again in February,” says Grace Crickette, vice chancellor for finance and administration at UW-Eau Claire. “We have put an excellent system in place at Zorn Arena, and we will be able to help thousands of people monitor their health as we work to stop the spread of the virus in the community.”

The antigen tests are possible thanks to the University of Wisconsin System’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 140,000 BinaxNOW tests will be available to residents across the state at UW System campuses this spring. Confirmatory PCR tests will also be available at the sites.

Antigen testing will also be available to the Rice Lake community on the UW-Eau Claire – Barron County campus on Tuesdays in February. Beginning, Feb. 2, the testing will be conducted from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesdays in the university gym at UWEC-BC.

Members of the community can register for antigen testing by going to www.doineedacovid19test.com and setting up an account.

Community members coming to campus for testing are encouraged to park in the Hibbard Parking Lot, just west of State Street. Visitors can park in any available "F," "COVID-19 Testing" or ADA-designated parking stall after 3 p.m. Parking is available in "G" designated parking stalls after 6 p.m. No permits or payment are required in "AMP Timed Parking" zones during weekends.

Individuals are asked to bring a smartphone capable of accessing their email account when they visit Zorn Arena for a scheduled test.

Registration Open for Rock the Riverfront Featuring the Charity Classic

Registration Open for Rock the Riverfront Featuring the Charity Classic | Royal Credit Union (rcu.org)

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Registration is open for the RCU Foundation Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic. The event will celebrate 27 years of running and walking to support organizations that make a difference in the communities that Royal Credit Union (Royal) serves. Proceeds from the event will benefit three partner charities: The Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild in Eau Claire and Northern Star Theatre Company in Rice Lake. Arts organizations were the first to close their doors at the start of the global pandemic and will likely be the last to reopen. This partnership will help these groups operate during this time of great need. Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic is raising the curtain, supporting the arts, and letting you set the stage for your own adventure! Registration for this virtual event will be open through June 26 with special early bird pricing ending on April 4. Participants can run or walk the 10K or 2 mile routes and youth can take part in a 1/2 mile course anytime between June 5 and June 28. Registration details are available at www.rcu.org/race. The first 100 people to register will receive an exclusive Rock the Riverfront 23-ounce stainless steel water bottle valued at $25. Two registration box options are available starting at only $35 for adults and $15 for youth. The Classic Race Box includes an event t-shirt, a finisher medal, a race bib, a charity vote, and results posting; Royal Race Box includes everything from the Classic Box plus exclusive Rock the Riverfront sunglasses and extra goodies. Every registration includes a free charity vote and additional votes can be purchased at $2 each. The charity with the most votes will receive $15,000, second place will receive $7,500, and third will receive $5,000.

Course maps will be available at www.rcu.org/race for those interested in running the traditional 2 mile or 10K or ½ mile routes. We have partnered with RunSignUp and the RaceJoy app for an enhanced registration and race experience. Racers will be given the option to record their time online to qualify for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards in their age group. Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic offers beautiful running routes and the opportunity to benefit three organizations that are making a positive impact in our communities. Even non-runners can participate in activities like the Rock Hunt, Chalk your Walk, and a Coloring Contest as a way to support the RCU Foundation and the charities it has committed to help in 2021. Find all the details for these activities at www.rcu.org/race.

About RCU FoundationThe RCU Foundation (Foundation) was established in 2012 to support organizations and initiatives in communities where Royal Credit Union operates in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. The Foundation focuses on large-scale, capital projects that help build community and create the spaces where people come together. Focus areas include education, health, and the arts. The Foundation hosts the annual Rock the Riverfront-Charity Classic event in Eau Claire. Currently, it has awarded more than $4 million in grants. Contact foundation@rcu.org for more information.

About Royal Credit Union
Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 230,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. Realtors in the state of Wisconsin or Minnesota are also eligible to join the credit union. Visit rcu.org or call Royal Credit Union at 800-341-9911 for more information.

Now in Menomonie: Prevea Pediatrics
At the Prevea Menomonie Health Center

Menomonie – Prevea Pediatrics is now in Menomonie at the Prevea Menomonie Health Center, 2919 Stout Rd.

Allison Schneider, MD, FAAP, joins the team of family medicine providers that also provide care to children at the Prevea Menomonie Health Center. Dr. Schneider is a board-certified pediatrician specializing in routine care for children ages newborn to 18, well-child visits, immunizations, sick visits and sports physicals.

“As a pediatrician, I am part of a team with not only the patient, but also the parents or caregivers,” says Dr. Schneider. “My goal is to educate the patient and family so they can stay safe and healthy. I have a strong belief in preventive medicine and enjoy working together to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle.”

Appointments with Dr. Schneider at the Prevea Menomonie Health Center can be made online at www.prevea.com or by calling (715) 717-6850. Dr. Schneider also sees patients at the Prevea Altoona Medical Office Building, 3119 Woodman Dr. in Altoona.

About Prevea Health
Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly-coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital

Impact of Pandemic On Economy of Western Wisconsin On “The West Side” Jan. 29

Eau Claire, Wis. – The current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on western Wisconsin’s economy will be the focus at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 on “The West Side” on The Ideas Network stations of Wisconsin Public Radio 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls.

Host Dean Kallenbach will welcome Ron Wirtz, regional outreach director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, who will share preliminary insights from a just-completed survey of business conditions in the six-state region that includes western Wisconsin. Also joining the show will be three western Wisconsin-based specialists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension: Melissa Kono, associate professor and community development educator for Trempealeau and Clark Counties; Katie Wantoch, associate professor and agriculture agent for Dunn County; and Katie Bartko, FoodWise nutrition coordinator for Polk, Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

“The West Side” is broadcast each Friday at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network stations 88.3 WHWC-FM Menomonie/Eau Claire and 88.7 WRFW-FM River Falls and via an online live stream on 88.7 WRFW-FM via wrfw887.com/listen-live.html. Listeners may call in with questions and comments during the program at (800) 228-5615. Archives of “The West Side” are available at wpr.org/programs/west-side.

About Wisconsin Public Radio
For more than 100 years, Wisconsin Public Radio has served the people of Wisconsin with quality news, music, talk and entertainment. On air, online and in the community – we work for Wisconsin. WPR is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Listen, learn more and donate online at wpr.org.

CVTC to Begin Spring Semester Wednesday

Eau Claire, WI – Chippewa Valley Technical College will begin the spring semester tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 27, after a slight delay due to a network outage last week.

The spring semester, which was originally scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 25, is a busy time of the academic year at CVTC. The semester culminates May 21 with a commencement ceremony in which over 750 students typically graduate, with Nursing-Associate Degree, Business Management and Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement among the largest programs.

The same precautions implemented in the fall semester to protect the health and safety of students and staff will continue in the new semester, including broader use of online delivery methods. This semester, approximately 42 percent of CVTC courses will be held face-to-face and 29 percent online. The other 29 percent of courses are delivered in a blended or hybrid model where the delivery of content is provided partially in an online format while labs and scheduled meeting times are conducted face-to-face with the instructor.

Since the disruption last week, CVTC teams have been working to restore the systems necessary to provide instruction and student support services. New and continuing CVTC students that have outstanding registration or support needs are encouraged to contact the Student Central team at 715-833-6200 or studentcentral@cvtc.edu to prepare them for their courses.

Royal Credit Union Announces Development Opportunities

Eau Claire, WI – Royal Credit Union (Royal) announced today it has purchased land at the intersection of Blazing Star Boulevard and River Prairie Drive in Altoona, Wisconsin. The property is adjacent to Woodman’s Gas & Lube Center. Royal will convert its current Eau Claire North Office on Birch Street to a mortgage operations center and relocate retail office operations for the area to a new nearby Altoona Office location. In addition, Royal has purchased property at 317 North Barstow Street in Eau Claire. Retail office operations currently conducted at Royal’s Eau Claire Downtown Office on Bellinger Street will be relocated to the Barstow Street location when construction is complete. The development timeline is still being determined for both locations and construction plans are in the preliminary discussion stage.

“We are committed to providing value to our Members by offering convenience and highly competitive products and services,” said Brandon Riechers, President & CEO of Royal Credit Union. “The purchase of the Barstow and River Prairie properties offers Royal the opportunity to expand our reach and increase service options for Members who are seeking meaningful in-person interactions. Coupled with our continued investment in providing the best mobile and digital banking experience, Royal is dedicated to serving our Members digitally and in person through our retail office network.”

Altoona’s focus on commercial and residential development in the River Prairie area has created a new opportunity to connect with consumers. Royal looks forward to the prospect of having a presence in this corridor and expanding the opportunity to provide convenient service to financial consumers. In addition, Royal’s growth in mortgage products and services has made the transition of the Birch Street location an important strategic priority.

“We are very excited about creating a mortgage operations center at our Birch Street location,” Riechers said. “The location realignment will allow us to offer a more efficient work environment for our mortgage operations team members, who are currently spread across many different facilities. We will continue to offer access to mortgage lenders in multiple offices for Member convenience. The Birch Street location will only centralize mortgage operations.”

The Barstow Street property is located in the heart of downtown Eau Claire and provides Royal with the opportunity to add to the vibrant landscape of the community. Royal built its corporate center in downtown Eau Claire in 2005 and is deeply invested in the area’s continued growth.

Royal’s total value proposition is to offer highly competitive rates, products, and services, and was created to help Members achieve their financial goals. The development opportunities in the Chippewa Valley announced today reinforce the credit union’s commitment to being a trusted community partner and financial advisor. Royal is continuously looking for opportunities to enhance its locations and service delivery options in all of its service areas.

About Royal Credit Union
Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 230,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. Realtors in the state of Wisconsin or Minnesota are also eligible to join the credit union. Visit rcu.org or call Royal Credit Union at 800-341-9911 for more information.

Merchants Financial Group, Inc. Announces Earnings of $21,511,521 for 2020

WINONA, Minn. – Merchants Financial Group, Inc. (MFGI) announced year-end earnings for 2020 with net income of $21,511,521, according to MFGI President & CEO Gregory M. Evans. The earnings exceeded MFGI’s plan for the year by more than $1.9 million and is an increase of 8.8% over 2019 earnings.

“Despite the challenges we all encountered in 2020, I am proud of our team and our continued commitment to be a financial partner helping our customers fulfill their hopes and dreams. We wouldn’t be the strong community bank we are without loyal customers, community supporters and our dedicated team of employees,” said Evans.

A significant increase in mortgage lending and deposits were two contributing factors to Merchants’ 2020 core earnings results – both driven by the economic changes due to the pandemic. Evans noted that a low-rate environment for much of the year made mortgage refinancing appealing to many and Merchants’ residential loan volume exceeded $950 million for the year, an increase of 77% over 2019. In addition, reduced outlets for spending and changes in consumer habits saw others put more money into the Bank. Year-over-year deposit growth was $376 million, a 21% increase from 2019.

As a source of financial relief for business customers, Merchants originated $207 million in loans through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Over a third of these loans had been successfully processed through the loan forgiveness aspect of PPP by year-end.

“Our focus on helping customers never wavered and we look forward to continuing to be there as a trusted advisor as we move into 2021 together,” shared Evans.

Merchants is also proud to continue its tradition of community leadership through charitable contributions. Through 2020, MFGI donated more than $609,000 to hundreds of local organizations across its footprint.

Merchants Financial Group, Inc. is a publicly-traded Company. Ownership is made up of its more than 440 employees and mostly individuals and families from southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin.

Merchants Bank is a full service community bank with 23 bank locations in southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin and a leasing division, Merchants Bank Equipment Finance, in Edina. Headquartered in Winona, MN, MFGI has more than $2.5 billion in assets. Merchants was founded in 1875. Member FDIC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sue Savat
Chief Financial Officer
smsavat@merchantsbank.com
(507) 457-1135

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