Small Street Journal: March 12, 2021

3/12/2021

Royal Credit Union News

Royal Credit Union Announces New Accounting Manager

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Royal Credit Union (Royal) announces Joe Wathke as Accounting Manager. Wathke is responsible for leading the accounting staff and assisting the VP of Finance in maintaining procedures that result in accurate financial records, operational efficiency and financial reporting.

Wathke has been with Royal since May 2002 as a high school Co-Op Student. During his tenure, Wathke has worked in a variety of roles at Royal before joining the accounting team in 2011. Wathke holds a bachelor’s of business administration in accounting and business finance from University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and is currently earning a master’s of business administration with an emphasis in management from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Wathke stays active in his community by serving as Treasurer for the Altoona Area Foundation and the Altoona Lions Club. Wathke resides in Altoona Wisconsin.

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Royal Credit Union Announces New Branch Manager – River Falls

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Royal Credit Union (Royal) announces Anthony Cole as Branch Manager of the River Falls Branch. Cole’s responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations of the branch for maximum efficiency while simultaneously cultivating and maintaining Member and business relations as well as overseeing team member development.

Cole has been in the banking industry since August 2017 when he started at TCF Bank and worked up his way to Assistant Banking Center Manager. While at TCF he was responsible for maintaining smooth operation of the teller line and account opening offices.

Cole is an active member in his community, since 2014 he has been a volunteer for Bolder Options, which is a metro-based non-profit that works with at-risk youth through education and community involvement. Cole has also spent his time volunteering for Feed My Starving Children and at community events such as Severs Corn Maze 5K. Cole currently resides in the metro community with his wife, Mia and 4 month old daughter, Ella

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Wisconsin Public Radio's: "The West Side"

Representatives Jodi Emerson and Rob Summerfield On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The West Side”

Eau Claire, Wis. - State Representatives Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire, and Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer, provide a legislative update for their western Wisconsin constituents at 10 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 12 on “The West Side” on The Ideas Network stations of Wisconsin Public Radio: 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls.

Summerfield and Emerson join host Dean Kallenbach to discuss the state budget debate taking place in the legislature. Governor Tony Evers recently shared his proposal, while the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee develops their own. They will also talk about the continued health and economic impact of COVID-19 on the state and other key legislation.

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

Pickleball Club President Judy Mirr On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Spectrum West”

Eau Claire, Wis. - Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club President Judy Mirr will discuss the rapidly growing sport with host Al Ross at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 11 on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls.

Big River Magazine Editor and Publisher Reggie McLeod will stop by and talk about the process of gathering news and features for the 28-year-old publication. He will also break down the recent March/April edition.

Chippewa Falls resident Jerry Way is putting together a virtual streaming event with the help of the Cadott-based folk group Danville. The event, “A Pinch of Folk - A Dash of Jazz,” takes place March 19.

Mondovi-based musicians Jake and Dani Jo Soha, also known as the Rock Creek Song Dogs, round out the program by discussing their new album, “Eternity.” The album features a unique mix of acoustic folk with an occasional electronic interpretation.

“Spectrum West” is a weekly program exploring the music, arts and humanities in western Wisconsin. The show is broadcast at 10 a.m. Thursdays on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie/Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and streamed live at wrfw887.com/listen-live. It’s also heard at 7 p.m. Fridays on NPR News & Music stations 89.7/Eau Claire and 90.7/Menomonie. Archives of “Spectrum West” are available at wpr.org/programs/spectrum-west-al-ross.

About Wisconsin Public Radio
For over 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 University of Wisconsin-Madison. Listen, learn more and donate at www.wpr.org.

Security Financial Bank Hosts Free Community Shred Events

EAU CLAIRE – Security Financial Bank (SFB) is hosting two free shredding events this spring in Bloomer and Durand. Community members are encouraged to reduce their risk of fraud and identity theft by securely disposing of confidential documents at one of these events.

Confidential Records, Inc. will shred documents onsite in the SFB parking lot during the following times:

Bloomer
Saturday, May 1
10 am - Noon
Security Financial Bank
1401 Main St., Bloomer

Durand
Saturday, May 8
10 am - Noon
Security Financial Bank
212 W. Prospect St., Durand

There is no cost to this event; however, there is a limit of three boxes or bags per person. Only paper items will be accepted. Please note that the following items cannot be shredded: black butterfly clips, hanging file folders, three-ring binders, hard drives, magnetic tapes and any plastic items.

For more information, visit Security Financial Bank in Bloomer or Durand or call 888.254.0615.

About Security Financial Bank
Established in 1934, Security Financial Bank, a locally-owned financial institution specializing in business, agriculture and insurance agency lending, has offices in Bloomer, Durand, Eau Claire, Ladysmith and River Falls. SFB strives to provide products and services that exceed its customers’ needs and provides guidance that enable them to succeed. For more information on SFB, visit www.sfbank.com or call 888-254-0615.

WGC Brining Together our Community Education Event

Bringing Together Our Community: Racial Justice & Equality was held on October 13. The following video is the recorded version of the event.

UW-Eau Claire News

State partnership grant brings $40K to community vaccination efforts

The arrival of COVID-19 vaccines has brought hope and relief around the U.S. and world, and for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire nursing students, it has presented a unique opportunity to be literally “hands-on” in the process of bringing an end to this global health crisis.

UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 9 was awarded a $40,000 grant through the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) and a collaboration between the UW-Madison School of Nursing and four UW System nursing schools. The WPP COVID-19 Response Grant allows the UW-Madison School of Nursing to partner with community agencies and nursing schools at UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point to contribute in the effort to successfully vaccinate Wisconsin residents.

Dr. Linda Young, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, feels tremendous gratitude for the opportunity students will have to both learn practical public health skills and be part of helping to end the pandemic.

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Students research economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping across the world last spring, closing schools, shuttering businesses and overwhelming hospitals, Sara Patoka struggled to see how she might use her knowledge and skills to help those whose lives were being devastated by the public health crisis.

A newly created economics class at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is helping the Blugold see the critical role she and other economists can play as people and communities work to recover.

“Being someone not in the medical field, when the pandemic first hit, I felt more than helpless and quite honestly, a bit nonessential,” says Patoka, a senior from Milwaukee. “This class demonstrates the essentialness of pulling meaning out of data and telling the story. Economists can be storytellers.

“We are not just looking at data, we are looking at how people’s lives have been changed. Our insights could be steppingstones for change and action to improve conditions inflicted by the pandemic.”

That is an incredible opportunity for someone who still is an undergraduate college student, says Patoka, who will graduate in May with degrees in economics and international business, a minor in Spanish and a certificate in equity, diversity and inclusiveness.

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Chamber Blog