Stories you might have missed from around Wisconsin.
Oshkosh: Menominee park train will roll again.
Reports of the Menominee Park’s train’s demise have been derailed, at least for now. Oshkosh Common Council on Tuesday approved a short-term measure to keep one of Menominee Park’s biggest attractions around for another year after voting to use $50,000 of interest earnings from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund repairs to the amusement area. Reporting in the Oshkosh Northwestern said that there had been a great deal of Public backlash over the possibility of the fan favorite ride. The Council approved the short-term measure 5-1 with the Mayor being the only dissenting vote. The decision was made late last year to ground the 40-year-old historic park ride amid staffing issues and mounting costs to repair the tracks and housing for the train during the offseason. Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Maurer said the train operated at a $13,000 loss as recently as 2023 while only averaging between 10,000 to 11,000 riders over the last three years. At least for this year, the train is back on the tracks. Full Story
Waupaca: Community rallies to oppose ThedaCare’s planned birthing unit closure.
In late November, expectant women in Waupaca received disturbing news. ThedaCare Medical center in Waupaca would be ending labor and delivery services on February 15. Since the announcement, community members have been working to convince ThedaCare to reverse their decision and preserve birthing services at the hospital. WPR reported that one couple organized a protest outside ThedaCare’s headquarters in Neenah last week. Their efforts were supported by an online petition to keep the labor and delivery services garnered more than 3,500 signatures, which represents nearly half the population of Waupaca. The Waupaca City Council also joined the fray, unanimously approving a resolution asking ThedaCare to reconsider closing the birthing unit. In a statement, ThedaCare confirmed it planned to close labor and delivery services in Waupaca next month, calling it a “difficult decision and one that was not made lightly.” They went on to say that deliveries have been declining and mothers are choosing to deliver at larger birth centers, as the health system also faces a nationwide shortage of rural doctors and nurses. Full Story
Chippewa Falls: Leinenkugel’s launches new Mexican-style lager, a tribute to Leinie Lodge.
It wouldn’t be Friday if we didn’t think about a beer. Leinenkugel Brewing Co. is launching a new beer today that was crafted in Chippewa Falls. Leinie Lodge Lime was birthed at the pilot brewing system at the Leinie Lodge and will soon be available to the public. The new release comes just two weeks after the shutdown of the company’s historic main brewery in Chippewa Falls. in an email to The Chippewa Herald a representative from Molson Coors said, ”Leinie Lodge Lime is a 4.7% ABV Mexican-style lager that’s juicy and crisp with a hint of natural lime flavor.” Leinie Lodge Lime will be available on draft and in six or 12 packs of cans across Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest starting in early February. Like many Leinenkugel’s beers over the years, Leinie Lodge Lime is a recipe born at the Chippewa Falls pilot brewery. Full Story
