The Star News

11/27/2024

The Star News is once again inviting people to take part in our annual coloring contest.

11/19/2024

The Price-Taylor Rail Trail Commission would like to remind the public that the Pine Line Trail is currently closed to equestrian use and will remain closed until Saturday, May 15th, 2025. This closure goes into effective November 15th each year. This temporary-seasonal closure is implemented to reduce damage to the trail surface.

Send a message to learn more

10/31/2024

10/22/2024

City of Medford Residents:

In person absentee voting starts no sooner than 14 days before the election, however each municipality must publish the dates/times they are offering this service to their voters. The City has published their Type E notice indicating that the specific times we will hold this will be:

Tuesday October 29 - Friday November 1 8 AM - 4:30 PM.

We understand that some wish for this to begin now however due to the volume of voters we have scheduled the 4 days to solely dedicate to voting. You may still elect to have an absentee ballot mailed to you if those dates/times do not work for you.

If you live outside the City limits you will need to contact your town/village clerk to find out their hours.

10/19/2024

A weeklong search for Martevious Watts ended when search crews recovered his remains from the Medford Millpond on the night of October 18.
The remains of Martevious Watts, 31, of Medford have been recovered from the Medford Millpond.
As of early Saturday morning, the cause of death has not been released and the circumstances remain under investigation by the Medford Police Department.
Watts, who could often be found fishing along the banks of the Black River and the Medford Millpond in the Medford City Park. He had last been seen by family members on Thursday, October 10. On Friday morning gear and other items belonging to Watts were found leading law enforcement to begin searching for him using boats, drones and search and rescue agencies with dogs trained to locate bodies.
That search ended on Friday, October 18.
According to Police Chief Chad Liske the water level of the Mill Pond was lowered to aid in search efforts. Wings of Hope along with Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue conducted ground and aerial searches once again in the areas surrounding the Mill Pond, as well as water searches of the river.
“At about 9:13 p.m. the deceased body of Martevious was located in the river and recovered with the assistance of the search teams.” Liske said.
“On behalf of the Medford Police Department, I would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Martevious. We also wish to thank Wings of Hope, North Star Search and Rescue, Wisconsin K9 S.O.S Search and Rescue, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue, and the community for all the support in the efforts of locating Martevious,” Liske said.
Liske continued stating the Medford Police Department will continue to investigate and work to bring further closure for the family.

10/13/2024

Update on police investigation in Medford City Park:

On Saturday, October 12, 2024 at about 9:00AM the Medford Police Department returned to the
Centennial Parkway area to continue search efforts in the area. We were able to confirm the
identity of the owner of the items located near the river edge as MARTEVIOUS D. WATTS.
Contact with family members revealed that they have not had communication with Martevious
since Thursday morning. Wings of Hope returned to assist with search efforts along with
Wisconsin K9 S.O.S. Search and Rescue and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.
Aerial, ground, and water searches were once again conducted throughout the day and concluded
at about 7:00PM. At this time Martevious’s whereabouts are unknown. If you have seen or heard
from Martevious since Thursday, October 10, 2024, please contact the Taylor County Sheriff’s
Office Dispatch Center at 715-748-2200 ext. 5

https://testwp23.newsmemory.com/centralwinews/news/news/2024/10/12/medford-police-search-missing-man/

10/12/2024

A suspicious incident reported near the Medford Millpond in the Medford City Park Friday morning led local police and rescue workers on a day-long search that ultimately did not yield any answers.
Medford Police Chief Chad Liske released the following release:
“On Friday, October 11, 2024 at about 8:10 a.m. the Medford Police Department received a call about suspicious circumstances near the Medford City Campgrounds on Centennial Parkway. A camp chair, fishing pole, and shoes were located along the edge of the river, but no one was located near the immediate area.
Officers made contact with nearby campers and it was reported that a male was seen fishing from the chair around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Due to the unknown circumstances of the unattended items located near the river and the inability to locate the owner of the items, Medford Police Department reached out to Wings of Hope for their assistance with searching the area. Wings of
Hope assisted with drone flights of the area near and over the river. Further assistance was also provided by North Star Search and Rescue to assist with checking the river near the area. At about 8:00 PM search efforts of the water and nearby area were concluded and no one was located. The Medford Police Department would like to thank the public for remaining out of the area while search efforts were conducted. We would also like to thank Wings of Hope and North Star Search and Rescue for providing their resources in the search effort.”

10/11/2024

Centennial Parkway and the west side of the Medford Riverwalk remain closed due to an ongoing police investigation in the area. Individuals in water gear and a drone are at the location. Police Chief Chad Liske said there is no danger to public but they are asking people to stay away from the area.

10/11/2024

The Medford Police Department is currently investigating some suspicious circumstances reported on the west side of the Mill Pond. We kindly ask that citizens stay away from the area of Centennial Parkway while we continue to investigate. There is no danger to the public.

10/02/2024

Fire danger for today in Rusk County and surrounding areas is HIGH all annual permits are suspended!

The US National Weather Service Twin Cities Minnesota has issued the following special weather statement:
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
449 AM CDT Wed Oct 2 2024

MNZ044-045-050>053-059>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-021645-
Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Wright-
Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-
Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-
Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Princeton, Mora, Sauk Rapids, Elk River,
Cambridge, Center City, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul,
Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings,
Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, Albert Lea,
Osceola, Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie,
Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
449 AM CDT Wed Oct 2 2024
..NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR EASTERN MINNESOTA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON...

Ahead of a cold front moving into western Minnesota this
afternoon, strong southwest winds will develop across south
central into east central Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with
gusts has high as 35 mph expected. These strong winds will combine
with afternoon humidity values dropping below 35 percent to create
near-critical fire weather conditions this afternoon.

Check with your county for burning restrictions and fire danger
before burning.

For additional information on burning restrictions and fire
danger, check with the Department of Natural Resources for both
Minnesota and Wisconsin.

09/05/2024

Election Day is only 63 days away, but did you know that you can only register online or by mail until October 16th? October 16th until November 1st you will have to register in the Clerk's office (city residents this would be at City Hall, those outside the city will need to contact their clerk for the location to register).

If you have moved, changed your name, or have not voted please considering registering BEFORE election day. There will be lines on election day if you choose to wait until then to register. You can request for a registration form to be sent to you to complete and return back with your proof of residency OR you can utilize the https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to register online.

If you are unsure if you are registered at the correct address or name you can also use https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to verify or city residents may contact City Hall to verify, if you live outside the City you will need to work with your clerk.

09/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/HjgrWBTZSeiPeDFf/?mibextid=xfxF2i

08/27/2024

The Public Works crew are working on repairing a water main break near W Conrad. If you can avoid this area between S Washington and Gibson it would be appreciated!

08/23/2024

Intern Saskatoon made lunch for the office today before he heads back to college.

08/20/2024

As we roll into the month of August we would like to provide everyone with an update regarding the pool. Since our staff at the pool is made up of primarily high school students, many of which are involved in extra curricular activities at school, the last day for the pool this season will be Tuesday, August 20th - please keep in mind that weather and scheduling could change this date, although we will try to keep it as is.

We do our best to stretch as far into the summer as possible but also work to accommodate our staff with school/sport events they are involved in. Be sure to thank the staff for the hours they put in to be able to offer this service to our community, without them the pool wouldn't be possible.

08/09/2024

More than 100 tractors have already come in for the Back in Time Tractor Show at Medford Area Senior High School. The show continues through the weekend

08/08/2024

Smokey Bear turns 80 this week at The Star News invited area youth to create birthday greetings for him. Check out this week's issue of The Star News to see their artwork and stop down to The Star News office and see them on display along with some friendly bears