Maggie Meinen is not much on regret. Not wanting to lament on what might have been, the 2004 Altoona High School graduate decided to take a risk. Without a job, and staring an uncertain future right in the face, Meinen packed up everything she owned and headed to the West Coast to pursue her love of the stage, the screen, and the studio.

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   On Thursday, December 25, the home of Altoona resident Heidi Smith and her family caught on fire. Her half of the duplex, located at 2415 Bradwood Avenue, was completely destroyed, while the other half, located at 2419 Bradwood, sustained smoke and some fire damage. Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, preliminary suspicions point to an electrical problem.

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   Having approved the 2009 budget in November, the city of Altoona is now looking to its financial future – a future that, unfortunately, contains a significant budget shortfall.
   Specifically, the city’s debt payments for tax increment district (TID) #3 – which encompasses the River Prairie development – will increase from $445,600 in 2008 to $795,000 in 2009. An additional $55,000 allocated to the TID next year for staff time spent working on it brings the total debt payments to about $850,000. However, the funds available to pay that debt only total $483,502. This leaves that district with a 2009 shortfall of $398,502.
   To address that shortfall, city administrators will hold a public meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5, in the Altoona High School auditorium.

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   When Altoona High School and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduate Erin Lynum started her post-education employment search, she only had one prerequisite: no office job. Interested in learning a new language and exploring the world, Lynum opted to forgo the traditional workplace and serve her country by volunteering for the Peace Corps. After a tough and selective process filled with pages and pages of paperwork that lasted nearly eight months, Lynum found herself halfway across the globe as an eighth-grade teacher in the village of Monapo, Mozambique.
   Almost a year and a half later and back home briefly for the holidays, Lynum took a moment to reflect on her teaching experiences thousands of miles from home.

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At the Active & Alive in Altoona Wellness Fair last summer, businesses from throughout the Chippewa Valley came to show residents various ways to live healthier lifestyles - including showing the importance of physical activities.

   Along with the new year come many new year’s resolutions. These promises might include losing weight, exercising more, and developing healthier lifestyle habits. While some begin with good intentions, it is often easier for most people to maintain new and improved lifestyles if they have camaraderie along the journey – and thanks to the efforts of Altoona city officials and school district staff, a program designed for Chippewa Valley residents with just these goals for 2009 will kick off in two months.

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   Over the years, Pedersen Elementary School’s holiday program has proved to be a popular way to spend a mid-December evening. It is so popular, in fact, that an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 attendees found it difficult each year to see and hear the children on stage. This year, elementary music and art teachers have confronted the long-standing problem by offering an entirely new program called “A Night of the Arts.”

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Pedersen Elementary School physical education teacher Victor Pastrana will join wife Jill and sons Daniel, Lucas, and Pascal in Chile after the 2008-2009 school year ends. He will return in time for the 2009 fall semester.

   This summer, Pedersen Elementary School physical education teacher Victor Pastrana will travel to Chile for an extended stay with his family.

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On August 28, a Chippewa Falls resident was arrested for fleeing an officer - an attempt he made while operating his motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. His attempt ended with a crash into the entrance of Hillcrest Estates, where his blue Ford Contour, pictured above, rolled several times before coming to a halt. Altoona police officers promptly arrested the man, while members of the Altoona Fire Department examined the vehicle.

   Altoona Police Officer and resident Jesse James is a jerk. At least, James will tell you that is what some people have to say. He will also tell you that it does not bother him in the least. Not allowing “sticks and stones” to dissuade him, James prefers to stay focused on a larger, more important message this holiday season: Drunk driving ruins lives.

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   At the Altoona Parks & Recreation Committee meeting on Tuesday, December 16, members discussed the pros and cons of raising rental fees for the city’s parks facilities and fields.

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   When the holidays start twinkling, Pedersen Elementary School students have traditionally headed to stores to buy gifts for each other, which they exchange at school. This year, teachers of and students in kindergarten through fourth grade are forging new ways to celebrate the holiday season, many of which emphasize giving to those less fortunate.

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