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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   While driving through Altoona lately, you may have noticed a large wreath decorated with lights on the front of Altoona’s Emergency Services Building. This physical symbol, part of the “Keep the Wreath Green” initiative, is intended to remind Altoona residents to be safe during the Christmas season.

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   Fall Creek resident and Altoona Director of Public Safety Todd Chaney grew up in Detroit, Mich. After graduating high school there, Chaney attended Eastern Michigan University, Detroit’s Highland Park Community College, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. Now the director of public safety for the city of Altoona, Chaney manages Altoona’s police department, fire department, and rescue squad. He is also a WIAA official, refereeing basketball games at area schools and serving as umpire for softball and baseball games. Chaney’s wife, Sue, is a sixth-grade teacher at Regis Middle School in Eau Claire. His oldest daughter Kate lives in Eau Claire with her husband and daughter; his second daughter Meagan is a social worker and lives with her own daughter in Manitowoc, Wisc.; his youngest daughter Johanna is a CNA and works in Altoona; and his son David works in Eau Claire and is preparing for college this spring.

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   Now officially titled “Altoona 4K… All Aboard,” the district’s newly established 4-year-old kindergarten program is almost ready to accept registration. The group working on implementing the new program met on Friday, December 5; after months of planning and many volunteer hours, they are now gearing up for the January 2009 registration.

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   According to the Eau Claire County YMCA group, “Grandparents as Parents,” there are over 23,000 Wisconsin children being raised by relatives other than their parents. In Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, that number is over 600. In a story dominated by alcohol, crime, and incarceration, Altoona grandparents Rae and Delbert Tipler find themselves honored to be part of that statistic as the non-traditional parents of their 8-year-old granddaughter Cheyenne.

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   Recent cases of questionable action taken by 911 dispatchers have left some people wondering how safe they can feel with their local 911 call center. Some speculate that the way the calls were handled led to a devastating end for University of Wisconsin-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann and for Madison resident Mark Gregory Johnson.

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   Believe it or not, it is possible to be both comfortable and energy-savvy in your home this winter, without buying a plethora of fancy devices. Just take the advice of two local heating experts and a knowledgeable Altoona resident who has transformed her home into a leak-proof heat container. 

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   In 1984, Lori and John Schmidt opened Santa’s Tree Farm in Altoona because they wanted to share with the Chippewa Valley the tradition of selecting and cutting a Christmas tree from a natural setting. 

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   Continuing their tradition of offering family fun for everyone, the Altoona Youth Hockey Association will host their annual fundraising event on Sunday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Altoona Hobbs Sports Center. This year, however, will feature a border battle between National Hockey League alumni and other “celebrity” players.

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   As the first flurries trickle in and Jack Frost begins his annual trek across the state, winter preparedness once again becomes vital for a safe season, this could not be more true than for Altoona’s seniors and other special-needs people.

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