WRJC WebMaster
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Local Prep Scores from Tuesday 12/16
Girls Basketball
Mauston 72 Richland Center 26
Brookwood 50 Necedah 23 (Ruby Muehlenkamp 15points for Brookwood)
Bangor 52 New Lisbon 20
Hillsboro 55 Cashton 52
Royall 64 Wonewoc-Center 24
Weyauwega-Freemont 59 Nekoosa 28
Kewaskum 51 Ripon 34
Reedsburg 42 Portage 17
Tomah 54 La Crosse Logan 32
Boys Basketball
Royall 56 Riverdale 43
Seneca 76 Cashton 48
Berlin 62 Winnebago Lutheran 60
Spencer 62 Nekoosa 57
Adams-Friendship 87 Portage 58
River Valley 61 Reedsburg 50
Tomah 79 La Crosse Logan 72
Girls Hockey
Tomah/BRF 3 Wisconsin Valley 2
Boys Hockey
Madison Edgewood 10 RWD/Mauston 0
Tomah/Sparta 7 West Salem 4
Mauston Clobbers Richland Center Behind Big Game From Ella Franek
Tuesday the cold weather left the area and with the warmer temperatures came a hot night of shooting for senior forward Ella Franek as she scored a career high 25 points leading all scorers in a 72-26 non-conference win over the visiting Richland Center Hornets.
Ella also had 3 steals, 4 assists and narrowly missed a double double grabbing 9 rebounds.
Caitlin Lavold and Breanna Heller also had double digit scoring nights with Caitlin putting up 17 points snagging 2 steals and 6 rebounds to go with her 5 assists while Breanna scored 15 points had 4 steals, 6 assists and 9 rebounds of her own.
The ladies go from Hornets to Tigers as they now prepare for a conference game Friday night at home against the Ripon lady Tigers. Hope to see you all in the gym Friday night.
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Payments are Once Again Supporting Wisconsin Residents
Today, Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld announced that the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) has begun making payments, and that benefits are once again available for eligible Wisconsin residents needing help with their energy bills. The heating season officially began on November 1, though the federal shutdown meant that Wisconsin did not immediately receive federal funding to support energy benefits. The State estimates that 185,000 households will receive assistance in paying their energy bills, with the average one-time heating benefit expected to be $440. The average one-time electric benefit is expected to be $244. So far, over $40 million in payments have been made to support over 63,000 Wisconsin households, and applications remain open for assistance.
“Winter is in full force in Wisconsin, and we know the costs to heat a home increase when temperatures plummet. I’m happy to report that Wisconsin has received its federal energy assistance funding and is taking applications and making payments to benefit Wisconsin families and residents. If you waited to apply for energy assistance due to the federal government shutdown, or if you need help with your energy bill, please apply now,” stated Secretary Blumenfeld.
Eligibility is based on household income, household size, and the home’s energy costs. Residents may be eligible if the gross household income is 60% of the state median income level or less. WHEAP pays benefits directly to utilities and fuel suppliers to offset home energy costs. Crisis energy assistance is also available year-round and, emergency furnace and water heater repair and replacement and home weatherization services for eligible homeowners may also be offered based on household need.
Income Guidelines for 2025-26 Program Year
| Household Size | One Month Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $ 3,201.75 | $38,421 |
| 2 | $ 4,186.92 | $50,243 |
| 3 | $ 5,172.08 | $62,065 |
| 4 | $ 6,157.33 | $73,888 |
| 5 | $ 7,142.50 | $85,710 |
| 6 | $ 8,127.67 | $97,532 |
| 7 | $ 8,312.33 | $99,748 |
| 8 | $ 8,497.08 | $101,965 |
Residents can apply for energy assistance by phone or mail through their local energy assistance agency. Call toll-free 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947) for the local agency in your area or visit https://energyandhousing.wi.gov and click on the county or Tribe on the map.
Byington, Janice Jane “Chub” Age 85 of Wonewoc
Janice Jane “Chub” Byington, age 85 of Wonewoc, WI passed away December 14, 2025 after a brief illness at Fair View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Mauston, WI. She was born July 8, 1940 in Summit Township to Leonard Geier and Anna (Miller). She lived a life of joy, love, laughter and had many wonderful moments and memories with family and friends. No matter how difficult the times were, she would just laugh it off and move forward.
Chub completed the 8th grade and stayed home to help on the family farm. She said that she would rather be working outside on the farm with animals and field work instead of working in the house.
She married Norman L. Byington July 26, 1958. In her early married years, she worked at the Hillsboro Canning Plant and at Beranek’s Meat Market while also a farm wife and home maker on the Byington Family Farm located on Hwy G, Wonewoc.
Chub enjoyed farming, especially the cattle and chickens, gardening, fishing and hunting. She spent many autumn afternoons walking the surrounding hills and valleys chasing grouse and squirrels. In the spring, she logged many miles looking for the elusive morel mushroom and then gardened and picked all kinds of berries in the summer and nuts in the fall. In the wintertime, she kept busy with sewing, puzzles and playing card games such as gin rummy and solitaire later on. And let’s not forget watching the weekly Packer game!
She loved farming with Norm and they dairy farmed for decades on the family farm– Started with Holstein cows and then switched to Jersey cattle later on. Once retired from dairy cattle, they traveled to many of the national parks and spent many days fishing locally. Their favorite was fishing for northerns at Miller Dam, Gilman, WI. They were married for 54 years before Norm passed away.
Chub is survived by sisters Rose Ruetten and Sherry Gardehl (James Bohn); children Bruce Byington, LaValle, WI, Brian (Ellen) Byington Wonewoc, WI and Mary (Ben) Thompson, Fall Creek, WI; grandchildren Lauryn (Ethan) Pixler, Oklahoma, Lucas (Tanisha) Byington, Wonewoc, WI, Kelley (Eric) Basinger, Quincy, IL, Isabella Thompson, Fargo, ND and Colton Thompson, Eau Claire, WI; great grandchildren Aurora Basinger, Kali Rae Pixler, Olivia Audrey Grace Pixler, and Makenna Haugh; and many more nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Norm; brothers Julius (Jack) Geier, Gregory (Butch) Geier and sisters Betty Field, Charlotte Raese, twin sister Janette Turner and Dorothy Krueger.
In addition to family, Chub found great joy in other farming families and especially the “neighbor boys” next door. She adopted them like her own grandchildren and greatly enjoyed visiting with them and bringing them cookies.
Services will be held Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Picha Funeral Home, Wonewoc, WI with visitation from 9 am to 11 am. Father Don Bauer will be officiating and burial afterwards at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Union Center, WI. Luncheon will follow at the American Legion Hall, Wonewoc, WI.
Chub, you will be forever in our hearts. May you rest in eternal peace, knowing that your love and spirit will continue to guide and inspire us.
The Picha Funeral Home in Wonewoc is assisting, for online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com
Local Girls Basketball Scores from Monday 12/15
Onalaska 55 Hillsboro 23
Mount Horeb 57 Reedsburg 31
Almond-Bancroft 54 Adams-Friendship 51
Pardeeville 63 Berlin 25
Princeton/Green Lake 60 Wautoma 19
Hillsboro Fights in Opening Half Before Onalaska Girls Seizes Control
The Hillsboro Tigers Girls basketball team out played a much bigger school in Onalaska for the first 18minutes of their non-conference game playing even with Onalaska to a 12-12 halftime tie. The 2nd half was controlled by the Hilltoppers however on their way to a 55-23 victory over the Tigers. Hillsboro jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the opening half thanks to 10 early points from Senior Lauren Woirol. Onalaska came back and tied the game on a last second three pointer by Finley Walters to close out the opening half. Onalaska would cruise in the 2nd half for the victory. Finley Walters led the Hilltoppers with 14points while Kayla Ketelhut added 12. Woirols 10points led the Tigers. Onalaska improves to 5-2 Hillsboro drops to 3-4.
Juneau County Jail Roster 12-16
Juneau County Sheriff Sale
Money Food Raised for Mauston Community Sharing Food Pantry During Holiday Train Festivities
We got the totals in for the Mauston Community Sharing Food Pantry Fundraiser – what a Wonderful Community we live in!!! $2,500 cash donations which were matched by the Brunner Family for a total of $5,000 in cash! $4,500 came from the Canadian Train line and then there was 500 pounds of food to go on the Pantry shelves! Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped our local Community Sharing Food Pantry to help others!
Ontario Woman Involved in Vernon County Accident
Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports a two-vehicle collision occurred on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, just after 1:00 PM, near the intersection of State Highway 27 and County Road X, rural Westby, WI, Town of Christiana.
Theresa Jean Coblentz, age 67, of Ontario, WI was operating a 2016 Dodge Caravan, traveling south on State Highway 27. Coblentz attempted to make a U-turn and was struck by a southbound 2018 Jeep Compass driven by Antonia Maria Rcker, age 53, of Platteville, WI.
Seatbelts were worn and airbags deployed in both vehicles. Coblentz and Rucker sustained apparent minor injuries, but both declined medical transport.
At the scene with the Sheriff’s Office were the Westby Police Department, Westby Emergency Medical Service, Westby-Christiana Fire Department, Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance, and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

