Trisha and Jim Suchanek of Black River Falls successfully climbed the tallest mountain in Africa last August. They will present a program about their adventure on Mt. Kilimanjaro at the Wednesday, May 13, Friends of the Black River meeting. The meeting will be held in The Hub in the Lunda Community Center starting at 6:30 p.m.

The community center is located at 405 State Highway 54, Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The program is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

The two were part of a group of 10 friends from Black River Falls who made the trip; they will talk about what it took to go on the adventure.

“We will focus on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in the African continent,” said Wagner. “Planning and preparing for the climatic zones of the eight-day route, gear and guide service experience, and what to expect when going on the adventure.”

For more information about FBR or the presentation, email info_fbr@yahoo.com or log onto FBR’s Facebook page or website at www.friendsoftheblackriver.org.

The Friends of the Black River will hold its annual spring wildflower guided hike Saturday, May 9, starting at 10 a.m. Those interested in carpooling or caravaning to the trail head should meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot. The parking lot is located at 120 N. Water Street, Black River Falls. There’s no charge to take part in the hike.

Those not able to participate in the guided walk may do a hike-on-your-own along the trail starting May 7 and running until May 12. To access the trail head, take State Highway 54 E. to Mission Road, turning left on to Mission Road. Travel to Pettibone Pass and turn left; continue to W8969 Pettibone Pass.

For more information, contact Jeff Polzin at 715-896-5534, email info_fbr@yahoo.com or message on the FBR Facebook page.

In Jackson County, volunteers are asked to meet at Castle Mound State Park Saturday, April 25, at 8 a.m. to receive assignments. The park is located on State Highway 12 east of Black River Falls. Admission to the park will be waived for cleanup volunteers. A lunch for volunteers will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m.

In Clark County, volunteers are asked to meet at Listeman Park at 1402 Lloyd St., Neillsville, at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 25. Appreciation lunch will be provided at 11 a.m. Contact Dan Moore at 715-937-5097 or go to the chapter’s Facebook for more information.

The Friends of the Black River Jackson County will conduct its spring cleanup along County Highway K Tuesday, April 28. Volunteers are needed to clean up along a two-mile stretch of the highway twice a year as part of the Wisconsin’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Volunteers are asked to meet at the intersection of County Highway K and State Highway 54 East at 8:30 a.m. to be assigned a stretch of the highway.

Bags, vests and grabbers and some gloves will be available at the Jackson County and Highway K cleanups.

To volunteer or for more information, call Steve at 715-284-2087 or Jeff at 715 896-5534, email info_fbr@yahoo.com or via Messenger on the FBR Facebook page.

Saturday, July 11: Paddle in the Park, Lunda Community Park, Black River Falls, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Whitewater releases at Hatfield Dam, meet at Clayschool Rd., Please RSVP 715-896-5534:

Saturday, June 13: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 11: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturday, August 8: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 12: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shaun Lescher of Drop Shot Foundation will be presenting the program. Lescher and his wife, Carolyn, will discuss their involvement in the community through their foundation. Some of activity information to be discussed includes:

– The upcoming third annual Cops & Bobbers

– Wildlife footage throughout Jackson County

– Underwater footage

– Support for local and nation-wide organizations

Youngsters are encouraged to attend the meeting to enjoy such activities as “Bobber ’N’ Bucket” and casting lessons for parents. 

For more information, email to info_fbr@yahoo.com or via Facebook Messenger on the FBR Facebook page.

A club that had a focus on squirrel hunting has morphed into an organization with a mission of providing outdoor activities for the elderly, the disabled and veterans. Representatives from nasa (formerly known as the North American Squirrel Association) will present a program about the organization’s activities at the February Friends of the Black River public meeting.

The meeting will be held in The Hub at the Lunda Community Center Wednesday, February 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Lunda Center is located at 405 State Highway 54, Black River Falls. The meeting is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Dan Boehm and Dave Stutzman of nasa will present a program about the history of the organization, how it was formed and its current offerings for people in Western Wisconsin. The numerous year round adaptive activities available for disabled people enjoy include fishing, hunting, golfing and paddling, skiing and bicycling. The group also offers pontoon rides on local waterways and has spearheaded the construction of all-abilities parks in Holmen and Tomah.

Both Boehm and Stutzman are active in nasa’s Tomah branch. Stutzman served as vice president of nasa from 2021-2022 and president from 2023-2024. Stutzman also organizes the Tomah Annual Fundraising Banquet and Squirrelfest, a free family festival held in Tomah in July. Boehm is the Tomah Track Chair chairman, scheduling and delivering the organization’s four Action Track Chairs to disabled folks, and he also assists in organizing the Large Game Committee. The committee holds a disabled hunt for whitetail deer in October and an Elk Hunt in Wyoming in September.   For more information about FBR, email info_fbr@yahoo.com or log onto FBR’s Facebook page.

The two films to be shown are “Our Great National Parks,” featuring national parks located around the world, and the second will be the “Spirit of the Driftless,” the third documentary celebrating the Driftless Region.

Social time begins at 6 p.m. with refreshments served and movie showing begins at 6:30 p.m. A donation of $10 per person for adults is suggested.

For more information, email info_fbr@yahoo.com or via Messenger on FBR’s Facebook page.

The 50-minute documentary, staring Steven Marking portraying Will Dilg, was created to mark the 100th anniversary of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in 2024. Dilg was the driving force for the refuge’s creation. Dilg’s extraordinary national crusade also resulted created the Izaak Walton League.

More information can be obtained by emailing info-fbr@yahoo.com or via Messenger on the Friends of the Black River Facebook page.

For more information about the presentation or about FBR, email to info_fbr@yahoo.com or post a message on FBR Facebook page.

Hoffman will present the program “Beaver Ecology in Wisconsin” at the Wednesday, Sept. 10 public education meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in The Hub in the Lunda Community Center. The presentation is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Hoffman will focus on his efforts to build beaver dam analogs. His work is done with the goal of restoring beaver ecology at his cranberry marsh, Goose Landing Cranberry in Alma Center, as one of the means to rewild his property. 

Working with Native Range Ecology with input from Robert Boucher. Boucher has long been advocating for better beaver management in Wisconsin. Boucher is the founder of Milwaukee Riverkeeper, an environmental advocacy group in the Milwaukee River basin.

In addition to the dams, Hoffman has been planting trees and prairie grass and creating wildlife food plots. According to Hoffman, the efforts has been showing results.

For more information about the educational program, email to info_fbr@yahoo.com or via Messenger on FBR Facebook page.