Inside Eau Claire spotlighted two local veterans and presented their stories in recognition of Memorial Day. Interviewed here is Jennifer Fadness, an Eau Claire resident who served during the Gulf War. Andy Hildebrand also interviewed Harold Freid, a World War II veteran of the Marines. By Emily Gresbrink Emily Gresbrink: What made you decide to enlist? [...]

By Anis Filza Abdul Samad It’s early morning in the middle of April. Expectation: Warm, sunny day with cloudless blue skies and the sound of birds chirping. Spring is here. Reality: Biting cold temperatures, flurries of snow falling down from a gloomy sky and wind pulling at your clothes like an insistent lover. Winter won’t [...]

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] By Erin Sherwood When Mindy Sackett was in college, she looked forward to being around students in a classroom setting as a high school biology teacher . Back then, Sackett never thought that she would be back in a dorm on a college campus. “Originally, I was going [...]

By Geraldine Tong Lesly Ly spent eight years as a non-traditional student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire pursuing an undergraduate degree in social work, working full-time as a clerk at the Eau Claire County in the Department of Human Services and was married with children. That wasn’t enough Ly. In the midst of all [...]

By Zhen Wei Yap Tom Wagener still remembers the time his parents took him to the Art Institute of Chicago. He was in his seventh grade. It was his first recollection of appreciating art. Looking around the Andrew Wyeth exhibit, he was bored. Nevertheless, there were a few pieces that caught his eye. “Most seventh [...]

By Nathan Zeiter The crowd roared as the lights in the basement lit up. Sure it wasn’t an enormous gig, but the previous one had been cancelled, so the band had decided to throw a show in the basement of their home. There was no space left unfilled. What a raging success, thought Jared Wachholz, [...]

By Hillary Crusan Penny France is sitting at her dining room table. A red-haired dog is vying for her attention but she playfully pushes it away. A pop-up book sits open in front of her claiming her focus. It’s an intricate creation with colorful shapes and sparkling cut-outs that jump at least six-inches off the [...]

By Kayla Menzie When eight-year-old Kathryn Gross blew out the candles on her birthday cake and opened her presents, she received a special gift: a Kodak 110 camera, but little did she know that this camera would spark a love for photography that has lasted throughout the years. “Photography is more than just a passion,” [...]

By Glen Olson Running a coffee shop is like conducting an orchestra.  The sharp hiss of the steam, the pounding of the espresso being tamped down, and drops of dark liquid flowing out of the machine are all directed by the movements of the barista. Nathan Taylor darts back and forth between machines at The [...]

By Bailee Swenson Born and raised in the state of Utah with a determination and a passion for theater, Amanda Profaizer has accomplished more in her youth than many accomplish in a lifetime. Profaizer earned her MBA in Costume Design from Utah State and served as their costume shop manager for 10 years before accepting [...]