Stories about the closure of a southwest Wisconsin cheese manufacturing plant, Dubuque’s annual fireworks and air show, and the local appearance of black bears were among the most read on TelegraphHerald.com in 2024. Here are the 15 stories that garnered the most views on the TH’s website.
1: Cheese manufacturing facility in SW Wisconsin nearing permanent closure
A story about a southwest Wisconsin goat-cheese manufacturing facility winding down its operations in preparation for its permanent closure reverberated across the internet in 2024.
A Telegraph Herald story about Saputo, an international dairy processing company, permanently closing its Lancaster location was read online by more people than live in Grant and Lafayette counties combined. Saputo, based in Montreal, Canada, had announced plans in November 2023, to shutter the Lancaster location and open a new facility in Reedsburg. The closure affected about 100 employees.
2: Police: Man found dead during attempt to serve sexual abuse warrant was Dubuque teacher
Police said a man found dead during an attempt to serve a sexual abuse warrant in Dubuque was a teacher at a local school.
Trent A. Paschal, 25, was a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and was accused of sexually abusing a Dubuque Community Schools student who was under the age of 15, according to Dubuque police.
A statement from the school district said officials received a third-party report May 31 of an “alleged inappropriate relationship” between Paschal and a student. Police were attempting to serve Paschal a warrant June 12 at his apartment when officers heard a gunshot from inside the apartment.
3: Everything you need to know about Dubuque’s fireworks, air show
Radio Dubuque and Dubuque Jaycees hosted the community’s fireworks and air show for its 38th year July 3, at A.Y. McDonald Park, to both honor veterans and celebrate Independence Day.
A story detailed where to park, what to eat, what to do and how to navigate traffic for attendees of Dubuque’s annual Fireworks & Air Show Spectacular.
The southbound on-ramp to U.S. 61/151 — which was under construction at the time of the event — temporarily reopened after the fireworks show to ease traffic out of Dubuque’s Point neighborhood.
4: Area cannabis company purchases downtown Dubuque building
River Bluff Collective acquired The Magnolia building in Dubuque’s Historic Millwork District early in 2024 with plans to open the former wedding venue and restaurant as a retail area and consumption lounge.
A law signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in May dealt a terminal blow to those plans.
The law regulates consumable hemp products and forced the closure of a pair of Dubuque stores, including River Bluff Collective’s Millwork District location. It had ceased operations as of July 1.
5: Officials: 1 dead after trench collapse at Dubuque construction site
A trench collapse March 1 at a Dubuque construction site killed a 21-year-old worker.
Jacob A. Young an employee of Peosta, Iowa-based Smith Dirt WRX, was at the bottom of a 9-foot trench when it collapsed and covered him in several feet of dirt and soil at 3130 Lake Ridge Drive. Work was underway at that site to construct a new apartment complex.
Emergency responders recovered Young’s body after roughly 90 minutes, and he was pronounced dead.
A subsequent investigation by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration found four safety violations for which Smith Dirt WRX was ordered to pay a total of $6,000 in penalties as part of an informal settlement. The company also was mandated to provide additional safety training for all employees.
6: Authorities ID person killed in Dubuque County rollover crash that injured 3 others
A rollover crash killed one person and injured three others on Dec. 7 near Epworth, Iowa.
Brayden Domeyer, 18, of Holy Cross, was a passenger in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said that Domeyer was riding in a vehicle driven by Bodee Pitts, 18, of Farley, west on U.S. 20 near Hartbecke Road when Pitts lost control of the vehicle, and it rolled. Pitts and two other passengers were transported to a hospital for injuries ranging from serious to minor.
7: Authorities: 3 dead after suspected homicide at Dubuque County residence
A 32-year-old Dubuque County woman was found deceased in a rural Dubuque County home near La Motte, Iowa, on April 10. An investigation determined that Tana Poppe’s two children, a 13-year-old and a 5-month-old, also were living at the residence, but neither was located at the home when authorities arrived. A person of interest in the case — Alexander C. Grunke, 38, of Middleton, Wis. — was involved in a vehicle pursuit in Dane County, Wis. The missing 13-year-old also was in the vehicle, but the infant had been dropped off unharmed prior to the pursuit.
During the pursuit, both Grunke and the teen fired weapons at law enforcement, authorities stated. The vehicle eventually was disabled, and its occupants attempted to flee. The 13-year-old was located deceased of unknown causes shortly after, authorities said. Grunke fled and entered a residence in Albion, Wis., where he barricaded himself in the basement and later was found deceased from an apparent suicide.
8: First bite: New Dubuque pizza restaurant to hold soft opening
A popular Dubuque taproom launched its newest venture in June.
Driftless Pizza Co., which is owned and operated by the owners of Backpocket Dubuque, filled a space in the Novelty Iron Works Building that formerly housed pizza restaurant Gino’s East, which closed in 2023.
9: Multiple black bears currently active in Dubuque County
Wildlife officials said that multiple sightings of black bears in the spring in Dubuque County indicated that there were multiple bears active in the area.
Dubuque County Conservation Director Brian Preston said a bear became increasingly active in and around small towns north of Dubuque in recent years. This bear is considered a resident of the area.
Sightings near Holy Cross and Worthington suggest other bears had entered the county.
Sightings of the bears have picked up in recent years around Memorial Day — which takes place during black bears’ typical breeding season.
10: Biz Buzz: New Dubuque Mexican restaurant on horizon; longtime Platteville hardware store changes hands; BBQ joint opens in Bellevue
A roundup of local business news in February included developments concerning food and hardware.
Christian Hernandez prepared to open Las Margarritas, a new Mexican food restaurant in the former location of Salsa’s, 1091 Main St. David and Jessica Hermsen began operating Hermsen’s Ace Hardware Platteville, formerly Heiser Ace Hardware, after purchasing the business from longtime owners Tom and Karen Heiser. James Frank celebrated the move of Bad Ash BBQ to its new home at 301 State St., Bellevue, Iowa.
11: ‘Mountain of pebbles’: Experts say Iowa’s high cancer rates likely result from numerous factors
In June, the Telegraph Herald examined figures produced by Iowa Cancer Registry showing the state had the fastest-growing rate of new cancers in the country and the second-highest rate of new cancers overall for the second year in a row.
Breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and melanoma are the top four kinds of cancer driving those rates in Iowa, but officials said there isn’t one answer to what is causing those rates.
12: TH EXCLUSIVE: Field of Dreams movie site sold to Dyersville-based nonprofit
The Field of Dreams Movie Site was sold to an Iowa-based nonprofit in September.
Dyersville Events Inc. assumed ownership of the property from previous ownership group Go the Distance Baseball, and organization officials said they planned to enhance and preserve the property, which during the past several years has been eyed as the possible site for a baseball mecca northeast of Dyersville.
13: Dubuque-Wisconsin bridge reopens to traffic following crash
A recreational vehicle that failed to yield upon entering the highway Sept. 24 caused a crash that disrupted traffic for three hours on U.S. 61/151.
The merging vehicle collided with a semi-tractor trailer, causing a side fuel tank on the semi to split and spill 135 gallons of diesel fuel.
14: Bear necessity: Leave it alone, Dubuque area wildlife experts say
A black bear spotted June 13 on the campus of Clarke University in Dubuque prompted wildlife officials to warn residents to leave the animal alone.
The bear also spent time at the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Dubuque Pet Park on North Grandview Avenue during his city sojourn. Officials said the best thing that Dubuque residents could do to help the bear is leave it alone, and pack away any possible food sources that would entice it. Bird feeders and pet food were among the bear’s attractants.
15: $2 million bond set for Dubuque man accused of murder
Court documents in the case against a Dubuque man accused of murdering his mother state that she was found with “numerous” lacerations to her head and neck.
Tyler J. Dazey, 28, of 1605 Avoca St., was charged Jan. 18, 2024, in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County with first-degree murder and animal abuse.
In July, a jury found Dazey guilty on both charges, and in September, he was sentenced to life in prison.