A former 15-year veteran of reporting local news for western Wisconsin TV and radio stations, Salina Heller also volunteers in community theater, helps organize the Chippewa Valley Air Show, and is kept busy by her daughter’s elementary school PTA meetings. She is a UW-Eau Claire alum.
Salina Heller
Latest from Salina Heller
-
Delivering her baby at the side of the road: One Wisconsin mother’s story
It was a Wednesday night in August. With her toddler in bed, Dani Grey was watching a little TV with her husband, Matt. She was 38 weeks pregnant and had no reason to think she was about to go into labor. But at 11 p.m., contractions began—and quickly escalated to two minutes apart by 11:30…
-
Count, create, speak: 3 ways Wisconsinites are helping missing and murdered Indigenous women
There is an alarming number of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) in the state. Wisconsin, like much of North America, is only beginning to tackle this silent crisis. To start, the state created a task force hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). Its mission: addressing the rates of “abduction, homicide, violence, and…
-
Hunting means big bucks. Here’s how it impacts Wisconsin’s economy.
Hunting is not only foundational to Wisconsin’s identity, but contributes $2.5 billion dollars to the state’s economy, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Once the tourists are gone, the locals and hunting keep me afloat,” said Mike Bilodeau who owns Rod and Gun Sport Shop, Chetek’s hunting and fishing staple since 1949.…
-
6 Western Wisconsin farm-to-table restaurants to experience this winter
If you call Western Wisconsin home, here are some independently owned restaurants providing unique local food experiences designed to celebrate our state’s farmers. Farm fresh eats can’t be beat: It’s a way of life in Wisconsin. While large farms dominate the agricultural landscape, small diverse farms are actually a growing phenomena in the state. Since…
-
The National Principal of the Year is from Wisconsin: One-on-one with Brookfield East’s Andy Farley
For the first time in decades, the national principal of the year is from Wisconsin. Brookfield East High School Principal Andy Farley said he is “tremendously and deeply humbled and honored” to be recognized in such a way. Farley found out he won the country’s top principal prize last week, during the National Association of…
-
It’s not just you—Wisconsin skipped fall this year. Here’s why.
“More often than not, traditional fall and spring just don’t materialize for very long,” WEAU-TV Chief Meteorologist Darren Maier explained. “In the more than 12 years I’ve been in Wisconsin, we’ve seen more mild-to-warm falls than cold by about a two-thirds ratio,” Maier told us. “Conversely, our springs have gone the other way—more cold than…
-
Chemist by day, carver by night: The delicious double life of a Madison fruit artist
Eder Valle starts his day in a white lab coat, working as a pharmaceutical drug-testing scientist. At night, he changes into a white apron for a night job all his own. Valle, 38, is the proud owner of Artesan Fruit, a local “fruit art” company (a la Edible Arrangements.) [optin-monster-inline slug=”zxww9kiqknpweb5ngggu”] “With both chemistry and…
-
5 ways you can help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza from Wisconsin
Saturday morning, Jewish people and Palestinians across Wisconsin woke up to the frightening news of unprecedented attacks on Israel by Hamas. Some people have still not heard from family members or friends there. Others live in fear for their homeland. Thousands have been killed and injured. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and more than 100,000 people are…
-
Gross! 6 Bugs and Spiders in Wisconsin That Give Us the Creeps
Halloween is on the way and there’s nothing more spine-chilling than creepy-crawlies—and Wisconsin is home to some disgusting creatures. While mosquitoes are our foe and tend to ruin summer fun in Wisconsin, there are plenty of other villains here, too…even the most poisonous spiders lurking outside. Assassin Bug Yikes! Assassin bugs do exactly what their…
-
Banned Book Reading Recs: Wisconsin Bookstore Owners Share Their Favorites
Wisconsin is home to 50 independent bookstores. For them, Banned Books Week is more than just a celebration of the right to read–it’s a reminder of the challenges book lovers face. As Republicans continue to challenge the books offered by local libraries, neighborhood schools, and small booksellers, we talked to three local bookstore owners–from Menomonie,…
