Chain to Main Local News - Monday, May 4, 2026

There was a brief scare in Waupaca Friday afternoon that led to road closures and a bomb squad response. Authorities say a citizen brought what appeared to be old dynamite to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office around 2:26 p.m. The individual believed the explosives dated back to the 1920s and were in unstable condition. As a precaution, the area was secured until the Brown and Outagamie County Bomb Squad arrived. Trained technicians safely removed the dynamite and later detonated it in a controlled environment. Winchester Academy is hosting a special history program tonight. “Black on the Wisconsin Frontier, 1725 to 1868” begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Waupaca library lower level meeting rooms. UW–Madison professor Christy Clark-Pujara will discuss the lives and contributions of free and enslaved Black residents in early Wisconsin, highlighting often-overlooked stories from communities across the state. The program is free and open to the public with coffee and cookies preceding the program starting at six. Details online WinchesterWaupaca.org. The city of Waupaca Water and Sewer utility board meets tomorrow at 1pm in the Council Chambers lower level of Waupaca City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and agenda is posted online at City of Waupaca dot org. Lastly, the Waupaca Area Public Library is hosting a Lunch and Learn program this Wednesday. The event runs from noon to 1 p.m. and features Breanne Yeska sharing the history of the Indian Crossing Casino, a landmark on Columbia Lake with more than a century of local significance. Attendees will hear stories from past owners and learn about the venue’s role in the community. The program is free, but registration is required online at WaupacaLibrary.org.