One year ago, on Sept. 2, 2025, New Glarus 360 began with a simple idea: New Glarus deserved more local news, more often, and in a format built for the way people live today. Since then, we’ve published 1,980 articles, sent 256 newsletters and recorded 372,235 website views. Our Facebook community has grown to 6,384 followers, and 2,894 people now subscribe to New Glarus 360.
Those numbers are gratifying, but they aren’t really the story. The story is everything behind them: debates over ATVs, the future of EMS, the long Highway 69 reconstruction, school sports, fires, elections, new businesses, old photographs, community celebrations and hundreds of smaller moments that otherwise might have passed without much notice. Over the past year, New Glarus 360 has tried to be there for all of it — not just when something big happens, but every day, helping people better understand the community they call home.
Thank you for reading, subscribing, sharing stories, sending tips, answering questions, opening our newsletters and occasionally telling us when we got something wrong. New Glarus 360 is only one year old, and there is still an enormous amount we want to build. But after 1,980 stories, one thing is already clear: there was room in New Glarus for a different kind of local news organization, and you helped prove it.
Biggest Stories This Week
What We’re Working On
Trails Pizza is preparing to reopen Sept. 13, and we’ll continue following the restaurant as opening day approaches. We’ll share the new menu and be there when the doors reopen.
The old Hinterstättli sign was once a familiar fixture in downtown New Glarus before disappearing many years ago. Now there’s a new effort to bring the sign back, and we have the story behind the initiative.
Speaking of signs, whatever happened to the old Swiss Lanes signs? We’re digging into their history, tracking down where they may have gone and seeing whether any pieces of the former bowling alley still survive.
We have some major football interviews coming soon with two people who have made names for themselves in the sport and both have ties to New Glarus. We’re looking forward to sharing their stories and their connections to the community.
Green County Sheriff Cody Kanable is running unopposed for reelection in November, and we’re planning a sit-down interview with him. We’ll ask about the job, the challenges facing law enforcement and what it means to serve as Green County’s top elected law enforcement official.
The New Glarus Glarner Knights are in the heart of their 2026 football campaign, with a big road game Friday night against Cuba City before returning home the following week to face Darlington. We’ll have complete coverage of both games, including stories, photos and highlights.
Fall color season is coming, and we’re putting together our Top 10 Places to See Fall Colors Near New Glarus. We’ll highlight some of the best scenic drives, parks, trails and overlooks for enjoying southern Wisconsin in autumn.
We spoke with all three major wireless carriers about cellphone capacity during New Glarus Oktoberfest, when thousands of visitors can strain local networks. We’re finding out whether the carriers can boost service during one of the village’s busiest weekends.
It’s a busy fall across New Glarus-area athletics. The Sugar River Raiders soccer team is off to a fast start, while volleyball is in action, cross country is racing and the swim team is making waves — and we’ll have wall-to-wall coverage of high school sports throughout the season.
Where does New Glarus gather? We’re exploring whether the village has a true community hub comparable to Monroe’s downtown square or Madison’s Memorial Union Terrace, and what makes a gathering place become part of a community’s identity.
We’re learning more about Hometown Pharmacy’s new wellness initiative and what it means for customers. We’ll also have more on the pharmacy’s upcoming move to 1305 Highway 69 and how the new location may change the business.
The owners of New Glarus Hardware are making some big moves in Mount Horeb, and we’re talking with them about what’s happening there. We’ll also find out whether those plans could bring any changes to their longtime New Glarus location.
Green County is planning a public hearing on data centers, and we’re watching for the date and details. Once it is scheduled, we’ll explain what’s being considered, why the issue matters and how residents can participate.
Photo of the Week
What You May Have Missed
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Something We Noticed
There are bigger things happening in New Glarus than a free supper at a church. There are roads being rebuilt, businesses are hanging hands, houses are being built and decisions are being made that will shape the village for many years. But on Sept. 10, Shepherd of the Hills will open its doors and feed people for no particular reason other than that they are neighbors. Nobody has to win anything. Nobody has to prove they need it. Nobody has to make a purchase or become a member. There is simply a meal and a place at the table. In a community that spends a lot of time celebrating its festivals, traditions and Swiss heritage, perhaps this is a tradition worth noticing, too: people quietly doing something nice for other people.
Maybe communities are held together less by the big things than we think. Maybe they are held together by somebody making another pan of food because there might be a few more people coming. By the person who sets up the tables, the person who stays afterward to clean them and the person who notices that someone sitting alone could use some company. None of those things will show up in a village budget or a census report. There will be no ribbon cutting. And probably no fanfare. But somewhere between the first plate served and the last chair put away, New Glarus will have done one of the simplest and most important things a town can do: it will have reminded people that there is still a place for them at the table.
Did You Know
New Glarus 360 now has a dedicated Photos page, giving you an easy way to explore the community through some of the images featured in our reporting. Click any photo to view a larger version, move through the gallery and jump directly to the story connected to that image. It’s one of several improvements we’ve recently rolled out to make New Glarus 360 easier and more enjoyable to use. Want to see what else is new? Visit our Changelog at https://www.newglarus360.com/changelog/ for a running list of new features, improvements and website updates.
Past Issues
Need to reference a past issue of Community Update? No problem. We’ve got you covered. Previous editions are easy to find, so whether you want to revisit a local story, catch up on something you missed, or go back and check a link, the archive is there when you need it.
How to Reach Us
Have a story idea, tip or announcement? Just reply to this email or submit a story idea at our website. We read every message. You can upload a photo, a file, or news tip by clicking on the button below. Or you can email us anytime at editor@newglarus360.com or visit our Contact page at https://www.newglarus360.com/contact/.
Thanks for supporting local journalism and for helping us tell the story of New Glarus and the people who make this community what it is.
Todd Klassy
New Glarus 360
