Community Corner
🌱 How will merging Cottage Grove’s elementary schools change your child’s day?
Be sure to catch Law Enforcement Committee on the Cottage Grove Patch calendar

Hi there, Cottage Grove! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will merging Cottage Grove’s elementary schools change your child’s day?
- How will Cottage Grove benefit from Wisconsin’s $1 billion broadband boost?
Also on today's calendar: Doundrins Distilling: General Knowledge Trivia Night.
Find out what's happening in Cottage Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Cottage Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Morning rain; cloudy, windy, with a high of 42 and low of 9 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Colder; breezy in the morning, temps: high: 22, low: 20.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 38 and low of 7 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Cottage Grove, Taylor Prairie schools consolidating in fall 2026 (channel3000.com) — Families in Cottage Grove should prepare for a major change: Cottage Grove School and Taylor Prairie School will be combined into a single 4K–2 building starting in fall 2026 to cut costs and streamline staffing. Monona Grove School District leaders say the move follows a detailed review of enrollment and facilities, and they’ll share transition details with parents, staff, and the community as planning continues.
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• Ratcliff statement on broadband funding (stoughtonnews.com) — Cottage Grove’s state senator Melissa Ratcliff is backing a newly approved, more-than-$1-billion federal investment to expand high-speed internet across Wisconsin, aiming to reach 175,000 homes and businesses. She says she’ll push for an efficient, equitable rollout that prioritizes schools, libraries, health care facilities, and local governments, and credits U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s role in securing the funding.
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📸 Around Cottage Grove
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Cottage Grove
★ Featured events ★
- Law Enforcement Committee
Municipal Services Building, 210 Progress Dr, Cottage Grove
5:30 pm
Tuesday December 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Law Enforcement Committee - Cancelled
Cottage Grove, WI Calendar , 210 Progress Drive , Cottage Grove
5:30 pm - Doundrins Distilling: General Knowledge Trivia Night
Doundrins Distilling , 300 Progress Dr Suite F , Cottage Grove
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 23
Thursday December 25
📣 Cottage Grove Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Senior Shape Up Video Class
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
8:45 am - Foot Care Clinic with Savannah
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
9:00 am - Reflexology
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
9:30 am - Free Mending
Central Library - Study Room 211
10:00 am - Craft Group
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
10:00 am - Baby Play Date
Goodman South Madison Library - Meeting Room 115
11:30 am - Rummikub
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
1:00 pm - Monona Active Aging
Monona, WI Calendar , 1011 Nichols Road , Monona
1:00 pm - Holiday Merriment
Monona, WI Calendar Monona, WI 53716
1:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- If your looking for dining option.
Located in Sun Prairie. The Meze, a Mediterranean restaurant. 503 West Main St, Sun Prairie. (Nextdoor Cottage Grove South) - All lanes on Highway 51 near McFarland reopen following a crash.
7:06AM on Dec 16: Traffic is closed on US 51 Northbound/Southbound between County Rd AB and Mahoney Rd in McFarland due to an accident. (Nextdoor )
- Arby's Restaurant posted a job opening for Shift Manager - FT in Cottage Grove. Apply here.
- McDonald's posted a job opening for Shift Manager in Cottage Grove. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cottage Grove here.
🗞 Nearby News
Sun Prairie
- Smoke detectors save lives: Sun Prairie garage fire contained quickly (wkow.com)
- Sun Prairie West girls take on strong challenge from Madison Memorial (hngnews.com)
- $50,000 ticket sold at Sun Prairie Kwik Trip (channel3000.com)
Monona
- Madison Sports Hall of Fame to honor broadcaster for first time (captimes.com)
Ok Cottage Grove! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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