Bob Heffner came to Rice Lake in 1960 to become the Rice Lake Chronotype’s first sports editor. He recorded all the sports in Rice Lake for the first 20 years of his 33-year newspaper career. With a notebook and camera, Heffner was a constant and popular figure at sports events, from high school games to stock car racing. During his sports editor tenure he saw high school sports expand with the growth of the tournament playoff system, and most notably in the implementation of Title IX in 1972, giving girls increased opportunities in sports. Bob Heffner was raised in rural Barron and began his newspaper career in high school at the Barron News-Shield. After serving in the Navy, Heffner worked again at the News-Shield and then at a newspaper in Beldenville before coming to Rice Lake. Bob was an excellent baseball player in his younger days – winning the revered Barron County Baseball League batting title in 1961. He was also an avid bowler and walker into his retirement years. Good natured, kind and with a quick wit, Heffner became one of the community’s most influential and well-liked promoters through his newspaper work and in many civic organizations. He served as a coach in youth softball, was a city councilman and member of the City Planning Commission, and was one of the developers of CedarSide Trail. His community contributions also extended to the historical aspect as he authored books on the history of Rice lake and its airport. Heffner was presented with the Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and was inducted into the Rice Lake Speedway Hall of Fame in 2014. He continued writing a column of general interest for The Chronotype right up to the time of his death in January of 2021, just shy of his 90th birthday.