Inside the Portage County line By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette SKIBBA SERVED TOWN OF SHARON, COUNTY: Claude Skibba, chairman of the town of Sharon, died unexpectedly Tuesday. He had been the town chairman since 1982 and was a town supervisor from 1967 until he became chairman in 1982. He also served on the Portage County Board of Supervisors from 1974 to 1986. Claude like to boast that he was a "super Pollack." All the other Polish have the "ski" at the end of their names, he said. "I've got 'ski' at the front of my name." Claude wasn't a politician, even though he kept winning elections. He was a public servant and he enjoyed being out in public, although he didn't want to be the center of attention. For picnics, fairs and dinners, he was on the grounds. But he wasn't going around identifying himself and shaking hands for votes. He was there because he enjoyed it. His sons enjoyed playing softball, and Claude showed up to watch games in the Bevent, Ellis, Polonia, Rosholt, Stevens Point, Amherst and Plover areas, even if the sons weren't playing. He even followed the fortunes of the old team his brother sponsored, Skibba Trucking. * * * BADGER STATE WINTER GAMES: The Badger State Winter Games will return to Stevens Point Feb. 4, 5 and 6, but it could be the last time. City Pages, a Wausau Area News & Entertainment Weekly, said in its Jan. 13-20 issue that Roger Luce, director of the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce, feels this may be the last year Wausau will host the games. Wausau Area Events had signed the hosting contract, but has disbanded, so the chamber raised the $53,000 hosting fee this year. Luce said businesses have been providing the hosting fees for the 12 years of the games and wants area municipalities to dip into their room tax revenue to help pay the fees. Supposedly, La Crosse, Wisconsin Dells and Appleton are interested in hosting the games. Stevens Point's participation in the games has dwindled in recent years. The city and Wisconsin Rapids used to host the figure skating events but they were moved out several years ago. This year, the city will again host only the high school age C hockey tournament at Willett Arena. Tom Schrader, Stevens Point park and recreation director, said the city had been offering free ice time for the games and, when the figure skating was pulled out, he discovered the city was the only one giving free ice time. If the games move to another location, Schrader said he won't have any problem filling ice time, especially not with the demands from local youth hockey, figure skating and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. * * * MOVING AS SCHOOL IS CANCELED: After school was canceled Monday, Jan. 10, because rain left are roads icy, some students were looking for another day off when at least 11 inches of snow fell on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. But road crews were able to clear the things off so schools were back in session. One Plover boy didn't like that idea, particularly after radio announced that schools in Wild Rose were closed because of the snowstorm. So he suggested his family move to Wild Rose. * * * NATION IS SAFE: Congressman Dave Obey started a recent press conference with good news for the people of Wisconsin and the rest of the nation. "The Congress has been out of session for 30 days and the country is still safe," Obey said.