Portage County capsules MORNING SHOW PULLS PLUG: An effort to provide a locally based radio talk show has ended - for now. "The Morning Show with Schultz and Stockwell," a fixture on radio station AM1010 for the past year is off the air. Citing differences of opinion with the station's owner related to the future direction of programming, Mike Stockwell, news director and operations manager for WSPT radio, and Scott Schultz, former Stevens Point mayor who served as morning show host and political analyst, "decided to pull the plug on the show", Stockwell said. According to Schultz, " I will miss having an opportunity to keep the community informed about the variety of programs and events that make this such a tremendous area in which to live." The pair is negotiating with other media outlets in the area that have expressed an interest in picking up all or part of the programming formerly provided on AM1010. * * * AMHERST HONORS DECORATIONS: The village of Amherst has handed out awards to the winners of the annual Lighting Decorating Contests selected by the "Secret Santa" judges. In the residential category, the Michael Zblewski residence, 417 Oak View Court, Amherst, took first place. In the business category, the Amherst Inn Bed & Breakfast, 303 S. Main St., Amherst, took first place. The most decorated street in the village was Mill Street. The judges also mentioned beautiful displays on Laconia Street, North Main Street and Politos Way. A business notable mention went to OK Hardware. * * * ROSHOLT LISTS TOP DECORATIONS: The Rosholt Community Development Committee has handed out awards for the top decorations in the village. Among the residences, Mike Garski was first, Scott Karstaedt second; Arnie Kaminski third, and Mike Hodge and Gene Smith tied for fourth. For businesses, first place went to Gene's Rosholt IGA, second to Bushman's Inc., third to Hardware Hank's and fourth to Gordy's Stop 'n Go. Village President Norma Anderson said the Rosholt Community Development Committee thanked everyone who helped to make "Rosholt Light Up Your Town" something to be proud of. * * * PLOVER SNOWMOBILE ORDINANCE: The village of Plover snowmobile ordinance limits snowmobile travel within the village only to and from the Portage County snowmobile trail when the trail is open, Plover Police Chief Roger W. Zebro says. Zebro said village streets, excluding state and county trunk highways, are designated for snowmobile travel for the shortest distance from a residence or lodging establishment in the village to the trial. Snowmobilers must travel on the extreme right side of the roadway or shoulder, he said, traveling with the flow of traffic and in single file. Headlights must be on at all times, and the snowmobiles must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians, while observing speed limits, he said. Snowmobilers should contact the Portage County Parks Department at 346-1433 to determine when the local trails are open. Any questions about the Plover ordinance can be directed to Sgt. Dwayne Wierzba at the Plover Police Department, 345-5255. * * * CITY RESCINDS CHARTER VIOLATION: The Stevens Point Common Council Monday, Dec. 18, rescinded its finding that Charter Communications violated its cable television agreement by overcharging franchise fees. In July, the council said Charter was in violation because it was charging more than the 5 percent franchise authorized. Charter attorneys have recently provided data, which the city had been seeking, that clarifies the situation. The council also temporarily extended to March 31, 2001, the cable agreement to allow negotiations on a new agreement to continue. This is the fourth extension. * * * COUNCIL APPROVES RECOMMENDATIONS: The Council also approved recommendations from its committees, which had met during the previous two weeks. * * * JOB TRAINING CENTER GAINS FEDERAL FUNDING: The new job training center in Stevens Point to benefit Portage County workers will receive federal funding in the form of a $250,000 grant. U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, said that the federal budget passed by the House on Friday, Dec. 15, includes funds for the center. "Last year the representatives from the Portage County Business Council, the UW-Stevens Point and Mid-State Technical College asked me to help them with their plans to establish a job training center in the Portage County Business Park," he said. The grant will be under the Housing Department's Economic Development Initiative (EDI) for equipment and operational costs associated with the center. The center will help assess the skill level of employees in the local workforce, identify what kind of training would be beneficial and provide the training. * * * CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY BREAK: Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools will begin their holiday break at the end of the school day on Friday, Dec. 22, and return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The SPACS administrative office will be closed on Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1. * * * VILLAGE APPROVES ARCHITECT: The Plover Village Board approved Stubenrauch Architects Inc. to do an architectual proposal for the village of Plover municipal building facilities when it met Wednesday, Dec. 20. "In hotel terms the building needs a freshening up," Oliver Merriam, village administrator said. He pointed out that the building is more than 30 years old and that the carpets are worn and need replacing. He also said that some interior walls might be removed or rearranged to make more efficient use of the space available. The proposal will cost the village $2,500, although that amount will be deducted from the total job if the village chooses Stubenranch to make the changes they suggest. * * * VILLAGE ALLOWS MASSAGE THERAPIST: The village of Plover Plan Commission approved an interpretation of the village's zoning ordinance that would allow a state licensed massage therapist to operate in the 2500 block of Post Road. The interpretation was necessary because establishments offering massages currently are required to operate in a B-3 zoning, which, according to Community Development Manager Richard Holden, is generally an adult entertainment type zoning. No B-3 zoning currently exists in the village. The interpretation allows state licensed massage therapists to operate in a B-2 zoning. Medical and health care facilities are able to operate in B-2 zoned areas, and Holden said that licensed massage therapists are similar to those types of businesses. * * * MSTC GETS FAVORABLE AUDIT: Representatives from the audit firm of Grant Thornton shared a favorable opinion regarding financial standards with the Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors at their monthly meeting Monday evening. A summary of the audit results indicate three primary points: the reports on the financial statements and on compliance with federal and state requirements are unqualified, there are no weaknesses in the district's internal controls and there are no findings or questioned costs related to federal or state awards. The board accepted the 1999-00 audited financial statements. The next board meeting will be Monday, Jan. 22, at the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. Committee meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the board meeting at 6:15 p.m. * * * VILLAGE WON'T SUPPORT POWER LINE: The village of Plover Board decided not to honor a request by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) to publicly support a proposed 345kv transmission line from Wausau to Duluth, Minn when they met Wednesday, Dec.20, 2000. Trustee Roger Bullis said he felt the board should not support the line because of a lack of information, such as the affect the line would have on wetlands and farmland and on how many residences would be located near the line. Trustee Gary Krause was the lone board member in favor of the line. He said he didn't think the board needed to know where the line would go, or the ramifications it would have, as WPSC would be more knowledgeable about it than the board. Krause added that he thought the line was necessary to avoid an energy crisis like the one in California. * * * PLOVER ELECTION BOARD MEMBERS NAMED: The village of Plover approved the appointment of election board members for 2001-2002. The electors representing the Democratic Party are Rosemarie Durst, Ramona Allen, Susan Allen, Mary Ann Sankey, Mona Kizewski, Geri Ross and Sue Dimka. Because the Republican Party did not submit a list of election board members, other village residents were chosen without party affiliation. They are Glenis Adams, Shirley Strike, Lois Tufte, Florence Wiedenhoeft, Mary Ann Sandstrom, Mildred Wanserski, Mary Wright, Donna Konkol, Lorraine Swanson, Betsy Rosicky, Georgianne Wilson, Shirley Belmore and Natalie Stenglein. * * * WATER TOWER NEEDS PAINTING: The village of Plover Board approved an agreement with Earth Tech to provide bid and construction services for painting water tower No. 1. Earth Tech will determine whether the whole tower needs to be repainted or just the outside and portions of the inside. The study will cost the village $19,330, but the painting itself will be considerably more expensive. The painting will cost between $200,000-$300,000 depending on whether the paint originally used on the tower is now considered hazardous. * * * VILLAGE TO BID ON VEHICLES WITH POINT: The village of Plover board authorized the wastewater and water systems to purchase vehicles cooperatively with the city of Stevens Point. Stevens Point is accepting bids on a city purchase of 34 vehicles. The village needs two new trucks, and hopes to save money by going in on the volume purchase.