Portage County capsules MICHIGAN AVENUE WILL BE OPEN BY TUESDAY: Michigan Avenue between Ellis and Main streets will be open again by Tuesday, Sept. 4, in time for the reopening of Stevens Point schools. Ryan Schanhofer, Clark Street project manager for the state Department of Transportation, said Wednesday, Aug. 29, that Michigan should reopen to traffic late Friday afternoon, Aug. 31. "The only thing that could affect that is painting if it rains," he said. If rain does delay the painting, the painting will be done later, but Michigan will definitely be open Tuesday morning, he said. * * * COMMUNICATION TOWER PLAN APPROVED: The Portage County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement Tuesday with Vertical Partners allowing the company to put cellular phone and other communication towers on county-owned land. Vertical Partners, based in Minneapolis, Minn., will market county property to interested businesses. On any existing structure, Portage County would receive 80 percent of monthly revenues. If Vertical Partners had to build a tower, Portage County's share of the revenues would be 20 percent. Sheriff Stan Potocki said the Vertical Partners agreement could help emergency services get better radio communication coverage in the county. The agreement allows the county to install radio repeater units on any new towers built. Currently the county has about half of the seven radio repeater stations its needs to eliminate radio dead spots, Potocki said. Supervisor William Peterson was the only board member to vote against the resolution. Peterson, a member of the Park Commission, said most of the county-owned land in outlying areas is parkland. Parkland bought with state grants would have to have its ownership changed to allow for the towers, he said. The County Board will have final approval on any tower Vertical Partners plans to build. New towers would be built on a 100-foot by 100-foot site with a 12-foot wide access road leading to it, a Vertical Partners representative said. Tower leases generally last from 15 to 25 years. * * * BARGAINING AGREEMENT RATIFIED: The County Board ratified a collective bargaining agreement for Portage County Clerical and Related American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 348. The agreement covers the period of Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2002. One provision calls for employees to pay 10 percent of their health insurance premiums by Dec. 31, 2002. Employees now pay 5 percent and the county the remaining 95 percent. The total family premium currently is $890 a month. * * * STOCKTON SEEKS LANDFILL ACTION: The town of Stockton has requested the County Board act on the proposed solid waste disposal agreement between the town and county related to the existing county landfill in the town of Stockton when the board meets on Sept. 18. The agreement will legally allow the current solid waste disposal facility to remain operational until 2006, to hopefully serve the solid waste disposal needs of the county's citizens and taxpayers, Town Chairman Ronald Borski wrote in a letter to County Chairman Clarence Hintz. The town of Stockton Local Committee and the Portage County Solid Waste Negotiating Committee agreed to the proposed agreement on April 12 and the county Solid Waste Management Board agreed on May 24. The proposed agreement will cost the county about $1 million. * * * MEETING ON OLD HIGHWAY 18 WORK: The town of Hull will hold a public informational meeting on road construction to be done on Old Highway 18 at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the town of Hull Municipal Building, 4550 Wojcik Drive. * * * HOFMEISTER HEADS CANCER CAMPAIGN: Richard Hofmeister will chair the Stevens Point Hope Lodge Community Campaign for the American Cancer Society. Hofmeister was appointed to the position by Hope Lodge General Chair Frederick "Fritz" J. Wenzel. Assisting Hofmeister on the local committee are Michael Copps, Raymond Nass and Charles Nason. The Stevens Point committee is part of a regional campaign by the American Cancer Society in central and northern Wisconsin to build a short-term residential facility in Marshfield. Cancer patients will stay free of charge while they receive outpatient treatment at St. Joseph's Hospital or Marshfield Clinic. Wenzel said the goal for the campaign is to raise $5 million. He said $1,650,000 has been raised so far, including land donation, building supplies and services, furnishings and leadership gifts and pledges. More information is available from the Hope Lodge office at (800) 582-5152. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE: "Native Realm," a history of the Polish in Portage County, by Michael Goc has been republished and is now available from the Portage County Historical Society. The book had been out of print. Copies are $35. The historical society also has Goc's newest history of Portage County, "Land and Lumber" for $35. Both of Goc's books are available as a pair for $60. The books are available at the museum, 1475 Water St., and Heritage Park in Plover from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2, or from Little Professor Book Store. Books may also be ordered by called the historical society at 344-4423. * * * CITY DIRECTORY IS PRIVATE EFFORT: City of Stevens Point officials say an information gathering firm named "City Directory" is a private company. The city is not involved in the solicitation of information and there are no city employees assisting in the gather of information, city Comptroller-Treasurer John Schlice said Wednesday, Aug. 29. The company provides information as a subscriber service relating to residences and businesses, he said. Residents reported receiving calls from the company verifying children's names for inclusion in the directory and a company spokesperson said that a written request is needed to the company to exclude any information that a resident does not want listed. The address to write to is "City Directory," PO Box 265, Belmond, Iowa 50421. Residents are not required to give out information to the solicitor, but should follow up with written confirmation of their request for nonlisting of information, Schlice said. If a resident does not receive satisfaction from the solicitor or has concerns, the company's main phone number is (641) 444-4468. * * * NATURE CENTER OFFERS HAY RIDES: Jordan Park Nature Center will hold horse-drawn hay rides on Sunday, Sept. 2, as part of the Labor Day program from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Rex Runke, park manager, will present special injured wildlife programs. The guided rides will feature Dino, the parks natural. All programs are free, but donations to the Nature Center are welcomed. Proceeds are used to improve exhibits and educational programs. * * * LIPPERT HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: State Rep. MaryAnn Lippert, R-Pittsville, will hold office hours at the Central Wisconsin State Fair in Marshfield this weekend. She will be at the Republican Party of Wood County Booth located in the Expo II Building. The office hours are 1 to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, and from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3. * * * REPLAY OF SOUTH SIDE ROAD MEETING: A videotape of the Aug. 21 joint meeting of the Stevens Point Common Council, Plan Commission, Finance Committee and Board of Public Work will be shown at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, on Community Television, cable channel 3 in Stevens Point. The meeting concerned the proposed "South Side Business Highway Alignment Plan."