Portage County capsules MICHIGAN AVENUE WILL CLOSE: The Clark Street construction project is progressing eastward, and the intersection with Michigan Avenue will be closed on Wednesday, July 18. Jon Van Alstine, director of public works for Stevens Point, said construction crews hope to have Michigan reopened in time for the start of school after Labor Day. * * * AIRPORT PROJECT APPROVED: Gov. Scott McCallum has approved an $80,000 project to design future improvements at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport, including reconstruction of the terminal apron and connecting taxiways. McCallum's action releases $40,000 in state funds to help complete design work. The city of Stevens Point is providing the other $40,000. Completion of the design plans will set the stage for competitive bids and reconstruction of the apron and taxiways, said Mike Gabor, airport development specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. About two-thirds of the existing 300-foot by 850-foot apron is in failing condition. Gabor said the design work should be completed this fall, with the actual construction work set for next year. The Stevens Point Municipal Airport consists of two runways - the 6,028-foot primary runway and a 3,642-foot crosswind runway. The airport is home to about 40 aircraft and supports about 37,000 take-offs and landings each year. * * * ROSHOLT THRESHEREE SHOW: The 12th Annual Thresheree & Antique Tractor Pull will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, at the Rosholt Fair Park. In addition, pre-1936 cars and trucks are welcome to attend. Ongoing activities include steam engine, tractors, gas engines, threshing sawmill, dragsaw, flea market, museum lath mill, wood splitter, shingle mill, corn husking, shelling and grinding, 1908 fire pumper, Robinson Hay press, hand feed separator, blacksmith, snow fence maker, Allis Chalmers Rotobaler, horses and horseshoeing demonstrations. Saturday events include free pedal pull for children with weigh-in at 9:30 a.m. and pull at 10:30 a.m., antique tractor pull at noon with scale closing at 11:30 a.m., dyno at 12:30 p.m. and free dance with Prototype from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday events include breakfast from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at upper food stand, music by Ron Van Groll in Community Hall, power parade at noon, dyno after parade and micro-mini-tractor pull. Admission is $4 to all events both days, and children under 12 are free. Parking is also free. A free shuttle service is available on the grounds. This year's show is in memory of Dennis Panko and Leo F. Zywicki and is sponsored by Rosholt Area Threshermen Inc. * * * UW-SP PROJECT ADVANCES: The House of Representatives passed its version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill Wednesday. The bill includes $2 million for the Global Environmental Management (GEM) teaching center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. * * * ALMOND-BANCROFT SCHOOL CALENDAR: The Almond-Bancroft School District adopted the 2001-2002 school calendar on Tuesday, July 10. The first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 27, with the start of the winter break on Monday, Dec. 24. School will resume after the winter break on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002. Spring break will run from Monday through Friday, March 25-29, 2002. The last day of school will be Friday, May 31, 2002. Other weekdays without classes will be Aug. 31, Sept. 3, Oct. 25-26, Nov. 16, Nov. 22-23 and May 27, 2002. Half-days of school will be held on Nov. 2, Jan. 18, 2002, and March 22, 2002. The Bancroft School open house will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, and the Almond-Bancroft Elementary/Secondary open house will be held Thursday, Oct. 11. Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for Nov. 13 and 15. * * * LEMKE HONORED FOR GREEN CIRCLE WORK: Carl Lemke of Wisconsin Rapids, an official of Stora Enso and its predecessor, Consolidated Papers, was honored for his contributions to Stevens Point's Green Circle Monday. Lemke helped clear the way for the recreational trail to go through the company's property along the Wisconsin River, and he expedited financial contributions to the Green Circle. He is the paper firm's assistant secretary and director of real estate. Roy Menzel presented a plaque to him at a Green Circle Board meeting at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitors Center. The Green Circle, 24 miles long, loops through and around Stevens Point and Whiting. Under development is a connecting segment west of the Wisconsin River. * * * MSTC BOARD REORGANIZES: Two members of the Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors, Sandra Haasl, Wisconsin Rapids, and Joseph Kinsella, Stevens Point, took the oath of office Monday, July 9, during the board's 2001-02 organizational meeting. Haasl, a board member since 1995, began her third, three-year term. She is an accountant and office manager at Plover River Inc. Kinsella begins his first three-year term as a member of board. He is the president of Pointe Precision, LLC. The board also elected Haasl chairperson for 2001-02. The other officers elected were Patrick Costello, Wisconsin Rapids, vice chairperson; Dr. Alice Randlett, Stevens Point, secretary; and Robert Beaver, Friendship, treasurer. The next board meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 20, at the Wisconsin Rapids campus. Committee meetings will begin at 5:15 p.m., and the board meeting at 6:15 p.m. * * * CITY BAND WILL FEATURE "PETS ON PARADE": The Stevens Point City Band will present its weekly summer concert on Wednesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pfiffner Pioneer Park bandshell along the Wisconsin River. The band, under the direction of Kathryn Kawleski, will present a concert for animal lovers, "Pets on Parade." Featured music will include "The Black Horse Troop," "The Turkey In The Straw," "Leap Frog," "The Donkey Serenade," "The Waltzing Cat," "Highlights from The Lion King" and more. Fillmore's "The Footlifter March" will be the music for the weekly children's march. In keeping with the concert's theme, a pet parade will be held in conjunction with the children's march. Audience members are invited to bring their pets on leashes and join in the parade. Concerts are free of charge and will be performed every Wednesday evening through Aug. 1. Audience members should bring chairs or blankets for seating. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held in the CenterPoint MarketPlace and a children's march will be held in lieu of the pet parade. * * * PLOVER BUILDING PERMITS: The village of Plover issued permits for a $500,000 addition to Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 2000 Roosevelt Drive; two duplexes and seven new homes in June. The duplexes and their valuations were $310,000 at 1140/42 Heatherstone Place and $169,000 at 2911/13 Green Drive. The new homes and their valuations were $170,000 at 1831 Ashford Drive, $150,000 at 1850 Ashford Drive, $110,000 at 1941 Ashford Drive, $100,000 at 3020 Lexington Place, $92,000 at 3021 Lexington Place and $92,600 each at 2510, 2520 and 2530 Homestead Way. * * * STEVENS POINT BUILDING PERMITS: The city of Stevens Point issued a building permit for an airport hangar for the Noel Group valued at $1,094,089 and three permits for single family homes. The homes and their valuations are $235,000 for Blenker Construction, $165,000 at 3000 Lampman Drive and $160,000 at 2924 Lampman Drive.