Portage County capsules CENTRAL WISCONSIN IDEA FUNDED: The Central Wisconsin Idea, a collaborative venture between the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the two-year campuses in Marshfield and Wausau, and Mid-State Technical College, was included as part of the budget compromise passed by the legislature's conference committee Tuesday. "I am very happy that my work with Senator (Chuck) Chvala and other members of the budget conference committee has paid off," said State Rep. Julie Lassa (D-Plover). "This initiative is important because our future economic development depends on increasing the continuing education opportunities for our workers here in central Wisconsin." Under the conference committee version, UW-Stevens Point would receive $1.2 million for the Central Wisconsin Idea in the second year of the biennium. The proposal would allow adult returning students, who do not have the time or ability to travel to UW-Stevens Point, the ability to take courses and receive collaborative degrees at two-year campuses or the technical colleges in conjunction with the university. * * * CITY BAND PLANS FINAL CONCERTS OF SEASON: "Highlights from Concert Season 2001" will be the theme this week during the Stevens Point City Band's final concerts of this summer's season. The band, under the direction of Kathryn Kawleski, will perform Tuesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at the Portage County Health Care Center and Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the bandshell of Pfiffner Pioneer Park. The final concerts will feature highlights from this season's concerts, including "Hooray for Hollywood," "Star Dust," "Count Basie Salute," "Walt Disney Band Showcase" and "America the Beautiful." Bagley's "National Emblem March" will be the music for the weekly children's march. Both concerts are free of charge and the public is welcome. Audience members should bring chairs or blankets for seating. In the event of inclement weather, the Wednesday concert will be held in CenterPoint MarketPlace. * * * TRAFFIC FATALITY: A 41-year-old Mosinee man was killed Thursday, June 19, after his pickup truck left the roadway and struck a tree, a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. The accident happened at 9:41 p.m. on Highway O, about three-tenths mile south of Highway H, in the town of Eau Pleine. The driver and only occupant of the pickup truck, Warren H. Johnson, died at the scene. The Rudolph Fire Department and area first responders assisted deputies at the scene. * * * GOVERNOR APPROVES AIRPORT PROJECT: Gov. Scott McCallum has approved a $166,667 project to maintain pavements at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport. McCallum's action releases $8,333 in state funds to help complete the project, involving crack sealing and slurry sealing the two runways and hangar taxiways. The city of Stevens Point is contributing $8,334 and Federal Aviation Administration is providing the remaining $150,000. The work should be completed by October. The airport's primary runway measures 120 by 6,028 feet. The shorter, crosswind runway measures 75 by 3,642 feet. Both were constructed in 1985. The black slurry seal will also enhance safety by making runways more visible for pilots, said Michael Gabor, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Each runway may be temporarily closed for two to three days during the project. * * * LANDFILL APPLICATION WITHDRAWN: On Monday, July 16, the Wisconsin Waste Facility Siting Board has closed its file and designated the case withdrawn on a future county landfill proposed for the Gerald Burling property in the town of Stockton. The Waste Facility Siting Board's action follows the Portage County Solid Waste Management Board's decision to develop a waste transfer station to haul waste to the Winnebago County landfill after the existing Portage County landfill reaches capacity in about five-and-one-half years. The Solid Waste Management Board has also asked the town of Stockton to refund the $5,000 fee the board paid the town for a waste disposal permit application, since it is no longer pursuing the application. The Solid Waste Management Board will maintain possession of the Burling property and says its decision to withdraw the waste disposal permit application does not preclude it from re-initiating the landfill property siting process on the property. * * * AMBULANCE CONTRACT TERMINATION: The Portage County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to act on a resolution Tuesday, July 31, giving the city of Stevens Point notice the county intends to terminate the ambulance service agreement between it and the city. The Stevens Point Fire Department operates the Portage County Ambulance Service. The proposed resolution calls for terminating the present agreement between the two parties effective Dec. 1, 2002, but says the county intends to immediately enter negotiations with the city to provide a successor agreement to the contract. The county says "improvements are needed in areas of overall program management and supervision, the establishment of performance measures for the service, provision of insurance certification, review of the number of ambulances provided, consistent monthly financial and accounting reports, the provision of personnel rosters and training records, as well as the strategic review of the optimum methods of improving and providing services to county residents…" The county executive and public safety committees have already approved the contract termination resolution. * * * COUNTY EMPLOYEE MORATORIUM: The County Board is also scheduled to act on a resolution placing a moratorium on new tax levy funded positions and initiatives until after the county completes its first countywide strategic plan setting its operational direction for the next 10 years. Officials expect the strategic plan to be completed in the middle of 2002. It will identify ways to prioritize funding mechanisms and identify new positions and initiatives requiring additional funding. The county finance and personnel committees have already approved the moratorium. * * * FINAL DAYS FOR THE SENTRY DORM: After spending $297,500 in 1995 to purchase the former Sentry Dormitory at 1530 Church St., then $6,500 to remove asbestos and $36,000 for utilization studies that determined remodeling would cost twice as much as new construction, the county plans to tear down the building. The County Board will vote next week on releasing $33,600 in contingency funds to demolish the dormitory. The unoccupied building has deteriorated and has a leaking roof, no heating and air conditioning system and unusable plumbing. The city has requested using the vacated space as a staging area for the upcoming Lincoln Center remodeling and addition project. * * * GEPETTO FUND PAYS OFF OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNTS: The Gepetto Fund at the Community Foundation of Portage County has awarded a grant of $850 to the Stevens Point Area School District to pay the balance owed by parents for their children's school lunch accounts. This one-time gift was made in response to recent discussions by the school district on the sanctions applied to individual students when their parents do not keep their accounts current. "We wanted to ensure that children are not publicly sanctioned for the problems their parents have in paying for their meals," stated the fund representative. In accepting the gift, the school district agreed that all students will start the next school year owing no outstanding balances and will have equal access to school lunches. The Gepetto Fund is a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation of Portage County. Grants from this fund are made at the discretion of the fund representatives. Contributions to any of the 65 funds administered by the Community Foundation are welcome at any time. Contributions may be sent to the Community Foundation of Portage County, P.O. Box 968, Stevens Point, WI 54481. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. * * * RELAY FOR LIFE FEATURES SPECIAL STAMP CANCELLATION: The United States Postal Service will be offering a special relay cancellation in conjunction with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life being held in Amherst on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28. The Amherst Post Office will cancel any stamped envelope brought to the event or sent to: Postmaster, Amherst WI 54406. Envelopes can also be obtained at the event. The pictorial stamp on these will be the breast cancer awareness stamp. Six cents of the 40-cents stamp purchase price goes to breast cancer research. After the event, requests for the cancellation can be sent to the Amherst Post Office and are available for 30 days. The Amherst, Amherst Junction, Custer, Nelsonville, Plover, Rosholt and Stevens Point Post Offices will also have a team walking in the event. * * * SPACS HIRES FINANCE MANAGER: The Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools (SPACS) has hired Greg Bruckbauer as the new finance manager. Bruckbauer is a graduate of UW-SP with a bachelor of science degree in business administration finance. He has 11 years of accounting experience and two years of computer and consulting experience to bring to the position. He worked as an accountant and an application specialist before his recent tenure at FS Cooperative Inc. as the controller. Bruckbauer and his wife, Kathy, live in Plover with their three sons. * * * THIRD ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR & TRUCK SHOW: The CenterPoint Marketplace will host its Third Annual Classic Car and Truck Show on Sunday, Sept. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entries are now being sought in the following categories: Stock 1900-1957, Stock 1958-1968, Stock 1969-1986, Stock 1987-present, Modified 1901-1986, Modified 1987-present, Street Machines-All, Compact Cars-All, Rod & Customs-All, Mini Trucks-Modified, 2wd Trucks-1900-1963-Modified, 2wd Trucks-1964-present-Modified, 4x4 Trucks-Modified and Mild Trucks (mini/2wd/4x4). Entry forms may be picked up at the Customer Service Center or the main office at the Center-Point Marketplace or may be requested by calling 344-1599. An entry fee of $5 is charged and the registration deadline for eligibility for indoor placement is Aug. 24. The outdoor portion of the event will take place on the south ShopKo parking lot, along Main Street, and advance registration is not required. The show is free to the public. Dash plaques, sponsored by Pat's Body Shop of Polonia. will be given to the first 75 participants to arrive on Sept. 2, and three trophies will be awarded in each class, as well as one Best of Show award. Call the Marketplace at 344-1599 with questions. * * * OLD HIGHWAY 18 CLOSED: The Stevens Point Department of Public Works is installing sanitary sewer and water main on Old Highway 18, from Brilowski Road to 500 feet east. Stuczynski Trucking and Excavating is working on the project, which is estimated to take two or three weeks to complete. * * * NOON LIONS COOKOUT: The Stevens Point Noon Lions will hold a cookout in front of Wal-Mart in Stevens Point on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2, 3 and 4. Hamburgers, brats and hot dogs will be served. All proceeds go to charity. * * * ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHAPTERS MERGE: Five Alzheimer's Association chapters in northern and western Wisconsin joined forces on July 1 in an effort to streamline administration, better utilize staff and volunteers, and consistently deliver high quality programs and services to a growing Alzheimer's population. The new Greater Wisconsin Chapter is made up of the former Indianhead, Lake Superior, North Central, Northeastern, and Riverland Chapter areas. It encompasses 52 Wisconsin counties and Houston County in Minnesota. More than 40,000 individuals with Alzheimer's disease, their families, and caregivers are being served from offices in Ashland, Eau Claire, the Fox Valley, Green Bay, La Crosse, Rhinelander, and Wausau. Each regional office has a minimum of one full-time program specialist and will provide a package of core services, including a toll-free Helpline, support groups, a lending library, family and community education, resource fairs, "Safe Return" program, and grassroots advocacy for dementia-related public policy issues. Locally raised monies will stay in the respective area and support community programming. For more information on programs and services available in Portage, Adams, Clark, Marathon, Taylor, Waushara and Wood counties, call the Wausau Regional Office at 888-297-6605.