Portage County capsules POWER PLANT MEETING: The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will hold a public information meeting on Wednesday, May 30, about a proposal from Mirant Corp., formerly Southern Energy Inc., to build a power plant in the town of Plover. The meetings will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Plover Town Hall, 5081 Hoover Ave. Mirant lists two sites for the plant, one along Highway 54 at Hayes Avenue and the second on 54 at Grant Avenue, a site that has already been rejected by the Plover Village Board. The plant would be fueled by natural gas and is a merchant plant, selling electricity generated by the plant to others. Copies of the application for the plant are available at the offices of the Plover town clerk, the Plover village clerk, the Portage County clerk, the Plover Library and the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point. * * * LANDS' END ON THE BLOCK? Even before Lands' End opens its news facility in Stevens Point later this year, Business Week magazine reports the Dodgeville-based firm is for sale. The business weekly lists Sears Roebuck, Wal-Mart and May Department Stores as firms that took a look at the casual wear catalog retailer during the past year, but none has made an offer. Business Week says 73-year old Chairman Gary Comer is looking for an exit strategy, but adds he might be seeking too high a price, or that prospects for online retailing may not be great. The magazine also notes Lands' End has lost five executives and four board members during the past year as a result of disagreement over the company's direction. The CEO responds that change is something "you have to go through." * * * TOWN OF SHARON SEEKS FIRST RESPONDERS: Town of Sharon residents interested in joining a First Responder organization are asked to call 592-4689 and leave a message for Jason. The names of those interested in joining first responders will be delivered to the Sharon Town Board members. In addition to calling, those interested can also e-mail at JDWSPEEDY@mail.com. * * * TRAFFIC FATALITY: A 50-year-old town of Plover man died in a traffic accident at about 9:15 p.m. Sunday, May 20, on Forest Lake Drive, one-tenth mile west of Pierce Avenue, in the town of Plover, a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. Richard L. Musch, 2770 Biron Drive E., was driving west, when his pickup truck rolled over and he was ejected. An obituary can be found in this week's issue of The Gazette. * * * LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE SEEKS APPLICATIONS: The Portage County Leadership Institute (PCLI) is currently recruiting the class of 2001-2002. This 10-month program includes daylong sessions one day per month, from August through May. Tuition is $650 per person. Scholarships are available. PCLI is supported by the Portage County Business Council Foundation and designed to provide Portage County with strong and effective leaders. The institute prepares participants to participate constructively in addressing community concerns and is an opportunity to learn more about the area, become involved in its growth and development and meet others committed to Portage County's economic future. For more information, or to obtain an application, contact Kate Cherry at the council's office, 344-1940 or e-mail pcbcwi@coredcs.com. Applications will be accepted through June 1. * * * DAVIES WILL SERVICE FOUNDATION AS INTERIM DIRECTOR: With the loss of executive director Scott Schultz, board president Terry Rothmann has appointed Kathy Davies to serve as interim director of the Community Foundation of Portage County. Davies currently serves as vice president of the board. The Foundation office will maintain all hours and office functions with assistance from office manager Wendy Menzel. A search for a permanent executive director begins immediately. All inquiries should be forwarded to the foundation office. The Community Foundation of Portage County is located at 1501 Clark St. in Stevens Point. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 342-4454. * * * CRAZY DAYS PREPARATION: The Association of Downtown Businesses is preparing for Crazy Days in downtown Stevens Point on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10 and 11, with Crazier Days in the CenterPoint MarketPlace for the rest of the week. For more than 40 years, Stevens Point has celebrated Crazy Days, the downtown's biggest event, with sidewalk sales, live entertainment, nonprofit booths and a beer garden. Live downtown entertainment will be going for two days on two stages, with Pat Laabs of Jim Laabs Music heading up that program. Groups or individuals who would like to perform are asked to contact Laabs at 341-1666. Sidewalk space is provided to nonprofit groups that wish to hold fund-raisers during Crazy Days. Interested groups should contact Lori Buchkowski at Arbuckle's Eatery, 341-2444. * * * CITY RESELLS BONDS: The Stevens Point Common Council approved a sale of bonds that will save the city more than $60,000 on Wednesday, May 23. The issue involves $1,510,000 general obligation bonds and reduces the interest rate from 7.1 percent to 3.175 percent. The council was supposed to act on the bonds on Monday, but a typographical error resulted in a delay until Wednesday so the council could meet the state's Open Meetings law requirements and act on a correct figure. * * * CHARITY GOLF OUTING: The Hail Mary Open, an 18-hole scramble golf outing in memory of Mary L. Yeager and Mike Peterson and in honor of Dale "Doc" Brown and Cheryl Rushevics will be held on Saturday, June 16, at the Wisconsin River Golf Club. The event is a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association and University of Wisconsin-Transplant Unit and will be in a scramble format, so the lowest score doesn't necessarily win. Tee times begin at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 for a shotgun start with 100 golfers. The event is $50 per person, plus $10.50 per person for a cart and includes 18 holes of golf and a picnic dinner, beverages, music and door prizes at Archie's Bar & Grill, 2317 Division St. Commitments and entry fees should be sent to Tina Hafner, 340 N. Wood Lane, Stevens Point, WI 54481. * * * GARDEN LINE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS: The Portage County UW-Extension Office will open its Garden Line phone for homeowners and gardeners to call for answers to questions when faced with various problems, starting Tuesday, May 29. The Garden Line phone number is 346-1589 and will be answered by Portage County UW-Extension Master Gardeners and the summer horticulture assistant. Volunteers will be available to answer questions several mornings and afternoons each week. Messages can be left on the Garden Line 24 hours a day, and calls will be returned during business hours. In addition to answering calls, Garden Line personnel will identify samples that can be dropped off at the Portage County UW-Extension office. Other services available through the UW-Extension office for nominal fees include soil testing, plant disease identification and testing for Dutch elm disease, oak wilt and verticillium wilt. For more information on horticulture-related services, contact the Portage County UW-Extension Office at 346-1316. * * * MID-STATE BOARD REVIEWS MARKETING STRATEGY: The Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors heard a report Monday, May 21, on the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) marketing strategy from Kyle Schwarm, executive director, WTCS Marketing Consortium. Schwarm said the consortium provides a forum for the 16 technical colleges to collaborate on marketing initiatives that enhance image and promote learning opportunities and services in a cost-effective manner for WTCS. He said a major benefit of the consortium is the financial savings each technical college experiences with buying power. In other action, the board approved a resolution for the award of general obligation promissory notes totaling $2,500,000 to finance capital expenditures for fiscal year 2001-2002, suspended the Travel Agent program effective January 2002 and heard a report on a new contract services opportunity with the Wausau Fire Department for Advanced Intensive Care Paramedic training. The next board meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held on Monday, June 18, at the Wisconsin Rapids campus. Committee meetings will begin at 5:15 p.m., and the board meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. * * * TAUSCHER HEADLINES ALZHEIMER'S GOLF OUTING: Mark Tauscher, starting right tackle for the Green Bay Packers and an Auburndale native, will participate in the William "Bill" Wildcat, Sr. Memorial Open on June 25 at Wausau's Greenwood Hills Country Club. Proceeds will support Alzheimer's Association - North Central Wisconsin Chapter programs and services in 13 area counties. The event begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast and shotgun start at 10 a.m. Snacks will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A social hour and autograph party is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Some of the current and former NFL players expected to join Tauscher include Bill Butler, "Red" Cochran, Dick Deschaine, Lee Nystrom, Bill Schick, and Blaise Winter. An awards banquet will begin about 3 p.m. Individual registration costs $160 and includes 18 holes of golf, use of a golf cart, breakfast, snacks, awards, and the banquet. The fee for a foursome is $545. Call the Alzheimer's Association at 800-200-1221 to register by June 15.