Portage County capsules PLANNING SURVEY DEADLINE: An error was made in the cover letter included in the Portage County Comprehensive Planning Community Survey sent out last week. The letter incorrectly stated the survey should be returned by Sept. 21. The correct date for returning the survey is Friday, Oct. 5. If anyone mistakenly discarded the survey, they can obtain a replacement by contacting the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department at 346-1334. * * * GOVERNOR WILL RELOCATE STATE GOVERNMENT TO POINT: Gov. Scott McCallum plans to relocate state government to Stevens Point and Wausau on Oct. 28, 29 and 30. Various agencies of state government, including the governor and his staff, will temporarily relocate here to conduct state business. A spokesman for the governor's office said on Wednesday, Sept. 26, that plans are still being worked out to determine where agencies will be located. Gov. Tommy Thompson conducted a similar relocation of state government to central Wisconsin in the early 1990s, part of his effort to periodically move state agencies out of Madison and bring them closer to the people. * * * PLOVER HOLDS OCTOBERFEST: The Plover Area Business Association will hold its second annual Octoberfest from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, in the village of Plover municipal parking lot at Post Road and School Street. The event is open to the public at no charge. A "Variety of Music" will include German-style music from the Jerry Schneider Band of Chilton and the Second Additions from Wittenberg. The Portage County Historical Society will provide glimpses from the past with authentic costuming, and some community groups will feature special events. Food and refreshments will be available, including some autumn specialty beers. * * * LANDS' END NEARING COMPLETION: Lands' End officials have indicated they will have an open house the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November at its new building in the Portage County Business Park. Lands' End now has 150 people on staff at the building and anticipates having 250 employees by the end of October, Brian Doudna, executive director of the Portage County Business Council, told the county Finance Committee Monday. * * * DECORATIONS MUST BE REMOVED FROM CEMETERY: Grounds crews of the Stevens Point Area Catholic Cemetery Association will remove and discard grave decorations after Oct. 7 that have been left on lots through the summer of 2001 and do not conform with cemetery rules. Individuals who wish to save decorations must remove them before Oct. 7. Grave decoration rules are posted at the entrances to the cemeteries and will be strictly enforced. The cemetery association is not responsible for decorations that are removed and discarded. To obtain a copy of the decoration rules send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: SPACCA 3241 Prais St., Stevens Point, WI 54481 Parishioners wishing to purchase cemetery lots should call the cemetery office at 341-3236 and leave a message to schedule an appointment. * * * SPACS 'STATE OF THE SCHOOLS' MEETING: Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools will hold the annual "State of the Schools" meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in the Pacelli High School Auditorium. The purpose of the event is to provide parents and community with information about the schools. * * * SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING: The Stevens Point Hotel/Motel Special Events Committee is now accepting applications for funding of 2002 Special Events sponsored by nonprofit organizations. Applications and guidelines may be picked up at the Stevens Point Parks and Recreation office, 2442 Sims Ave., during normal office hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The deadline for returning a completed application will be Nov. 2. The committee and funds were established to help fund original and innovative events that are open to the public and will provide entertainment for the community, along with attracting visitors to the area. Further information may be obtained by stopping by the office at 2442 Sims Ave. or by calling 346-1531. * * * BIKE ACROSS AMERICA PROGRAM: Portage County Home and Community Educators (HCE) will hold a public educational program at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Nelsonville Lutheran Church. Terry Schwirtz will give a talk and slide presentation on his "Bike Across America" trip. Schwirtz rode his bicycle, coast to coast, 3,447 miles in 31 days. For more information contact Jean Schwirtz, Portage County HCE President at (715) 258-9159. * * * 'SPUDS AND SUDS' PICNIC RESCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 13: The annual "Spuds and Suds" picnic, traditionally held in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's "Spud Bowl" football game, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13, following the Pointers' game against UW-River Falls, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The Spud Bowl football game against UW-Oshkosh was canceled on Sept. 15 when the two schools opted not to play out of respect for the victims of the terrorist attacks against the United States. This will be the first time in the 15-year history of the event that the picnic will be after the game, since all previous picnics were held prior to a night football game. The rescheduled picnic will give fans a chance to eat with the Pointer players and coaches, who will have an opportunity to take part in the picnic for the first time. Tickets for the Sept. 15 game against UW-Oshkosh will be honored for admission to any home game for the remainder of the 2001 season. The winners in the Spud Bowl raffle will be drawn at halftime on Oct. 13. There will still be opportunity to purchase tickets until the drawing. The top prize is a Green Bay Packer package for four that includes a limousine ride to the game on Nov. 4 against Tampa Bay. Raffle tickets will be sold at the game on Oct. 13 and at the homecoming football game on Oct. 6. The traditional menu of potatoes, bratwurst, chili, Coca-Cola and Point Beer will remain the same. * * * COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS GROUP RECEIVES GRANT: The Portage County Fire Chiefs Association has been awarded a state Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant for $9,556. The program, formerly known as the Title IV and the Rural Community Fire Protection grant program, provides 50 percent reimbursement for eligible project costs for county fire associations only. Individual fire departments are not eligible to apply. The Federal funds for the VFA grant program are made available to Wisconsin through the state forester. Locally, the funds will be used in three areas: First, to enhance wild land firefighting operations, with the purchase of a utility trailer stocked with fire fighting foam and miscellaneous wild land fire equipment. Second, to improve communications capabilities by providing a backup power source and upgrade of the county's central radio communications tower. Third, to purchase training materials and a video series covering the topic of "Rapid Intervention Teams." The matching funds portion of the grant program will be provided equally by all fire departments with response areas within Portage County. The application process and coordination of the grant program is being coordinated through the Portage County Emergency Management Office. * * * PRIEST FROM STEVENS POINT REASSIGNED: The Rev. James Benzmiller, a Stevens Point native, has been appointed pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Chippewa Falls, effective Tuesday, Sept. 11. He had been pastor of St. James Parish at Arpin, St. Joachim Parish at Pittsville and Holy Rosary Parish at Sigel. * * * WREA HONORED FOR PORTAGE COUNTY PROGRAM: The Wisconsin Retired Educators' Association (WREA) was honored in Portland, Ore., for "A Day in Space in Portage County" which was held in Stevens Point. On April 23, more than 850 fifth-grade students and their teachers, as well as other community members, visited with Astronauts Mark Lee and Harrison Schmitt. They also toured NASA exhibits and simulated space shuttles. WREA and the WREA Foundation sponsored the event, which received support from the business and school communities. The National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) presented the award to the WREA at a convocation last month. WREA is providing a copy of the award-winning video to each Portage County School that participated in the project. Several local teachers and students appear in the video. A statewide organization with more than 11,500 members, WREA has a central office in Middleton and 73 local units. There are four units in the area including the Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers Association (SPARTA). * * * PAVING BRICKS SOLD: Paving bricks uncovered during reconstruction of Strongs Avenue between Main and Clark streets are being sold to a Nebraska man. The bricks were apparently installed in the 1920s and '30s, then covered with asphalt in succeeding years. Jon Van Alstine, director of public works for Stevens Point, said the man offered the city 20 cents for each brick. City crews excavating the street then dumped the bricks for the man to sort out the bricks. Van Alstine said the man was interested in Purlington Paver bricks, considered the Cadillac of paving bricks. However, he said he didn't see any of that particular brand among the bricks uncovered. He also said there were fewer bricks in the roadbed than he expected. * * * CAR & TRUCK SHOW AWARDS: The 3rd Annual CenterPoint MarketPlace Classic Car and Truck Show was held on Sunday, Sept. 2, with vehicles from throughout central Wisconsin and beyond participating in the show. The Best of Show award went to Terry Dalsky, Plover, for his 1965 Ford Mustang. First-place winners in each of 14 classes as well as best of show included: Bob & Velma Henke, Wisconsin Rapids, Stock 1900-1957; David Vogt, Medford, Stock 1958-1968; John Quirk Stevens Point, and Tom & Sherry Janiszewski, Stevens Point, Stock 1969-1986 (tie); Jan Rodock, Wisconsin Rapids, Stock 1987-present; Gary Hansel, Germantown, Modified 1900-1986; Terry Sawyer, Bancroft, Street Machines-All; Tom Smrz, Stevens Point, Compact Cars-All; Bob Stratton, Nekoosa, Rods & Customs-All; Adam Knippel, Stevens Point, Mini-Trucks-Modified; Jim Weber, Wisconsin Rapids, 2wd Trucks - 1900-1963-Modified; Dee Zimbauer, Stevens Point, 2wd Trucks - 1964-present-Modified; Dave Guckeisen, Kiel, 4x4 Trucks - Modified; and Penny Wurzinger, Stevens Point, Mild Trucks (mini/2wd/4x4). Area businesses that made the show possible included Auto Select, Checks Muffler, Dave's Body Shop, Firestone Tires & Service, Johnson Towing, McDill Auto Wrecking, Precision Cellular & Sound and Truckshop USA. * * * CHARTER WILL ADD MORE CHANNELS: Charter Communications says it will add four more channels to the expanded basic lineup on Nov. 1. The new channels are Inspirational Network on channel 54, International Channel on channel 55, PAX on channel 56 and WE (Women's Entertainment) on channel 52. The digital lineup will also be changing, with ESPNews moving to channel 122 and Tech-TV moving into the vacated ESPNews space. Sundance will also be added to channel 152. Information about some of the new channels can be found on their Web sites, www.internationalchannel.com, www.pax.net, www.insp.org, www.techtv.com and www.sundancechannel.com. Charter will also be retiring the analog set-top converters, and customers who are receiving premium services will be notified of the change to either upgrade to digital services or discontinue premium services. * * * MEETING ON FOREST ALLIANCE: An informational meeting for landowners in the town of Rudolph in Wood County who are interested in learning more about Wisconsin Family Forest Alliance will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Rudolph Municipal Building on Second Street in Rudolph. Two members of the Deerfield Family Forest Alliance will answer questions regarding forming an alliance in Rudolph. There will also be a speaker giving a presentation on managing wildlife. Questions may be directed to Carrie at Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. during regular business hours at 343-6217. * * * STEVENS POINT BUILDING PERMITS: The city of Stevens Point issued permits for one commercial building, two duplexes and seven single family residences in August. The commercial permit was for a $450,000 building for Parkdale Development, 1101 Brilowski Road. The duplexes were valued at $180,000 at 3340 Whiting Ave. and $122,500 at 5764 Sandpiper Drive. The value of the single family residences and their locations are $160,000 at 2125 Ironwood Ave., $135,000 at 3424 Teton Drive, $120,000 at 5457 Walter St., $90,000 at 717 Walker St., $89,000 at 625 Sixth Ave., $85,000 at 2925 Lampman Drive and $60,000 at 3325 Fourth Ave. * * * PLOVER BUILDING PERMITS: The village of Plover issued a building permit for a single family residence at 4811 Fieldstone Drive valued at $117,000 in August. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS: The Portage County Planning and Zoning Department issued four permits for commercial buildings and 15 for single family residences in August. The commercial buildings were for $310,000 in the town of Stockton, $135,000 in the town of Dewey, $122,000 in the town of Alban and $40,000 in the town of Amherst. The residential permits were three for $460,000 in the town of Stockton, three for $345,000 in the town of Lanark, three for $335,000 in the town of Buena Vista, two for $325,000 in the town of Alban, two for $178,000 in the town of Amherst, one for $80,000 in the town of Dewey and one for $65,000 in the town of Grant. * * * STABBING INCIDENT: A 27-year-old Stevens Point man was arrested following a stabbing at about 12:20 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Morey's Bar in the town of Hull, a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. An argument between the man and a 22-year-old Stevens Point woman began in the bar and moved outside to the parking lot. When a 30-year-old Stevens Point man attempted to break up the argument, the 27-year-old man stabbed him in the arm. The woman also received cuts to her arm. The male stabbing victim was taken by ambulance to St. Michael's Hospital, where he was treated and released. The woman refused treatment. The alleged stabber fled the scene on foot, but was quickly apprehended by Stevens Point Police Department officers. * * * LABOR BILL CLEARS SENATE COMMITTEE: Senate Bill 235, the "Labor History Bill" authored by State Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, cleared the Senate Committee on Education Wednesday. The bill requires public schools in Wisconsin to provide instruction on the history of organized labor and the collective bargaining process. "The workers of 100 years ago endured horrendous working conditions, long work hours and very meager pay," Shibilski said. "Because of the efforts of those workers to organize and demand respect and fair compensation, today's working men and women enjoy retirement benefits, pensions, health insurance and fair pay - benefits we take for granted today."