County capsules POINT STUDENTS WILL HAVE ONE EXTRA DAY OF SCHOOL: Students in the Stevens Point Area Public school district will have their last day of school on Friday, June 7, instead of Thursday, June 6. Students have to attend school for an extra day to make up for a pair of school days that were cancelled because of inclement weather. The students only have to make up one of the days because the district will have enough hours of instruction to meet state standards with the extra day, said Superintendent Emery Babcock. However, Babcock said that if the district had to cancel another day of school it may have to extend the school year even further. The School Board approved the new ending date at its meeting on Monday, April 8. * * * NEW PLOVER SIGNAL LIGHT IS MEETING TOPIC: The state Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold a public informational meeting Tuesday, April 16, regarding the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Post Road and Roosevelt Drive in Plover. The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Activities Room of the Plover Municipal Center, 2400 Post Road, Plover. DPT staff will answer questions, and attendees may submit written or verbal comments about the proposal. Those unable to attend can submit written comments to Tony Kemnitz, Short Elliot Hendrickson (SHE), 1500 Merrill Ave., Wausau, WI 54401. The traffic signals are designed to enhance pedestrian safety and create a coordinated traffic signal network along Post Road between Plover Springs Road and Chestnut Drive. * * * TREE CITY RECOGNITION: Stevens Point has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the 21st year the city has received the national recognition. The city also received the more prestigious Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program for engineering/forestry coordination and standards and specifications. The Growth Award was created to recognize environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA cities. This is the third time the city has received the award, this time for the second year in a row. * * * 'BLIND' VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED: The Sixth Annual "Blind" Volleyball Tournament with Triathlon Events (darts, pool and foosball) will again benefit the Central Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Ministry Project. The tournament, hosted by the Super Bowl in Plover, will be held on Saturday, April 20. "Blind" Volleyball is played by hanging sheets from the top of the volleyball net to the floor, blocking the view of opponents. The registration fee of $100 for teams of six or more will cover volleyball, triathlon events, barbecue dinner and refreshments following the round-robin portion of play. Start time is 10 a.m. Triathlon events will be played throughout the day, and raffles with donations from area merchants will also be held throughout the day. The tournament is limited to 16 teams this year. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Deadline for application materials along with registration fee of $100 per team must accompany the completed registration no later than April 15. An HIV/AIDS informational table will also be available. The Central Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Ministry Project offers confidential support to individuals, families, friends and partners of those living with this disease regardless of gender, race economic status, sexual orientation, age or religion. For more information on the tournament contact Marge Schumann, Ministry Coordinator at 345-6500. * * * CONSERVATION CONGRESS DELEGATES: Ben Gollon and Greg Wysocki were named delegates to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress at Monday's Portage County fish and wildlife rules hearing. Gollon was re-elected unanimously to a two-year term and Wysocki defeated Matt Wagner, 99-95, for a three-year term. The Conservation Congress is an advisory body to the state Natural Resources Board. * * * RECOUNT AFFIRMS OUTCOME: A recount Monday of votes in the aldermanic contest in Stevens Point's District 2 confirmed incumbent Hans Walther as the winner over Jesse Higgins, with Higgins picking up one vote. The final tally was 81 votes for Walther and 79 for Higgins. The additional vote involved a voter marking an "X" outside the box for votes on the printed ballot. The voter used a different pencil than the one provided at the polling place and didn't fill in the box as required. The computer that tabulates the votes won't count ballots unless the box is filled in and the correct pencil is used, Victoria Zdroik, city clerk, said. * * * FREE HOMEBUYER WORKSHOP SET FOR APRIL 13: CAP Services is sponsoring a free, first-time homebuyer workshop for low- and moderate-income families on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at M&I Bank, 1245 Main St., Stevens Point. Dave Plaisance, loan officer with M&I Bank, will describe the home-loan process, how to determine an affordable price and the various loan programs that are available. Diane Jahn, a licensed Realtor with Parker Realtors, Stevens Point, will discuss the multiple-listing service, how to choose a Realtor, the real estate contract, inspections a buyer should request and the closing. Mona Aubut, housing coordinator for CAP Services, will talk about the pre-purchase housing counseling, and down payment and closing cost assistance available through CAP's HomeBuyers Assistance Program. While the workshop is designed for low and moderate-income households, any first-time homebuyer is welcome to attend. People interested in attending the program must register by calling at 343-7108. Seating is limited. * * * BANDSHELL ADDITION PROCEEDS: Stevens Point plans to proceed with an addition to the bandshell in Pfiffner Pioneer Park, even though the cost of the project has increased and funding from private groups is falling short of the $35,000 goal. The Finance Committee recommended Monday that the project begin despite the cost increasiong from an estimated $85,000 to $103,485 and the various groups raising about $7,700 for the addition so far. The structure was built more than 25 years ago and groups raised most of the funds for that construction. * * * CRIME STOPPERS REQUEST ASSISTANCE: Portage County Crime Stoppers is seeking public help to solve three burglaries in Bancroft, a small community in the town of Pine Grove, about 10 miles south of Plover, during the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 18. At the Cedarwood Family Restaurant someone pried open a door to gain entry and then rummaged through the office and restaurant. At the Pop-A-Top Tavern and the Bancroft Foods Grocery Store, doors were also pried open to gain entry. Drawers and cabinets were rummaged through and electronic machines were pried open. Nothing other than cash is believed taken during these burglaries. Anyone who may have observed something, or having any information on these burglaries is asked call Crime Stoppers at 1 (888) 346-6600. Callers could earn a reward of up to $1,000 and can remain anonymous. * * * SPORT BIKE SHOW: A first-ever Sport Bike Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the CenterPoint MarketPlace in Stevens Point. The show will take place in the common area of the shopping center. Sport bikes from throughout central Wisconsin will be on display. A Honda VTX and Yamaha Warrior are expected to be among those bikes present. Spinnin' Wheels Virtual Reality NASCAR Racing will also be there for the public to test their racing skills. * * * SEATBELT SAFETY CAMPAIGN: Safety-minded agencies, health-care providers, educators and law enforcement are joining community and civic groups to urge Wisconsin motorists to buckle up for safety. During the week of April 15-21, law enforcement officers from the Stevens Point Police Department, Portage County Sheriff's Department and Plover Police Department will increase surveillance and patrols to ensure motorists are obeying traffic laws, using seat belts, buckling up passengers and using child safety seats properly as part of the "Click It - Why Risk It" statewide campaign. Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that seatbelts, when used, reduced the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. "We want to encourage and promote seatbelt and child safety seat use as an everyday, every ride habit," said Sgt. Ron Carlson of the Stevens Point Police Department. "'The Click It - Why Risk It' campaign is just a reminder of the seatbelt safety we at the Stevens Point Police Department promote 365 days a year." * * * ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR: "Estate Planning After Tax Reform" will be offered free on Tuesday, April 30, from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Sentry Theater, Stevens Point. Topics that will be presented include "The New Gift and Estate Tax Rules Explained," "Learn the Advantages of Donor Advisory Funds," "New Rules for Section 529 Plans and Education IRAs" and "Eight Things You Should do to be Prepared." Registration is required. Interested people need to call 344-0890 or e-mail carole@andlaw.com by Saturday, April 27. Attorneys from the law firm of Anderson, Shannon, O'Brien, Rice and Bertz who concentrate their practice in estate, tax, business, probate and medical assistance law donate their time and expertise to present at the seminar. Presenting this year are Amy J. Eddy, Rick A. Flugaur, William K. Hlavac and Torren K. Pies. The seminar is sponsored by the Planned Giving Consortium, a group of six Portage County nonprofit groups providing information about the personal and tax benefits of planned charitable giving. Consortium members are American Red Cross of Portage County, CAP Services, Community Foundation of Portage County, Saint Michael's Foundation, Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools and Stevens Point Area YMCA Foundation. * * * DEMOCRATS ELECT DELEGATES: The Portage County Democrats held their monthly meeting on Monday, April 9, and chose delegates for the 7th Congressional District Democratic Convention in Stetsonville on April 27. The list of delegates includes: Leigh Allgaier, Jack Allgaier, Ann Arndt, Pat Blum, Jeff Buhrandt, Ray Cal, Jennifer Donnelly, Tom Eagon, Bernadette Flatoff, Eloise Hawley, Kim Hawley, Stella Hawley, David Helbach, Ty Helbach, Deb Kezeske, Brenda Kulas, Dan Kursevski, Paul Mertz, John Moe, Jack Mrozinski, Stan Potocki, Also, John Schlice, Logan Schmit, Tyler Schmit, William Schmit, Sue Shibilski, Will Stites, Gerald Ugland, Cindy Wisinski, Kenneth Young, Mary Vils, Mary Thurmaier, Jesse Higgins, Helen Van Prooyen and Barbara Kranig. State Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, State Rep. Julie Lassa, D-Plover, and party chair Gary Hawley are all automatic delegates to convention. The Portage County Democrats meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the back room of the Olympic Restaurant in Stevens Point. For more information about the Portage County Democrats, call chair Gary Hawley at 345-9586 or check out the Web site at www.portagedems.org. * * * PLOVER BUILDING PERMITS: The village of Plover issued permits for five new residences and one new mobile home during March. The houses and their valuation are 1961 Ashford Drive, $144,000; 2070 E. Breezewood Drive, $120,000; 3410 Mirage Circle, $105,000; 1981 Norway Pine Drive, $105,000; and 1951 Ashford Drive, $100,000. The mobile was valued at $40,400 at 3630 Haga Drive. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS: The Portage County Planning and Zoning Committee issued 11 permits for new residences in March. The permits for three residences in the town of Sharon valued at $486,900, two in the town of Alban valued at $269,000, one in the town of Hull valued at $165,000, one in the town of Linwood valued at $150,000, one in the town of Stockton valued at $125,000, one in the town of Eau Pleine valued at $85,000, one in the town of Carson valued at $63,500 and one in the town of Lanark valued at $50,000.