County capsules TRIVIA OVERNIGHT PARKING: Because of the large number of visitors to Stevens Point for Trivia weekend, overtime night parking restrictions will be temporarily suspended from Friday, April 19, through Sunday, April 21, in the city of Stevens Point, said Police Chief Douglas Carpenter. Vehicles that are legally parked on city streets will not be ticketed for overnight parking. Motorists will not be required to call the Police Department for overnight parking permission during the three-day event. All other parking restrictions will be enforced. Overtime night parking restrictions will resume as normal on Monday, April 22. * * * ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION SET: The city of Stevens Point will hold its annual Arbor Day observance and tree planting at 11 a.m. Friday, April 26, this year in the center of Forest Cemetery in the 2800 block of Church Street. A fourth-grade class from McKinley School will assist Mayor Gary Wescott in planting a variety of trees. The students will be instructed in the proper way to plant a potted tree. The Arbor Day trees are donated by Aid Association for Lutherans/Lutheran Brotherhood Central Wisconsin Branch 8101. The city's Tree City USA and Growth Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation will be presented. * * * CHURCHES SPONSOR EARTH SUNDAY ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR: Area churches are sponsoring an Earth Sunday Environmental Fair on Sunday, April 21, from 10:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1300 Main St., Stevens Point, both inside and/or outside the church. Exhibits and activities are planned on such topics as renewable energy (Midwest Renewable Energy Association), natural landscaping (Central Wisconsin Chapter of Wild Ones Natural Landscapers), composting and recycling (Portage County Recycling Program), supplemental recycling (Frame Church's Green Team), Also, environmental awareness (Aldo Leopold Audubon Society), global warming (Central Wisconsin Interfaith Global Warming Conference), environmental action (The Sierra Club), ground water protection (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources), environmental politics (Portage County Greens), Also, "What City Trees Do for You" (professor Bob Miller, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point), the Highway 10 bypass (Citizens Against the Bypass), the Kyoto Accord (UW-SP student environmentalists), the Crandon Mine (UW-SP student environmentalists). A vegetarian lunch (low on the food chain) will be available along with children's environmental activities and a chance to check out hybrid (gas/electric) automobiles. * * * BOSTON SCHOOL FOREST OPEN HOUSE: The Boston School Forest will hold a Spring/Arbor Day Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 26. The forest is located east of Plover on Lincoln Avenue, about one mile south of Highway 54. Tours of the facility, refreshments, food, free white pine seedlings, high ropes course demonstrations and other events will be offered. Newly designed T-shirts and sweatshirts will also be available for sale. A commemorative tree will also be planted in recognition of outgoing Superintendent of Schools Emery Babcock. * * * 'BLIND' VOLLEYBALL POSTPONED: The Sixth Annual "Blind" Volleyball Tournament with Triathlon Events (darts, pool and foosball) scheduled for Saturday, April 20, has been postponed. The Central Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Ministry Project, sponsors of the events, hopes to reschedule the tournament for the end of August. Persons and teams who would like to be notified of the new date should contact Marge Schumann at 345-6500. * * * TAKE BACK THE NIGHT: The 13th annual Take Back the Night rally and march against violence against women will be held on Wednesday, April 24, at UW-SP. Sponsored by the Women's Resource Center on campus, the rally begins at 6 p.m. in the Sundial or in the Encore Room of the University Center in case of rain. An open forum will follow at 7 p.m., followed by a march around campus and Stevens Point. The evening will close with a performance by folk singer Annie Humphrey in the Encore Room at 8 p.m. Speakers at the rally will include Marsha Breeser of Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS) in Stevens Point, Stephen Montagna of Men Stopping Rape in Madison, UW-SP Chancellor Tom George, assistant professor Michelle Brophy-Baermann of political science and freshmen student Chris Talbot. * * * MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVE TRANSPORTATION AIDS: Municipalities in Portage County have received the quarterly checks for general transportation aids and connecting highways aids for the first quarter of 2002 from the state Department of Transportation. The moneys come from fuel taxes and registration fees. Portage County received $482,859 while the city of Stevens Point received $52,991 for connecting highways and $258,419 for general transportation. Receiving the funds among villages were Plover, $68,126; Whiting, $12,872; Junction City, $4,806; Amherst, $4,351; Almond, $3,222; Rosholt, $3,222; Park Ridge, $1,996; Amherst Junction, $1,926; and Nelsonville, $587. Amounts reported for towns include Grant, $50,589; Plover, $35,705; Hull, $34,398; Stockton, $33,652; Sharon, $29,791; Buena Vista, $28,110; Pine Grove, $28,001; Carson, $27,220; Eau Pleine, $23,284; Dewey, $22,880; Amherst, $22,218; Almond, $21,884; Belmont, $18,063; Linwood, $17,370; Alban, $16,922; New Hope, $14,549; and Lanark, $14,228. * * * MSTC BOARD REVIEWS BUDGET: An overview of the next fiscal year's budget was presented to Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors during their board meeting held Monday afternoon. Nelson Dahl, vice president of finance and administrative services, presented planning assumptions and budgeting strategies to balance the proposed budget which begins July 1. Two of the assumptions include state funding increases are unlikely and taxpayers in the MSTC District can expect a low tax levy increase. The college's health insurance costs are expected to increase by 29 percent. The addition of one nursing section to begin in fall as well as the associated staff to support the section will be included in the proposed budget. Previously the board supported the addition of two nursing sections, however, the state budget deficit and proposed reductions in state aids created a revenue uncertainty for the college and the board altered the program addition plans. Dahl's proposal includes funding the nursing expansion with available dollars from college reserves. The MSTC Finance Committee will hold a special meeting on May 7 to review details of the proposed budget. The proposed budget will be presented at the next scheduled Board of Directors meeting which will be held May 20 at the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. In other action, the board approved an out-of-state tuition waiver for distance learning classes. With this action, along with the pending approval of the remaining 15 Wisconsin Technical Colleges, all technical college students will pay the same tuition and fees regardless of residence - district, state, national, or international - for distance learning classes. Facilities director Craig Hjelle said construction on the Stevens Point Campus project, which includes the addition of four classrooms, is expected to begin in August. * * * CRIMESTOPPERS SEEK ASSISTANCE: Portage County Crime Stoppers is seeking any information on a theft that occurred during the evening hours of Friday, March 29, in the parking lot of Len Dudas Motors, 3305 Main St., Stevens Point. Someone broke the hood ornaments off three new and five other Cadillacs and stole eight center-rim wheel covers from two of the new Cadillacs. Another privately owned Cadillac, which was parked on the city's south side, also had its hood ornament broken off and stolen that same evening. The total value of the stolen ornaments and wheel covers is more than $1,600 dollars. Anyone who may have observed something, or having any information on these incidents is asked call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-346-6600. Callers could earn a reward of up to $1,000 and can remain anonymous. * * * COMPOST BIN SALE: The home compost bin and pail sale is under way in Portage, Adams, Marathon, Taylor, Wood and Waupaca counties. Residents can recycle their leaves, grass, weeds and food scrap into rich compost for their lawns, trees and gardens with a Home Composter bin. Kitchen scraps can be collected and taken to the compost bin in the stainless steel Kitchen Katcher pail. Sponsored by the Portage County Solid Waste Department and UW-Extension, the bins are available for $39 each (A $69 value). The pails are $16. The order deadline is Sunday, April 21. Prepaid bins ordered in Portage County can be picked up on May 11 or 13 at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in the Plover Industrial Park on Highway B. Each recycled plastic bin has a locking lid, two lower doors for digging out finished compost and a how-to book. Each bin holds seven to eight 30-gallon bags of materials and comes with a 10-year warranty. The Kitchen Katcher Pail is 1.6 gallons. Free hands-on workshops are available with the purchase of a bin or pail in Portage and Waupaca counties. Bins and pails are on display at the Charles M. White Library, the Courthouse Annex, the Jensen Center and MRF. Order forms are available at display sites or can be downloaded from www.portagecountysolidwaste.org. Bins and pictures of the pails are also on display at all Copps Food Centers, County Market, the CenterPoint MarketPlace and the YMCA. For more information, call the Portage County Recycling and Solid Waste Hotline at 345-5972. * * * HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOW: The 7th Annual Harley Davidson Motorcycle Show will take place at the CenterPoint MarketPlace on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Harley Davidson owners from throughout central Wisconsin will display their custom, stock and antique motorcycles. Representatives from the local chapter of ABATE will be on hand with informational material about the organization and its efforts both locally and at the state level. Special merchandise vendors will also be featured. Spinnin' Wheels micro-reality stock car racing will also be available for those wishing to test their race car driving skills. There is no charge to participate and Harley owners can call 344-1599 if they are interested in participating in the show.