County capsules SUMMER PROGRAM REGISTRATION: Registration for summer programs is now occurring at the Stevens Point Recreation Department, 2442 Sims Ave., from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Only city residents may register at this time for youth lessons in tennis and swimming, nature programs, preschool programs, supervised playgrounds, day camps and adult tennis and basketball leagues. Nonresidents of the city may register starting May 4. For more information, visit the Recreation Department or call 346-1531. * * * GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT MEETINGS: The future of ground water management in Portage County will be the subject of a series of meetings held at locations throughout the County. The meetings, sponsored by the Groundwater Citizens Advisory Committee, will begin promptly at 7 p.m. with a 30-minute slide presentation by the county water quality specialist. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session and a discussion of groundwater issues. Members of the public are encouraged to share their ideas with the Citizens Advisory Committee members who will be present. Monday, April 29 - village of Plover Municipal Building Activities Room Tuesday, April 30 - Almond High School Auditorium Wednesday, May 1 - Rosholt High School Vocal Music Room Thursday, May 2 - Jensen Center, Amherst Monday, May 6 - Grant Elementary School Gymnasium, Kellner Wednesday, May 8 - Army Reserve Center, Junction City Thursday, May 9 - Charles M. White Public Library, Stevens Point For more information, contact Ray Schmidt, water quality specialist, at 346-1334 or schmidtr@co.portage.wi.us. * * * PROVOST/VICE CHANCELLOR FINALISTS WILL VISIT UW-SP: Five finalists for the position of provost/vice chancellor for Academic Affairs will visit the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP) between April 22 and May 10. The finalists were selected from a pool of 50 applicants from throughout the country. The five were named by a 12-member search and screen committee, co-chaired by Aga Razvi, professor of natural resources, and Bob Tomlinson, assistant chancellor for Student Affairs. The committee has been meeting since Jan. 21. Each candidate will present an open public forum while visiting the campus, during which the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions from the floor. The candidates, their scheduled interview dates and open forum times include: * Sue Hammersmith, dean, College of Arts and Sciences at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich., who visited campus Monday, April 22. * Karen White, dean of Fine Arts at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Neb., who will participate in an open forum on Tuesday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. in Old Main 102 (Founders Room). *Harold Kafer, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill. (May 2-3). Open forum on Thursday, May 2, at 3:30 p.m. in Old Main 102 (Founders Room). *Virginia Helm, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, Ind. (May 6-7). Open forum on Monday, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. in University Center 235. *Chris McGowan, Dean of Science and Mathematics, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Miss. (May 9-10). Open forum on Thursday, May 9, at 3:30 p.m. in University Center 113. Following the candidates campus visits, input will be received from the campus and community. Chancellor Thomas George will make the final selection. * * * AMHERST ARBOR DAY: The Village of Amherst Arbor Day Celebration will be held Monday, April 29, at 3:15 p.m. at the Scout Hall, 120 Washington St., Amherst. The Village of Amherst Tree Board and Cub Scout Pack 296 will host the Arbor Day Celebreation ceremony which will be followed by the planting of trees in the Village of Amherst Tree Nursery. The public is welcome. * * * NEW SCHOOL ZONE LAW: Gov. Scott McCallum recently signed into a law a bill that will help increase the safety for school children at and near school-zone crossings, said Sgt. Ron Carlson, traffic safety coordinator for the Stevens Point Police Department. Under the current law, school-zone speeds apply "when children are present," Carlson said. Some judges have interpreted this law to mean that the 15-mph speed limit applies only when two or more children are present. The new law forces drivers to slow down even if there is just one child present. The 15-mph speed limit also applies when only a school crossing guard is present in a properly marked "school crossing" area, Carlson said. This area may now include mid-block "school crossing" areas as well as intersections that are identified with proper signs. * * * DROWNING VICTIM SEARCH CONTINUES: The search is continuing for a missing Fox Point man presumed drowned downstream of the DuBay dam. Capt. David C. Zarter, 31, was fishing in a boat Thursday, April 18, beneath the dam when it overturned shortly after 6 p.m., a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. Authorities had to call off the search that evening because of severe weather. High water and large river flow volumes have hindered the search, the report said. Stora Enso officials closed the gates of the dam for two hours to lower water levels, but the gates had to be reopened and the search was terminated due to dangerous water conditions. Zarter's badly damaged boat was found one-half mile downstream. Officials are monitoring river conditions to see when it is save to resume the search, the report said. The Sheriff's Department, Rudolph Fire Department, town of Rome Fire Department, Department of Natural Resources and the Stevens Point Fire Department's "Ice Angel" airboat are assisting in the search. Authorities are also using two underwater cameras. * * * BURGLARS BUSTED: A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrests of three men, a 19-year-old Plover man and two 18-year-old Stevens Point men, on charges related to a series of car burglaries and thefts from cars, authorities said. The Stevens Point and Plover police departments and Portage County Sheriff's Department were involved in the investigation. Search warrants were served at 1975 Water St., Stevens Point, 5595 Birch Drive, Plover, and a 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier convertible. Items reported stolen includ tools, radio and stereo equipment and jewelry have been recovered, authorities said. Not all property has been accounted for. Police expect to make additional arrests. * * * CHARGES FILED IN DOG MAULING: The Portage County District Attorney's office has filed two felony charges of causing injury by the negligent handling of a dangerous weapon against Bradley D. Laskowski, 20, the owner of two pit bulls that mauled an 11-year-old girl at his home Saturday, April 6, at his Stevens Point residence, District Attorney Thomas Eagon said. In its investigation the Stevens Point Police Department unearthed evidence of other attack incidents involving the dogs, Eagon said. The criminal complaint alleges two of Laskowski's pit bulls attacked the girl and the dogs had been trained to attack on command. Wounds to the girl's arms and legs required two hours of surgery to close. Laskowski faces up to a $10,000 fine and five years imprisonment on each count, Eagon said. * * * LIPPERT HONORED: State Rep. MaryAnn Lippert, R-Pittsville, and State Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, were recently honored as "Legislators of the Year" for their leadership in the growing movement to curb tobacco on Wisconsin families. The two are the first state lawmakers to receive the award bestowed by Smokefree Wisconsin, a coalition of health, education and religious groups, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Wisconsin Medical Society. Lippert was awarded for protecting funding for the Tobacco Control Board and preserving $125 million in state tobacco funds for tobacco prevention. * * * IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE MEETS WEDNESDAY: The Bill Cook Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America will hold a general membership meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the Chapter clubhouse. The public is invited to attend. Guest speaker for the meeting is Don Bassett, National Rifle Association field representative, Field Operations Division. His main topic will be the NRA Foundation. For more information contact Tom Gustin, 343-0665.