County capsules GOLDEN APPLE AWARDS: Partners In Education needs business leaders to make the 3rd Annual Golden Apple Awards Kick-Off a success. Business leaders will visit classrooms and present area teachers with a gift and a thank you for the efforts they put forth everyday. Past business participants have made countless comments on how much they enjoyed getting out into the schools and being a part of the Kick-Off Day. The kick-off will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in the Almond/Bancroft, Tomorrow River, Rosholt, Stevens Point Public, Stevens Point Catholic, Wautoma and Wild Rose school districts. The kick-off will be held from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Tri-County School District. For more information contact Stacy Keding, Partner in Educations director for the Portage County Business Council, at 344-1940. * * * WINTER DRIVING LAWS: With the first snowfall of the season comes an increase in the number of accidents, vehicles sliding off the road and highway hazards, said Portage County Sheriff Stan Potocki. This means that emergency crews are once again busy responding to these scenes. "The Portage County Sheriff's Department would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists that when they see an emergency vehicle or tow truck on the shoulder of the road they should move over or slow down," Potocki said. "More law enforcement officers are injured or killed each year by traffic accidents than for any other single reason. The Sheriff's Department is not immune to this, as we have passing motorists strike squad cars every year. Accident scenes are normally a very dangerous place, but add in the typical Wisconsin winter conditions and they become downright hazardous." A new state law requires drivers to move over on four-lane highways or, if on a two-lane highway or unable to move over, at a minimum reduce their speed until they pass the scene. This applies when approaching a squad car or other emergency vehicle, tow truck or construction vehicle when they have their warning lights on, Potocki said. A citation for violating this law costs more than $160. If a motorist causes an accident, the fine could be more than $830 and a license suspension of up to two years. "We take highway safety very seriously, and we hope that you would too," Potocki said. "Please, move over or slow down." * * * DRIVING TOO CLOSE: State Patrol officials warn motorists not to follow other vehicles too closely. "Following too closely is putting yourself and your passengers in unnecessary danger," said Capt. Jeffrey Frenette of the Wisconsin State Patrol district in Wausau. "Should the vehicle in front of you have to stop suddenly on a slippery road, you won't have enough space to safely stop your vehicle, and that could lead to a crash." State law requires motorists not follow another vehicle more closely than is "reasonable and prudent," giving due regard for the speed of the vehicle, the amount of traffic and the condition of the highway. This law is the Wisconsin State Patrol Law of the Month for January. "If the road's surface is wet, has patchy stretches of ice or snow, or if it's raining or snowing, give yourself sufficient room to stop or maneuver," Frenette said. "If you must come to a sudden stop or take evasive action on a slippery road, leaving an extra car length or two between you and the vehicle you're following could mean the difference between a crumpled fender or visit to the emergency room, and making it safely to your destination." Wearing a safety belt also improves chances of surviving a crash. "No one expects to be involved in a crash," he said. Motorists convicted of following too closely can face a penalty of $150 in forfeitures, court costs and fees, in addition to an assessment of three points against their driver's records.