County capsules CHRISTMAS PARADE IS THURSDAY, NOV. 21: The 14th Annual Community Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21, in downtown Stevens Point. The parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. The parade's theme is "Wisconsin Great Outdoors" in celebration of the beauty of central Wisconsin and particularly Portage County, with its rivers, parks and Green Circle. Pre-parade festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. off Main Street next to the ShopKo parking lot and the downtown Christmas tree. This year's tree was donated by the Ron and Linda Charneski family of Stevens Point. No Limit, a pop/R&B a capella group will perform from 5:30 to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m. Stevens Point Mayor Gary Wescott will read the traditional Christmas Poem and the tree and street decorations will be lighted. Following the parade, CenterPoint MarketPlace will host an open house. Cookies and cider sponsored by Copps Food Center and Colligan's Bakery will be available at no charge in center court, and Santa will be available for visits and photos. Parade participants are asked to enter the parade lineup by coming west on CenterPoint Drive and turning south (left) onto Prentice Street toward Main Street. The Portage County Gazette is the sponsor of this year's parade. * * * COUNTY SETS TAX LEVY: The Portage County Board of Supervisors adopted the county's 2003 budget when it met Tuesday, Nov. 11. The $97.7 million budget includes $93.6 million in expenditures. The largest revenue source is $39.6 million in intergovernmental revenues. The county property tax levy will increase 6.2 percent to $18.6 million. The increase in the property tax levy matches the increase in equalized valuation, so the property tax rate will remain the same - $5.33 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation. The owner of a $100,000 home in Portage County will pay $533 in property taxes to fund county government, plus the property taxes levied by his town, village or city, school district and vocational schools. Portage County remains under its state-mandated property tax cap rate, which increased 7 cents to $5.66 per $1,000 of equalized valuation. If the county were to ever exceed its tax cap, it would need voter approval in a referendum. Revenues from the county's one-half cent sales tax have remained flat for the first nine months of this year. County departments were held to a 1.5 percent increase in their budgets. Officials expect future county budgets to get tighter as the state government deals with the $2.6 billion deficit Wisconsin faces in 2004. County officials anticipate losing $500,000 in state shared revenues in 2004. * * * HUNTING AROUND MCDILL POND PROHIBITED: The towns of Hull and Plover have joined with the city of Stevens Point and village of Whiting in prohibiting the discharge of firearms or archery arrows in the area of McDill Pond. The towns recently approved ordinances to prohibit shooting after several incidents near the pond, including reports of shotgun pellets landing on people using the Green Circle Trail. Discharging a firearm is prohibited in the city and village, but not in the sections of those towns. As a result, some hunters were shooting at ducks and other wildlife in the area, creating safety concerns. * * * UNITED WAY GOES TO 72 PERCENT OF GOAL: United Way of Portage County has topped 72 percent of its goal of $1,815,000 for 2002. With another $508,200 to raise, United Way volunteers and staff are following up with phone calls and letters to ensure that the goal is reached. This is the amount necessary to fund the 32 programs providing services to thousands of Portage County residents every year. Services are provided through 20 United Way member agencies in the area. Increases in donations were received this week from Stora Enso Stevens Point and Whiting mill employees for a total of $47,945, with a match by corporate for every dollar given by employees - bringing the total gift to $95,890. Other campaign highlights include: Figi's Inc. raised $11,029 and Gamber-Johnson's overall gift totaled $1,443. The final drawing for campaign prizes found Archie Kluck from Copps Warehouse the winner of two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States courtesy of Marathon Travel and Cruise Shops. To contribute to the United Way campaign, mail a donation to United Way, 1100 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 301, Stevens Point, WI, 54581. * * * PASSENGER VOLUME RETURNS AT CWA: Through 10 months, the Central Wisconsin Airport is showing a 7 percent increase in passenger numbers over last year. That figure is less impressive, however, when considering the big drop in air travel after the events of Sept. 11 last year. October 2002 showed a 26 percent jump in passenger numbers over the same month a year ago. In his monthly report, airport manager James Hansford said 25,778 people flew into or out of the airport last month. For the year, passenger numbers totaled 239,218 through October, with each of the carriers serving the facility showing improvement. For example, United Express has seen a 14 percent increase in passengers this year, despite a 27 percent reduction in the flights it offers. Overnight passenger car parking continues to be a revenue generator for the airport. The volume of vehicles is up 6 percent so far this year, and total revenue far surpasses that figure, because of a $2 increase the airport put into effect for overnight parking on Jan. 1. * * * ROOSEVELT DRIVE SIGNALS BEGIN FLASHING: The new traffic signals at the intersection of Post Road and Roosevelt Drive began flashing Thursday, Nov. 14, and will continue to flash until they begin regular operation on Monday, Nov. 18. Students from Ben Franklin Junior High School students worked with State Rep. Julie Lassa, D-Plover, and state Department of Transportation District 4 staff engineers to get traffic signals installed. Plover residents and village of Plover staff also met to work on the improvements. * * * TOOTH FAIRY FUND ESTABLISHED: The Community Foundation of Portage County has announced the establishment of the Tooth Fairy Fund. The Tooth Fairy Fund is a spendable account of the Gepetto Seed-a-Future Fund. It has been established to manage and distribute monies raised to support extenuating dental needs, especially orthodontics, for children ages 16 or younger who are on BadgerCare or Medicaid. Tooth Fairy Fund dollars are primarily raised through the generosity of the Portage County dental community in partnership with the Gepetto Seed-a-Future Fund. The Gepetto Fund has committed matching dollars, on a one-to-two basis up to $10,000, to support this fund's efforts. Additional dollars supporting the cause could be received from a variety of sources, including the public at large. Dental requests will be submitted through the Ministry Dental Center. An advisory committee will review each request. The Gepetto Fund is a donor-advised fund of the Community Foundation of Portage County. Grants from this fund are made at the discretion of the fund representatives. Contributions to the Gepetto Fund and/or the Tooth Fairy Fund may be sent to the Community Foundation of Portage County, PO Box 968, Stevens Point, WI 54481. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To learn more contact the Community Foundation at 342-4454 or see its Web site at www.cfpcwi.org. * * * AUTHOR VISITS LIBRARY ON ANNIVERSARY: Eric Rohmann, a Caldecott Honor Award-winning illustrator and author, will present the program "Words Into Pictures" at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Pinery Room of the Charles White Library. The program is in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the Charles White Library Building and also observes Children's Book Week. An autograph session will follow the presentation, and books may be purchased at Gepetto's, Book World and Little Professor Book Center in Stevens Point and Book Look in Whiting. Rohmann lives outside Chicago, Ill., and holds degrees in fine arts from Arizona State University and Illinois State University. In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, he has taught drawing and printmaking and his artwork has been featured in exhibitions and permanent collections throughout the country. His book "Time Flies" is a Caldecott Honor Book and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. He also wrote and illustrated "The Cinder-Eyed Cats" and "My Friend Rabbit." * * * BLOOD DONORS REACH NEW LEVELS: At recent American Red Cross drives at St. Bronislava Catholic Church and St. Paul's United Methodist Church, several area residents reached new donor levels. George Check reached 18 gallons; Fritz Schadewald, 15 gallons; Jerry Trzinski, 13 gallons; Ruth Kulas, 12 gallons; Linda Konkol, 10 gallons; Linda Greene and Dave Bruha, nine gallons; Gregg Hansel and Joseph Kurszewski, seven gallons. Also, Lawrence Zywicki, Julie Makuski and Dave Zortman, six gallons; Jim Kirchoff, Elizabeth Przekurat, Laurie Weinfurter and Nancy Brandl, five gallons; Kathy Raykowski and Judy Lerand; three gallons, Eric Leary, John Dietzman and Kenneth Blumke, three gallons; and Jean Kostuchowski, two gallons. Reaching the one-gallon mark were Katherine Smith, Lisa Radomski, Kris LaCourse, Margaret Guth, Diana Steffen and Orwoll Hagen. The next blood drive is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 16, at the Plover Municipal Center and Monday, Dec. 30, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Donors may give blood every 56 days. * * * SPACS HIRES VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RELATIONS: Rob Schiferl Jr. is the new vice president of development and alumni relations for Stevens Point Area Catholic School (SPACS). Schiferl, a native of central Wisconsin, attended St. John the Baptist School in Marshfield and graduated from Columbus High School in Marshfield. After receiving a bachelor's degree from Carthage College in Kenosha, he became an admissions counselor in the Carthage admissions office and later became director of admissions and financial aid. He lives in Stevens Point with his wife, Jessica, and daughter, Gretchen. * * * MINORS PURCHASE TOBACCO IN COUNTY: Portage County establishments were well below the state average in selling tobacco to minors. The Tobacco Free Coalition of Portage County conducted undercover tobacco buys throughout the county between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3, with minors successful eight times at 70 retail outlets in the county. Teams of minors under adult supervision visited the 70 outlets and rewarded the clerks with a gift certificate for a local video store for denying sales. If the clerk was willing to sell tobacco products to the minors, the store manager received a letter about state law prohibiting sales of tobacco products to minors. The county "sting," through the "Wisconsin Wins" recognition and reminder program, indicated 11.4 percent of retailers were willing to sell tobacco products. A 2001 statewide study found 33.7 percent were willing to sell the products. * * * RED CROSS RESPONDS TO SOUTHERN TORNADOES: In the wake of the tornadoes striking the southern half of the United States, the American Red Cross is providing disaster relief to residents. Dedicated volunteers are responding under the Red Cross banner to provide comfort, care and emotional support in these states. Red Cross disaster mental heath workers are working with victims and emergency workers to deal with the emotional trauma and loss from the raging storms. Wayne Reed of Stevens Point will be assisting in Memphis with relief efforts. Reed has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross for nine years. Wayne has volunteered on several large-scale disasters, such as, flooding, tornadoes and terrorist attacks. His function in Louisiana will be in disaster health services. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer can contact the American Red Cross, Portage County Chapter, at 344-4052. American Red Cross disaster assistance is provided to people in need without charge. This is made possible by voluntary donations of time, money and blood from the American people. * * * CRIME STOPPERS FOCUSES ON SKIPPS BURGLARY: Crime Stoppers of Portage County is seeking help to solve a burglary at Skipps Bowling Center, 2300 Strongs Ave., early on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Stevens Point police said that about 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, a janitor walked into the bowling alley to clean up when he observed a man, wearing a mask, inside the business. The intruder yelled that he had a gun, so the janitor quickly left the building. Once police were notified, they were unable to locate the burglar, but a search of the building revealed that cash registers, video machines and other cash-operated equipment had been pried open to get money. Surveillance video showed a lone burglar who appeared to be about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and medium build. He appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s and was wearing a dark brown leather jacket with a dark hooded sweatshirt underneath. A large amount of money was taken, police said. If area residents know anyone who fits that description and suddenly had a large amount of cash or if they saw anyone fleeing from the area at that time, call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-346-6600. Callers can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward. * * * PLOVER BUILDING PERMITS: The village of Plover issued building permits for one commercial structure, one duplex and 10 homes during October. The commercial building at 1600 American Drive was valued at $230,000 and the duplex at 1511-13 Billy Lane was valued at $170,000. The home values were $525,000 at 2340 River's Edge Court, $180,000 at 1945 Lepak Drive, $175,000 at 1000 Victorian Lane, $173,000 at 3321 Mirage Circle, $170,000 at 801 Chandler Ave., $158,000 at 1960 Norway Pine Drive, $145,000 at 3040 Worthington Place, $100,000 at 3060 Worthington Place, $98,000 at 3601 Kensington and $92,000 at 3340 Jackson Ave. * * * STEVENS POINT BUILDING PERMITS: The city of Stevens Point issued building permits for one duplex valued at $150,000 at 5633-35 Jefferson St. and seven homes. The homes and their valuation were $180,000 at 2117 Falcon Cove, $165,000 at 1808 Prescott Drive, $140,000 at 5724 Kingfisher Drive, $120,000 at 4016 Kennedy Drive, $117,350 at 1833 Prescott Drive, $115,000 at 5540 Glenwood Ave. and $70,000 at 5780 Kingfisher Ave.