County capsules CHRISTMAS PARADE TAPE WILL BE SHOWN: The Annual Christmas Parade, taped Thursday, Nov. 21, in Stevens Point, is scheduled to play on Community Television, cable channel 3 on Charter Communications at the following times: Thursday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. (replacing "Dads On" and "Hmoob Xov Xwm") Friday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. (replacing Community Bulletin Board for approx. 90 minutes) Saturday, Nov. 30, at 2:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. (replacing Community Bulletin Board for approx. 90 minutes each time) * * * KEEP THE WREATH GREEN: The fire safety program, "Keep the Wreath Green" will again be observed in Portage County by the Portage County Fire Chiefs Association during the holiday season, with a slight change. Each time a structural fire occurs in the county, a green light on all wreaths will be changed to red. The purpose of the program is to call attention to the special need during the holidays for everyone to practice fire safety - fire safety at home and at work. Fire at any time, but especially during the holidays, is devastating and heartbreaking. The potential for accidental fires also increases dramatically during the holiday season. Potential causes of holiday fires include fireplaces, chimneys, extension cords, candles, furnaces, space heaters and trash cans. The association's goal is to reduce the number of fires occurring in structures during the holiday season. Wreaths at all fire stations and government buildings in Portage County will be lit with green lights from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Day. Each time a structural fire occurs in Portage County, a green light will be changed to red. * * * SANTA'S WORKSHOP WILL OPEN THURSDAY, DEC. 5: The Stevens Point Parks and Recreation Department will open Santa's Workshop for the 2002 holiday season on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Park and Recreation Department employees (operating as Santa's elves) have been very busy preparing the once ivy-covered Parker Memorial building located in Goerke Park at Main Street and Minnesota Avenue in Stevens Point with an array of decorative lighting, Christmas trees and candy canes for the anticipated arrival of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. The Parker Building was the first building constructed in Goerke Park for athletic purposes/use. Dedicated in May of 1934 in the memory of her mother, Mrs. Emma Parker, Laura Mae Corrigan donated $1,000 for its construction to help Stevens Point's athletes. The Parker Memorial Building (commonly known as the Goerke Park Ice Skating Warming House) has a variety of animated push-button Christmas toys from local merchants' stores for children's enjoyment. Santa's Workshop signage is provided by Modern Signs of Stevens Point. Santa Claus will visit with area children on Fridays, Dec. 6 and 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. * * * UNITED WAY HITS 87 PERCENT OF GOAL: The United Way of Portage County Campaign has reached 87 percent of the $1,815,000 goal. The recent jump in drive results is due, in large part, to Sentry Insurance. The total gift from Sentry of $485,792 represents 27 percent of the 2002 campaign goal. Sentry employees contributed a record $359,792. Dave Worth, United Way 2002 campaign chair, said, "Time after time Sentry demonstrates its commitment to our community and this year they have done so to an even larger degree. In these uncertain economic times - Sentry has once again moved to the forefront as a leader in our community and a significant influence to the success of the campaign." Final campaign results will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4. To make a donation to the campaign, mail it to United Way, 1100 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 301, Stevens Point, WI, 54481. * * * TAXES ARE $30.08 PER $1,000 IN CITY: Stevens Point property owners will pay $30.06 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in property taxes on their 2003 tax bills. That payment includes state, county, school, city and other taxes. Stevens Point Comptroller/Treasurer John Schlice said because data is still being entered, the amounts for individual parcels won't be known until the tax bills are mailed out Dec. 15. The tax rate amounts to a 1.14 percent increase over the bills sent out for 2002, he said, which is below the rate of inflation. The tax rate for city purposes remained constant at $10.83 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, the seventh straight year for that rate. The rate for all taxing bodies increased, and none declined. The county's rate increased the most, 16 cents, from $6.61 to $6.77. Schools went up from $11.54 to $11.67, Midstate Tech went up from $2.04 to $2.08 and the state remained at 25 cents. The school credit to offset the taxes also dropped from $1.56 to $1.55. In addition, property owners will receive a maximum lottery credit of $71.69 for their owner-occupied residence, which would reduce the property tax bill. * * * PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING CLASSES OFFERED: Pesticide Applicator Training classes will be offered by the Portage County UW-Extension office. Anyone who will be buying restricted-use pesticides must have a private pesticide applicator certification. Certification lasts five years and then users must be re-certified. There are two ways to receive certification. First, three one-day long classes are being offered by the Portage County UW-Extension office. The classes are scheduled on Jan. 10, Jan. 24 and Feb. 7, 2003. These classes consist of a video presentation followed by a test at the end of the day. If participants take part in the classroom session, they need to receive 50 percent on the test to qualify for certification. Pre-registration for each date is necessary. Contact the Extension office to reserve a spot on a specific date. For those unable to attend the classroom session, they may take the test on their own. In this case, participants must receive 70 percent on the test to pass. Study guide books must be purchased at least five days before the class or test is taken. The cost of the book is $30 and can be purchased at the UW-Extension office, 1462 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point. For information about the Pesticide Applicator Training session, contact Tim Connell, agriculture agent, at the Portage County UW-Extension office at 346-1316. * * * MSTC BOARD TOURS REMODELED FACILITIES IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS: The Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors toured recently remodeled areas on the Wisconsin Rapids campus at the Monday, Nov. 18, meeting. Craig Hjelle, MSTC's Facilities Director, led the tour of the Student Support Services area, and the physics lab in the T building, as well as the faculty offices for general education and business division instructors in the A building. The board awarded a construction contract to Ed Altmann Construction Company for future work on the Wisconsin Rapids campus. The project includes the construction of two building links: one between buildings A and E, and the second is a connection between the T and L buildings. The construction project is expected to begin in December. The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 16. Committee meetings will begin at 5 p.m. and the board meeting at 6 p.m. * * * AREA BUSINESS OWNERS WILL ADDRESS UW-SP MIDYEAR GRADS: Terry and Judi Paul, the founders of Renaissance Learning Inc., Wisconsin Rapids, will address the 550 midyear graduates and their families at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP). The Pauls will speak at both ceremonies in Quandt Field house. Associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees in the College of Letters and Science will be awarded at the 10 a.m. event, and master's degrees and baccalaureate degrees in the Colleges of Professional Studies, Fine Arts and Communication and Natural Resources will be given at the 1 p.m. ceremony. Provost Virginia Helm will welcome the participants and recognize honor students and award winners. Chancellor Tom George will introduce the speakers and give the charge to graduates. Deans from their respective colleges will present diplomas. Brant Bergeron, director of Alumni and University Relations, will give the charge to the alumni. Music will be provided by the UW-SP Commencement Band under the direction of Scott Teeple. Professors Dan Dieterich and Bob Bell will introduce each candidate for graduation. * * * MEETING SET FOR HIGHWAY P BRIDGE PROJECT: A public informational meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Portage County Highway Facility on Highway B, Plover, regarding replacing the Highway P bridge over Branch Rocky Run Creek.Portage County is proposing to replace the bridge because it is structurally deficient. Topics for discussion include the replacement bridge structure, approach roadway impacts, right of way and road closure concerns. MSA Professional Services Inc., consulting engineers from Baraboo, are preparing preliminary plans. * * * NEW HOPE WOODLAND OWNERS MEETING PLANNED: Landowners in the town of New Hope will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the Town Hall, to discuss woodland issues. The agenda includes oak wilt, a fungal disease common in oak stands that spread aggressively in 2002; gypsy moths, an exotic species that defoliates trees; and Wisconsin Family Forests, landowners will consider forming a local chapter of this organization. The evening will include expert presentations, questions and discussion of individual and community options. Anyone interested in the future of forested lands in the town is invited to attend. For more information, call Lowell Klessig at 824-2490. * * * COUNTY PARKS WILL REOPEN MONDAY: All Portage County parks, ski trails, snowmobile trails, Ice Age Trail segments, Tomorrow River State Trail and Moses Creek segment of the Green Circle Trail will be closed to the public during the gun deer season which began Friday, Nov. 23, and ends Sunday, Dec. 1. These areas will reopen on Monday, Dec. 2. Only the public hunting areas at Standing Rocks Park, Dewey Recreation Area, Becker Lake Recreation Area and Wisconsin River Recreation Area remain open during the deer gun season and only for licensed hunters. For more information call the Portage County Parks Department at 346-1433.