County capsules VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCES SCHEDULED: A ceremony in observance of Veterans Day will be held on Monday, Nov. 11, at CenterPoint MarketPlace in downtown Stevens Point. The program will be held at Center Court beginning at 10:30 a.m. and should end about 11 a.m. Several speakers will attend. Local veterans groups will provide an honor guard with a firing party. The Plover Veterans of Foreign War Post and the Plover American Legion Post will hold a ceremony at the Wisconsin Korean War Memorial at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, and at the Village Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at the VFW clubhouse. * * * CRASH KILLS BANCROFT MAN: Michael D. Apfel, 46, No. 14, Pine Grove Villa, Bancroft, was killed in a one-vehicle accident at about 3 a.m., Monday, Nov. 4, on Highway BB, 600 feet south of 3rd Avenue, in the town of Almond, a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. Apfel was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Christopher W. Dalbec, 26, 8587 Pine St., Bancroft, the report said. Dalbec was driving south when the vehicle went off the roadway on a curve, struck a driveway embankment and then hit a tree. Both men weren't wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Apfel was pronounced dead at the scene, the report said. Dalbec was taken by helicopter ambulance to Theda Clark Hospital, Neenah. Speed and alcohol are suspected of contributing to the crash, the report said. * * * VOTER TURNOUT RESULTS: Tuesday's election drew 47 percent of eligible Portage County voters to the polls, said County Clerk Roger Wrycza. In the city of Stevens Point, 49.7 percent of the 16,804 registered voters voted, said City Clerk Vickie Zdroik. Poll workers registered 1,480 people to vote at the polls on Tuesday in the city. * * * LIBRARY ANNIVERSARY: The Portage County Public Library will celebrate its 10th anniversary of the new headquarters building in downtown Stevens Point on Saturday, Nov. 16. Library staff will host an Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special events for the day include a presentation at 10:30 a.m. on "Words into Pictures" by Eric Rohmann, an award-winning children's author/illustrator, followed by an autograph session. At 2 p.m. the Annual Lectures on Poland will make a presentation and at 2:15 p.m. Robert J. Stack, library director, will give a brief talk about the library's history and future. Also featured will be self-guided tours, displays, the "anniversary quilt" made by the Star Point Quilters Guild and refreshments. * * * UNITED WAY REACHES TWO-THIRDS MARK: United Way of Portage County contributions have reached more than $1,200,000 in this year's drive, representing more than 66 percent of the campaign goal and leaving $615,000 to be raised. Donations from companies reporting this week are significantly higher than last year. Rice Medical Center contributions totaled $112,904. Worth Co. overall campaign donations totaled $19,326. Herrschners pledged $3,176 and Skyward Inc. contributed $4,991. H. O. Wolding Inc. donations totaled $3,034. Ben Franklin Junior High School employees gave $4,132 and YMCA employees donated $2,921. Shulfer Enterprises contributed $500. Laura Gross from SPAN Publishing Inc. is the winner of the 60-second shopping spree at Copps Food Center. SPAN employees contributed $4,296 to the campaign this year - a gift matched by the company. The final drawing for campaign prizes will be held Nov. 8 for two round-trip airline tickets (for travel anywhere in the continental United States) provided by Marathon Travel and Cruise Shops. Those who have yet to contribute, may do so by mailing their donations to United Way, 1100 CenterPoint Drive, Suite 301, Stevens Point, WI, 54581. * * * LIBRARY SETS HOLIDAY HOURS: The Portage County Public Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday at all locations at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, and remain closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29. The libraries will resume regular hours on Saturday, Nov. 30. * * * COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HOSTS ANNUAL RECEPTION: The Community Foundation of Portage County will host its annual reception on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sky Club in Plover. A special program begins at 6:30 p.m. Community members are invited to attend, but reservations are required. To reserve a place at the table, please call the Community Foundation at 342-4454 by Thursday, Nov. 14. This year's annual reception will feature highlights of the Community Foundation's 2002 granting activities including special messages from grant recipients and donors, an introduction of the board members, a highlight of the upcoming annual play, a special thank-you to all past donors and goals for the future of the foundation. The Community Foundation of Portage County was established in 1982 and administers 76 charitable funds totaling just over $2 million, and in June 2002 was able to award more than $50,000 in grants and education scholarships back to the community. For more information on the foundation, or to reserve a place at the annual reception, call 342-4454, by Nov. 14. * * * ROSHOLT CHURCH HOLDS GIVE-AWAY: The Village Church in Rosholt will hold a "Huge Give-away" from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. The free give-away will include children's and adult's clothes, books, jewelry, knickknacks, toys and other items. The church is located at 187 Main St., Rosholt. * * * STEVENS POINT FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION MEETS: The Stevens Point Farmers Market Association will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the lower level of the Ruth Gilfry building, 817 Whiting Ave., Stevens Point. The agenda includes state rules and guidelines for selling of produce and processed foods, an update on the state and Portage County voucher program and vendor concerns and possible solutions for the 2003 market season. Dan Mielke of the association said it is important that all growers and consumers make every effort to be at this meeting to ensure that their views and concerns are heard. * * * RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TALK SET: The public is invited to attend a presentation by Judge Edward K. Brunner on "Restorative Justice: It's Principles and Opportunities" during the Thursday, Nov. 14, meeting of the Portage County Justice Coalition. The talk will be held at 7:45 a.m. in conference rooms 1 and 2 in the Portage County Annex, 1462 Strongs Ave., Stevens Point. Brunner and his staff have promoted restorative justice in Barron County, resulting in the implementation of new strategies in the schools and criminal justice system. Restorative justice requires the involvement of the community, victim and offender. It seeks to restore the victim and community in a holistic manner, while addressing the needs of the offender to improve community safety. * * * COUNTY RECEIVES DISASTER AID: Portage County municipalities have received $106,368 in disaster assistance checks, Gov. Scott McCallum announced last week. Portage County was one of eight counties in the state named federal disaster areas following a series of series storms June 21-25. Those counties were awarded more than $1.4 million to reimburse communities for costs associated with debris removal and repairs to roads and highways. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS: The Portage County Planning and Zoning Department issued 14 permits for single family residences in October. Six of the permits were issued in the town of Hull for residences valued at $900,000. The other permits were for two houses in the town of Sharon valued at $235,000, two in the town of Grant valued at $230,000, one in the town of Amherst valued at $215,000, one in the town of Plover valued at $144,000, one in the town of Lanark valued at $128,000 and one in the town of Buena Vista valued at $84,000.