County Capsules NEW STEVENS POINT POLICE CHIEF SELECTED: The Stevens Point Police and Fire Commission has selected Jeffrey S. Morris, deputy chief of the Rockford Police Department, Rockford, Ill., to succeed Douglas E. Carpenter as police chief for the city of Stevens Point. The offer is contingent on the satisfactory completion of a background investigation, other administrative details related to the appointment and confirmation by the City Council. Carpenter will retire in March. Morris is a 27-year veteran of the Rockford Police Department and is currently the deputy chief of patrol. He was assistant chief of operations for 10 years. He has a master's degree from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor's degree from Sioux Falls (S.D.) College, both in criminal justice. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University Center for Public Safety for Police Supervision. His wife, Janet, is a high school mathematics teacher. * * * OBEY SECURES $1.5 MILLION FOR STEVENS POINT AIRPORT: 7th District Rep. Dave Obey announced Monday, Feb. 2, that he secured $1.5 million for new navigation equipment at Stevens Point Municipal Airport. As the top ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Obey included the money in the fiscal year 2004 federal budget which was passed by the Congress on Jan. 22 and signed into law by President George W. Bush the following day. "Since construction of the Portage County Business Park, activity at the Stevens Point Airport has increased significantly," Obey said. "These funds will allow the airport to replace landing and navigation instruments, providing improved, all-weather access for planes and giving the central Wisconsin area the first-class air service needed to attract and keep good paying jobs." The $1.5 million is the full amount the Stevens Point Airport needs to purchase a new instrument landing system, an approach lighting system and distance measuring equipment that will provide improved access to the airport's 6,000-foot runway. The new system and equipment are needed since current airport users, including medical flights from two facilities and the Civil Air Patrol, must divert to Mosinee if Stevens Point Airport's existing instruments provide an approaching plane with readings that are considered inadequate for a safe landing. Further highlighting the importance of the funding is that the Wisconsin Emergency Management Office considers Stevens Point a State Capitol Operations site in the event of a catastrophic event in Madison. Stevens Point Airport records about 36,000 take-offs and landings annually and serves multiple types of general aviation activity including air taxi, recreational and corporate users. Two of those corporate users, Sentry Insurance and The Noel Group, employ nearly 3,000 area residents. Stevens Point Mayor Gary Wescott said the project will be entirely federally funded and should be completed by the end of the year. "This helps for enticing larger businesses to relocate here," he said. * * * SEMMERLING WILL STEP DOWN AS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DIRECTOR: Shannon Semmerling, executive director of the Community Foundation of Portage County, will step down in March to pursue her marketing/consulting business full time. Semmerling has been the Foundation's executive director since September 2001. During her tenure, the number of funds which the Foundation administers has grown from 61 to 87. The total amount of assets under the Foundation's management has also grown during that time from $1.6 million to $2.6 million. Semmerling has also contributed her marketing and acting skills to the production of the Community Foundation's spring play during each of her years as executive director. Semmerling will help with the Foundation's March 5-7 presentation of "Foundation Follies: 2004 Reloaded" at the Sentry Theater. The mission of the Foundation is to encourage philanthropic giving for the benefit of the Portage County community. Last year, the Foundation made grants to the community for educational scholarships, artistic presentations, dental services and other programs that serve the community. Over the past two years, the Foundation granted over $100,000 for community purposes. The Foundation encourages community members to consider establishing charitable funds through the Foundation to take advantage of the administrative services which the Foundation can offer. Funds established through the Foundation also offer tax advantages which are not otherwise as readily available. The position of executive director is a part-time position and primarily involves prospecting for new funds and donations to benefit the local community. The executive director is assisted by a staff, community volunteers and the 25 members of the Foundation's board of directors. Community members interested in the position may contact the president of the board, John Buzza, at 341-7855 for further information. * * * POINT SCHOOL DISTRICT SEEKS MEMBERS FOR REVIEW TEAM: The Stevens Point Area Public School District is seeking persons to participate on a secondary (grades 6-12) grade alignment review team. This team will meet on five days and participants must be available for each day. Dates are Thursday, Feb. 26, in the afternoon; Thursday, April 1, in the morning; and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 21-23, all day. Anyone interested in participating with this group, should contact khalvers@wisp.k12.wi.us or Jenny Miller at 345-5466. * * * BAN ON BAITING, FEEDING DEER REMAINS: A ban on the baiting and feeding of deer in 24 counties, including Portage, has been extended for 60 days by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules at the request of the DNR. The counties affected are those determined to be at high risk for chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis. The ban is now in force until April 7. * * * SCHOOL BOARD MEETING VIDEOS AVAILABLE ONLINE: The Stevens Point Area Public School District has added a new page to its Web site. School Board meeting videos are now available on the district Web site and can be viewed within two days following a meeting at www.wisp.k12.wi.us/tech/streams. Board meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of every month at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Bliss Educational Services Center. The nine-member board is legally responsible for the education of the young people living within the school district. Their primary responsibility is to set policy upon which all administrative action is based. Board meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions. Meetings are televised live on Cable Access Channel 3 and taped for repeated showings and now may be viewed via the Internet. Videos may be viewed on a MP4 or WM9 Media Players. Updates to media players may be needed to view the streams video. Technical support details are listed to download the latest version of each media player. Multiple versions of the board video are available to viewers dependent upon computer capabilities and bandwidth limits. Computers using dial up modem connections will provide sound without a picture (16K). The 100K is a low speed connection with sound and video, and the 300K is the best quality. * * * SNOWMOBILE TRAIL SEGMENT CLOSED: A segment of the West Point Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club trail will be closed this season due to lack of a landowner easement. The segment is on part of the trail from the Wisconsin River County Club to County Trunk E. The closed section is marked. * * * DOYLE TO ATTEND WISCONSIN STEWARDSHIP NETWORK'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Gov. Jim Doyle will attend the Wisconsin Stewardship Network's (WSN) annual conference to present two specially commissioned statues to the Wisconsin Indian tribes that purchased the Crandon Mine last November. The two-day conference begins Friday evening and runs through Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP). For more information on the conference the WSN's Web site is www.wsn.org. Doyle will make the presentation at 8:15 p.m. Friday in the Alumni Room of the University Center. * * * UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS: The United Way of Portage County Board of Directors held its annual meeting on Jan. 21 and elected officers for 2004. Kathy Davies succeeds Meg Erler as the board president; Erler assumes the role of immediate past president. "Through the generosity and commitment of thousands of individuals and organizations who believe in maintaining strong local services, United Way of Portage County achieved its $1.9 million campaign goal in 2003," Davies said. "This year, United Way will continue to respond to our community's human needs and assure that donor dollars are used effectively and efficiently. The soon to be released quality of life assessment, COMPASS Report, will identify Portage County's priority needs and allow us to establish long-range strategies and resources to address these needs as a community." Other United Way officers are Pat Wesenberg, who serves as first vice president and allocations chair; Joe Kinsella, second vice president and allocations co-chair; and treasurer Jim Koziol, also chair of finance. Other Executive Committee members include Andy Risberg, 2004 Annual Campaign chair; Kevin Wilderman, Communications Committee chair; Sue Shulfer, Personnel Committee chair; Tina Peters, Planning Committee chair; Bruce Schenk, Volunteer Center chair. Dan Beighley, Jane Schill, Peggy Sullivan, Jim Martin and Brad Northcraft are the Executive Committee members-at-large. The board welcomes David Kievet, Ron Skrenes, Scott Hillstead, Sue Shulfer and Bruce Schenk as new members and the return of Edie Kraus. * * * STAMP SHOW SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, FEB. 15: The Central Wisconsin Stamp Club will hold its Annual Stamp Show on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Elks Club, 1132 Clark St., Stevens Point. Admission is free. The hours of the show are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be eight stamp dealers, a U.S. Postal Service Postal Station and stamp exhibits. The public is welcome. The cover, which will commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, will be available at the show. Door prizes will also be awarded. For further information contact J.D. Manville, P.O. Box 845, Stevens Point, WI 54481 or phone 341-1111. * * * DAFFODIL DAYS FUND-RAISER BEGINS: Orders are being accepted for the annual Daffodil Days sale for the American Cancer Society. The Portage County Unit will be celebrating Daffodil Days on March 9 when area banks, restaurants, and many other businesses, schools and individuals will display hundreds of daffodils. The daffodil was selected as a brilliant, yellow symbol, as it is one of the first flowers of spring and to many represents the hope of a new season - hope for a world free of cancer. Cost of an individual bunch of 10 daffodils is $7, and a Gift of Hope (a bouquet delivered to a cancer patient or survivor) is $15. Those daffodils can be donated to a local school, hospital, nursing home or senior center with a decorative card attached as well. A box of 500 daffodils is available for a contribution of $350, a half box for $175 and a quarter box for $91. Orders are available to be picked up on March 9 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at F & M Bank, 5597 Highway 10 East, Stevens Point; M & I Bank, 2851 Post Road, Plover; The Pineries Bank, 3601 Main St., Stevens Point; or Westland Insurance, 904 Main St., Stevens Point. Orders can be delivered to businesses, medical and educational facilities upon request. Proceeds support the American Cancer Society's programs of research, education, advocacy and patient services in Portage County. Orders are due by Feb. 20. For order forms or information, call Ida Frizzell at 824-3780 or frizzell@wi-net.com or 1-877-423-9128. * * * CRIME STOPPERS FOCUSES ON STOCKTON BURGLARY: Portage County Crime Stoppers is asking for help to solve a burglary that occurred at 2473 Skyview Road in the town of Stockton. On Tuesday, Jan. 13, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., burglars entered this residence and stole numerous items, said Sgt. Mike Lukas. The burglars went through most of the house, opening and throwing items to the floor they did not want. Items that were taken include a Cyberhome Compact DVD player; a Sanyo CD, radio and cassette player; one five-quart decorative ice cream pail that was three-quarters filled with miscellaneous change; one jewelry box with about $1,000 worth of miscellaneous jewelry; two prescription medications, Vicodin and Flovent; numerous bottles of liquor and clothing items that were Green Bay Packer related. Persons with information about this burglary or any other crime that has occurred in Portage County, can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward. Call Portage County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-346-6600. * * * POSTAL SERVICE PARTICIPATES IN CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK: The U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service are partnering to educate consumers nationwide about mail fraud, said Kim Klinger, Custer Post Office postmaster. Feb. 2-7 has been designated as National Consumer Protection Week. This year's Postal Service theme is "Get Rich Quick … Don't Count on It." With promising opportunities for "hitting the jackpot," consumers are unknowingly falling victim to a variety of scams, Klinger said. The Postal Inspection Service has identified the top five mail fraud schemes as free prize, foreign lotteries, multi-level marketing and work-at-home schemes. Consumers should be skeptical of any offer that sounds "too good to be true," Klinger said. They should be extremely wary of any offers that ask them to pay to receive their "prize" or enter a sweepstake, give personal or financial information, told they're a "guaranteed" winner and "no risk is involved," are pressured into responding or investing right away, and asked for advanced payments or cash only. Persons who receive a suspected fraudulent scheme through the mail or have fallen victim to mail fraud should contact their postmaster or nearest postal inspector at 1-800-ASK-USPS or at www.usps.com/postalinspectors. * * * ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH WILL HOST BLOOD DRIVE FEB. 12: St. Paul Lutheran Church will host a blood drive on behalf of The Blood Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its facility located at 1919 Wyatt Ave. in Stevens Point. "The Blood Center has been collecting and distributing blood for more than 55 years and is driven by a commitment to the people of Wisconsin," said Todd Abner, director of donor recruitment. "We are pleased to be working with St. Paul Lutheran Church to collect blood that will be used to treat patients here in Stevens Point at St. Michael's Hospital. What many people don't realize is that The Blood Center is the only organization to provide blood to the hospital in this community." The Blood Center also provides blood to 51 hospitals in 24 Wisconsin counties, which represents 57 percent of the state's population. Each person who donates blood can save the lives of up to three people. Walk-ins are welcome, for an appointment call the church at 344-5664. * * * CAP'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER SEES 27 PERCENT INCREASE IN USE: CAP Services' Family Crisis Center sheltered 162 victims of domestic violence during 2003, a 26.6 percent increase in use over 2002 and the highest use since 1995. On four occasions the shelter was full, and families had to be referred to another shelter. Crisis Center Coordinator Mary Rowan said the clients' ability to support themselves after leaving shelter is increasingly becoming an issue as a growing number of clients have no source of income or have insufficient income to live on their own. Rowan also reported the profile of the "typical" victim seeking shelter is changing. The shelter is seeing an increasing number of women who have never had children and women who are older with grown children no longer living at home. In the past, women with children have typically used the shelter. CAP provides domestic violence intervention services to Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties. The number of adults sheltered (72) in 2003 was 33 percent higher than 2002 (54), and the number of children was up 21.6 percent (90 in 2003, 74 in 2002). The average length of stay in 2003 was virtually the same as 2002 at 20.9 days. Crisis intervention calls and in-person visits numbered 2,981, up 26 percent from 2002. CAP's 12 transitional living units for victims of domestic violence who choose to live apart from their abuser served 18 households (51 individuals). Transitional Living participants receive case management services as they work their way toward self-sufficiency. Rent for these units is based upon the client's income. The batterers' treatment program (Domestic Abuse Alternatives Program) also experienced an increase in attendance to 130 individuals, a 6.6 percent increase over 2002. Rowan said the Family Crisis Center also serves as the designated youth runaway shelter for Adams, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood counties, and sheltered 50 youths in 2003, a 47 percent increase over 2002. CAP began providing sexual assault victim services to Waupaca County in January 2003 and assisted 70 victims, two times the projected service level. In Portage County, 139 victims were assisted, a 5.3 percent increase over 2002. Domestic violence intervention and sexual assault victim services include 24-hour a day telephone and walk-in crisis counseling; emergency shelter; and transitional living, support groups, advocacy, community coordination and a batterers' program for abusers. The toll-free telephone crisis number is 1-800-472-3377. * * * AMERICAN RED CROSS SCHEDULES BLOOD DRIVE FOR FEB. 12 AND 13: The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Thursday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, Feb. l3, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Stevens Point. Donors may call 344-4052 to make an appointment or walk-ins are welcome. All blood types are needed and officials ask that people considering donating blood because there is great need for blood at this time. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more. A positive identification policy has been implemented for donors who should bring a government-issued picture identification, such as a driver's license or a Red Cross blood donor card. Call 344-4052 to make an appointment or walk-in. * * * PETROWSKI ANNOUNCES GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: 86th Assembly District Rep. Jerry Petrowski recently announced grant opportunities for individuals and organizations interested in state and federal funding. Grant opportunities include funding for economic development, student aid and small businesses. For instance, the Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) grant cycle for 2004 has just begun. These ADD grants are awarded to projects that have the potential to boost Wisconsin's agricultural economy. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is now accepting 2004 ADD grant applications through March 15. Petrowski also said grant-writing workshops will be conducted for those interested in obtaining assistance with the grant writing process. Grant funding can provide assistance in purchasing supplies, training staff or hiring new workers. Deadlines for applications are fast approaching. * * * MSTC'S URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM FEATURED ON OUTDOORS TELEVISION SERIES: Mid-State Technical College's (MSTC) urban forestry program will be a featured segment in an upcoming edition of "Into the Outdoors," an award winning outdoors television series for kids. The segment will air on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 9-9:30 a.m. on WAOW-TV, channel 9. The "Into the Outdoors" series utilizes a diverse group of teens and adults to explore natural resource based careers and recreational opportunities. MSTC's Joe Hoffman, an instructor in the urban forestry technician program, along with students Jake Nitz and Melissa Veloon, will appear in the segment with Jake, an on-air youth talent. Hoffman provided instruction on tree pruning techniques, gave a tour of MSTC's urban forestry lab and took Jake out for his inaugural climb in full arborist gear. The Urban Forestry Technician is a two-year associate degree program based on MSTC's Wisconsin Rapids Campus, and was first offered in January 2001. This program is the only one of its kind offered in Wisconsin and has a formal transfer agreement with UW-SP. This agreement gives MSTC's urban forestry technician associate degree graduates a clear path to a four-year baccalaureate degree in forestry, with an emphasis of urban forestry at UW-SP. * * * MSTC HOSTS PARENT PREVIEW NIGHT AT THREE CAMPUSES: MSTC will host its annual Parent Preview Night at three campus locations during February. The previews begin Monday, Feb. 9, at Wisconsin Rapids; Monday, Feb. 16, at Marshfield and Monday, Feb. 23, at Stevens Point, 933 Michigan Ave. During Parent Preview Night, parents of high school students discover what a technical college can offer their son or daughter and learn the difference between a technical college education and a four-year education. MSTC staff will review college career programs and services, the admissions process, financial resources, student activities and athletic opportunities. After the information session, parents will have an opportunity to speak directly with staff to address specific questions. Pre-registration is strongly recommended for Parent Preview Night. To pre-register, or for further information, call 1-888-575-MSTC. Information is also available on the college's website at www.mstc.edu. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS: The Portage County Planning and Zoning Department issued three building permits for single-family residences during January. The permits were for one home valued at $190,000 in the town of Stockton, one for $160,000 in the town of Grant and one for $91,000 in the town of Lanark.