Portage County capsules LIBRARY WILL HOST PRESENTATION ON APRIL BALLOT QUESTIONS: An informational presentation about the local referendum questions appearing on the ballot in the spring General Election will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the Pinery Room of the Charles M. White Memorial Library in downtown Stevens Point. The presentation is free and open to the public. Speakers will be present information about the wording of the questions and their potential implications if they pass or fail in the election. Mark Hilliker with the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Extension will speak on the county executive referendum. Louis Molepske, city attorney; Barb Kranig, city clerk; Jeff Morris, chief of police; and Faye Tetzloff, county health officer, will speak on the smoke-free ordinance for Stevens Point. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Stevens Point Area and the UW-Stevens Point (UW-SP) Extension Office. For more information contact Tina Peters, local coordinator League of Women Voters, at 341-6570, e-mail dpeters7@charter.net or Diana McGinley, communications coordinator League of Women Voters at 342-9410, dmcginley@charter.net. * * * ABSENTEE BALLOTS AVAILABLE: Absentee ballots for the April 5 election are now available at the Stevens Point city clerks office and from clerks in other municipalities in Portage County. * * * STUDENT SENATE WILL HOLD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIATE FORUM: The Stevens Point Area Senior High School Student Senate will hold a school board candidate forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the school auditorium. Senate members will facilitate the forum and question the candidates. The event is open to the public. * * * CWA SHOWS INCREASE IN PASSENGERS: The Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) showed a 3 percent increase in passengers served for the first two months of 2005. According to the airport's statistical summary, 48,700 people have used the airport since Jan. 1. Nearly an equal number of passengers passed through the airport during each of the two months. February's total was 24,335. For the month, Northwest Airlink flew 68 percent of the passengers, while 20 percent flew on United Express. Midwest Connect handled 8 percent of the passengers. The airport's overnight parking count was up 4 percent for both January and February. CWA collected $5 per night for parking. * * * HIGHWAY BILL PASSES HOUSE, INCLUDES MORE THAN $33 MILLION FOR NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN HIGHWAY PROJECTS: The new federal highway legislation which was recently passed by the House of Representatives includes more than $33 million in federal funds for a number of high priority highway projects in north-central Wisconsin. Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey said that these projects could help to improve the safety of motorists and other highway users, reduce drive times and improve the fundamental transportation infrastructure of the entire region. Those projects include $20 million to assist with the expansion of Highway 10 between Marshfield and Stevens Point. The estimated total cost of the project is more than $82 million with construction to occur in phases between 2006 and 2012. $8 million in additional funding for the Wausau area transportation system improvements, including the expansion of I-39/highway 51 to six lanes, new interchanges with highway 29 and a number of other projects including the replacement for the Snake Bridge, which has already been completed. If approved in the final legislation, this would bring to $58 million the amount of additional federal funds Obey has secured for these Wausau-area projects. "Investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure, like those made by this legislation, are critical for economic growth and personal safety," Obey said. "However, it is important to remember that there is still a long way to go before this bill becomes law. The Senate must still act, and many differences will have to be worked out. The fact remains that there is an estimated $75 billion shortfall in funding for our nation's highways. That shortfall will not be made up with this legislation, so many needed highway improvements are simply not going to be addressed." * * * CITY MAY ADD POSSIBLE PARK PROPERTY ON WEST RIVER DRIVE: The Stevens Point Finance Committee recommended Monday, March 14, that the city authorize an appraisal of approximately 71 acres belonging to the W.F. Sroda Trust and then accept a land donation by paying about $4,500 in back taxes. The property consists of four marshy parcels west of West River and north of County Trunk HH, adjacent to land recently purchased from Stora Enso. The property is part of the Green Circle Trail, and the appraisal is necessary for tax purposes for the seller because of the donation of the property. * * * ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE: Stevens Point will apply for a storm water management grant to monitor the quality of storm water and implement best-practices management. Joe Euclide, director of public works, said the city may have to build additional retention ponds for storm water and devise new methods to get rid of melting snow. The activities are another response to mandates, and Euclide said state legislators told him the city would have to spend the additional funds to meet the mandates and stay within any spending constraints the state imposes. * * * WINE AND CHEESE TASTING WILL BENEFIT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PORTAGE COUNTY: The first Portage County Taste of Wine & Cheese to benefit the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County will be held Saturday, April 2, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Noel Group Hangar (next to the Stevens Point airport on Highway 66). Attendees will have the opportunity to taste more than 100 types of wines from around the world, a sampling of specialty cheeses and items from a dessert table. A variety of luxurious automobiles will be on display and there will be a live jazz performance by the UW-SP Faculty Jazz Quartet, featuring world-renowned musician Bob Kase. There will also be a raffle tickets for a golf outing with Packer Pro-Bowler William Henderson. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 3 for $20 and can be purchased at Marathon Travel & Cruise Shops or any Boys & Girls Club in Portage County. Three winners will be selected at the Portage County Taste of Wine & Cheese (need not be present to win). Tickets for the event are available at Point County Market. Tickets for the Portage County Taste of Wine & Cheese are $40 per person in advance and $50 per person at the door. The event was put together by Midwest Radio and Charter Communications with Point County Market and Marathon Travel & Cruise Shop as major sponsors of the event. * * * SPUD CITY NATIONALS WILL RETURN TO POINT: The city Public Protection Committee Monday recommended that a portion of Pfiffner Pioneer Park be closed on Friday, Aug. 19, through Sunday, Aug. 21, for the Spud City Nationals event. Crosby Avenue between city parking lot 4 and Portage Street will also be closed. Because of the park closing, the Green Circle Trail will be re-routed. A cruise will also be held in conjunction with the event, which will be co-sponsored by the Association of Downtown Businesses. * * * POINT WILL HOST HEARING ON TASER USE BY OFFICERS: The first in a series of public hearings to review the use of the Taser, an electronic restraint device, by law enforcement officers will be held in Stevens Point. The hearings are designed to listen to advice and recommendations from citizens and law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will then make recommendations to the Law Enforcement Standards Board, which approves the basic training curriculum for law enforcement officers in Wisconsin. The first hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, at 9:30 a.m., at the Country Springs Hotel Conference and Convention Center in Stevens Point. It will be conducted by the Tactical Skills Advisory Committee to Wisconsin DOJ's Training and Standards Bureau (the staff of the Law Enforcement Standards Board). "Use of the Taser has emerged as a significant issue for citizens and law enforcement officers alike," Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said. "Each group is calling for a review of the device and for guidelines for its employment." Complete hearing details along with public information about basic training for new law enforcement officers for use-of-force is available at the opening page of www.wilenet.org. Lautenschlager asks citizens and officers who are planning to attend the hearing in Stevens Point to inform the Training and Standards Bureau by using a link at the WILENET Web site to facilitate responsive planning for the hearings. * * * BLOOD CENTER SEEKS PLATELET DONORS: A blood drive sponsored by The Blood Center will be held Thursday, March 24, at Associated Bank in the Lower Level Branch, 1325 Church St. in Stevens Point. It starts at 9:30 a.m. and donors will be accepted until 1:30 p.m. For an appointment call Tami Fourness at 345-4441. The blood drive will include the donation of platelets that are particularly essential to patients suffering from various cancers and undergoing chemotherapy, as well as bone marrow transplant recipients, because these patients cannot make their own platelets in adequate amounts during treatments. Giving a pint of blood benefits those patients needing platelets as well, but it takes almost six donors of whole blood to equal one unit of platelets. New technology now allows for platelet donations at community blood drives. Those who are whole blood eligible can become platelet donors. During a platelet donation, blood is drawn, the platelets are removed and the remaining blood is returned to the donor. This type of donation takes about 90 minutes, with a total visit time of about two hours. A whole blood donation takes about an hour. Platelets can be donated every two weeks, up to 24 times a year. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days. The Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood products to St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point and St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. The Blood Center is a locally based nonprofit which serves more than 60 percent of the state, supplying to 54 hospitals in 25 Wisconsin counties. * * * COMMUNITY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN POVERTY SIMULATION: A poverty simulation exercise sponsored by the UW-SP Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and facilitated by CAP Services has openings for community members interested in experiencing the challenges low-income families face in central Wisconsin. The simulation will take place in the UW-SP University Center Encore Room from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28. A free-will donation will be collected. Registration is required, and interested people should contact John Jordens at (262) 758-0280 (johnjordens@charter.net) by March 24. Designed as a learning tool, the simulation helps people understand the realities of poverty. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families. Some are Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients, some are disabled and some are senior citizens living solely on Social Security. They have the task of providing for basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget during the course of four 15-minutes "weeks." Participants interact with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, payday and title loan companies, police officers and others. During the debriefing session participants discuss their experience and suggest changes for their local communities. The simulation was developed by the Missouri Association for Community Action and has been made available nationally this year. CAP Services has obtained the rights for use in central Wisconsin. CAP Services is a private, non-profit corporation serving Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties. It has been offering programs that help low-income people attain economic and emotional self-sufficiency since 1966. * * * PORTAGE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS SEEKS HELP IN VANDALISM CASE: Portage County Crimestoppers is searching for information on a vandalism case. On Saturday, Feb. 19, deputies responded to 2851 Trestik Road in the town of Eau Pleine for a report of vandalism. When the officers arrived, they found that someone had entered the horse corral and had cut tails off of four of the owner's show horses. The tails were cut off in a crude manner, possibly with a knife. The owner of the horses said that this would have happened the night of Feb. 18. He stated that the horses will not be able to be shown at events for at least a year since it will take that long for the tails to grow back. The loss of value for the horses during this time is $3,500 per horse. Those with information about this cruelty to the horses, or any other crime, can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward. Call Portage County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-346-6600 with information. * * * FOOD SHARE ELIGIBILITY SCREENINGS SET FOR MONDAYS: Free Food Share (formerly food stamp) eligibility screenings are offered weekly on Mondays from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Family Development Center, 1640 W. River Drive, Stevens Point. Food Share is available to households whose income is at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. For a household of three, that amount is $2,682 per month. The amount goes up by $543 for each additional household member or goes down by $543 for each fewer household member. CAP Services is providing the screenings under a United States Department of Agriculture grant. For more information call Judith at 343-7525. * * * SGA DECLARES UW-SP CIVIL LIBERTIES SAFE ZONE: The UW-SP Student Government Association (SGA) unanimously passed a statute, "Declaration of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a Civil Liberties Safe Zone," recently. The SGA strongly supports the United States Constitution and all rights granted within, and have hereby declared through this statute that the Patriot Act, Homeland Security Act and any executive orders that jeopardize these granted rights shall be unenforceable on the UW-SP campus, the statute says. This statute will be forwarded to the president and attorney general of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, the governor of Wisconsin, each member of the Wisconsin delegation in Congress, the UW-SP Faculty Senate, UW-SP Protective Services and the chairs of the Stevens Point Common Council and Portage County Board. UW-SP has also been added to the list of campuses, communities and states on the Bill of Rights Defense Committee Web site, which can be viewed at the following Web address: www.bordc.org/campus-resolutions. The College Greens of UW-SP are the author of the statute. For more information, contact Eric Krszjzaniek at 346-4592. * * * STATE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES WILL APPEAR ON IDEAS NETWORK: The Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio will feature both candidates for Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction during call-in programs this week and next as they campaign for the April 5 general election. Afternoon host Ben Merens will speak to the candidates Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18, in his 4 p.m. hour. Four-year incumbent Elizabeth Burmaster will be on with Merens on Thursday, with her challenger, State Rep. Gregg Underheim, taking part in Friday's program. Listeners may ask questions of the candidates during the program by calling 800-486-8655. The following week, morning host Joy Cardin will entertain the candidates during her 7 a.m. hour, with Underheim on Monday, March 21, and Burmaster joining the program Tuesday, March 22. The call-in number for Cardin's show is 800-642-1234. The Ideas Network broadcasts issues-based, guest-driven call-in talk programs on 15 stations throughout Wisconsin, including Ideas 91.9 WLBL/ Wausau, AM 930 WLBL/Auburndale-Stevens Point, and 90.3 WHBM/ Park Falls. The programming can also be heard online at www.wpr.org. * * * COUNTY IMPLEMENTS CONTINUOUS HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PROGRAM: Portage County has received a $36,000 grant from the state of Wisconsin to implement a Continuous Household Hazardous Material Clean Sweep Program that will be available to all Portage County residents. Patty Drier, county grant writer, in conjunction with the Portage County Solid Waste Department, received a No. 2 ranking in the state for their grant proposal. Portage County will receive the largest per county dollar amount in the state. Following the success of the 2004 Household Hazardous Waste Clean Sweep, this grant will allow for a continuous program designed to meet the ongoing needs of county residents, Solid Waste Department officials said. It will cover two-thirds of the disposal cost. A nominal fee will subsidize the rest of the cost. Different hazardous materials will have different disposal fees. Agricultural users of hazardous materials will also qualify for the program, using a different pay scale. Citizens with 10 more items, large amounts of agricultural materials and all businesses that qualify as very small quantity generators are asked to make an appointment. The program will begin in mid-May. Brochures and other information will be available in April. For updates and recycling information, call 345-5972 or 345-5969.