a Finnish company which owns the longtime Thilmany mill in Kaukauna said its planned acquisition of Pixelle’s Stevens Point facility will complement its food packaging business and strengthen its position in the U.S Helen Mets, the company's CEO, announced the acquisition during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 28 “It’s a significant strengthening for our food and consumer packaging division a high-end solution provider in food packaging and e-commerce segments based in North America is so highly complementary to our food and consumer packaging division.” The company has a significant footprint in Wisconsin in specialty papers and packaging. In addition to the Thilmany mill, it owns the Nicolet mill in De Pere and two other mills in Rhinelander and Mosinee The intended acquisition continues to expand its presence in Wisconsin also strengthens our footprint in the local U.S which we see anyway as beneficial,” Mets said making Pixelle the largest specialty papers producer for annual production in North America at that time More: Same flavor, new look: King Cone in Plover reimagines ice cream recipes without added dyes Mets assured investors and analysts that the company is largely insulated from tariffs due to its “local for local” manufacturing and supply strategy producing goods in the same regions where they’re sold the message for us is direct impact of tariffs is not material told investors that the company plans to pay for the Stevens Point mill through a $600 million loan backed by company assets The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions “And the earliest anticipated closing is in early June for us,” he added Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her with story tips and feedback at zwang@gannett.com or 920-993-7117 Celebrate another academic year and a historic anniversary at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point next week with a free community event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first Student Union at UW-Stevens Point between the Dreyfus University Center and Old Main This open to the public event will feature free live music Festival music performances will include Wisconsin artists Tae and the Neighborly The campus will celebrate the history of campus activities with student-operated activities including carnival games and bounce houses “The Point in Time Festival is a reimagination of an event we held in the past called Copper Fountain Fest and I’m excited that we’re bringing something like that back for our students and community,” said Michelle Miller associate director for programs in the UWSP University Centers Miller says the event is a great way to celebrate the end of the academic year “Campus Activities and Student Engagement wants to provide fun and engaging opportunities Campus Activities and Student Engagement provides enriching and engaging entertainment for students at UW-Stevens Point. Visit www.facebook.com/uwspcase for more information about the festival STEVENS POINT − The Waupaca County Sheriff's Office is leading a death investigation after members of the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force attempted to serve a search warrant at a Stevens Point home the morning of April 30 members of the Drug Task Force attempted to serve the search warrant at a home in the 1200 block of Franklin Street in Stevens Point according to a news release from the Stevens Point Police Department Officers did not continue entry into the home They called an interior drone operator and the operator located a dead person with a single gunshot wound that is believed to be self-inflicted Local emergency medical services were notified and responded The Waupaca County Sheriff's Office is leading the death investigation with help from the Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation All involved law enforcement agencies are cooperating with the investigation The Waupaca County Sheriff's Office is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of the incident and it will turn the reports over to the Portage County District Attorney's Office when the investigation is complete Check out our photos: What's that smoke? Stevens Point Fire Department holds live fire training More local news: Portage County Sheriff's Office investigating death of person found April 28 in Linwood Contact Karen Madden at kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 MADISON Wis.—Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has named Pratima Gandhi as interim chancellor of UW-Stevens Point effective July 14 currently Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration who will become chancellor of UW-Milwaukee “Pratima Gandhi has a successful record of managing the university’s finances since her appointment in 2020 including a significant role in leading it to financial stability,” Rothman said “She has the knowledge and relationships to keep UW-Stevens Point on track.” Gandhi has led a division that includes Facility Services As the university’s chief financial officer she is responsible for the university’s budget and serves on Chancellor Gibson’s leadership team “Pratima is a trusted and valuable partner in all that we are building at UW-Stevens Point,” said Chancellor Gibson are in good hands as we prepare for a leadership transition this summer.” Gandhi was chief financial officer and treasurer at Bradley University in Peoria She was also an auditor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg is an alumnus of the UW-Stevens Point Sentry School of Business and Economics “UW-Stevens Point has made significant progress in recent years through financial stability “I look forward to continuing that momentum.” Download photo universityrelations@wisconsin.edu © 2025 Board of Regents - University of Wisconsin System the American Indians Reaching for Opportunities (AIRO) Powwow will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday The event will take place in Skyward Fieldhouse and elders over 65 and kids under 3 may enter for free.  All dancers will line up during grand entries and enter in accordance with opening protocols Intertribal dances will be open to everyone to respectfully join in the celebration and honor the gathering A traditional feast will also be served at 5 p.m This year’s event will feature alumni from the AIRO student organization from the past 50 years Speakers will share elder wisdom and insight that reflects the deep roots and lasting impact of this student-led tradition Head dancers will honor others through giveaways and outgoing AIRO Princess and Brave will be holding specials rooted in generosity and gratitude Attendees will experience a wide variety of dance styles throughout the day supported by the UW-Stevens Point Native American Center including dances like “Bells and Boots (if you got them),” the Swan Dance Drums representing many Nations in the region will be featured with the Menominee Nation Color Guard Children and families are welcome to attend with space to craft and enjoy games coordinated by campus volunteers “We are honored to celebrate this incredible milestone with our community It means a great deal to us that for 50 years Indigenous students at UWSP have organized and hosted this powwow being far from home and facing significant challenges The resilience of our people is visible in this gathering which continues to stand strong – just like us,” said Native American Center Coordinator Rachel Davis For more information on AIRO and the Native American Center at UW-Stevens Point, visit www.uwsp.edu/diversity-and-college-access/native-american-center/ LINWOOD − The Portage County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a person whose body was found April 28 who was believed to have gone fishing near West River Drive and Portage County HH in the Portage County town of Linwood according to a Portage County Sheriff's Office news release The circumstances surrounding the person's death is under investigation by the Portage County Sheriff's Office and Medical Examiner's Office The Portage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Portage County Medical Examiner’s Office,Rudolph Fire Department and Rudolph EMS Portage County inspections: 2 restaurants with 9 violations and 1 requires reinspection More local news: Stevens Point & Portage County leaders optimistic about city hall, courthouse agreement STEVENS POINT − People approaching Stevens Point’s downtown from the west will have a different view after the over 20-year-old “Rivermen” mural is removed in the upcoming days The decision to remove the mural on the western wall of 817 Clark St follows deterioration of the plaster surface and the wall of the building supporting it The mural must be removed for safety and to prevent further damage to the building, according to the release. The mural was the first of the newer murals to be painted in the city’s downtown in the mid-2000s, according to the city’s website “While it’s sad to have to remove the deteriorated mural that has stood for more than 20 years one of more than a dozen that have become well known in our community," Wiza said “We now have an opportunity to ensure the view when entering our city from the west is one that will be attractive for the next 20 years.” City seeks ideas to replace 'Rivermen' muralThe owner of the building has expressed interest in replacing the mural following repair of the wall beneath it Schertz Fahrner LLC appears to be owned by Jerry Fahrner of Plover according to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Fahrner is the president of Fahrner Asphalt Sealers in Plover according to a LinkedIn account with the same name The mural was completed in 2004 with a 20-year agreement between the building owner (then Van’s Flooring Company) private citizens and “some city involvement” to help maintain it The agreement has now expired and two decades of freeze and thaw cycles have caused the plaster-like surface to separate from the building’s clay brick wall While a timeline for repairs to be made to the wall has yet to be established offers and donations for the mural’s replacement to the Mayor’s Office at City Hall at 1515 Strongs Avenue The city intends to work with groups to help fund the mural’s replacement or we could do something different,” Wiza said “We want to know what the community wants to see.” History of the 'Rivermen' muralThe Rivermen mural was funded by a private group that sold the "faces” of the "Rivermen" to fund the mural’s creation Artist Kelly Meredith painted a significant portion of the mural and volunteers helped complete it with a “paint-by-numbers” strategy “The technology for doing murals on older buildings has improved in the last few decades," Wiza said “We could potentially install something that will last longer and not create subsurface issues for the structure.” The "Rivermen" mural depicts a scene from Stevens Point’s earliest history when the logging industry would float logs down the Wisconsin River Workers known as “rivermen” were responsible for maintaining the flow of logs down the various channels of the “world’s hardest working river.” The faces of 24 men from Stevens Point’s past and present were painted onto the mural copied from photos provided by friends and family who helped pay for the project Stevens Point Current: Zoning rewrite meetings set; city seeks to improve rental housing More local news: Here's why the Wisconsin River is lower between Stevens Point and Whiting Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com Stevens Point Current is a regular column in the Stevens Point Journal by Service Journalism Reporter Erik Pfantz that covers a range of topics in city and county governments and local school districts to highlight the many items that flow past our local decision-makers If you have items you would like to see highlighted in this column, please reach out to Erik at epfantz@gannett.com You may see more food trucks on public property and right-of-ways in Stevens Point as the Common Council approved revisions to its food and vending carts ordinance in April which has been in place since at least 2012 was “organized poorly” and “had internal inconsistencies,” Andrew Beveridge The clerk’s office requested a review of the ordinance as it handles permits for the food vendors The new ordinance both adds and removes restrictions on the mobile food vendors A few specific food safety clauses were removed in favor of relying on Portage County Health Department’s food vendor permit standards Certain approvals obtained from regional departments may be recognized by Stevens Point officials easing the burden on vendors of seeking multiple similar approvals from various local governments Permitted vendors may also operate in the Downtown Business Improvement District but are limited by parking time regulations and proximity to downtown business owners operating sidewalk cafés Permits to exceed parking time limits or other restrictions may be obtained through the Downtown Business Improvement Board and other public officials The ordinance revisions were approved by the council unanimously More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Stevens Point Journal app City officials submit non-binding letter of intent for Edgewater Manor propertyPlanning is underway for two adjacent properties including the site of the former Edgewater Manor located at 1450 Water St received a non-binding “letter of intent” from city officials in early April The city first released a Request for Proposals for the site in November 2023 which called attention to a need to add 900 housing units to the city before 2040 and stated proposals that included owner-occupied condominiums and river-facing public spaces would be more likely to be chosen to move forward the intent of the letter is to reserve the two properties in relation to the site for six months from any further transactions or agreements with third parties currently rents commercial space in the building to Children’s Wisconsin and One Big Tent Currently active leases in the building run through November 2027 The agreement allows Pelton to invest into early design and investigation work financial evaluations and other work with fewer concerns the city will choose another direction for the property No other developers have expressed serious interest in the property in an April 14 letter to the Common Council The riverfront property has been a topic of discussion in the community for decades and is at the center of several planning efforts in the city’s downtown area. A recent conceptual image of redevelopment of the city’s riverfront does not include the building as it currently looks instead showing a restaurant on the “historic depot site.” 17-lot subdivision approved off Heffron StreetThe Common Council approved a 17-lot subdivision on a 6.58-acre lot bounded by Hoover Road Heffron Street and properties along Dunegan Drive owned by FFH Holdings LLC Approval of the subdivision required three votes from the council One vote changed the property’s “future land use” designation in the city’s Comprehensive Plan The second vote rezoned the property to a single- and two-family residential district from a light industrial district The final approval divided the property into 13 roughly 12,000-square-foot properties three near 15,000 square feet and one nearing 20,000 square feet A new city street named Starling Court will branch north from Heffron Street and end in a cul-de-sac The subdivision will not connect to Hoover Road underground utilities and a multi-use path connection will be funded by the property developer Future maintenance costs on the infrastructure will be funded by city tax revenue Additional information requested for future comprehensive facilities studyCommon Council members Mayor Mike Wiza and several department heads discussed the parameters of a future comprehensive facility study for over an hour and a half during the April 21 council meeting The item stemmed from a $50,000 budget allocation for such a study the council approved in its 2025 budget as it considers several major facility needs Department heads generally report they can manage to operate in their current facilities but there are many long-standing issues and deferred maintenance costs that should be addressed A few facilities listed in the meeting as reasonably needing a full build or rebuild included the streets garage but there is no adequate funding source for these projects the council turned down a $10,440 quote on a structural study and directed department heads to list their building assets expected maintenance needs and timelines for major components of the buildings and known unknowns about the buildings by the June council meeting These department head reports will inform the council on what further analysis needs to be performed in a third-party comprehensive facility study More local news: How temporary road safety measures aim to eliminate traffic fatalities in Portage County Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com WHITING − River levels will be lower than normal between the Stevens Point and Whiting dams as crews continue to repair a mechanical issue at the Whiting dam According to a release from Consolidated Water Power Company a mechanical failure occurred in a stoplog at the Whiting dam the company had to lower the water level temporarily along the roughly 2.5-mile stretch of the Wisconsin River between the Stevens Point and Whiting dams The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the drawdown at a slow rate of two feet per day Preliminary estimates are that the river could drop up to 15 feet although that amount depends on the scope of the repairs CWPCo expects to take about seven days to lower the water level and another seven days to restore the river levels to normal after repairs are completed Water will be released through tainter gates at both dams in Stevens Point and Whiting and the turbines at both sites will not be used for water release during the maintenance work suggested people stay away from the dam in Whiting during repairs for safety “We want to emphasize that there is no danger to downstream residents,” Burkhardt said “Water flows will remain within the river channel throughout the drawdown we strongly urge the public to stay away from the Whiting Dam area − both upstream and downstream − until repairs are complete We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation as we work to resolve this issue safely and efficiently.” CWPCo is working with Portage County Emergency Management the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Service and FERC throughout the drawdown and repair Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda STEVENS POINT − Easter is quickly approaching bringing family traditions like Easter baskets sunrise services and brunch with all the breakfast and lunch dishes and buffets or if you’re looking at all of your options these local restaurants have you covered with all of your favorite Easter treats The following Stevens Point-area restaurants will be open on Easter: Olympia Family Restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at 200 Division St. in Stevens Point. The Easter dinner includes ham steak, jumbo shrimp, roast chicken, roast turkey and prime rib. For more information, find Olympia Family Restaurant on Facebook Want to add your business to the list? Please email cshuda@gannett.com with the name of your restaurant (This story was updated to include new information.) STEVENS POINT − CREATE Portage County is officially opening in its new home on Maria Drive CREATE is hosting its grand opening event from 4 p.m April 19 at 1300 Maria Drive in Stevens Point Festivities include a double set from Rucksack Revolution including Adam Greuel from Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Sarah Vos from Dead Horses CREATE Portage County will also offer exclusive memberships and rental offers at this event Tickets are available online for $10 in advance or they’ll be available for $20 at the door at the event CREATE Portage County’s new home is part of a larger redevelopment project called The Grove Francis announced in 2019 they would depart from their home on Maria Drive and finalized the property sale in March 2022 The project broke ground the following day creating senior living apartments and leased townhomes In April 2022, CREATE Portage County broke ground on the organization’s space in the project The Sisters wanted the organization to be part of the project because of its focus on education and inclusion and community service mirroring what originally brought the Sisters to Stevens Point in 1901 Crews have since been working on renovating 26,000 square feet of the former chapel and cafeteria space below for CREATE Much of the renovation kept the space visually similar preserving the longstanding history of the property Francis Convent Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023 as the group was not allowed to permanently secure anything to the walls the chapel area has all of its original windows the former altar space offers a stage fitted for sound rentable conference rooms stand on either side of the organ pipes in the mezzanine space overlooking the chapel A third conference room stands behind the organ pipes Groups can meet in the chapel area and work collaboratively on the main floor Other rooms behind and around the chapel area include a coffee station and a photo and video studio There’s also a multipurpose room that could be used for events CREATE’s space also includes a commercial kitchen a design lab with a 3D printer and a recording studio with audio and video gear For more information about CREATE Portage County or to purchase tickets to the grand opening event, visit createportagecounty.org or find CREATE Portage County on Facebook Six candidates are running for three seats on the Stevens Point School Board in the April 1 election Incumbents Jennifer Bushman and Barb Portzen will face challengers Miguel Campos School Board members serve three-year terms To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district Occupation and education: Staff vice president talent management for a Global Fortune 20 organization I hold a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in speech communication with a focus in organizational development I am currently enrolled in the UW-Madison Professional Coach Program where I coach clients in the community and my workplace empowering them to achieve their personal and professional goals Relevant experience: I have a 20+ year career in human resources leading teams and managing large budgets in learning design and development leadership development and talent management I served as president and held various leadership roles while serving the community for 10 years in the Stevens Point Junior Woman’s Club including being elected by the board after my first year of service and leading as board president for two years strategic leadership − an area the board identified as a key strength in our recent self-evaluation reflecting meaningful progress from previous years Campaign Facebook page: Reelect Jennifer Bushman for School Board on Facebook Occupation and education: Small business owner and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance – sales and underwriting Relevant experience: Served on the School Board in 2023 I also serve on or have served on other local boards and committees including Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin IGNITE Young Professionals and Central Wisconsin Apartment Association Campaign website/Facebook page: Candidate did not provide a response Occupation and education: Maintenance technician; bachelor's degree with a double major in urban and regional planning and human cultural geography from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a minor in ESL Relevant experience: I have over 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership managing both native and foreign teachers as we worked hand-in-hand As a crew manager for the Wisconsin Conservation Corps I taught job skills to at-risk community members kept them within budget and ensured sponsor satisfaction As the maintenance supervisor at Schmeeckle Reserve Campaign website/Facebook page: lebrickforschoolboard.my.canva.site and Jeremy Lebrick for School Board on Facebook Occupation and education: Human resources (senior talent business partner-global corporate functions); bachelor's degree in English literature from Creighton University and master's degree in English literature from Georgia State University Relevant experience: Fourteen years public service as a police officer 11 years as a special victims detective/sergeant working with parents schools and communities to protect children Instructor certified through Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (developed/delivered training on child abuse response throughout the state) Received the Deborah McDorman Flame Award for victim advocacy and the Raksha Himmat (Courage) Award for excellence serving youth victims of violence Currently an HR professional for a Global Fortune 200 Manufacturing Company Citizen member of Business Services/Human Resources Committee Campaign website/Facebook page: www.friendsofmarnemercer.com and Marne Mercer for School Board on Facebook Occupation and education: Retired teacher; master's degree in technology and leadership Relevant experience: 33 years of teaching experience at the secondary level and collegiate level teaching business subjects like office skills I have served for nine years on the SPAPSD board I serve on the board of the Playhouse Theatre Group and work with kids all the time .. Campaign Facebook page: Barb Portzen for Stevens Point School Board 2025 on Facebook Occupation and education: I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a math degree and have over 20 years of experience in insurance This has equipped me with strong analytical I’ve progressed into leadership roles by developing data-driven solutions and navigating complex challenges This background enables me to approach problems with a strategic mindset focus on efficiency and ensure responsibility has honed my problem-solving and strategic thinking skills Balancing the needs of my family and understanding the intricacies of education has given me a unique perspective on what students and teachers truly need I approach challenges with empathy and focus on creating practical solutions that drive positive results This experience drives thoughtful strategy and results-oriented solutions to the School Board Bushman: I am seeking reelection to continue the strong progress and momentum I’ve built over the past three years including my two years as school board president My three children are enrolled in the district − one in elementary This provides me a unique lens as a parent and board member I will continue advocating for improvements encourage proactive and innovative fiscal oversight and contribute to a thriving learning environment so every student in our district can reach their highest potential Campos: I am running again so I can continue the great work I was part of during my 2023 term board term I also hope to continue my efforts on the development of a larger financial literacy curriculum in the K-12 spaces I intend to continue working on district accountability for excellence in fiscal responsibility ensure all dollars spent are directly related to ongoing student and teacher success in the classroom and ensure our students who have experienced large levels of pandemic-related learning loss are given the help and guidance needed to be successful Lebrick: I am running for the School Board to represent the interests of the students faculty and staff of the Stevens Point Area School District Mercer: I want to ensure that every student has a safe environment to learn and that district resources are focused on improving student achievement.​​​​ I am committed to the success of all students With four children who have attended Stevens Point schools I am invested in the success of the district I have shared parent frustration in the areas of curriculum I also empathize with teachers who work hard but do not always feel supported in achieving results I have thoroughly enjoyed the last nine years serving on the board I feel I bring a perspective that not everyone has − I view things from the classroom and act accordingly My children and grandchildren have gone through the Stevens Point schools and I’ll continue to do the right thing for students and families Smith: I’m running for School Board because I’m passionate about ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education that meets the students where they are I understand the importance of collaboration and practical solutions educators and the community to create a supportive environment where all students can thrive advocating for meaningful change and making decisions that prioritize the success and well-being of our students What makes you the better candidate in this race?Bushman: I offer proven leadership and expertise evidenced by my track record on the School Board and commitment to all stakeholders: students I've led initiatives to strengthen board-community relations and supported expanded learning opportunities for students and families With Fortune 20 executive experience in human resources and strategic planning optimize budgets and maintain transparent communication with all I am dedicated to fostering academic excellence and a positive school culture and look forward to continuing this essential work to advance our schools Campos: I am not familiar with most of the persons running outside of the incumbents so I cannot say that I am better than any one of them What I can say is I am a 21-year resident to this community a local business owner and a local employee I have two kids in the district for the next eight years and I have spent countless hours in service of the great Portage County area I have already served on and competed for this board position in the past My dedication to the community and the schools within it is unwavering and I look forward to continuing to serve this community for years to come Lebrick: I am a candidate with a diverse range of experiences that reflect my commitment to integrity and my dedication to creating opportunities for all students I am committed to education and will act in the best interest of our school district Mercer: Unique experience: I spent many years in local government as a detective/sergeant in a special victims unit and was decorated for my dedication to the safety of highly-vulnerable citizens I am the only candidate who has had the unfortunate experience of working a school shooting and I have an in-depth understanding of positions requiring integrity and public trust and building a culture of trust and communication to ensure employees feel engaged and supported Portzen: My experience as an educator is a big plus My ability to see both sides and decide what is best for the district is a strength My common-sense approach helps me make appropriate choices relating to what happens in the classrooms foster parent and wife to a district employee gives me a unique well-rounded perspective that makes me an ideal candidate I deeply understand the diverse needs of students and families My experience navigating the education system from both a parent and caregiver standpoint allows me to advocate for policies that meet students where they are to encourage educational growth my connection to the district through my husband provides insight into the challenges faced by educators enabling me to bridge gaps between families Bushman: One of challenges I continue to hear is attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff and a positive work environment are key to keeping teachers and staff in our district I will continue advocating for responsible budgeting that prioritizes competitive compensation and benefits expanding professional growth opportunities By making our district a place where educators and staff want to stay and grow we ensure the best possible learning environment and outcomes for our students and families while being mindful stewards of taxpayer dollars Campos: The largest issue facing many districts is ongoing learning loss I have large expectations of our students here in the United States We have a robust education system throughout the States an amazing per-pupil spend compared to our competitor nations yet we consistently rank lower in math and science which I believe to be subjects of the utmost importance for the jobs of the future I would like to see a larger focus on the S.T.E.M and more money being moved toward the expansion of these programs Lebrick: The school choice voucher program is a significant issue for the school district The use of tax dollars to support private or religiously focused schools is inappropriate Efforts will be made to ensure that public schools have adequate resources for students to compete effectively and that those resources are not allocated to the private sector Mercer: The most pressing issue is improving student achievement and reducing learning gaps The way that we accomplish this is by recruiting and supporting quality teachers and staff It only takes one trusted adult to make a difference in the success of a student school districts across Wisconsin face likely changes in federal and state funding models and curriculum and legal challenges that have the potential to drastically restructure public education We must remain focused on what the board can do by providing staff the resources needed to affect achievement while weathering changes to curriculum and funding Portzen: That’s a tough choice between retaining staff and handling behaviors I’m doing a lot of reading on the four-day week to take some of the strain off teachers Perhaps we’d have to partner with facilities to provide services for kids who are off one day a week If we could schedule fewer kids in each classroom Maybe we could add another adult to the lower elementary classrooms to help the teacher deal with all the different needs many quality professionals have left education due to burnout and rising student needs have driven teacher fatigue and pushed educators to seek alternative careers districts must improve teacher compensation and facilitate stronger communication between teachers and parents as a district we need to build an educational community for all district employees to ensure that everyone can collaborate and feel heard in addressing student needs Bushman: Residents share that their top concerns are retaining high-quality educators while maintaining fiscal responsibility and ensuring student success I will continue advocating for competitive wages and benefits within a responsible budget I’ll also work to keep our schools strong by prioritizing student achievement As a mother with three children enrolled in the district I have a vested interest in ensuring our district remains a place where all students and staff can thrive Campos: Top three issues I’ve heard for the past four years are 1) addressing learning loss The board must ensure administration has the teachers’ backs to ensure that it is not afraid to cut spending where it is not performing not afraid to tell parents that repeat behavioral issues will not be tolerated and that priority will be given to students not at grade-level comprehension I suspect these fixes will create a better teacher environment and allot more revenue for increased teacher pay Lebrick: Many residents believe our public schools are lagging behind private sector schools academically I will work hard to secure resources for our public school students and teachers to level the academic field Public schools must be able to compete with private sector schools Mercer: The biggest issues brought to me are school financing attracting and retaining quality staff (especially teachers Public education funding in Wisconsin went from 11th to 25th in the nation over an 18-year period A recent survey showed Wisconsin residents overestimate student performance and struggle to understand school budgeting One of the primary duties of a board member is communication with the public I will ensure that I am present and accessible Portzen: I most often hear about bullying (including cyber bullying) and disruptive behaviors I would love to get a group of parents together and decide on proper consequences that most could agree on I’ve long been interested in getting a parent involvement coordinator on staff who could provide helpful workshops for parents we parents aren’t versed in how to handle all these situations It would be great to get more parental involvement in the schools We are a partnership and should be working together Smith: The education gap is a significant challenge with students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often facing unequal opportunities education must meet the unique needs of students With a greater focus on personalized learning we can ensure that every student has the support they need teaching students how to learn − fostering critical thinking and adaptability − ensures they can apply knowledge effectively across subjects Equipping students with these lifelong skills empowers them Bushman: I advocated for a thorough budget analysis prior to the referendum and for an ongoing budget review which we now conduct in our monthly School Board meetings This ensures that the increased operational funds approved by voters are used effectively and transparently I will continue to focus on responsible and innovative financial oversight By making data-driven decisions and regularly evaluating our spending we will continue to build community trust while improving our district's fiscal health Campos: The board's entire job is to oversee what the administration is doing It is the responsibility of each board member to ask relevant questions seek to understand things they don’t understand speak with the finance office and superintendent to ensure they/we are spending money wisely reduce spend on things that are redundant or serve very little purpose shopping our services from multiple vendors and consider district partnerships to create buying power where it make sense This is a practice that should always be ongoing Lebrick: We will set realistic expectations through open conversations to establish goals we will evaluate our success and either celebrate or adjust policies as needed Mercer: As a member of the Business Services/HR committee including how referendum dollars are being spent residents wanted assurance that the benefits outweighed the costs and board members must now deliver those priorities The best way to accomplish this is through transparency (publicly demonstrating where referendum funds are spent such as the recent purchase of a new reading curriculum) continuous feedback (providing residents with opportunities to be heard) administration and board members work together for innovative solutions) I will push for this visibility and accountability Portzen: I’ve always advocated for the teachers and staff so I want to be sure we use those dollars to add to their wage/benefit package They lost all retirement benefits during Act 10 and we have to add some of those items back in because we’re losing wonderful people to neighboring districts The district identified certain needs; the Business Services committee reviews these expenditures on a monthly basis Smith: Education is one of the largest investments we make as a community Our School District should focus on enhancing the quality of education while ensuring fiscal responsibility A balanced approach would involve investing in teacher professional development and maintaining competitive salaries to attract and retain skilled educators Funds can also be allocated to modernizing facilities and integrating technology to better prepare students for the future it is imperative to have a transparent and fact-driven approach to spending that maximizes the funding to our shared goals Bushman: Addressing student behavior and attendance issues requires a proactive I will continue to advocate for strengthening partnerships between schools families and community resources to provide early intervention and supports consistent consequences and equipping teachers with classroom management tools are essential Expanding mental health resources and mentoring programs can also address root causes By maintaining open communication with parents and prioritizing student engagement we can build a stronger learning environment where all students are accountable There are numerous reasons why but none good enough to simply accept this behavior as “normal for this generation." The parents of those students who are repeat offenders need to be brought in regularly and solutions discussed Of those solutions discussed there needs to be discussion about the severity of consequences if the issues aren’t suppressed in a meaningful way While sympathetic to the many reasons why students have behavioral issues I’m more sympathetic to those students with the similar circumstance who choose to sit listen and learn but whose learning is disrupted continuously Lebrick: Our educators require resources to effectively engage students and foster a sense of interest and purpose in learning students may become disengaged and more interested in what is going on elsewhere I will take the necessary steps to help our teachers create their ideal classes and engage all students Mercer: Students perform and behave best when they have safe welcoming schools where they feel like they belong Achieving this sense of belonging involves continuing to support existing programs that provide focused attention to struggling students (in-school counseling creating common-sense policies like our cellphone policy (which has already shown a measurable impact on student behavior) and ensuring teachers have the resources necessary to appropriately and directly manage students with behavioral difficulties will set up an environment best suited for student attendance and success Portzen: I answered this in a previous question but it’s such an important topic that we need to try some things NOW or it will get worse I don’t believe that the entire class should be removed from the room because someone is acting out Remove the child who needs a quiet time and let him/her calm themselves in the manner that works for that child a strong partnership with parents is essential We need to continue to ensure that kids feel safe in our buildings and are given the environment to learn Smith: Student accountability and community involvement play a crucial role in driving better behaviors and improving attendance When students understand the value of their education and the investment their community is making in their future they’re more likely to take ownership of their learning We need to ensure this message is clearly expressed to our students both in school and within the broader community helps students make better choices and stay engaged Fostering strong connections between students and educators creates a support system that motivates consistent attendance and positive behavior More local school news: When is spring break 2025 for Stevens Point area school districts? We compiled a list. More local school news: Stevens Point schools show slight improvement in annual DPI report card STEVENS POINT – Here's your guide to contested races in the April 1 election in the Stevens Point area including justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court state superintendent of public instruction and Stevens Point Area School District school board seats A statewide referendum question will also appear More voting resources can be found at myvote.wi.gov Stevens Point alderpersons serve two-year terms with half of the council's seats up for election each year School board members serve three-year terms Current board member Dennis Raabe is not seeking reelection State superintendent serves a four-year term Jill Underly has served in the position since 2021 Here’s how the question will appear on the ballot: "Photographic identification for voting Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election subject to exceptions which may be established by law?" Warmer temperatures mean road construction season in Wisconsin is approaching Drivers will face detours and delays resulting from road construction projects throughout the spring summer and fall in Stevens Point and Portage County Here’s a list of current and upcoming projects to consider in your travel plans and what local drivers can expect to encounter Interstate 39: About 11 miles of interstate highway between State 34 near Knowlton and Fox Glove Road near Rib Mountain will be milled and resurfaced in a project expected to begin April 7 and be completed by Aug Wisconsin Department of Transportation regional communications manager The highway will remain open to traffic throughout the project but lane closures are likely to cause delays for travelers Ramps and overpass roadways also receiving resurfacing work include the southbound entrance and exit ramps at State 34 State 153 and Business 51 and all four ramps and the overpass at Maple Ridge Road State 66: About 6 miles of roadway between the Stevens Point Airport and the east junction of Portage County J will be repaved and two bridge decks will be replaced in a project expected to occur during the 2025 road construction season The roadway will remain open to traffic during the project by using flagging operations The Torun Road intersection will be closed for several weeks during the project Temporary traffic signals will be installed to maintain one lane of traffic over the Plover River while the bridge work is being completed Stevens PointWashington Avenue: About six blocks of Washington Avenue and six more blocks of intersecting streets plus two alleys will be reconstructed in a project beginning in May and expected to be completed by November Two blocks each of both Grant and Frederick streets north of Washington and two blocks of West Street one north and one south of Washington Avenue The two included alleys are parallel on both sides of Washington Avenue and west of Forest Street Second Avenue will be detoured for “a couple of weeks” during the project to complete utility tie ins gutters and underground utilities will all be replaced as a result of the work Madison and Monroe streets: About four blocks of Madison Street and six block of intersecting streets east of Church Street will be reconstructed in a project beginning in May and expected to be completed by November East Avenue and Reserve Street north of Monroe Street are also included in the project Country Club Drive: About 1,900 feet of Country Club Drive located in the town of Hull roughly between Carols Lane and Main Street will be reoriented and resurfaced in a project expected to begin by late August according to the town of Hull’s spring newsletter A multi-purpose path will also be constructed alongside the roadway as part of the project Work is expected to take about four weeks to complete and Interstate 39 will likely be the detour Hoover Avenue intersections: Traffic signals will be added to the intersections of Hoover Avenue and Industrial Park Road and Coye Drive in a project likely to begin in late summer and expected to be completed by early fall The exact timing of the project depends on the delivery of the new signal equipment Several lane closures will be needed to complete the installation but the road will remain open to traffic throughout the project Portage County B (Wisconsin Avenue to Interstate 39): This project is the final stage of a pavement replacement and reconstruction project that caused significant disruption to traffic patterns in 2024 Remaining work includes final paving of the multi-use path concrete repairs and adjustments to lighting along the corridor Drivers will encounter single lane closures and flagging operations in each direction through the duration of the project Work is expected to begin as weather permits in the spring and be completed by June Portage County B (Portage County R to Kennedy Avenue): This will resurface nearly a mile of roadway east of Portage County R The roadway’s surface will be milled and repaved with 2 inches of asphalt in a process expected to begin in early August and be completed by September The roadway will remain open to traffic through the project but daily flagging operations will likely cause delays and traffic is encouraged to use alternate routes until the project is completed Portage County B (Portage County J intersection): This project will resurface the intersection with Portage County J plus 1,000 feet of roadway both east and west from the intersection Work will include milling the roadway’s surface and repaving with 2 inches of asphalt The project is expected to be completed over two weeks in late fall Portage County D: Over 7 1/2 miles of Portage County D between Portage County J and Portage County A will be reconditioned in a project expected to begin in May and be completed in late summer or early fall Reconditioning the roadway will improve the road’s profile pavement structure and drainage and will also include replacement of the asphalt surface The roadway will be closed to through traffic throughout the project Access will be limited to adjacent residences Portage County B and State 54 are recommended as alternate routes but no official detour will be posted Portage County WW bridge replacement: This project will replace a bridge over Four Mile Creek along Portage County WW in the town of Grant about 0.8 miles west of Portage County F Work is expected to be completed sometime from May to October The roadway will be closed once the work begins and a detour will be posted utilizing Portage County F The project is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Program Stevens Point election results: Voter picks for Common Council, School Board & city clerk Best fish fries: These are the top 12 restaurants for a fish fry in the Stevens Point area, readers say STEVENS POINT − Portage County staff spent three days the week of April 21 going through their needs in a new county courthouse jail and law enforcement center with architects working on the schematics The designs being worked on by the county call for city offices to move out of the combined City Hall and Courthouse building downtown Although an official agreement between Portage County and the city of Stevens Point hasn't been reached both are optimistic that it will be in the near future The city occupies about 27% of the current building although we're very close," Mayor Mike Wiza said "I have a higher degree of confidence than I've had in 20 years in regards to finding a solution to the courthouse security problem." Wiza said he expects the negotiations that have been going on between the city and county will become public in May Local business news: Fuel On Wisconsin continues rebrand of The Store locations & plans to reopen 3 sites but the state passed over the additional position because the county didn't have space for a fourth courtroom gives the county enough space for the fourth courtroom It also will allow the county to take care of all the security issues it has with the current building The architects will meet with staff again in a month or two and hone in on the things that need changing Dewberry will do a detailed drawing that will include information on the sizes of all the offices and exactly where everything will be placed The plans will then go to Findorff Construction Findorff will go through all the building's systems the company should be able to give the county an estimate that is within 5% of the total cost Pavelski anticipates the more detailed drawings and final numbers should be ready sometime around October the Portage County Board can look at everything and decide whether to move forward with it If they approve the plans and borrowing issue although there still will be things that need deciding One big issue will be whether to keep the courtrooms in the current building while the construction is happening or move them to a different location Pavelski is optimistic about the proposed plan's future There has been conflict about the project in the past but much of it was because the city wanted to keep the courthouse and jail in the downtown area which would have added extra cost to the county The current plan keeps the courtrooms and most of the county offices downtown while building a new Portage County Jail and Law Enforcement Center on land the county bought in Plover near the intersection of Portage County B and R The new location will give the county more space and will improve response times for deputies STEVENS POINT − The Personnel Committee did not approve further discussion of a city administrator Monday after an hour and a half of discussion “Not to say we won’t bring this up again or look at other ways to make the city the best it can be but it just doesn’t seem like it’s the right time but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad discussion,” Mary Kneebone committee chairperson and District 7 alderperson “These are the things we need to do at our committee levels Talk about visions and decide if it’s the way that the city wants to go We have nothing to fear from civil discussions.” The committee heard extensive comments from city staff and about a half dozen members of the public during the discussion Common concerns expressed by non-committee members regarded funding of the administrator position as opposed to fully funding departments and removing power from the mayor position Marc Christianson, council president and District 1 alderperson, brought a proposal for the creation of the position to the committee in July the committee has brought in experts from the Wisconsin City/County Management Association and received further information from city staff A city administrator is a professional non-partisan position hired by the city council to handle day-to-day operations of city government coordinate between departments and provide knowledge and expertise to aid elected officials according to the Wisconsin City/County Management Association website brought the topic to Monday’s meeting as the committee will likely have new members following the April reorganization of city government and this version of the committee had received plenty of information to make a decision it would have allowed as much time as possible prior to a potential implementation date of April 2027 “It doesn’t sound like the majority of the members of this body are interested in seeing more detailed work from staff that would further the immediate conversation,” Guthrie said in the meeting “I will not be moving to consider this this evening.” Drafts of an ordinance to create the position and samples of ordinances that would require amendments to define and differentiate the powers of mayor and administrator created by Andrew Beveridge “A key aspect of implementing a (city administrator) is a clear understanding about the authority of the (city administrator) relative to other positions within city government − most notably the mayor and clerk,” Beveridge said in March 5 letter to the Common Council Corey Ladick, comptroller-treasurer, estimated a financial impact of the addition of the position at $206,385.63 in 2025 dollars in an analysis provided to the committee The heads of each city department provided analysis of their budgets in an effort to identify funds that could be redirected to the position Each department already operates with a tight budget and they were only able to identify limited options that would not result in significant city service reductions according to letters from department heads contained in the agenda packet “Due to fiscal restraints placed by the State it has been extremely difficult to find funding for new positions,” Ladick said in a March 4 letter to the committee explaining how a tight city budget has already limited hiring council-approved staff positions “Department heads worked together in 2018 to create the current staffing plan We made progress on it in the 2020 budget year due to a really strong year of net new construction but since then net new construction has been lower which sets our property tax levy limits and restricts our operating budget,” Ladick said municipalities may only raise their tax levies by the amount of “net new construction” that occurs within the city the previous year Net new construction is the change in citywide property value that occurs in a year which is calculated by adding property value increases due to new construction and land improvements and subtracting reductions due to demolitions and removal of land improvements Stevens Point has exceeded the statewide average net new construction of 1.65% of total municipal value by averaging 2.30% the Consumer Price Index shows the average price of everyday goods has increased by 3.75% over the same time period meaning the city can afford less than it did six years ago despite a higher tax levy “This position could easily sit on the list of approved but not funded positions for years similar to what has happened to other approved positions,” Ladick concluded The meeting ended without any action taken More local news: Here's what a zoning code rewrite would mean for Stevens Point property owners More local news: Goerke Park plans could include aquatic center, inflatable dome, new synthetic turf field The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point has opened a new resource for their students: The Digital Forensics and Advanced Recovery Lab This new lab will be for the students that are in certain cyber security classes The major has grown rapidly for the university and this lab will elevate the learning of those enrolled MORE Stevens Point-area voters elected mostly incumbents to the Common Council and School Board on Tuesday Votes were counted in several contested races including Stevens Point clerk and Common Council state superintendent of public instruction and a statewide referendum on an amendment to Wisconsin’s constitution Newcomer Susan Pagel was elected to the city clerk's office She has served the district for 10 years and will continue to pursue goals related to transportation and affordability Stevens Point alderpersons serve two-year terms He has served the district for eight years and will continue to use his 25 years of government and criminal justice work experience to help his community Shaun Morrow (i): 326 (61.4%)James Haine: 205 (38.6%)Stevens Point School BoardIncumbent Jennifer Bushman and newcomers Marne Mercer and Jeremy Lebrick earned the three seats available on the School Board The Wisconsin Supreme Court is made up of seven justices. Justices serve 10-year terms. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announced her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April after serving three terms since 1995 These results were reported as of 10:32 p.m Susan Crawford: 1,146,588 (54.5%)Brad Schimel: 957,534 (45.5%)MORE: Wisconsin Supreme Court election results: Susan Crawford defeats Brad Schimel in most expensive judicial race in US history State superintendent of public instructionState superintendent serves a four-year term MORE: Wisconsin superintendent election results: Incumbent Jill Underly defeats Brittany Kinser subject to exceptions which may be established by law?" These results were reported as of 10:33 p.m MORE: Wisconsin voters approve referendum question, voter ID law now part of state constitution STEVENS POINT − Chase Bank will move out of its downtown Stevens Point branch and move the city one step closer to owning its riverfront property The bank plans to move the branch to the village of Plover’s Crossroad Commons in mid-2026 a spokesperson for Chase Bank confirmed in an email to a Stevens Point Journal reporter Thursday “We're always working to make our branch network better for our customers,” the spokesperson said we're moving to a regional shopping center to boost retail synergy.” the Plover Village Board approved a certified survey map and a site plan for JP Morgan Chase Bank to construct a nearly 4,000-square-foot freestanding Chase Bank building in the northwest corner of Kohl’s parking lot along McDill Avenue Kohl’s agreed to divide its property and sell a portion to Chase the Stevens Point Common Council approved an offer to purchase 601 Main St. the riverfront property currently occupied by Chase The $3 million offer was drafted and presented by the bank to the city but a sale will not be completed until the buyer and seller agree on date for the sale and Chase builds and relocates to a new location The riverfront property and its two-story brick building according to the Portage County Historical Society Plans for the new building include a drive-thru service lane for an in-wall ATM 32 parking spaces including two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant spaces stormwater and signage features as required by village ordinances “Enhancing our branch network sometimes includes consolidating or closing branches where there's overlap or low foot traffic This helps us keep a strong branch network that serves our community well,” the spokesperson added “We're excited to keep serving our community with a state-of-the-art facility,” the spokesperson said The city is currently seeking a new location for its city hall as Portage County moves to renovate and upgrade the courthouse and needs the space currently occupied by city staff and officials Common Council has discussed the matter in closed session in recent months but has not announced any specific locations being considered Members have mentioned during open meetings that new construction and acquisition of properties are both being considered for the new city hall More local news: How road construction will impact travel plans in Stevens Point, Plover and Portage County STEVENS POINT – Over 300 teams of trivia lovers in Stevens Point and worldwide joined together April 11-13 for a slightly shortened 55th World’s Largest Trivia Contest hosted by WWSP 90FM The start of the annual contest hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus radio station was delayed almost four hours by a “tech snafu,” according to station manager Derek Tritz The radio station relied for decades on landline phone service from AT&T to receive answers from hundreds of Trivia teams worldwide every six minutes or so or after one or two songs have played following a question In December, the telecom company announced it would eliminate landline service in its service area by 2029 Radio station staff were told by AT&T in January that landline service would still be available for this year’s contest the radio station received an email from AT&T informing them the landline service would no longer be available for the Trivia contest An attempt to set up phones with internet connections led to another unexpected disruption A Stevens Point community member and radio station alumni with a background in information technology who had been listening to the station with an intention to participate the contest volunteered to help the station troubleshoot its phones “Things were looking a little bit dire and there were some thoughts that the contest might get cancelled but we persevered and thanks to the help of one community member in particular “He decided to come to the station and help us out.”  ‘Q’ ultimately resolved the situation with a spreadsheet and some simple coding Teams would submit answers and their team number through a Google Form before the end of the second song Answers were automatically added to a spreadsheet which would then be printed and given to the phone operators to score “He did that wicked fast and for the most part it was working,” Tritz said “That’s essentially how Trivia got saved was by that Google Form.” Trivia team Dad’s Computers: Potassium Power scored the most points throughout the weekend’s quizzing and community exploration game Two of the regular tasks for teams in the contest involve exploring the streets of Stevens Point for notable landmarks and other oddities “It was really interesting to see what was going to happen during the blackout the last four hours of the contest when we don’t find out who got what questions right,” Shaun Przybylski told a Stevens Point Journal reporter Wednesday The top ten teams had maintained narrow margins in their scores throughout the contest Dak and Alex did a tremendous job with the questions again,” Przybylski said Przybylski has been a Trivia player for more than three decades and his team “I think they did a fantastic job of adapting,” Przybylski said of the late switch to using the online form to submit answers “It took away a little of the drama but it all went smoothly so we can’t really complain.” Submitting answers via phone call adds another layer of strategy because waiting to call might allow a team more time to find the correct answer but increases the risk the team does not submit an answer in the allowed time limit “Not having that element of the contest made it a little bit less dramatic in some ways because we knew if we had a guess we could type it in the form and sorta hover over the enter button in case we found anything else,” Przybylski said What can people expect for next year’s Trivia contest?The contest will be held April 17-19, 2026, according to the Trivia contest website. The theme of the contest will be revealed in the radio station’s annual on-air radiothon held the first full weekend of December “And hopefully look forward to phones again,” Tritz added staff and volunteers said they liked some aspects the internet form submission system so station staff will explore how some aspects may continue to be used most of the community likes that connection of being able to talk to people and we’re hoping to get back to that,” Tritz said that happens in this town,” Przybylski said well over 100 volunteer roles were filled by community members and dozens of local businesses and organizations contribute both time and money to the annual celebration of obscure knowledge the annual contest means seeing old friends carrying on traditions and celebrating Stevens Point’s unique culture we’ve been doing the same thing for decades and it’s just like getting in a time machine and it’s like it exists outside of spacetime It’s like Trivia weekend is its own universe,” Przybylski said This is the only place in America probably you will go to a movie on a Friday night and three people in the movie theater will have notebooks because they have to take notes on every movie they see and it’s just normal here,” Przybylski said More local news: 'Rivermen' mural to be removed in downtown Stevens Point; city seeks ideas for replacement STEVENS POINT − President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has listed a real estate property in Stevens Point on its website as evidence of its work to “maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” A search under the "Real Estate" section of the DOGE website lists "Rural Housing Service" in Stevens Point The site shows the office space is 15,843 square feet with an annual lease cost of $448,204 and “total savings” of $896,408 is listed specifics on how that value was determined is not provided Clicking the listing for more information shows "Termination via Mass Mod." The Rural Housing Service is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. The Rural Development program has six offices in Wisconsin including the Stevens Point office. Other offices are located in Dodgeville, Shawano, Fond du Lac, Menomonie and Spooner, according to the USDA’s website None of these offices are listed on the DOGE website A further search of the U.S. General Services Administration database of federal government property leases revealed a lease matching the listed square footage located at 5417 Clem’s Way and was set to expire or be renewed by Sept The lessor of the property is listed as 2011 Stevens Point LLC A search of Wisconsin’s corporate records database shows the LLC’s address as 4605 Dovetail Dr The address matches commercial real estate Ruedebusch Development & Construction A Stevens Point Journal reporter made multiple calls and emails to Ruedebusch for further comment but did not receive a response Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins) fully supports President Trump’s directive to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively,” a USDA spokesperson said in an email Tuesday to a Stevens Point Journal reporter “USDA is optimizing building capacity and consolidating underutilized offices to reduce inefficiencies while continuing to prioritize frontline services for farmers A March 4 news release by the U.S General Services Administration explained its actions to dispose of “non-core assets.” It describes “core assets as “courthouses and facilities critical to our national defense and law enforcement” while non-core assets “primarily consist of office space.” The release says the agency “owns and maintains over 440 non-core assets comprising almost 80 million rentable square feet across the nation and representing over $8.3 billion in recapitalization needs.” Inadequate funding over time have made these buildings obsolete and the agency is working to dispose of the assets in a way that “leverages the private sector drives improvements for our agency customers and best serves local communities,” according to the release ground leases and other forms of public/private partnerships to drive the full optimization of our space while delivering our federal employees the high quality work environments they need to fulfill their missions,” according to the release Additional questions from a Stevens Point Journal reporter to the USDA on impacts to employees services or the property owner were responded to on Friday with a referral to the statement issued earlier this week Local business news: These are the top 12 restaurants for a fish fry in the Stevens Point area, readers say Local business news: Plover Walmart is undergoing 'Store of the Future' remodel. What changes will shoppers see? Outstanding faculty and staff members were recently recognized at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for their work during the 2024-25 academic year Scholarship and Service Award was given to Brian Barringer teaching his students the relation between the world and science He mentors 17 undergraduate students and been a key figure in the new Cannabis Science Certification Program The winner of the Carolyn Rolfson Sargis Award recognizing employees with more than 25 years of service who work behind the scenes IT Purchasing and Telephone Administration Her work conducting the Teams Voice implementation has reduced significant costs for the university Those selected for the Excellence in Teaching Award include: Recognized with the University Scholar Award were: The University Service Award recipients were: The recipient of the Academic Staff Excellence Award was Laura Gehrman-Rottier The relationships she has built with alumni has awarded the university record-breaking gift numbers totaling over $40 million as part of her work within her unit Her positive influence ensures she is helping students receive the support and opportunities they need The Academic Staff Spirit of Community Service Award was given to Amanda Gilman she has secured over $6 million in scholarships Her dedication to campus has established her as a highly respected individual and exceptional gift officer Several staff members were recognized for Outstanding Work Performance: Incumbent Shaun Morrow will face challenger James Haine for the District 11 seat on the Stevens Point City Council in the April 1 election The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position Occupation and education: Retired University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point professor Bachelor's degree in industrial management and mathematics from Perdue University master's degree in business administration from Washington University in St Louis and Juris Doctor from Indiana University Law School Admitted to the State Bar of Indiana in 1975 and State Bar of Wisconsin in 1977 Relevant experience: UW-Stevens Point professor of business and economics Campaign email address: madjimh43@gmail.com Occupation and education: Wisconsin Department of Corrections; bachelor's degree and master's degree in criminal justice Relevant experience: 25 years working in government and criminal justice understanding of local law enforcement and city and county government Campaign website/Facebook page: None available Haine: To lend knowledge and experience to help the people of Stevens Point Morrow: I like being involved in my community and understanding why things happen the way they do I like helping others maneuver city government to get what they need I often hear people complain about things in our city they do not want to get involved and do anything about it I like being able to be in a position to get things done like getting Second Street North by Willow Brooke repaved What makes you the better candidate in this race?Haine: 1 I’m retired so I can devote full time to my aldermanic duties I bring many varied life experiences to city government Morrow: I have a long understand of city and county government I am still in the workforce and understand what current working families are going through and know how to get things done We need to encourage business developers so that additional development can “take up the slack.” Morrow: The main issue for the city is the continuation of the Business 51 project and getting the planning to a finalized design This project has been ongoing for several years and is a once-in-a-generation project for a major corridor of the city With the uncertainty of federal and state funding it is imperative the city gets as quickly as possible whatever grant funding it can secured The city needs to do everything possible to reduce its carbon footprint − solar panels and geothermal Morrow: Business 51 and homelessness in Stevens Point people are aware the majority of the funding is through various federal and state grants My focus will be on getting a design completed as fast as we can to secure the funding we have Any delays may result in that funding being pulled the issues are what caused a person to be homeless The causes can be anything such as domestic violence Our community is blessed to have a spectrum of services to assist people who are homeless The city has a few major opportunities for development that include the East Park Commerce Center and the former Shopko property how would you contribute to making the most of these opportunities?Haine: We need to do everything possible to support these developments (TIF etc.) because they will eventually take some burden off of city taxpayers Morrow: For the Shopko property the question is there is no official proposal the city is looking at I would look at what is in the best interest of the city and taxpayers Some people have proposed what they would like restaurants and so on but no developer has brought any plans forward so far More local news: Stevens Point Personnel Committee ends debate over city administrator position Opportunities for Stevens Point residents to be involved in the rewrite of the city’s zoning code were set by the Community Development Department following the Common Council’s approval of the project in February Public information meetings have been set for eight of 13 neighborhoods across the city, according to the city’s website outlining the project The first meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m May 20 regarding the Northside neighborhood to be held at the Pfiffner Building on Franklin Street “While we make periodic changes to the zoning code this will be our first comprehensive rewrite in decades Ideals come and go and we tend to shift our thinking as new ideas emerge or technology advances,” Mayor Mike Wiza said in a March 31 release announcing the meetings “This rewrite is our chance to set the tone for our community for a generation or more I encourage people to be part of that process.” The intent of the meetings is to hear from residents and business owners in each district about current land use in the neighborhood development concerns and “to establish a vision for orderly development in Stevens Point,” according to the release The rewrite process is expected to take until mid-2027 to complete People who dream about the future of Stevens Point will have a few more conceptual images to draw inspiration from after the Redevelopment Authority approved a recommendation to the Common Council on April 3 to include three new images in the city’s Downtown Targeted Area Master Plan The new images include two new site plans for the former Shopko property and a Riverfront Connection concept that was first produced in 2019 but not officially adopted into the area’s master plan document The new Shopko property images will assist in a likely upcoming search for developers for a section of the property while the Riverfront image is meant more to inspire future collaborations and conversations “This is an image we have kept on file and when developers have asked what the vision is for downtown Stevens Point and asked for a very striking visual,” Chris Klesmith neighborhood planner and economic development specialist “We get the best response from potential developers when they can actually see what it is or if it’s going to be happening.” “Having this image certainly gets them excited and a little more motivated to be working with folks to execute projects,” Klesmith concluded The committee’s recommendation came with several requests for further information from city staff for future work on the concepts replacing potentially lost parking spaces near Pfiffner Park and environmental remediation efforts for the site of a former coal gasification plant between Crosby Avenue and First Street were noted while moving the location of an updated transit center was noted for the former Shopko property plan Common Council will likely consider the recommendation at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m Stevens Point creates rental improvement programStevens Point residents may soon see improvements to rental properties in the city following approval of a Rental Housing Improvement Program by the Redevelopment Authority on April 3 The program expands the Redevelopment Authority’s revolving loan funds which also includes the Housing Modernization Loan program “Our last housing report and new data show that our community is in high need of improving its rental housing and we need to try and keep costs down,” Mayor Mike Wiza said in an April 7 release announcing the program “Rental housing is just as important to our community as owner-occupied housing and the units targeted by this program are locally owned and managed keeping the funds circulating in our community.” The program will offer qualifying rental property owners 2% interest loans in exchange for higher quality housing options The program is based on recommendations made in a 2017 Stevens Point housing study a recent regional housing study and the 2023 housing task force report The program joins about a half dozen other grant and loan programs for homeowners offered by local government and organizations in the Stevens Point area Other programs include housing modernization loan program Further information on these programs can be found online at https://stevenspoint.com/595/Homeowner-Help or by contacting Chris Klesmith More local news: Chase Bank in downtown Stevens Point set to move to Crossroad Commons in Plover STEVENS POINT − Stevens Point residents caught their first glimpse of master planning processes for Goerke Park last week The Board of Park Commissioners discussed a rendering of a possible future for Goerke Park which included a 50,000-square-foot aquatic center an inflatable dome over a new multi-use synthetic turf field The Commission directed parks department staff in November to continue planning and discussion with stakeholders and to move forward with producing drafts of site plans Here’s what you need to know about the proposal for Goerke Park The conceptual image of the park is one step in a planning process that began in 2022 The commission will continue to receive public feedback on the plan before adopting it likely in June or July The Parks Commission completed its five-year comprehensive outdoor recreation plan in 2022 Having this plan in place allows the parks department to seek grants and other opportunities to carry out portions of the plan and set the stage for more park-specific planning efforts The city became aware it may be eligible for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to build a storm shelter building which could also serve as a garage for the Stevens Point Police Department and Parks The city applied for but was not awarded a FEMA grant that would have added a garage and a new parks department office to the east end of the police department building The parks department would have vacated its portion of the building connected to the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County's Berard Center The Boys and Girls Club has the right of first refusal on the property and expressed interest in being involved with any plans for the area moving forward The city plans to apply for the FEMA grant again this year Why is this planning happening now?One motivating factor is the need for a new garage for police and parks department vehicles and improved street access The 2022 comprehensive plan marks several properties across the city as “strategic property acquisition areas,” which also carry the note “as opportunity arises.” There were 20 properties given this designation on the north side of Goerke Park along Prais Street and the rendering shows an access road across the property to a new parking lot on the park’s north side connected to the existing police department parking lot Various surveys have shown consistent demand for updating the nearly seven-decade-old municipal swimming pool improving recreation field conditions for the middle school creating an enclosed cold weather recreational space for the wider community and building a new playground for the park Parks department staff saw the demand for these things and worked with stakeholders sports clubs and more to develop what is shown in the rendering A lot of it could happen a long time from now A lot of it may never happen,” Kremer said “What this shows is basically all of the users saying This is how it could be,’ and that’s how we landed in this location.” There are two similar inflatable dome-covered multi-use fields in Wisconsin: the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander and the Woodside Wisconsin Dells Center Dome The plan includes significant improvements to the pick-up and drop-off area at the middle school and for parking for the various park amenities A dedicated “drop off lane” is shown north of the school along with coordinated routes for busses to allow for safer transportation of students to the school and the park’s various recreational facilities Additional surface parking lots on park land is included to reduce demand for street parking in the neighborhood surrounding the park during events The plan shows a parking lot where the Parker Memorial Building It could be moved or demolished as a result of the current plan The building was completed by 1934 and served as a locker room for football games played at the property and currently sits largely vacant It was constructed by relief workers under the Civil Works Administration the stone and concrete stadium and middle school were built a few years later by relief workers under the Works Progress Administration An outdoor hockey rink would also be eliminated as part of the plan and the larger public skating rink would shrink and move closer to the K.B Two softball fields would be removed or incorporated into the multi-use field and the tennis court would move and be rebuilt garage and indoor basketball court may also be demolished if the plan is fully carried out Recreation and Forestry Department will hold a public information meeting in March where it will take feedback on the plan The Parks Commission will review public feedback information from stakeholders and revisions to the plan likely through April and May and final plan approval could be reached by June or July There have already been over 34 documented meetings on the plan with more than 70 individuals from stakeholder agencies and organizations contributing over 1,000 hours of work to this process already More local news: Here's how Stevens Point and Portage County spent millions in COVID-19 relief funds STEVENS POINT – Pixelle Specialty Solutions announced April 3 it will sell its Stevens Point facility to Ahlstrom Oyj a fiber-based specialty materials business based in Finland the sale is expected to close in the second quarter of this year said in the release he is proud of the Stevens Point team and their dedication and performance has been vital to the facility’s success He said he is confident Ahlstrom will carry the strong legacy and operations of the site for the future Ahlstrom’s executive vice president of food and consumer packaging and chief innovation officer said acquiring the Stevens Point facility and operations is a pivotal step for Ahlstrom to enhance its technology offerings and expand its coverage top-class team will significantly enhance our capabilities enabling us to deliver innovative and sustainable packaging solutions to our customers in North America and beyond,” Dullaert said in the release “We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings and are committed to leveraging these advancements to drive growth.”  Who is Ahlstrom?Ahlstrom was founded in 1851 and began timber trading shipping and sawmill operations in Noormarkku The company has since grown to include facilities in 13 countries The company promotes sustainable fiber-based materials with the goal to become the global leader in combining fibers into materials that purify air and liquids to protect people and the environment the company produces products like filters For more information, visit ahlstrom.com How did we get here?The Stevens Point paper mill is more than 100 years old built the facility in 1918 in Stevens Point Consolidated sold its mills to Stora Enso Oyj Stora Enso sold its North American division to NewPage Corp. and NewPage sold its Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids mills to Verso Paper Corp Pixelle Specialty Solutions announced in November 2019 it would purchase specialty paper mills in Stevens Point and Jay Pennsylvania-based business became the largest specialty paper business in the country for annual production with the ability to produce more than one million tons of paper annually between four mills in Maine (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)