WISCONSIN RAPIDS – A small group of Lincoln High School students is forcing school officials to spend tens of thousands of dollars to detect vaping and repair damaged toilets where vaping devices are being flushed While vaping has caused issues and financial concerns for the school this year Principal Rod Watson says school leaders are trying to address underlying causes of the vaping issue as well At least 15 vapes have been found clogging toilets during the 2024-25 school year Watson told a Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune reporter April 30 When students are trying to avoid getting caught with an e-cigarette device one thing they will do is try to flush them down the toilet The clogs have led to hours of maintenance work and hundreds of dollars for replacement parts for the district Different toilet designs require different materials to repair but no single repair has cost over $200 The school also spent $35,750 to have vapor detectors installed in 2023 in several of the school’s restrooms following reports of students lingering in the restrooms between class times or during lunch hours to use vapes The detectors are intended to detect vapor resulting from the addictive nicotine products was for the devices and half was for a five-year contract for their operation About 1,300 students occupy Lincoln High School each school day and only a small number are causing these sorts of issues “It’s a small group of kids that haven’t yet realized the consequences of their actions on others when they make a bad choice,” Watson said No students or community members have been identified as being responsible for flushing a vape at the high school Various privacy laws and measures surrounding toilets in the building make any future identifications unlikely Individuals would be held liable for repair costs if they are ever identified Nationwide high school student use of vapes peaked around 2019, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Use of the devices by high school students decreased by almost two-thirds between 2019 and 2023 Overall tobacco use has been declining among students since 2009 While vaping has caused more noticeable impacts, truancy continues to be a significant student behavior issue district officials work to resolve, Watson said. The district’s rate of chronic absenteeism has risen from 12% in 2019-20 to 17.2% in 2023-24, despite a drop to 7.9% in 2020-21, according to Department of Instruction data The statewide absentee rates were 12.9% in 2019-20 and 17.7% in 2023-24 “It’s more consequential,” Watson said of truancy often in passing period that we have to address but truancy means you ain’t going to class DPI’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows in Wisconsin a little more than half (53.6%) of students experience social support and belonging in their schools These positive influences may protect them from risky behaviors and some victimization while promoting healthy behaviors and well-being Students who report high levels of support extracurricular participation and belonging are less likely to engage in risky behaviors like violence or drug use and more likely to report positive mental health and higher grades Watson pointed to student groups like the Theatre Department Future Farmers of America or Skills USA as opportunities for students to gain a sense of belonging to the school and to derive more value in what the district provides He encourages kids to keep searching for their "niche," or preferred role because of their ability to give a person a sense of belonging and an understanding that their presence and behaviors matter “That purpose helps a lot when it comes to buying into what we’re trying to do here It can’t just be a bunch of classes,” Watson said School district working to help students reach potentialThe district’s strategic framework the document guiding the district’s operations 10 and includes several points about helping students reach their potential and improving student mental health and sense of belonging Watson said it seems common for older generations to perceive young people and their issues negatively and he would prefer more focus on positive efforts such as a recent student-led initiative to encourage more students to attend sporting and arts events their peers are participating in “I bet school forever has had a cadre of kids that weren’t buying into what schools were selling,” Watson said “And that’s our challenge: to change their minds before it’s too late More local news: Here's when drivers can expect reconstruction of Eighth Street South in Wisconsin Rapids More local news: Here's how road construction will impact travel plans in Wisconsin Rapids and Wood 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 WISCONSIN RAPIDS – What’s happening with businesses in the Wisconsin Rapids area Streetwise has your answers. These roundups offer an easy way to stay up to date with what’s happening on the Streetwise beat. If you know of a new business, a development or a place that’s closing, send me a note at cshuda@gannett.com If you have questions about something opening This roundup features the opening day at The Food Truck Lot for the 2025 season the start of mini golf season for two local courses new food options at a local eatery and new owners for a family-owned auto center and that means planning out your favorite food truck meals for the season A few food trucks have already been set up at The Food Truck Lot at 940 Huntington Ave., but the official weekly events at the lot will start up again June 3 The Food Truck Lot will host various options on-site from 4 p.m Steph and Wyatt Randecker created The Food Truck Lot in 2024 as a way to utilize their parking lot at Premier Rental The food trucks can park and serve their menus at any time but the Tuesday events offered a specific time people could expect to find several trucks the season ran from June through October as the weather permitted For more information or to follow the lineup of food trucks at the lot, find The Food Truck Lot on Facebook What are the best local food trucks?: Readers share their favorites. Did you know National Mini Golf Day is May 10 both White Sands Ice Cream & Mini Golf and Newman's 1st St Newman's announced on its Facebook page April 28 the business is counting down the days until golf and ice will be be available at 2811 First St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids. For more information, find Newman's 1st St Miniature Golf on Facebook The restaurant stands in the corner of the Bud's Corner Mart building and has been serving pizzas and ice cream since Oct. 14, 2024 Customers can also add additional toppings For more information, find Grand Rapids Eatery on Facebook R&R Transmission is now Rapids Transmission at 821 Chestnut St Michelle and Adam Rogus purchased the business in January from an uncle maintaining the family business with the same mechanics Michelle Rogus said she and her husband have upgraded their invoicing system to better communicate with customers and offer financing options for those who qualify active military members and first responders Rapids Transmission will celebrate its new ownership with a special event from 11 a.m The event will also feature free facepainting and games with prizes Rapids Transmission is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, find Rapids Transmission & Auto on Facebook Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda faces charges of misconduct in office and theft of more than $10,000 in a business setting Wood County Circuit Judge Timothy Gebert set the $500 bond during Manlick's initial court appearance Gebert ordered Manlick not to hold any public office Wood County Clerk Trent Minor reported Wood County town of Milladore meeting notes from Jan 24 included an audit sheet for the town that showed $63,000 was missing Manlick was brought before the Milladore Town Board and questioned A motion was made to allow Manlick to repay the missing money rather than being prosecuted Manlick agreed and signed a promissory note a Wood County investigator spoke with Milladore Clerk Leslianne Ruesch Milladore Chairman Ned Ruesch and accountant Bill Bruening The investigator asked what led officials to ask for the audit Local education news: Lincoln High School has spent nearly $40,000 on vapor detectors & vape-clogged toilets Check out our photos: People gather for May Day rally in Wausau to protest actions by Trump Administration Leslianne Ruesch said Manlick never turned in receipts for anything and he would never sign them All of the receipts were signed by a town supervisor or chairman Leslianne Ruesch said she found it odd because Manlick had been the town treasurer since about 2003 Leslianne Ruesch and Ned Ruesch were both elected to their positions in 2023 Leslianne Ruesch said she would have to review Manlick's treasury report and the bills balance the checkbooks and controlled the bank accounts and Manlick would write the monthly treasurer's report Manlick did not attend the meeting but left the treasury report at the town hall Leslianne Ruesch said she was reading Manlick's report during the meeting and saw where amounts and math were wrong she looked up Manlick's sheets and compared them to hers She saw Manlick was reporting things that were wrong he reported the town had gotten state road aid She looked at the previous month's report and saw everything was wrong Leslianne Ruesch said she dug further and discovered every report Manlick had done since she was on the board was wrong She said the amounts were small but they were always very vague in the descriptions of what was purchased Leslianne Ruesch said she requested a special meeting and showed that the reports for the seven months she looked at were all wrong Everyone agreed Manlick needed to do better Another meeting was called and the board told Manlick he needed to improve Leslianne Ruesch began to notice deposits for hundreds of thousands of dollars Leslianne Ruesch asked Manlick to break it down but he told her no Leslianne Ruesch said she contacted an attorney and the attorney said that Manlick needed to be giving receipts for every cent that was put into the account When Leslianne Ruesch saw receipts that said something like "dog license 95 dollars," she told Manlick he would have to provide proof of vaccines and to whom he issued the license.Leslianne Ruesch said she saw the town was issuing liquor licenses without doing background checks She checked with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and learned the background checks were a requirement Leslianne Ruesch said a town form was rejected by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue because the numbers were off A prior clerk told Leslianne Ruesch that Manlick would have to "finesse" the numbers to make them work Bruening said that when the town's numbers wouldn't match Manlick would change the numbers for the town's expenses to make his report balance The investigator asked town officials if Manlick had admitted to taking the money They said he did not admit it and could prove he did not do it Manlick did begin paying back the money to the town Officials showed the investigator the promissory note for $63,000 that Manlick had signed They said Manlick had been removed from all the bank accounts but would remain the treasurer until the end of his term in April Contact Karen Madden at kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 Gabby Neilitz and Baylee Williams Lead Wisconsin Rapids to WVC Win over SPASH Gabby Neilitz had a pair of doubles to lead Wisconsin Rapids at the plate and Baylee Williams scattered six hits from the circle as Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln downed SPASH 6-1 in Wisconsin Valley Conference Softball action Rapids vs SPASH 4_29_25 2025 Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Spring Sports Schedules 2025 Stevens Point Panthers Spring Sports Schedules 2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area ********************************************** We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]  The City of Wisconsin Rapids is again designating the month of May as No Mow May in the city city residents and property owners may participate without needing to register Each property is eligible to receive one free yard sign Signs can be picked up at the Mayor’s Office at City Hall You can purchase additional signs for $10 dollars each.  The goal of No Mow May is to help native pollinators during the early season as they forage for food Letting lawns grow a bit longer in the early season and not treating them to chemical pesticides or herbicides helps native plants flourish It can lead to an increase in the number and types of native plants These are important food sources for pollinators like bees and butterflies Waiting to remove winter leaves from your yard until you notice blooming trees and flowers provides important insulation for bees This practice is also being referred to as “less mow” or “slow mow” Allowing your grass to grow to a height of 6-8 inches before cutting the tips off helps keep your grass healthy and less vulnerable to drought You can set your mower deck at the highest level and cut less frequently all growing season Visit the City of Wisconsin Rapids website: https://www.wirapids.org/no-mow-may.html Want More Local News?We've got you. Scan it to get it. News Ethics and Standards | Privacy Policy WISCONSIN RAPIDS − A 41-year-old Nekoosa restaurant owner charged with 14 felony counts and one misdemeanor did not get her $2 million bail lowered April 30 during a hearing in Wood County Circuit Court Jenny L. Wicke pleaded not guilty April 21 to two counts of filing a false income tax return three counts of making a fraudulent claim for an income tax credit eight counts of misstating facts to get food stamps and one count of obstructing an officer told Wood County Circuit Judge Todd Wolf April 30 the total amount of money involved in the charges filed against Wicke is less than $10,000 The $2 million cash bail previously set by Wood County Circuit Judge Timothy Gebert is not in line with the crimes Pangburn said he knows there are concerns about Wicke's ties to Mexico whom Pangburn said she refers to as her husband Immigration and Customs Enforcement and being deported two of whom live in the Nekoosa area and she has businesses here Wood County District Attorney Jonathan Barnett said two of the children are not Wicke's children Barnett told Wolf April 30 there are recordings of phone conversations Wicke has had while in jail that include her telling people she'll move to Mexico who was appearing by video from the Wood County Jail said she said she would move to Mexico when she retired Pangburn told Wicke not to say anything more Then Pangburn repeated Wicke's statement that she planned to move to Mexico when she retired More local news: Seneca couple grateful for help after losing home and 5 'fur babies' in April 23 fire More local news: Family of Waupun prisoner who died of dehydration, malnutrition sues DOC Barnett said Wicke is still the subject of ongoing investigations both at the local and federal level She knows about the investigations and would have reason to want to leave Officials also have concerns about the amount of cash found when they searched her home and arrested her Officers found more than $50,000 in various places Wicke tried to take all the money out of her accounts when she learned she was under investigation The accounts had been frozen so she couldn't remove any money Pangburn said if Wicke's had the kind of money Barnett was talking about she would have used it to post bond and get out of jail There is no proof there is any money stashed away some where Pangburn also asked that Wicke be allowed to sell her property including some vehicles the Nekoosa Police Department had seized He asked that she be allowed to rent out the business space or one of the homes she owns Wicke is making payments on the properties and vehicles She's not allowed to run a business as a condition of her bail but she could rent out the diner she owns in Nekoosa to somebody else and get an income Barnett has filed a civil case to take the more than $50,000 in cash found when searching Wicke's properties The state or federal government also can place claims on the property if it was used in the commission of crimes Time isn't up for Barnett of federal attorneys to file the claims Court records detail accusations against WickeAccording to the criminal complaint a Nekoosa Police Department detective noticed the owner of West River Cafe that didn't seem consistent with the income the owner of a small-town cafe would make The detective met with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation to discuss the business owner The detective searched public records and found that the West River Cafe was purchased Jan The records showed the registered agent of TKJC the detective became aware Wicke was in the process of buying a building at 416 Market St. The deal was suppose to close in the coming days Wicke could no longer finalize the sale because she was told her bank accounts were being looked at by a "three letter agency," according to the complaint Wicke had given the seller $10,000 cash and a deal was made for Wicke to pay the owner $2,000 a month for two years The detective did a search of vehicles registered to Wicke through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2022 Mercedes-Benz S and 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe She had loans on three of the vehicles through the Nekoosa Port Edward State Bank one through Royal Credit Union and on the two newest vehicles through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA Wicke also owned a John Deere tractor with a value of between $38,980 and $42,900 The detective looked at Wicke's tax returns from 2020 through 2023 she claimed $19,415 in taxable income; in 2021 The sales tax document for the restaurant in 2021 were $325,172; in 2022 The detective learned Wicke got FoodShare benefits of $6,028 a Homeland Security special agent interviewed a man and asked him where he got two fraudulent identification documents he possessed The man said he worked as a dishwasher at West River Cafe in Nekoosa and a woman named Jenny purchased the documents from a man in Nekoosa so he could find another job Wicke's case is scheduled for a status conference on June 24 Contact Karen Madden at kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 Editor's note: The grand opening date for K&K's Cookie Cart has been postponed until June due to "logistical issues," according to its owners A new opening date will be provided as soon as it is available WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The world needs more happiness It’s one of the motivations that led to a new roadside cookie stand opening soon in Wisconsin Rapids Kayla Pryne and Katie Doerrler are cousins who grew up together and did everything with each other they’re continuing that partnership and friendship by opening K&K’s Cookie Cart Pryne sent Doerrler a video she saw on Facebook of a bakery roadside stand and asked her if they could do it They spent the next eight months baking dozens of cookies at a time testing out a variety of recipes and different types of cookies Doerrler’s husband built a cart for the stand instead of buying something online to put together The cousins said they wanted the stand and the whole experience to be more meaningful and personal “That way it’s made with love,” Doerrler said K&K’s Cookie Cart originally planned for a May grand opening the opening will be postponed to sometime in June What’s K&K’s Cookie Cart?K&K’s Cookie Cart is a pop-up self-serve cookie cart gourmet cookies will be at the stand when it’s open offering its staple set of cookies along with some rotating seasonal options There will be gluten-free cookies at the stand The cart itself is not staffed by any person Guests can pay either by placing money in a box in the stand or QR codes will be posted for people to pay online meaning it will be set up on various days during various times at various locations The cousins said they will set up multiple pop-ups throughout the month Guests can follow the stand on Facebook to see where the cart will be and plan their stops to pick up their favorite treats What kinds of cookies are there?The stand will offer four standard flavors along with seasonal options throughout the year Gluten-free options will be Caramel Scottie and O-Fudge Gluten-Free Pryne and Doerrler said it has been so important for them to focus on dietary needs They said they use quality and organic ingredients to ensure the gluten-free options taste better than many options out in the market The cookie cart will have various options available a four-pack sampler will include one of each original cookie flavor for $12 Reach out to K&K's Cookie Cart to inquire about more information Pryne and Doerrler said they picture K&K’s Cookie Cart to serve as a place where people can connect and mingle and escape chaos and to be calm They said they want people to be able to slow down and enjoy their treats and connect with each other Doerrler said they love to have fun and put smiles on people’s faces join together with other people and to enjoy life Pryne said there’s already so much negativity in the world that people need to be happy and to let go and have fun The cousins said they want K&K’s Cookie Cart to help bring some of that happiness to the Wisconsin Rapids area Beyond the community connections the cousins hope to encourage with their cookies, they are also committed to helping various community programs. They said they will be donating proceeds to various groups and organizations, starting with Foster Love Closet through Christian Life Fellowship Church in Port Edwards The organization supports local foster care by helping provide clothing and other basic needs of children who come into care Pryne and Doerrler said they wanted to start with donating to Foster Love Closet when they open the cookie cart to celebrate National Foster Care Month in May raising awareness about children and young people in foster care K&K's Cookie Cart planned to host a grand opening in May but will postpone to a June event with a date to-be-determined due to logistical issues They're plush cookies that were custom made for the stand while Chippy will be out on adventures to share with social media (This story has been updated to provide new information.) WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Three men and a woman are facing felony charges after a Wisconsin Rapids man reported being beaten held prisoner in a basement and threatened with a gun in March first-degree recklessly endangering safety possession of a firearm by an out-of-state felon pointing a firearm at another and misdemeanor bail jumping Pehrson is being held in the Wood County Jail pending a $250,000 cash bail set April 14 by Wood County Circuit Judge Gregory Jerabek is charged with being a party to the crimes of kidnapping two felony of counts of bail jumping and one misdemeanor count of bail jumping Smith is being held in the Wood County Jail pending a $100,000 cash bond set April 14 by Jerabek each are charged with being a party to the crime of false imprisonment Both are being held in Wood County Jail pending a $5,000 cash bail set April 14 by Jerabek More local news: Man injured, multiple pets killed and house destroyed in Wood County fire Wednesday night Central Wisconsin news: DOGE cuts funding for program promoting rural well water testing in Central Wisconsin All four defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearances as April 28 a Wisconsin Rapids man went to Smith's home on 19th Avenue South in Wisconsin Rapids to help Smith work on a truck He spent the night at the home and continued to hang out with Smith the next day The man went with Smith to Rome to pick up a friend The friend had called Smith and said he was being followed by police Daugherty-Wilson and Pehrson were in the garage Pehrson asked Smith if he could have a "pass," the man later told police He explained a pass is when you're a guest at a house and want to confront someone it's proper to ask the homeowner for a "pass." Smith said yes to Pehrson's request and Pehrson said "I think he's a (expletive) cop," of the man Pehrson then began to hit the man in the face numerous times for more than four minutes Pehrson stopped hitting the man for about three minutes then started again and the man started hitting back The man said Smith then put him in a chokehold while Pehrson hit the man numerous times The man said the three of them were on the floor He said the chokehold left him gasping for air and he remembered Smith arching his back to apply more pressure on his neck The man said he felt the bones in his face cracking and moving around The man said he eventually was able to get out of the chokehold but he couldn't move because Pehrson and another man were standing on him Smith used zip ties to secure his arms in front of him at the wrist and his legs at his ankles The man said Pehrson then went into his pockets and stole about $74 cash and a small amount of heroin Pehrson then left to go inject the stolen heroin while Daugherty-Wilson and Guldan watched and made sure the man didn't leave The man said Smith asked him if he was "going to be a problem with the cops," according to the complaint Smith then undid the zip ties as Pehrson returned Pehrson pulled out a black revolver and pointed it at the man Pehrson told the man to get up off the floor and go into the basement The man said he was forced into the basement at gunpoint He said Pehrson sat at the top step blocking the only way out The man said he was in the basement for about 8-10 hours while Pehrson sat on the top step Pehrson left and Smith entered the basement Smith again asked the man if he was going to be a problem by calling the police or "snitching," and the man said no Smith then handed the man the keys to Smith's truck and told him to leave The man said he was confused about why Smith let him go The man told police he needed reconstructive surgery on both sides of his face because both sides of his jaw were broken a Wisconsin Rapids woman called and reported a disturbance at her residence The woman was the mother of the man who had his jaw broken She told police Smith had come to her door and told her he was going to "smash and take care of him," referring to her son An officer found the man sitting on the ground with his back to a metal refrigerator He said he was afraid Smith was going to come back and shoot at the house The man said Smith came over earlier in the evening to drop off a trailer he had borrowed from the man's mother Smith called the man on the phone and said he wanted a conversation with him The man said he had a camera set up outside the house and they were able to see Smith outside the front door which made the man nervous because of the previous incident and because Smith was known to carry a gun and people I smash don't come back," according to the complaint The man told police he understood the statement to be a threat on his life WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Charlie Berens is coming back to Wisconsin Rapids with brand new material The comedian will stop in Wisconsin Rapids in September for his Working It All Out tour. The show will start at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Performing Arts Center, 1801 16th St. S The creator of the "Manitowoc Minute" is also a New York Times bestselling author an Emmy-winning journalist and musician who has been featured on Comedy Central Berens started the "Manitowoc Minute" in 2017 has created Midwest-focused comedy videos on social media and has toured with three comedy tours he worked with Adam Greuel of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades to release "Unthawed," a mix of bluegrass Berens also released "The Midwest Survival Guide" in November 2021 landing on the New York Times Best Seller list Ticket prices range from $45 to $75 depending on reserved sections. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the show. Tickets are available now at itickets.com/events/482942 or on the High Gear Promotions website at highgearpromotions.com/events For more information, find Manitowoc Minute or Charlie Berens on Facebook Take our Charlie Berens-inspired quiz: Oh my gosh! Do you know more about Wisconsin than Charlie Berens? Take our quiz! WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is permanently closed after more than 20 years serving guests in Wisconsin Rapids signs posted by management on the doors of the restaurant at 4311 Eighth St told guests Applebee’s is closed permanently and apologized for any inconvenience Diners were seen inside the restaurant on Sunday and a restaurant employee said the location would be open for its regular hours on Sunday when contacted by a Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune employee He declined to comment when asked if there were plans for the restaurant to close The restaurant first opened in February 2005 According to Daily Tribune reports at the time the restaurant's opening created 45 jobs in Wisconsin Rapids Emails sent to media contacts for the restaurant chain seeking additional information about the closure have not been returned as of Monday morning Applebee’s also has central Wisconsin locations in Marshfield at 2114 N The website still lists those restaurant locations remaining open WISCONSIN RAPIDS − 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 Wisconsin Rapids-area restaurants will be open on Easter: Want to add your business to the list? Please email cshuda@gannett.com with the name of your restaurant WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Property developers in Wisconsin Rapids will see simplified rules after the Common Council passes zoning code amendments “We’re trying to create clarity in the code and we’re trying to remove certain restrictions or red tape to make it easier for that development to happen,” Kyle Kearns Kearns first brought similar amendments to members of the Planning Commission and Common Council in 2020 shortly after he was hired into his position The Council enacted a rewritten zoning code in 2018 after hiring Lake Mills-based consulting firm Civitek Consulting to produce nearly 300 pages of comprehensive and robust property development rules Kearns' first request was denied as decision-makers wanted more evidence to be gathered to justify changes and then you come back and tweak things to make them better aligned with your community,” Kearns said “(That’s) very common when you rewrite an ordinance memo to Planning Commission members largely mirroring a 2020 memo Kearns proposed several amendments to broad sections of the city’s 2018 zoning code Sections mentioned by Kearns include the land use matrix landscaping and driveways and parking requirements The landscaping section featured a “point system” that developers found “cumbersome,” Kearns explained certain land “uses” required a second approval by the Planning Commission which could add weeks to a construction timeline “We’re trying to make those changes and improvements to make it easier to develop in the city; to put less strain on our businesses,” Kearns said The Common Council unanimously approved amendments to land use and secondary review standards in October and setback standards in January Amendments to the landscaping section were approved by the Planning Commission in March and will be up for Council approval in April Driveway and parking requirements are next on the list “If we require certain parking ratios or certain access and landscaping those are added costs the business owner has to pay,” Kearns said The rules were put in place to create an “aesthetic” to promote interest and development in business districts but their complexity and requirements have slowed or prevented projects from happening “It’s definitely a balancing act,” Kearns said of the requirements for aesthetic purposes versus added cost burden for property owners would likely be impacted by these types of zoning code changes Changes to driveway and parking requirements may allow properties to share parking lots and parking lot access points leading to fewer entry and exit points along Eight Street “That’s where we find a lot of safety concerns with the amount of driveways on Eighth,” Kearns said “We’re trying to address that through maybe improving our shared parking and shared access requirements to make it easier for businesses to do that and encourage businesses to do that.” Wisconsin Rapids Current: McMillan hires new director, mayor's term extended, park renamed More local news: Watch as crews demolish 116-year-old Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids 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 WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Drivers and their passengers who regularly travel on Wisconsin Rapids’ Eighth Street South have likely become all too familiar with the bumpy ride large potholes and the driving skills necessary to avoid costly wheel and axle repairs “It depends on the time of the year,” Joe Eichsteadt told a Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune reporter when asked about the street’s current “ride quality.” you can tell that the joints have widened out significantly in that stretch of Eighth Street,” Eichsteadt continued Two sections of the roadway were constructed 40 and 56 years ago and are currently slated for reconstruction in 2028 and 2032 has the earlier reconstruction date while the older section between Whitrock Avenue and East Riverview Expressway Here's what you should know about the plans for reconstruction of Eighth Street South and how the city is currently working to maintain the roadway What will reconstruction work on Eighth Street South include?Reconstruction work is expected to replace existing concrete pavement with a new base course and asphalt pavement evaluate and replace traffic signals at two intersections The project may also extend the sidewalk on the east side of the street south to Lakewood Lane These sections of Eighth Street South are also designated as State 13 by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation This means city and state decision-makers will need to work together on the reconstruction project so it meets the standards of each governing body State highways generally have higher build standards to accommodate a broader range of vehicle traffic which often results in higher construction costs There is a possibility that the Department of Transportation could advance the later phase of the reconstruction project to 2030 but that possibility is limited by funding availability and project prioritization How much will the first phase of Eighth Street South reconstruction cost?The Department of Transportation’s current reconstruction cost estimate for the 2028 portion of the project is $5.38 million While the state will take on 100% of the roadway construction cost portion of the project's total the city will be responsible for 25% of the engineering design cost and 100% of the cost of real estate acquisition and any extra features the city may want such as improved lighting In the agreement with the Department of Transportation the city’s Department of Public Works is tasked with maintaining the roadway in its current form the department typically has one and sometimes two crews out patching holes on Eighth Street South “The springtime is especially difficult and time consuming because the freeze-thaw cycles cause much of the patchwork to come loose,” Eichsteadt said The crews mainly use two methods for patches cold patch asphalt and a rubberized joint sealant product called Mastic that is supposed to have a five- to eight-year lifespan The public works department will also perform a few full-depth patches in the older section of roadway following water main repair work performed over the winter The public works department previously used Mastic “a couple years ago” on West Riverview Expressway north of Grand Avenue is that it leaves a rough surface resulting in poor ride quality despite the roadway being "repaired." "It’s definitely just a band-aid at this point," Eichsteadt said crews will begin laying the joint sealant product which is expected to hold the roadway together until reconstruction work begins in a few years This work is expected to cause single-lane closures throughout the project area until it is completed The city budgeted about $200,000 for the two repair materials which breaks down to $150,000 for Mastic and $50,000 for cold patch asphalt Between $15,000 and $20,000 of the cold patch product is estimated to be used on Eighth Street annually About half of the supply of Mastic the city purchased this year will be used to hold the roadway together until 2028 beneath the roadway are utility structures such as sewer and water mains Some of these structures were built at the same time as the roadway and have broken or failed beneath the roadway leading to the road being dug up and repaired in places "Underground utilities age just as the street does,” Eichsteadt said the roadway reconstruction aligns with improvements to the underground utilities some utilities have not been able to wait and have decided to make improvements sooner than the street improvements.” Eichsteadt said WE Energies has rebuilt gas lines along Eighth Street in recent years which has caused some of this type of work to take place and some roadway patches as a result What about the intersection improvement project planned at Wood Avenue?The intersection of Wood Avenue and Eighth Street South was identified by the Department of Transportation as a "top 40 crash spot" in the state in data collected between 2016 and 2021 Due to the significant safety concerns at the location this project is continuing regardless of a planned future street reconstruction project Project designs will take into account the fact that future work is planned on the corridor the project will continue with a plan to install rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps There is no planned start date for this project The Department of Transportation will hold two public meetings on April 22 on the first phase of the improvement project Both meetings will feature a presentation followed by opportunities to ask questions and provide input A business coordination meeting will begin at 2 p.m. and a public involvement meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Wisconsin Rapids City Hall, 444 W. Grand Ave. Further information on the project can be found on the Department of Transportation website Local health care news: What we know about Sanford Health’s $500M investment in its Marshfield Clinic region GRAND RAPIDS − Traffic on Eighth Street South was stopped for nearly two hours Wednesday morning after a caller reported a gas leak a caller reported a gas leak next to Eighth Street South The Grand Rapids Fire Department responded to the leak and found it was significant according to a news release from the Grand Rapids Police Department Officials closed Eighth Street South from Two Mile Avenue to Griffith Avenue in the town of Grand Rapids and city of Wisconsin Rapids We Energies had the leak contained at about 11:26 a.m and only one lane of traffic remained closed at that time The incident caused significant traffic delays Officials said in the news release they appreciated the patience of motorists while the road was closed The initial report was that the gas line had been hit as a result of underground boring No one was injured as a result of the gas leak The Grand Rapids and Wisconsin Rapids fire departments Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards police departments Wisconsin Rapids and Grand Rapids street departments We Energies and Water Works and Lighting Commission all responded to the scene According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation all lanes of Eighth Street South were reopened at 1:23 p.m More local news: Nekoosa restaurant owner pleads not guilty Monday to 14 felony charges Readers ask: When will Tsunami Express Car Wash open on Eighth Street in Wisconsin Rapids? Early morning storms April 28 have brought hail through central Wisconsin already but more storms are coming through the area a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay told a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter Monday morning storms had already begun in the area including pea-sized hail reported in Unity Although the first round has passed through central Wisconsin Another band of storms was close to Minneapolis and St and Alumbaugh said if that band of storms holds through it could be coming through central Wisconsin around 11 a.m central Wisconsin should see a decent gap and break in potentially hazardous weather The next round of storms are expected late Monday afternoon into the evening This round is expected to be the strongest storms for the day Alumbaugh said if those storms make it through central Wisconsin could see potential for strong tornadoes between 5 p.m Alumbaugh said this round of storms could also produce large golf ball-sized hail and damaging winds up to 70 mph According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supercell thunderstorms can last for many hours and are responsible for nearly all significant tornadoes produced in the United States This type of storm often produces large hail Another round of storms are predicted late Monday evening into Tuesday morning with more potential for gusting winds and tornadoes Alumbaugh said all storms should be out of central Wisconsin in the early overnight hours predicting them to wind down between 1 a.m The environment as of Monday morning predicts these storms will pass through central Wisconsin although there is also a chance they could break off before arriving through the area Be prepared for severe weatherAlumbaugh said the most important thing people can do to prepare is to have multiple ways to get weather warnings as they are issued throughout the day and night Have a plan for where to go and what to do ahead of the storms so people aren’t scrambling at the last minute There’s a lot of uncertainty about Monday’s weather but it’s most important to be prepared for anything More about these storms: Severe weather Monday in central Wisconsin could bring thunderstorms, hail & tornadoes Wisconsin Rapids-area voters elected one incumbent and one newcomer to the Wisconsin Rapids School Board on Tuesday Votes were counted in several contested races including Wisconsin Rapids School Board state superintendent of public instruction and a statewide referendum on an amendment to Wisconsin’s constitution Incumbent Troy Bier and newcomer Jaime Sparkes earned the two seats up for election on the School Board Wisconsin Supreme CourtThe 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 serves a four-year term Jill Underly has served in the position since 2021 MORE: Wisconsin superintendent election results: Incumbent Jill Underly defeats Brittany Kinser 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?" These results were reported as of 10:33 p.m MORE: Wisconsin voters approve referendum question, voter ID law now part of state constitution Four candidates are running for two seats on the Wisconsin Rapids School Board in the April 1 election Incumbent Troy Bier will face challengers Craig Manka Current board member Julie Timm is not seeking reelection 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 Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the School District and why they are running for the position Occupation and education: Deposit services officer at WoodTrust Bank; bachelor's degree in public administration and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Relevant experience: Elected in 2019 to the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools School Board safety and security of our students while supporting policies that put our students first and be a bridge toward their continued success Campaign Facebook page: Troy Bier- Wisconsin Rapids School Board on Facebook Occupation and education: Regional property manager Relevant experience: Past president of Wood County Head Start Policy Council licensed Level 2 foster parent able to foster special needs children 27 years of experience as a credentialed professional regional property manager responsible for several million dollars of budgeting and overseeing financials for several large-scale properties across central Wisconsin such as the Centralia View Senior Living and Cranberry Woods Townhomes here in Rapids and decades of experience dealing with resident/family issues and working to come to an agreeable resolution to achieve a common goal for all Campaign Facebook page: WRPS Craig Manka on Facebook Occupation and education: I am a 2013 graduate of Lincoln High School and a 2015 graduate of Mid-State Technical Collage I am the group home manager at Positive Alternatives in Wisconsin Rapids We provide care to at-risk youth between the ages of 12-17 with our ultimate goal for them to graduate from our program and be reunited with their families Relevant experience: I have sat on the 2018 Farm Tech Days Youth Board followed by the Redhawks Baseball Board of Directors from 2021-2025 These both have taught me the importance of managing budgets and making tough but appropriate decisions Campaign Facebook page: Jaime Sparkes for Wisconsin Rapids School Board on Facebook Occupation and education: I work at ND Paper and have two associate degrees in business and accounting and a bachelor's degree in human resources I don't run for political offices as a gain to myself My business and management background help me read budgets and make the right decision to benefit our children Bier: I’m running for another term because I care deeply about our students Their foundation for learning and success is what makes our communities grow stronger It is so important for our community to have a School Board that truly cares about our students I will advocate and support policies that put our students first and be a bridge toward their continued success Manka: My motto has always been KIDS FIRST I have children that are currently in the district and I want to make a difference in our schools as well as be part of the solution for current issues not just a voice Doing what I do for a living I understand that there are always two sides of every issue I have always been a strong advocate for children which is why I also became a licensed foster parent almost 10 years ago Sparkes: I have always had a passion for helping grow the youth of our district I see and know the importance of giving each child the best education possible to set them up for success in life it has grown the desire in me to help better our education in this district I want to make sure that schools remain safe and have better district-to-parent communication nieces and now my children go through the WRPS system and I see so many great things I'd like to help fix the areas of struggle while maintaining where we are great Bier: I am an effective board member because I am non-partisan What makes me the better candidate for WRPS board is that I care about our students success Please visit my campaign page or attend one of my Talk with Troy events I have fought for results over rhetoric and progress over politics I would appreciate your support because our students deserve a champion that will put their interests first Manka: I have decades of experience working with kids and their families as indicated by my past experience am not afraid to speak up and a strong advocate for children especially those with special needs or those families that do not know how to navigate the system when their needs are not being met I have many resources to tap into and know that I can make a positive impact on our school district Sparkes: I want to make sure that each student that is currently enrolled and the ones to come have the best experience and education possible We should not be letting students fall through the cracks or scrape by I have the passion and desire to help make this happen in our district Having daily interactions at our middle school and high school over the past seven years I have been able to see the positive and negative things that are happening and where the needs are Wasmundt: I don't personally know the other individuals in this race and I believe they all probably want what's best for the school and children I believe I'd be a great fit because I stand up for the children I don't let politics come in the way of that Bier: The top issue for the School Board would be maintaining student safety and security Thankfully our community is a great partner in supporting the efforts of our schools every school building within the district has received enhanced security for students and staff Through community support and partnerships these projects and updates have made our schools safer and have enhanced learning The bottom line is that student safety and security is the most important work of the board Manka: I believe that the district does not have enough resources to ensure the safety and well-being of their students while making sure that they all get the proper education that they deserve and have a right too We all hear on social media about parental concerns regarding how their children are being treated by peers and they are concerned that the district isn't doing all that they can to prevent these issues from occurring I plan on addressing it head on and working with the district to come up with viable solutions so that families can feel confident again that their children are safe in all environments at school Sparkes: I believe there are many issues that could be considered pressing Among them is the issue of students not reading at grade level and communication between WRPS and citizens of this district I would address the reading issue by looking at the current curriculum that we use and seeing how to revamp it I want to bring in teachers' thoughts and ideas of how to improve our overall reading curriculum since it is them that are with our students every day We can easily balance a budget or figure out what the curriculum should be but bullying has been an issue since I was in school and the use of social media has made it worse We need to hold bullies accountable but maintain their potential to earn a proper education safety and security are the most important priorities My job as a School Board member is to keep our students learning in a safe environment This is accomplished through collaboration between students I am proud of the work that we have done because student safety is so important Manka: At the present the things that I am hearing about the most is the need for schools to make sure that they have the resources available for all students regardless of what their needs are in order to get a proper education Bullying is something that I hear about often We need to come up with solutions on how to overcome this problem Maybe that looks like a parent meeting or a questionnaire that gets sent out The more information we can gather can only help at developing solutions that work but everyone has to understand that we also need to be fair in this process Sparkes: I have spoken in length with many parents and the biggest feedback I am getting is the lack of communication from WRPS and lack of understanding There have been certain policies put in place over the years that really hinder the communication between WRPS and the WRPS families I would address this by proving I am an open and honest person that will listen to parents' and residents' concerns while making sure their voice is finally heard By continuing to implement anti-bullying programs into the school setting I also think it's important that the bully and bullied receive proper counseling you can mold them by listening and hearing what the root cause of this is We need to take all bullying concerns more seriously than we have People are also concerned with the growing amount of book bans or things that are discouraged from being taught in schools How will you work to address the district’s projected budget deficit coupled with the end of $2 million in non-recurring referendum funds following the 2025-26 school year?Bier: The priority for our district to have continued success is to have collaboration and that is exactly what we have been doing WRPS must remain rooted in student success and in being student driven I think our district continues to be successful because we always have the best interest of the students in mind collaboration is the key to success to bring students business and community leaders to the table to discuss looming challenges and in making future decisions Manka: We need to take a deeper look into where the funds are being allocated and make sure that they are going to the areas that are needed the most There is no simple solution to this and we are going to have to get a handle on this quickly The only way that is going to happen is to take a close look at necessary versus unnecessary expenses and we have to facilitate the necessary changes I essentially run several businesses with the properties I manage and running in the red is never an option we need to dive in and figure it out together Sparkes: I believe that one area we can explore is different revenue services Could we find sponsors for different athletic and academic events We could bump up our rental fees for outside organizations to use WRPS buildings I would also encourage the board to look for grants that are out there I would look into all the options so we did not have to go to referendum Wasmundt: The first step is a detailed look into the spending We need to evaluate program funding and check effectiveness of said program We also can generate revenue by looking into referendums or grants we're eligible for We can also check into energy conservation Bier: Practices to address behavioral and attendance matters must involve increased parent and community involvement It is essential that we hire support staff to address learning needs We need to look at class sizes to make targeted instruction more effective We also need to look at ways to reduce barriers in transportation it is crucial that we invest in technological advances and therapy services We need to look at ways to grow our partnerships with local organizations which will prepare our students for continued and future success Manka: Parents need to be heard and we need to listen to what they are telling us so that we can work on developing viable solutions I really believe that we can get this figured out if we all work together Many of the issues stemming from behaviors and attendance are due to the fact that there are many children with special needs and the resources are just not there to adequately service them properly We need to come up with solutions and not just keep talking about it What I can do is assure everyone that I will do everything I can to make sure that I work on options that make sense for all Sparkes: This comes back to having open and honest meetings with parents and school staff about the behavior and attendance issues Making sure that everyone is on the same page with the correction plan regular scheduled check-ins would be beneficial to make sure the goals are being met Wasmundt: This leads me to the bullying aspect We always need to listen to the parents and students We need to take things seriously and address it before it spirals Attendance is unfortunately not a black-and-white issue Find out if students/parents need assistance getting their child to school and we will try to find creative ways to assist More local school news: When is spring break 2025 for Wisconsin Rapids area school districts? We compiled a list. More local news: Honorary Secret Service member Devarjaye Daniel is also an honorary deputy in Wood County Warmer temperatures mean road construction season in Wisconsin is approaching Travelers will face detours and delays resulting from road construction projects throughout the spring summer and fall in Wisconsin Rapids and Wood County Here’s a list of current and upcoming projects to consider in your travel plans and what local drivers can expect to encounter Wisconsin Rapids will complete four street reconstruction projects in 2025 in areas that see relatively low traffic Work completed in a street reconstruction includes curb and gutter replacements underground utility replacements and roadway surface repaving Work is expected to begin with Plover Street on April 14 then McKinley Street and finish with Harrison Street by the end of September Here are the specific project areas and the estimated number of calendar days needed to complete them State 13/South Eighth Street and Wood Avenue intersection: Rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps will be installed in a project that is yet to receive a specific start date Data collected by the Department of Transportation identified the intersection as a “top 40 crash spot” in the state between 2016 and 2021 The data indicated rear-end collisions were occurring on State 13/South Eighth Street when motorists brake for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing at the intersection RRFBs have shown to prompt motorists to yield at rates as high at 98% at marked crosswalks and can reduce pedestrian-related crashes up to 47% according to the Federal Highway Administration Wood County BB: The intersection between Wood County BB and State 10 will move about 1,100 feet west in a project beginning April 7 and expected to be completed in July Wood County BB will be realigned and constructed for heavy truck traffic and will no longer run next to Nasonville Dairy The company is constructing an addition to its facility where the road used to be State 73: Nearly 6 miles of roadway between State 186 and Industrial Drive in Wisconsin Rapids will have its surface removed and repaved with asphalt in a project expected to be completed this summer Wisconsin Department of Transportation regional communications manager Other work to be completed in the project include repairs of concrete pavement on State 73 near Industrial Street upgrading guardrails and replacing deteriorated culverts at eight locations The road will be closed to all traffic besides access for residents and businesses Total closures will be required during culvert replacement work State 173: Over 5 miles of roadway between State 80 and Cranberry Creek Bridge will be resurfaced with asphalt in a project expected to be completed this summer Other work to be completed in the project includes paving a three-foot shoulder replacing failing cross culvert pipes between Hazelnut Trail and Cranberry Creek Bridge and replacing guardrails The road will be closed entirely during culvert replacement work and detoured to State 73 The road will be open to traffic during repaving work and will be controlled by flagging Central Wisconsin election news: What we learned from the spring election in central Wisconsin. 'CRAZY NUTS' turnout & more More local news: Wisconsin Rapids plans to simplify zoning code rules to spur development & cut 'red tape' WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Here's your guide to contested races in the April 1 election in the Wisconsin Rapids area including justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court state superintendent of public instruction Wisconsin Rapids School District school board seats A statewide referendum question will also appear More voting resources can be found at myvote.wi.gov Two of the seven seats on the Wisconsin Rapids School Board are up for election School board members serve three-year terms More: Wisconsin superintendent election: Jill Underly vs Brittany KinserStatewide referendum on constitutional amendment requiring a Wisconsin voter to present photo identificationHere’s how the question will appear on the ballot: "Photographic identification for voting subject to exceptions which may be established by law?" WISCONSIN RAPIDS − The Wisconsin Rapids Legislative Committee approved banning the addition of fluoride to the city's water supply Tuesday despite being advised not to do so by several experts The proposal now moves on to the full City Council according to the report Cattanach included Fluoride continues to be studied to see if it impacts the nervous system The study states in an "about" page that it does not "address whether the sole exposure of fluoride added to drinking water in some countries (like the 0.7 parts per million used in the U.S and Canada) is associated with a measurable effect on IQ The study did not include a test of any U.S Cattanach said he wanted to bring the growing concern about fluoride in drinking water to the Wisconsin Rapids Legislative Committee and the City Council most of whom attended Tuesday's committee meeting Cattanach referenced a California court case in which a judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to study the effects of fluoride in drinking water on the IQ of children Have you been to Pancakes & Burgers? This popular Saratoga restaurant has new name & menu Committee member Patrick Delaney said he's read many articles on fluoridation and learned it is a byproduct of the aluminum smelting process The fluoride is then sold to municipalities to add to water "It's considered a toxic waste," Delaney said said people need to be careful when researching things online The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states adding fluoride to water reduces cavities by 25% said he is not in favor of adding any chemicals in the water City Council President Madalyn Palmquist said she supports putting fluoride in the water One in seven children live in poverty and it's those children who will be most impacted by removing fluoride from the water Antigo removed the fluoride from its water they added it back in after cavities went up 100% attended the meeting and spoke to the committee members Akey has practiced as a dentist for more than 30 years "To say I've dedicated my life to the study of this would be an understatement More local news: What you need to know about this year's Empty Bowls fundraising event in Wisconsin Rapids Any prescription has a recommended amount a person should take but ask anyone who works in an emergency room what happens when a whole bottle is taken at once "People don't like anything added to their water but no one is complaining about the chlorine in the water." There have been dozens of studies that show fluoride in the water is safe and effective in relatively trace amounts Fluoride needs to be used in a systemic way and a topical way Topically is in the toothpaste people hopefully use twice a day The systemic way is in community water fluoridation Kristie Egge is a Wood County Health Department supervisor who has worked there for 17 years She oversees the department's oral health program "I (want to) express our support of continuation of community water fluoridation as a critical tool proven to reduce tooth decay and improve overall oral health," Egge said Most water naturally contains some level of fluoride but not at a level that will prevent cavities "Fluoride is a way to use Mother Nature to create a healthier community," Egge said president of the Central Wisconsin Dental Association Fluoride is a catalyst for bone development and is important for older people The absence of fluoride can cause weak bones and can lead to jaw problems that require surgery There is only one oral surgeon left in the area and he will be retiring soon "The oral surgeon in Chippewa Falls has a five-year waiting list," Godar said if your grandmother gets osteoporosis of the jaw because she doesn't have good bones." Several residents spoke out either in favor or against the proposed ban One residents asked if not adding fluoride would lower city taxes Resident Michael Timm told the committee said he believes people shouldn't be exposed to substances without their consent He believes it should be a personal choice He said he would argue that individual fluoride use is sufficient for fluoridation Wisconsin Rapids Water and Light water superintendent said he wouldn't try to convince the committee one way or the other If Water and Light adds fluoride to the water the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requires it to be at the optimal level of between 0.6 and 0.8 parts per million Water and Light uses food-grade fluoride in the water Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which is the department that put out the report and the Wisconsin Department of Health all recommend the continued use of fluoride in drinking water "Due to the fact we have no medical professionals at the utilities the utilities' stance is always going to be to rely on the medical professionals," Breunig said "So due to these recommendations from these associations our recommendation to the committee is that we continue using it at the 0.7 parts per million range." Delaney made a motion to ban fluoride added to the city's water Committee member Ryan Austin cast the only vote against it City Attorney Sue Schill will prepare a proposed ordinance regarding banning fluoride additions to the water and it will have to go through the approval process from the full Wisconsin Rapids City Council WISCONSIN RAPIDS − The much-anticipated stop by a lobster food truck in Wisconsin Rapids just got a couple days longer Cousins Maine Lobster announced over the weekend it has again postponed its Wisconsin Rapids stop The food truck will now operate from 11 a.m the event will happen on April 3,” the post said “We truly appreciate your patience and understanding The Chicago-based truck originally set a Feb. 18 date in Wisconsin Rapids then postponed to April 1 due to logistical issues What's on the menu?The food truck offers a menu that includes two kinds of lobster rolls for $25 each: the Maine features Maine lobster served chilled with a little mayonnaise on a New England roll and the Connecticut features Maine lobster served warm with butter and lemon on a New England roll If you're looking for a different take on lobster specialties include a lobster grilled cheese for $21 and lobster tots for $22 Cousins Maine Lobster also offers a lobster bisque and a New England clam chowder What is Cousins Maine Lobster?Cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis founded Cousins Maine Lobster in 2012 aiming to bring their family tradition of boiling lobster in Portland The cousins launched with their first food truck in April 2012 and appeared on Shark Tank six months later and it has since grown to include brick-and-mortar restaurants food trucks and food halls across 26 states and the District of Columbia The Chicago franchise recently stopped in Stevens Point and has its food truck stopping at various locations throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. For more information, visit cousinsmainelobster.com or find Cousins Maine Lobster (Chicago, IL) on Facebook More about Cousins Maine Lobster: What to know about Cousins Maine Lobster food truck ahead of its Wisconsin Rapids stop WISCONSIN RAPIDS − A Family Health Center planned for the city won't break ground as soon as officials hoped The plan was to break ground on the new Family Health Center right about now Wood County Health Director Sue Smith said The project currently is waiting for the federal part of its funding was instrumental in helping secure about $3.5 million in Community Project Funding from the federal government The entire cost of the project was estimated to be $17.5 million about a year ago The funding had been arranged for the 2025 budget officials approved a continuing resolution to extend the 2025 budget deadline until March President Donald Trump signed another continuing resolution that places the 2025 budget deadline at the end of the fiscal year Marshfield Family Health Center executive director The Marshfield center is taking the lead on the Wisconsin Rapids project Nycz said the two legislators told him the county could apply for same funding again in 2026 but it is unknown whether it will be available The uncertainty leaves the county about $3.5 million short of the money for the project More local news: Juneau County jury finds Grand Marsh man guilty of 15 felony counts in January 2024 homicide The Family Health Center in Marshfield is a federally funded health care center that opened in 2010 The two health centers are getting about a combined 1,600 patients a year traveling from the four zip codes in and around Wisconsin Rapids They are traveling an estimated total of 150,000 miles a year to get help for dental needs Low-income people and people on Medicare have a difficult time finding a dentist in the Wisconsin Rapids area Nycz said Nycz began talking with Smith and the head of the Legacy Foundation of Central Wisconsin about it a few years ago and things began to happen Low-income people aren't going to drive from Wisconsin Rapids to Marshfield or Neillsville for routine dental treatment The center will also provide addiction treatment and some medical care both of which are in shortage for low-income and Medicare recipients in the Wisconsin Rapids area "The idea is to get them to look for help before they're in pain," Nycz said The $3.5 million local officials are waiting for from the federal government to begin the project is really a small portion of the estimated $17.7 million needed Wood County has committed $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money The county also has committed $550,000 of its opioid settlement money to the project Other money has been committed by the Riverview Community Foundation and unnamed local resources There is a deadline for spending the ARPA money If the Family Health Center project should fall through there are other projects Pliml hopes they can use the money for "We're still planning on getting the $3.5 million Nycz has been digging into other funding sources and is confident they will fill in the gap "There is too much need for it not to happen," Nycz said Contact Karen Madden ator kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Police successfully ended a standoff that lasted more than an hour Monday morning with a person who was threatening to harm themself a caller reported a person armed with a handgun in a front yard of a home in the 500 block of Pine Avenue who was threatening to harm themself according to a news release from Wisconsin Rapids Police Chief Daniel Hostens they closed the 500 block of Pine Avenue to traffic and secured the area They began negotiations with the person immediately to calm the situation Given how close the incident was to Woodside Elementary School police notified the school district of the situation The Wisconsin Rapids Department of Public Works helped to close additional streets in the area the person voluntarily dropped the gun and surrendered to officers without further incident no charges have been filed against the person and the investigation is ongoing More local news: 15-year-old boy wanted in connection with Taylor County deaths found dead Saturday Central Wisconsin business news: Fuel On Wisconsin continues rebrand of The Store locations & plans to reopen 3 sites WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Residents will continue to have fluoride added to their drinking water after the City Council rejected an effort to ban its addition to the municipal water supply during its meeting Tuesday evening "As we continue the discussion on fluoride there are two critical things we need to keep in mind," Cattanach said Cattanach first referred to a study from the U.S He said the study showed that as fluoride consumption increases City Council member Justin Pluess said that experts in the field of dentistry and medicine have said the study Cattanach referred to is weak and flawed The study looks at testing done in other countries but not in the United States The fluoride levels in the countries used is higher than the amount added to the water in the United States Exclusive report: 2 deaths & 53 wrong-way drivers in two years. Community demands fix for stretch of U.S. 10 More local news: Wisconsin Rapids Common Council OKs ordinance allowing ATV/UTVs on 1 city street The second critical point Cattanach said he wanted to make was a September court ruling in California Environmental Protection Agency must reconsider its stance on fluoride at current levels The court ruling was that the EPA must regulate fluoride in drinking water The National Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still support putting fluoride in water Pluess said Wisconsin Rapids residents want their City Council to focus on things like bringing jobs to the city "They're angry we're debating this instead of improving roads in Wisconsin Rapids," Pluess said said the decision to stop putting fluoride in the city's water was one made out of fear and skepticism caused by controversial studies which state they have no conclusive evidence Palmquist made a motion to reject the proposed ordinance to ban the addition of fluoride to Wisconsin Rapids' water supply Her motion included instructing the Water Works and Lighting Commission to keep the fluoride level in the city's water at the level recommended by national and state authorities The council approved Palmquist's motion by a vote of 6-2 with Cattanach and Patrick Delaney voting no More data centers — computer warehouses that underpin artificial intelligence and store everything from PayPal transactions to YouTube videos — are coming to Wisconsin Microsoft has purchased 240 acres for a new data center complex in Kenosha, the city announced Monday. It will sit northwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 and Route 142, 6 miles south of the company’s $3.3 billion data center campus under construction in Mount Pleasant Meanwhile, the hydroelectricity that once powered Wisconsin Rapids’ paper mill will now flow to a new data center The data center developer Digital Power Optimization announced on Thursday it has purchased the site and its power supply is a Wisconsin Rapids native and represents the city in the state Assembly He described the vacant paper mill as a “hole in our hearts.” “Any resident here will tell you it’s exciting just to have some sort of structure and development and idea of what’s going to happen there,” he said Hydroelectric power from the city’s namesake rapids ran the mill the electricity has been “sitting there,” Krug said DPO described its strategy as “leveraging underutilized land and power.” It allows the company to bring new data centers online faster than the massive start-from-scratch data centers known as “hyperscale projects.” Krug said the new data center will rise from about 15 acres just north of the paper mill’s idle smokestacks He said he hopes its presence attracts more customers for Wisconsin Rapids’ still-available renewable hydropower “Cities that have data centers with renewable power still available afterwards are going to see other developments come around it,” he said Microsoft kept its identity anonymous through non-disclosure agreements until Monday, though it had started the approval process for the new data center in November a company representative said the 240 acres would house four data center buildings each with a few dozen technical and security workers She also said the complex would get a new electrical substation “We’ve been very fortunate over the last several years to have commitments from people like Uline, and now Lilly and now Microsoft making Kenosha County home,” said County Executive Samantha Kerkman factories and corporate campuses greets travelers on the county’s stretch of I-94 Kerkman said that “clustering” along already-developed corridors is a way to preserve the area’s quality of life “I’m a lifelong resident here myself and it is a balance that we have to juggle every single day,” she said Kerkman said she is not aware of Microsoft’s construction schedule for the Kenosha data center The project is “separate from our work in Mount Pleasant,” according to a spokesperson for Microsoft, and has “no connection to the design changes on the second phase of expansion at that site.” Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board WISCONSIN RAPIDS − City leaders are looking at whether to ban fluoride in Wisconsin Rapids' drinking water Legislative Committee Chairman Jake Cattanach made a referral to the committee asking that it create an ordinance banning the addition of fluoride to the city water supply The committee is expected to discuss the referral at its meeting at 6 p.m Tuesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program completed a multi-year study in August that shows fluoride exposure like added fluoride in drinking water can be associated with lower IQ in children according to the report that Cattanach included in the committee's packet for Tuesday Several Wisconsin municipalities have decided to discontinue or avoid fluoride include Rock Springs Check out our photos: Demolition underway at former Wisconsin Rapids paper mill More local news: Here's how Wisconsin Rapids and Wood County spent millions in COVID-19 relief funds The introduction to the study states that about 67% of U.S residents receive fluoride in their drinking water Public Health Service began recommending placing fluoride in drinking water to help strengthen teeth and bones in 1962 The agency currently recommends the fluoride concentration to be equal to 0.7 parts per million Environmental Protection Agency sets the maximum amount of fluoride a person should ingest at 4 parts per million and requires public water systems to notify customers when the level in the public water supply is at 2 parts per million or more The report also states that children in 10 countries including Mexico and Canada had their IQs tested for the study but no children in the United States had their IQs tested The American Dental Association issued a news release in October that stated placing fluoride in water reduces cavities in children and adults by about 25% during their lifetime WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Maine lobster from a company featured on Shark Tank will be parking its food truck in Wisconsin Rapids next week Cousins Maine Lobster will serve a lobster menu from its Chicago-based food truck from 11 a.m a Daily Tribune reporter connected with Mohammed Yunus Shahul and Mohammed Thameem Shahul who have been part of Cousins Maine Lobster for seven years and own multiple franchises including the Chicago market since February 2024 They said they saw a great opportunity to introduce fresh and sustainable lobster dishes to Chicago When it comes to choosing cities to visit with the food truck the local food culture and community engagement They said their goal is to bring authentic Maine flavors to smaller towns in Wisconsin ensuring the smaller communities have the opportunity to enjoy fresh lobster Here’s what you should know about Cousins Maine Lobster before checking it out next week Cousins Maine Lobster has two different options A Maine lobster roll is served chilled with a touch of mayonnaise on a New England roll The Connecticut lobster roll is served warm with butter and lemon The truck offers a New England clam chowder or a lobster bisque A kids meal offers grilled cheese and a cheese quesadilla The truck also offers a variety of lobster-filled specialties pepper jack and cheddar cheese on Texas-style toast for $21 Lobster tots include a bed of tater tots with warmed lobster cilantro-lime sauce and pico de gallo for $22 Lobster tacos include three tacos with lobster pico de gallo and cilantro-lime sauce on flour tortillas for $22 Shrimp tacos switch out the lobster for North Atlantic shrimp for $17 Both taco options allow customers to swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas A lobster tail & tots includes a 4-5-ounce lobster tail in its shell served with butter and a side of tater tots for $21.50 pico de gallo and cilantro-lime sauce on a flour tortilla You can also make your meal a combo with one of three options another adds tater tots and a drink for $7 extra and the third adds a Whoopie pie and a drink for $7 extra If you just want to add extra sides without a combo and any orders with extra meat are $8 extra If you’re looking for lobster to make your own rolls at home you can order the At-Home Lobster Roll Kit The menu and prices listed were posted on the company’s Facebook page Feb Guests can order right at the truck or find the Cousins Maine Lobster mobile app set the location to Chicago and order online starting at 11 a.m The truck accepts all major debit and credit cards Cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis founded Cousins Maine Lobster in 2012 and wanted to bring their family tradition of boiling lobster in huge pots in the backyard to the rest of the country The two founders launched the company with the first food truck in April 2012. In October of that year, they appeared on Shark Tank and the cousins have since franchised and grown the business to include brick-and-mortar restaurants food trucks and food halls in 26 states and the District of Columbia The Chicago franchise has its food truck stopping at various locations throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. For more information, visit cousinsmainelobster.com or find Cousins Maine Lobster (Chicago, IL) on Facebook WISCONSIN RAPIDS − The Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck will make another stop in Wisconsin Rapids this week The Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck will be running from 11 a.m The food truck launched in January 2023 and made stops in Wisconsin Rapids in June the truck served in Wisconsin Rapids last month The Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck travels throughout Iowa offering a Chick-fil-A menu to communities that do not have a Chick-fil-A restaurant nearby As guests arrive where the truck is set up they line up at one trailer and place their orders They then move to a line at the food truck to wait for their orders to be filled To follow the truck’s schedule, find the Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck on Facebook WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Crews will be spending the next couple of weeks demolishing the former Immanuel Lutheran Church building on Eighth Street The demolition began the morning of March 25 at 160 Eighth St and the majority of the 116-year-old building is expected to be down by Thursday Crews will then continue removing materials throughout the following weeks Demolition was rescheduled for this week to cause the least disruption to students who are currently on spring break The church stands at the corner of Eighth and Prospect streets The school district purchased the property after the WRPS Board of Education voted in February 2024 to move forward to purchase the property raze the building and upgrade the parking lot for Howe Elementary School staff and parents After officially purchasing the property for $1 on Oct crews began asbestos abatement and continued preparing the site for demolition Fencing was installed last week ahead of the start of demolition superintendent of Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools recently told a Daily Tribune reporter the district is still working with an engineering firm on the design of a new parking lot and parent drop-off and pick-up area Immanuel Lutheran Church moved out of that building in August 2024 and has since moved into its newly built church on 24th St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids WISCONSIN RAPIDS – A developer has plans to build an artificial intelligence computing facility in Wisconsin Rapids According to a press release from Digital Power Optimization Inc the developer and operator of power-dense data centers has secured a land lease with Consolidated Water Power Company and plans to develop a $200 million facility capable of up to 20 megawatts of AI computing the founder and CEO of Digital Power Optimization told a Daily Tribune reporter Monday afternoon the development will be a "power-dense data center" designed for artificial intelligence computing operations The partnership with CWPCo includes a land lease for up to 50 years interconnection rights to an existing and energized substation and access to a power supply CWPCo operates 32 megawatts of hydroelectric power within its system Mayor Matt Zacher confirmed to a Daily Tribune reporter Monday morning the development will be on a 15-acre parcel owned by CWPCo west of State 34, close to the Wisconsin Water Quality Center purchased by ND Paper last year The site where DPO plans to build its facility is adjacent to 220 acres of land that is still available for redevelopment that was formerly part of the paper mill property Webber told the Daily Tribune DPO will lease about 6 acres of vacant land of the 15-acre parcel owned by CWPCo Webber clarified the development is not on the Billerud paper mill site the city’s director of community development told a Daily Tribune reporter Monday morning DPO reached out about a year and a half ago looking at CWPCo's available power for opportunities to use for AI Kearns said CWPCo had powered the entire paper mill and without the facility running in its full capacity there has been a lot of excess power available Running artificial intelligence demands a lot of power so companies involved with AI are looking at where they can buy a lot of power especially if more affordable power is available Renewable and green power like the hydroelectric power from CWPCo is also a benefit so Wisconsin Rapids was a good option for DPO Webber said DPO works with a number of power companies and DPO has multiple other projects around the country in various stages of pre-development As DPO discussed the potential facility with CWPCo leaders Webber said the company found the situation to be a win-win The partnership allows DPO to grow its data centers while paying to use CWPCo's system The partnership will also allow CWPCo to maintain its hydroelectric projects and cover some fixed costs Kearns said most of the $200 million investment will be toward the computers inside the building rather than the cost of construction Renderings show plans for a few small buildings to be built in pods with additional infrastructure like backup generators Webber told the Daily Tribune once construction plans are complete and building permits are secured DPO plans to start construction later this year with "initial energization" starting in 2026 Webber said DPO expects to create more than 100 on-site jobs between 2025 and 2026 Many of those positions will include electricians and other tradespeople Webber said he expects to create 12-20 full-time employees at the facility when it's open Webber said the construction process will look more like an assembly than typical building construction as DPO is planning to use modular facilities While the final product could vary from the project rendering Webber said it shows a good approximation of its size Most of the space will be taken up by external electrical and cooling infrastructure Webber told the Daily Tribune the data center will consume about 20 megawatts of power at its peak including its cooling and ancillary functions Most facilities do not operate at 100% capacity around the clock The amount of energy is lower than most industrial companies including pulp processors like the ND Paper mill in Biron Webber said based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration if DPO runs on average at 70% of its maximum capacity the facility could be equivalent of about 11,700 homes Webber said DPO would account for a minority of CWPCo's total demand What could this mean for Wisconsin Rapids?Zacher told the Daily Tribune the most exciting part of this development is the amount of investment DPO will be putting into the community and this deal will help open doors for more private entities to look at Wisconsin Rapids for development while reaffirming its commitment to owning and operating the converting facility in the city PCR Rapids − a group made up of Capital Recovery Group Rabin Worldwide and PPL Group − announced it would start finding parties interested in buying the entire mill site or select portions city leaders said no major redevelopment plans had been secured and property owners were still marketing the area for redevelopment Zacher said the city knew about the potential DPO deal with CWPCo and was encouraging but had no power in securing the project While the city has little power when it comes to private entities working out deals for development Zacher said he would like to see a mix of diverse businesses in the area The entire paper mill property has started shifting more into an industrial complex than just one industry Billerud has continued investing in its converting operations and ND Paper has invested in wastewater treatment in the area Zacher said he hopes DPO's development will help act as a catalyst to attract other businesses and industries to the area What does this mean for the future of AI?Webber said digital computing output like that for artificial intelligence needs physical infrastructure "We view this as a facility designed to accommodate the next generation of the critical technological advancement which will benefit society in many ways some of which we can't yet predict," he said Digital Power Optimization Inc., a privately-held New York-based company, was formed in 2020 to help power companies better manage their output and maximize efficiency and profitability, according to its website adding expertise in flexible data centers to capture more electricity DPO sets up and operates data centers as the managers CWPCo is a public utility service that provides electricity to three paper mills and about 100 residential and small commercial customers in the Wisconsin Rapids and Biron areas (This story was updated to add new information.) WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Wisconsin Rapids area voters will see several state and local races in the 2025 spring election Tuesday to turn in their nomination paperwork to the Wisconsin Elections Commission to appear on the spring election ballot Nomination papers can be challenged for things like issues with signatures or addresses for three days following the nomination paper filing deadline 18 for seats with more than two qualified candidates and the spring general election between the top two candidates will be held April 1 The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune compiled the following list of candidates for the spring election. To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin Wisconsin Supreme CourtThe 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 State superintendent of public instructionState superintendent serves a four-year term Judge Jennifer Nashold has served in the position since 2019 Wisconsin circuit court judges serve six-year terms Potter announced his retirement prior to Dec 1 so an election will be held in April to replace him Potter was appointed to the role in 2001 and was elected to four terms since 2002 City of Wisconsin RapidsWisconsin Rapids alderpersons serve two-year terms with half of the council's seats up for election each year. In 2025, the odd-numbered districts, 1 through 7, will be on the ballot. Patrick J. Delaney, who currently represents District 7, is not seeking reelection A primary will not be required because there are only four candidates More local news: CERA Park in Rudolph set to open as a Wood County public park in May Local business news: The Cookie Jar brings treats and community to Baker Drive in Wisconsin Rapids WISCONSIN RAPIDS – We may still be digging out from the last March snowstorm but Easter egg hunts are just around the corner in the Wisconsin Rapids area Various organizations and businesses have organized Easter egg hunts and other activities for children or adults throughout the area The Village of Milladore Park will host an Easter Egg Hunt starting at 11 a.m April 19 at 3720 Wood County P in Milladore All children from infants to 8-year-olds are welcome to join the hunt that will be held rain or shine For Nekoosa will host a Nekoosa Easter Egg Hunt starting at 11:15 a.m Egg hunts for 0 to 3-year-olds start at 11:15 a.m. the hunt for ages 4-6 starts at 11:40 a.m. the hunt for ages 7-9 starts at 12:05 p.m. and the hunt for ages 10-12 starts at 12:30 p.m. a $3 lunch and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny The Vesper Recreation Committee will host an Easter Egg Hunt starting at 9 a.m April 19 at Vesper Recreational Park at 6435 Cameron Ave Complimentary hot chocolate and coffee will be available at this event and cash raffle tickets will be available to win prizes Members of the Vesper Fire Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department will make appearances open the doors and see all the people who spent the last few decades planning and preparing for our newly-built Immanuel Lutheran Church I remember people talking about building a new church for most of my life So-and-so would be able to worship again in a more accessible building and we could expand this class or community event we won’t need these nets and tennis rackets to catch bats flying overhead during the sermon Conversations and discussions around member and community needs became a little more tangible when we purchased land in 2007 and those conversations and discussions continued for the next 16 years There were disappointments and frustrations There were also revelations and breakthroughs repurposed pews and other items were moved and secured at the new site bringing to life the vision of the last few generations across the last few decades get some practice time in on the organ or to help set up chairs for worship I take in the glow from the stained-glass windows the notes that hang in the air at the end of a song I see pieces of so many people I love who put so much of their hearts and souls into this space I spent the last week ahead of the church's official opening talking with members of the church who have been working for decades to make this dream a reality About 250 members of Immanuel were involved in the planning stages offering suggestions and requests of what they wanted to see in a building more than 300 members actively helped in some shape or form said while previous rounds of building plans included a few renderings and smaller building committees Immanuel took a different approach this time holding listening sessions to learn what members wanted essentially making the entire congregation part of the building committee "Our members have been dreaming about this space for 30 years," Ritter said the clearer it became to members that between space accessibility and the state of the building said he has been involved since the day he and his wife He said a new church means a new beginning for Immanuel with something fresh and every other issue on his checklist at the old church building Immanuel organized several volunteer groups to help on site About 60 people made lunch for construction crews every two weeks About 70 members helped clean at the work sites and completed buildings Other members have been around regularly to help with whatever needed to be done with some spending more than 20 hours on any given week to help said she initially got involved with the group that fed the builders once construction started The timing of construction allowed Knorr to be more involved since she's retired and has more time to volunteer Timing worked out well for Nell and John Slinkman now retired members who joined Immanuel in the early 1980s They helped design the coffee area and lead the committee that fed the builders Nell Slinkman was on a committee focusing on accessibility and John Slinkman was on a committee that repurposed wood from the pews and he helped put the baseboards in the sanctuary Hall said he was part of every planning group Immanuel organized starting with the first planning group 30 years ago He served as a liaison for the third and said this effort was Immanuel's fourth shot he shared his thoughts and expertise on blueprint designs early on and he helped dismantle and install various parts of the church Blum said Immanuel has been encouraging members to get involved with a sense of ownership and this project has shown how members took that to heart sharing what they wanted in a new building rolling up their sleeves and helping make it happen and it was often hard to keep up with all of the work done by volunteers you had people willing and waiting to help," he said Blum said one of the most visible pieces of member involvement involves the cross at the front of the sanctuary He said Immanuel planned to use wood from trees that had been on the property to build a cross Hall said Blum asked him if he could build a cross for the front of the church and since he had a lot of barn beams in his own barn that various people have given him over the years He ultimately dug up a barn beam that was more than 100 years old that someone had donated to him about five years ago All it took was a bit of cleaning up and a few coats of varnish "The fingerprints of our congregation are all over this place," Ritter said Hall said he has been awestruck many times throughout the project especially as it approached its official opening He has been at the building almost every day in the last three weeks leading up to the opening The completion of the church building means Immanuel is finally home A few days before the church officially opened its new doors Jerry Herman sat in the church's welcome area and looked around at the space He said he had been so focused on the work up to that point that it was nice to stop and look at how far the project has come Herman said it felt like just yesterday members were gathered out in the middle of an empty field on a hot summer day and now the official opening was on the horizon The thought of the last couple of years made Herman feel a sense of pride "It's being a part of something bigger than me," he said Nell Slinkman said the greatest part of the project has been the idea of leaving a legacy behind not only for her family but for the church and community for generations to come Immanuel not only built a new sanctuary for worship but it built a new building for the community Blum said the entire plan for the property on 24th Street centered around community and welcoming everyone Hall said the entire project was created with community in mind "There's an open door whenever they want to come in," Hall said More local development projects: Day spa, car washes & demolition: 8 development projects to watch in 2025 in Wisconsin Rapids More local news: Demolition of 116-year-old Wisconsin Rapids church building has been delayed Another protest in Wisconsin Rapids on Friday brought new people to the East Riverview Expressway bridge by Aspirus Hospital WIRI) – Another protest in Wisconsin Rapids took place on March 21 A small group spread out across the East Riverview Expressway bridge holding signs by Aspirus Hospital.One attendee spelled out her reasons for attending the event saying “I’m protesting the dismantling of our government and the inhumane treatment of the people they’re deporting.” She said she’s concerned America has turned into an oligarchy An oligarchy happens when a small group of people control the government Our constitution in the United States divides the federal government into three branches These separate but equal branches of government were written into the constitution to make sure that no individual or single branch would have too much power Our democracy is at stake.” Attendees said they will keep coming every week to raise awareness about what is happening in our government Protestors held signs reading “Thank you Federal Workers” and “No Lying King.” Another called out Senator Ron Johnson and Senator Derrek Van Orden hiding from voters Several signs being held by those on the East Riverview Expressway bridge protested taking rights away from women one stating “Women’s Rights are Human Rights.” One first time attendee at this weekly rally stated “I want to make sure that people know that a vote for Susan Crawford is a vote to protect women’s rights our civil rights.” She said that Crawford’s opponent wants to take the laws backwards “I don’t want somebody gonna get on the Supreme Court that’s supporting a law from the 1800’s we’ve come a long way and so I just don’t want to go backwards We need to keep going forward.” Protestors said they plan to hold the protest in Wisconsin Rapids every Friday at 3PM One attendee also gave an opinion on the constitutional amendment on the ballot “I would encourage everybody to vote no on the amendment because all it is is a voter suppression attempt.” The Spring Election is Tuesday, April 1st. Polls are open 7AM to 8PM. Early voting is already taking place. Check with your local clerk for early voting hours. You can visit myvote.wi.gov to check your registration, find out how to register, and find out where you need to go to vote.    WISCONSIN RAPIDS − The Wisconsin Rapids area received an above-average amount of snow in March The Wisconsin Rapids area saw 8.5 inches of snowfall in the month of March, according to the National Weather Service The amount was 1.6 inches more than the normal 6.9 inches of snowfall the area typically gets in March The last years Wisconsin Rapids received exactly 8.5 inches of snowfall in March were 2024 The highest March snowfall record was set in 1977 when 36.8 inches fell the Wisconsin Rapids area has received 30.2 inches of snow 21.7 inches fell before March with 6 inches falling in December 4.8 inches in January and 10.9 inches in February Snowfall totals in March across Central Wisconsin were “decently above average,” according to Jillian Goodin meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay Stevens Point received about 21 inches of snow which is about triple the amount expected for March Recent rain and temperatures well above freezing has left little of this snow lingering on the ground and upcoming days are forecasted to continue that trend “(In) April we will kind of see a pattern shift to cool and dry that looks to pretty much last throughout most of the month,” Goodin said below average precipitation and temperatures a few degrees below average.” Temperatures in Central Wisconsin in April tend to range between high 20s and high 40s with a normal average near 37 degrees What was the snowiest day in March?On March 20 6 inches of snow fell in the Wisconsin Rapids area but warm temperatures melted it all by March 22 The area received at least an inch or more of combined rain and snow on March 3 which also melted within a few days due to warm temperatures The month’s lowest temperature was reached on March 2 when temperatures reached 4 degrees The highest temperature of 77 degrees was recorded on March 14 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. Protest planned in Wisconsin Rapids will happen every Friday at 3PM by the Hospital on East Riverview Expressway. Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – A protest took place in Wisconsin Rapids on March 14, 2025. Several happened in cities across Wisconsin that day protesting executive orders from the Trump Administration and moves from Republican House and Senate members to cut funding and programs. A group of about a dozen people gathered on the East Riverview Expressway near the hospital in Wisconsin Rapids. One attendee held a sign that declared Hate Doesn’t Make Us Great and on the flip side it read, Science Is Real. She said, “We got tired of hearing the news and we decided we needed to do something and this is what we came up with.” She said it was a spur of the moment idea and they put the word out, made signs, and headed to a visible spot on the East Riverview Expressway. Protestors walked up and down the bridge with signs. They read Save our Democracy, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare among other demands. Another protester said this will be a recurring protest every Friday from 3:00PM until 4:15PM. They hope to get more people every time. “We’re exercising our right for peaceful protest, keeping it legal.” After the protest in Wisconsin Rapids wrapped up, attendees said they saw a varied response. Some drivers made rude gestures but overall they saw many more thumbs ups and peace signs. There were also horn honks and cheerful waves. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWISCONSIN RAPIDS (WSAW) - People who need to shred sensitive documents can stop by Prevail Bank in Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday to be securely shredded on-site at Prevail Bank WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A local home décor and custom-made store will soon shift away from its storefront location to accommodate a growing need in the Wisconsin Rapids community Milkweed Market started in December 2016 as its own small business within Opportunity Development Centers selling products handcrafted by people of all abilities Ready-to-hang décor and unfinished items are also available for customers to complete themselves closing Milkweed Market’s physical location on Huntington Avenue will allow ODC to focus on expanding the organization’s critical support services for children and youth The post said ODC launched its Children’s and Youth Services Program in 2023 to address a growing need in the Wisconsin Rapids community 54 children and youth were part of the program the program is expected to support 100 individuals The site on Huntington Avenue will allow the program to expand Shoppers will still be able to find Milkweed Market products at Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital, 410 Dewey St., including treats from the store’s ongoing partnership with The Cookie Jar The gift shop at the hospital is open from 10 a.m Milkweed Market also accepts online orders with delivery to rooms at the hospital Until it closes, the Milkweed Market store on Huntington Avenue will be open for extended hours during its inventory reduction sales, offering 40% off items. For more information, most recent store hours, or to shop online, visit themilkweedmarket.com or find Milkweed Market on Facebook EDITOR'S NOTE: The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck stop in Wisconsin Rapids has been postponed for a second time until April 3 due to "ongoing logistical challenges." Some of the prices included in this article also have changed since it originally was published WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Maine lobster from a company featured on Shark Tank is making its way to Wisconsin Rapids next week Here's what you should know before checking it out The food truck offers a menu that includes two kinds of lobster rolls for $24 each: the Maine features Maine lobster served chilled with a little mayonnaise on a New England roll specialties include a lobster grilled cheese for $21 and lobster tots for $21 Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.