Once per month, The Wausonian digs through the civil court filings in Marathon County to find the most interesting cases. It’s one of The Wausonian’s signature features — and one you won’t find anywhere else.

Almost made it in time! Next week I should be back to fully caught up on this feature.

Joseph Tofferi ran a collectibles social media channel with his son and he wanted to buy some top-notch baseball cards for it.

He found five rare cards to buy online, and arranged with Steven Lyons to buy them. The costs for the five cards, which included a 1984 Michael Jordan card among other football, baseball and basketball cards, was $21,100.

But, Tofferi alleges in the lawsuit, that’s where the trouble began.

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The number of Wausau’s standing committees will not change after Tuesday’s City Council meeting — though Mayor Doug Diny in a follow up press release hinted the idea wasn’t dead.

The decision came after a procedural twist-filled saga that put the new assistant city attorney through his paces, and comes after the majority of council members voted in favor of reducing the committees.

Why? Essentially, the council voted not to suspend the rules, something that typically is routine, which meat the move would have required a 2/3 majority.

That meant that despite a vote of 6-5 in favor of the plan, the motion failed for lack of the larger majority required.

And that came after Diny relinquished the gavel to new Council President Terry Kilian so he could participate in the vote and discussion.

Diny stated in a press release sent out Wednesday morning that the committee restructure issue isn’t over. “We will bring this reform back soon and give the majority’s position a fair opportunity to succeed,” Diny wrote.

The Wausonian was one of only two media outlets at Monday night’s meeting in Ringle — and the stories of coordination, devastation and hard work to restore the town after the tornado hit were eye-opening. Here’s what we learned:

On a more positive note, it might have seemed odd for the owners of ERA Pancakes and Cafe to open a new restaurant right across the street — but here is why EJ’s Diner is working:

And when someone attacked an area bar owner, they found out the hard way that was a bad idea. Read that and more in our Wausau Tavern Report.

What else in Wausau?

Balloon rally signals bad weather could be costly for event: The Taste N’ Glow Balloon Fest had difficulty with weather the past two years — and another bad year could make it the last one, its leader says. The city’s tourism commission awarded the balloon glow $20,000 in room tax dollars, but that came after Taste N’ Glow President Brandon Jelik told the commission that the balloon fest lost money the past two years because of rain on one of the two days. “We’re at the point where if we don’t have a good year, it may be the last,” Jelik told the commission. The fest originally was held at the Wausau Airport by Wausau Events, but after a second cancellation in 2021 due to COVID, the original organizers moved the fest to the town of Stettin. That fest later went to Visit Wausau.

Aspirus fires senior health official after Trump assassination-related post: A health official at Wausau-based Aspirus appears to have been fired over uproar related to a social media post. Aspirus Senior Vice President Brian Kellar commented on Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad’s post cheering on the recent attempted assassination of the president — Kellar posted a photo of himself wearing a shirt from Minocqua Brewing Company with the letters “FDT” and holding a koozie with the #FreeBeer, signaling the free beer Bangstad has promised in the event of the current president’s demise. Kellar in his comment said he was sharing the shirst and koozies around. Kellar didn’t appear to have an active LinkedIn or Facebook account at the time of this reporting. CEO Matt Heywood in a post on Aspirus’ Facebook didn’t name Kellar but said it had fired an employee for social media activity that caused “extensive external commentary.” “Recently, we learned of an employee whose social media activity did not align with our shared values," Heywood said. "That individual is no longer with our organization."

Around the metro

Sheriff investigating stabbing in Norrie: A 58-year-old town of Norrie man is in custody after Marathon County Sheriff’s officials say they are investigating a stabbing in the town. Timothy Anker was arrested Sunday on charges of first degree reckless homicide after deputies found his brother, Thomas Anker, 57, with stab wounds in his home in the 183000 block of Norrie Road. Deputies attempted life-saving measures but ultimately Thomas Anker was pronounced dead at the scene. Timothy Anker is being held on a $75,000 cash bond and is currently facing charges of possession of a firearm as a felon, according to Marathon County Court records.

Highways X, XX to close next week for construction: Highway X and XX in the village of Kronenwetter are expected to close next week, county officials say. The road will close May 4 for resurfacing, and work is expected to be complete by mid-June. Specific end points weren’t identified in official communication, but based on the map appears to cover County Road X/XX generally from the Rothschild area east toward Howland Avenue, including the curve near Crystal View Drive and Pleasant Drive.

St. Vincent de Paul bought land near ALDI: The St. Vincent de Paul organization has purchased land next to ALDI in Weston, according to real estate transaction records. According to transaction records, the St. Vincent de Paul Cabrini Conference purchased the lot at 6001 Birch Street in Weston in October for $230,000. Weston Village Administrator Jami Gebert told The Wausonian she was aware of intentions to build there but the village had not yet received a proposal and is in the pre-application phase of development. The Wausonian reached out to St. Vincent de Paul leadership to learn more and will update readers in future editions.

County Board approves reduced fees for debris from Ringle tornado: The Marathon County board approved reducing the tipping fees at the Marathon County Landfill for debris from the tornado that struck the town of Ringle earlier this month. The board stopped short of eliminating the fee entirely, citing operational costs to run the landfill and concerns about it impacting FEMA reimbursement, which happened after a disaster in the 1990s. Ringle residents under the reduction would pay just under $37 per ton to remove their debris.

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Business

New business in Malarkey’s set to open soon: The new evolution of Malarkey’s Pub will open this week. The business, now called Faraway Place, will host a grand opening party with bands on Saturday. New owners bought Malarkey’s Pub in 2025 and opened a wrap restaurant called Mumble Wrap on the side that previously housed Townies restaurant. The business then closed to re-brand and start a new restaurant, with Mumble Wrap slated to move.

Hot Wok temporarily closed: Rumors about Hot Wok Chinese Express in Schofield appear to be true - at least temporarily. The business has signs on its door saying it’s temporarily closed, and that appears to have been the case for a few weeks now. The business gave no indication of when it might reopen.

Venado slated to open next week: Venado Wine Bar is slated to open next week, according to its owners. The wine bar closed after a burst pipe damaged the premises, resulted in a great deal of needed cleanup. The bar will hold a grand opening on May 8.

Entertainment

Faraway Place, the new evolution of what was Malarkey’s Pub, holds a grand opening with funky-rock jam band Ifdakar. Plus a ladies powerlifting meet, a popular pianist and a teacher comedy coming to The Grand, a mineral show and so much more in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.

Sports

Baseball: D.C. Everest defeated Wausau East 10-3 Thursday to gain the top spot amongst Wausau area teams. The Evergreens are now in third place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference at 2-1, behind SPASH and Marshfield.

Softball: D.C. Everest defeated Wausau East by a blistering 21-7 Tuesday to become the top Wausau area team. The Evergreens are 3-2, behind SPASH and Marshfield (both with 4-1 records).

Girls soccer: D.C. Everest defeated Marshfield 4-2 Tuesday to pull even with Wausau West for fourth place. Wausau West had a game past The Wausonian’s deadline on Wednesday evening - check the online edition for an updated score.

Boys tennis: D.C. Everest won a tight matchup against Wausau East, defeating the Lumberjacks 4-3 to move to second place. The Evergreens share first in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with SPASH at 2-0.

Lacrosse: The Wausau Wolfpack girls lost 11-10 to Waunakee Friday, and a Monday game was postponed. Wausau is still 2-0 in the Bay Valley Conference and 3-2 overall. The Wolfpack boys haven’t played since our last update.

Email me at brian@thewausonian.com. And as always, thanks for subscribing to The Wausonian! If you haven’t subscribed yet, check out the free and paid options below to help support local journalism and stay on top of Wausau news:

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Faraway Place, the new evolution of what was Malarkey’s Pub, holds a Grand Opening with funky-rock jam band Ifdakar. Plus a ladies powerlifting meet, a popular pianist and a teacher comedy coming to the grand, a mineral show and so much more in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.

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Faraway Place Grand Opening with Ifdakar

Saturday, May 2: Grand openings don’t usually make the list on Your Wausome Weekend Guide because the guiding principle is entertainment - but the band headlining the grand opening party is so good that it deserves to be on the list! Madison-based Ifdakar is like if you took Primus and Phish and combined them while dialing down the obnoxious factor. Think a rock-funk mixed all rolled up into a jam band and you get a sense of what Ifdakar is about. (Though it won’t do much to illuminate that name.) With special guest Rugg. And if you’re wondering what Faraway Place is - it’s the new evolution of the Malarkey’s Pub space. 8 pm. See the event page for more.

Robin Spielberg

Thursday, April 30: You don’t hear about a lot of famous pianists these days, but Robin Spielberg is definitely on that list. With more than 500 streams of her music to date, and her inclusion on the Steinway Artist Roster, Spielberg is one of the top pianists around these days and her appearance at the Grand will be a show to see. Spielberg will delight with both well-known piano solos from her repertoire and some of her originals. 7:30 pm. $34-$64. See the event page for more.

WausaUltra

Fri.-Sat., May 1-2: Some people like to run. And some people like to run far. REALLY far. If you’re in that last camp, this race is for you, and you have until today to sign up. WausaUltra turns running into a boxing match in which runners start a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour at Sylvan Hill Park. Runners go until only one can complete the next loop. Once the race gets down to the last few, things get pretty intense! There are shorter (Read: Not short, but short-ER) for those of the more sane variety. Kicks off at 9 am Friday. See event page for details. (Registration today only)

Heart of Wisconsin Mineral and Gem Show

Sat.-Sun., May 2-3: Many who are already fans of all things minerals and gems likely have this on their radar. But even for those who aren’t, these shows are really fun. So many colorful “rocks” (but trust me, don’t call them that to the serious enthusiasts!). Besides all the rows of gem and mineral vendors at the Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center, expect a silent auction and kids activities. 10 am-5 pm Saturday, 10 am-4 pm Sunday. See the event page for more.

Bored Teachers “Is it Friday Yet?” Comedy Tour

Sunday, May 3: If you’re like me, you haven’t heard of “teacher humor” but as the Bored Teachers comedy group can attest: it’s a thing! Bored Teachers has thrilled audiences for ten years with their comedy and amassed millions of followers while doing so. They’ve performed for 200,000 teachers worldwide, sold out more than 200 theaters and have never stopped making people laugh. And note the earlier time. Since it is, after all, a school night. 3 pm. $40.75-$79.75. See the event page for more.

Judy Collins

Wednesday, May 6: This show was delayed twice now — but it’s back on the books with tickets still available! Judy Collins was pretty much already a legend when I first heard her songs on the radio as a child in the 80s. Many of her most famous songs are those of other artists she popularized — probably the most-known is her version of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” released on her sixth studio album. Collins now has a remarkable 55 albums to her name, part of an absolutely incredible career. This show has moved a couple of times, so if you didn’t already get tickets, you’ve got another chance! 7:30 pm. $44-$84. See the event page for more.

Ladies of Iron

Saturday, May 2: Women are hitting the weights in record numbers, and so Franck’s Gym is planning to host an event just for them. This event will feature women competing in the sport of powerlifting — the squat, the bench press and the deadlift. If you’re a powerlifting woman and think you have what it takes to compete, check out the link. And they seem to imply an audience is welcome as well. Lifting starts at 9 am. $10 per spectator, family pass $20. See the event page for details.

The Yawpers w/ Graham Parsons

Friday, May 1: Lamplight Sessions shows are starting to sell out again, which means you need to get your tickets early if you want to see their small, intimate shows featuring some of the top indie groups in the country. The latest is The Yawpers, which is a departure from the country/bluegrass bands that often come to Lamplight. The Yawpers are more like a straight-up rock band, done in the modern style with carefully curated sounds and textures. The announcement for the show is written in PR speak, shedding light on the creative humor the band employs on stage and in its music videos. Joining The Yawpers is Graham Parsons, the frontman of The Go Rounds, a great indie rock band that has appeared on the Jam in the Van series. 7 pm. $38. See the event page for more.

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In Brief

Riding the Storm Out: REO Speedwagon Tribute, 7:30 pm Wednesday, April 29 at the Grand Theater

Mini Renewal Wellness Retreat, 5:30 pm Thursday, April 30 at Monk Gardens

Brad Emanuel, 8 pm Friday, May 1 at The Garage

Mike Maher, 7 pm Friday, May 1 at Uncommon Pints

First Friday Blues w Jon Peck and the Bad Dogs, 7 pm Friday, May 1 at Reservoir Dogs Saloon

Brett Westgrove, 8 pm Saturday, May 2 at The Garage

Music Bingo with Caleb and Emily, 7:30 pm Saturday, May 2 at The Glass Hat

Brad Emanuel, 1 pm Sunday, May 3 at Cheek’s Bar

Ladies Garden Tea Party, 11:30 am Sunday, May 3 at Willow Springs Gardens

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One thing became clear from Monday night’s meeting in the town of Ringle, attended only by The Wausonian and a TV station reporter:

Disaster relief is as much a coordination problem as it is a money problem.

Numerous agencies have been collecting money for disaster relief after a tornado struck the town of Ringle. The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin garnered $180,000 itself, and that didn’t count the weekend donations yet.

And that’s only part of the effort, with numerous fundraising efforts taking place since the tornado struck on April 17.

Money is only part of the problem. The Community Foundation in partnership with the Town of Ringle Board held a joint meeting Monday. Tim Parker, president and CEO of the foundation, led an effort to coordinate the needs/abilities of various organizations, town officials, contractors and residents in the town.

But that’s only part of the story in Ringle. Homeowners shared devastating details. Contractors talked about insurance companies who have yet to even visit some of the damaged or destroyed homes, delaying any cleanup action, and how so much help poured into the town that it nearly brought cleanup efforts to a halt.

Here is everything The Wausonian learned on Monday evening about the Ringle tornado:

• A total of 143 homes were impacted by the tornado. Of those, eight were completely destroyed, 30 were described as having major damage, 68 had minor damage (such as part of a roof destroyed), and 31 were affected beyond that.

• Volunteers through area churches averaged 300-400 meals per day for impacted Ringle residents. Many were prepared by members of the church, who got to work in the kitchen to make sure residents were fed.

Subscribers can read the full breakdown below, including insurance delays, school reopening plans, resident testimony and how officials had to turn away volunteers.

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The owner of a Wausau bar had previously banned a man from his establishment, but relented on March 14 and let him in.

The 37-year-old Wausau man allegedly repaid that favor by lighting a cigarette inside the bar. The owner escorted him out. They exchanged a few words, police reports say, and then he left.

But later that night, the man came back, threatened to kill him and lunged at him, reports say. The owner took him down and held him there, but the man decided to grab his groin area. The owner punched him repeatedly until he let go, holding him down until law enforcement arrived.

The man is being charged with fourth degree sexual assault, battery and disorderly conduct. All three charges are misdemeanors.

The Wausonian decided not to name the bar because of the policy not to name victims of sexual assault.

Tavern calls, Wausau and beyond continues below, along with demerit point updates and new liquor license news.

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This Wausau business story is sponsored by:

The Wausau Business Incubator is ready to give your business the space and support it needs to grow.

Opening a new restaurant right across the street from your current restaurant might seem odd to most people. But to the owners of the new EJ’s Diner in Rib Mountain, it made perfect sense.

And it’s working.

EJ’s Diner opened one month ago in the building across the street from their current restaurant, ERA Pancakes and Cafe. The new family-style restaurant replaces the former IHOP location, which moved last year.

And while that might seem odd, there are a couple of reasons why it makes sense.

For one, owners Ardian and Viki Jashari started with the Rib Mountain Era location (with Friendship House in Merrill before that) and have built it into a small chain, with a restaurant in Arbor Vitae and another recently opened in Waunakee.

And secondly, the concept is different.

Viki Jashari sat down with The Wausonian to explain the concept. ERA is a fancy brunch spot, with more elaborate menu items such as the fluffy style of pancakes topped with whipped cream and all kinds of extras — the type Leslie Knope would be proud of.

With EJ’s Diner, it’s back to basics. EJ’s is an old-fashioned, family style diner. The couple spent a little under three months remodeling the old restaurant, lending a look to the space that’s at once classic diner style with a modern flourish. It opened on St. Patrick’s Day, largely because the March blizzard delayed them from opening earlier.

Vintage Coca-Cola decorations adorn the entrance view. On one wall, the front end of a classic Bonneville grill overlooks diners. It was not easy to source, Jashari told The Wausonian. “My husband found it online in Appleton somewhere,” Jashari told The Wausonian. “I was calling all the junkyards around here to see if they had any old cars, but they said they don't have any.”

And one more surprising touch — some classic arcade games and pinball. Children of the 80s will remember the ubiquity of such cabinets in restaurants. “We had to explain to a kid how to play pinball because no one plays pinball anymore,” Jashari says. “Not a lot of places have them, so I was helping them out, showing them how to play the pinball machine.”

But the look is one thing. The food is another. Think spaghetti, meatloaf and other homestyle foods which have proven popular. Maybe most popular is steak and eggs, Jashari says.

That’s a big part of why it’s working, Jashari told The Wausonian. The brunch crowd is different from the family style restaurant crowd. And EJ’s Diner is open later for dinner hours, which is different than ERA.

The couple appears to have something figured out about the restaurant business, with three ERA locations and a fourth restaurant now open. What’s the secret?

Hard work and listening to their customers, Jashari explained. They take a lot of customer feedback and incorporate it into their business.

Is there a fifth restaurant planned? Jashari says she doesn’t think so, but then they hadn’t planned a fourth. IHOP moving just seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up.

If another such opportunity pops up, maybe a fifth restaurant will materialize after all.

EJ’s Diner is open Sunday-Thursday 8 am-8 pm; and Friday-Saturday 8 am-9 pm. Find the restaurant on Facebook.

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Looking for Wausau news? The Wausonian is an independent source for local news in Wausau and Greater Marathon County covering city government, business, development, public safety, elections, dining, sports and the stories shaping the community.

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Start here: Top recent Wausau stories

Ringle tornado recovery enters next phase

Recovery efforts continue after tornado damage near Ringle, with officials shifting focus from cleanup to housing, insurance delays and coordinating resources across the community. The latest Wausau news shows how relief efforts are evolving as the town rebuilds.

Bar incidents highlight trends in latest Wausau Tavern Report

Recent police calls to Wausau-area bars include fights, disturbances and other late-night incidents, offering a snapshot of nightlife issues across the city in this week’s Wausau news roundup.

Why EJ’s Diner is working in Rib Mountain

A new family-style diner opened across from ERA Pancakes and Cafe, with the owners of EJ’s Diner in Rib Mountain betting on a different concept and hours to draw a separate crowd. The story highlights how local business strategy is shaping Wausau news and growth in Rib Mountain.

City Council committee overhaul fails on procedural vote

A proposal to reduce the number of Wausau city committees failed after a procedural vote required a two-thirds majority, despite support from most council members. The debate is expected to return, making it a key issue in Wausau news.

Balloon rally warns of uncertain future after weather losses

Organizers of the Taste N’ Glow Balloon Rally say another poor weather year could threaten the future of the event after consecutive rain-impacted seasons, raising concerns about one of the area’s signature festivals.

Coverage areas

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City Council, mayor, budgets, taxes, development, policy decisions and civic accountability.

Business & development

New businesses, downtown projects, commercial trends, restaurants and economic growth.

Public safety

Storm recovery, crime, courts, road incidents and emergency response.

Schools & elections

School board races, local elections, referendums and education policy.

Sports & community life

High school sports, local events and what’s happening around Wausau.

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About The Wausonian

The Wausonian is an independent local news publication serving Wausau, Wisconsin and surrounding communities with original reporting, analysis and community-focused journalism.

If you’re searching for Wausau news, start here — and stay informed.

More recent Wausau news stories

Here are more recent Wausau news stories, including coverage of local government, business, crime and community events.

Community responds after tornado damage near Ringle

Relief efforts surged after tornado damage in the Ringle area, with donations pouring in and a community fund raising significant support.

City Council delays committee restructuring vote

The Wausau City Council postponed action on a proposal to reduce and reorganize Wausau’s committees after a procedural dispute over agenda notice requirements.

New arcade planned in downtown Wausau

A new arcade is planned for Jefferson Street in Wausau, bringing pinball, classic arcade games and family entertainment to downtown Wausau.

County Board approves supervisor conduct rules

Marathon County leaders approved new conduct procedures following recent controversy involving a county supervisor.

The surprising story of Northern Valley Industries’ bike program

Bill Miller almost started the bike program now housed at Northern Valley Industries by accident. The program took some windy roads to get to where it is today.

A tornado touchdown in the town of Ringle Friday damaged or destroyed as many as 75 homes, Ringle fire officials said that evening.

The outpouring of support was so strong officials had to put a halt to it — at least in terms of item donations.

Ringle Fire and Rescue announced Sunday that it was no longer accepting item donations because they’d received too many of them, but that they were accepting monetary and gift card donations at the station, as well as the Salvation Army after hours.

County officials warned off helpers until they could assess the situation. Later the area was re-opened to residents and contractors, but the area was still off limits to volunteers as of Saturday afternoon. No further updates were given by county officials.

There is now a relief fund for Ringle set up at the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. The fund has raised more than $120,000 so far. And there will be a Relief for Ringle cookout at Ace Hardware from 6 am-6 pm today (Thursday).

The Wausonian sat down with the folks who have been keeping Northern Valley Industries’ bike program going since it was at The Neighbors’ Place. The program took some twists and turns before it ended up in its current home:

What else in Wausau?

City council clashes over committee consolidation, procedural dispute: The Wausau City Council held off on acting on a proposal to consolidate the city’s committees from six to four. That came because city legal staff argued the agenda item to take up the rules wasn’t properly noticed to comply with open meetings laws. The council did approve appointments to the various committees, though those assignments could potentially change if those committees are shuffled around. Learn more about that proposal here.

New council president: The new Wausau City Council elected a new council president Tuesday. Terry Kilian won the nomination, edging out Michael Martens 6-5. Sarah Watson was appointed to the Plan Commission and Martens was appointed to the Water Commission.

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Around the metro

County board: Kurt Gibbs was re-elected as county board chair unanimously by the county board Tuesday. Gibbs’s name was the only one nominated by the board for the position. Gibbs came to tears as he thanked the board for their continuous trust in him. Matt Bootz was then elected vice chair, beating Mike Ritter for the job. The vote total was not announced.

Rules of conduct approved: The new county board Tuesday approved new rules related to how the county handles supervisor conduct. The new rules came in response to reporting by The Wausonian on the two arrests of Marathon County Board Supervisor Nicholas Endres. The new rules lay out a specific process for when a supervisor faces charges related to threats to public safety, fraud or any felony charges. It lays out a notification process and a review process by the county’s executive committee. The process could lead to censure and/or removal from various committees.

Kronenwetter pleads with residents to lower water usage in wake of flooding: The village of Kronenwetter on Sunday asked residents to limit their water usage as the village’s water pumps became overwhelmed. Village leaders on Sunday said water pumps that normally process only 365,000 gallons instead pumped 1.2 million gallons, putting a strain on the system. Village officials asked residents to limit long showers, laundry, using dishwashers and other excessive water use. County Pumpers helped relieve the village lift stations from being overwhelmed. Kronenwetter officials say.

Town of Norrie crash kills two: Two people are dead and several others seriously injured following a three-vehicle crash in the town of Norrie. Marathon County Sheriff’s Office officials say that 80-year-old Carl Slagle, who was driving one of the vehicles involved in the crash, and passenger Darlene Slagle, 77, died April 18 as the result of their injuries sustained in the crash on April 12. The crash occurred at the intersection of highways Y and N in the town of Norrie around 11:52 am Sunday. The crash is still under investigation.

County board member pleads to charges: A Marathon County Supervisor has pleaded no contest to charges relating to a domestic incident. Nicholas Endres pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of disorderly conduct related to domestic abuse following an incident last year in is home. Endres entered an 18-month deferred prosecution agreement and the Wood County District Attorney told The Wausonian that after speaking with the victim, the prosecution wouldn’t be charging the bail jumping count, but read it in as part of the plea agreement. Police records obtained by The Wausonian accused Endres of violating his no contact order last month by visiting and entering his former home.

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Business

New arcade planned for Chang Garden building: Work appears to be underway on a new arcade. Work is underway on the building at 102 Jefferson Street, which last housed Hi Restaurant and before that was a Chang Garden location. The Oasis Arcade in a social media post says it will have more than 45 games including pinball, classic arcade games and larger screen games such as Buck Hunter and Golden Tee. The arcade will also have separate family and adult only hours. The business applied for an entertainment license, which The Wausonian wrote about in our monthly Wausau tavern report feature.

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Entertainment

It’s hard to deny the somehow simple yet harmonically complex music of Rockford’s The Lone Canary. They’ll head to The Mish for a Thursday show. Plus, an evening of films and fundraising for the county’s parks foundation, an “urban circus” that’s selling out worldwide, a great chance to get out in nature and so much more in Wausau this weekend.

Sports

Baseball: Wausau area teams have yet to garner a win in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, with Wausau West and D.C. Everest at 0-1, and Wausau East at 0-3 so far this season.

Softball: Wausau West defeated SPASH to earn its first Wisconsin Valley Conference win of the season. The Warriors beat the Panthers 7-6 Tuesday to secure a 1-2 record. That leaves West tied for fourth with D.C. Everest.

Girls soccer: Wausau West is now tied for second place after a win against D.C. Everest Monday. The Warriors scored the only goal in the matchup, defeating the Evergreens 1-0. SPASH currently leads the standings at 2-0.

Boys tennis: D.C. Everest got the Wisconsin Valley Conference season off to a strong start Thursday, defeating Wisconsin Rapids 6-1 to start the season tied for first place with a 1-0 record. SPASH and Marshfield also won to hold even with the Evergreens.

Lacrosse: The Wolfpack boys lost 15-4 to Kimberly Monday. The Wolf Pack girls defeated Hamilton 5-4 Tuesday, leaving them tied for second place in the Bay Valley Conference at 2-0.

Email me at brian@thewausonian.com. And as always, thanks for subscribing to The Wausonian! If you haven’t subscribed yet, check out the free and paid options below to help support local journalism and stay on top of Wausau news:

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Interested in a group subscription? Keep your employees or management team informed with a group subscription with The Wausonian. Don’t let your team be left in the dark! Interested in 25 employees or more? Email me at brian@thewausonian.com for rates.

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It’s hard to deny the somehow simple yet harmonically complex music of Rockford’s The Lone Canary. They’ll head to The Mish for a Thursday show. Plus, an evening of films and fundraising for the county’s parks foundation, an “urban circus” that’s selling out worldwide, a great chance to get out in nature and so much more in Wausau this weekend.

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The Lone Canary

Thursday, April 23: The Lone Canary comes to Wausau out of Rockford, Ill., and brings a brand of folk/Americana that’s refreshing. The duo armed with acoustic guitar and fiddle are comprised of lead singer Jesse Cox and fiddle player and vocalist Heather Camacho. Together their music blends complex harmonies with straightforward songwriting that fill up a room similar to a much bigger band. The duo will hit the Intermission Bar (The Mish as us locals call it) for a night of great old-fashioned Americana. 8 pm. See the event page for more.

360 All Stars

Wednesday, April 22: The description on the Grand Theater’s website calls 360 All Stars an “urban circus,” and I can’t think of a better description for this show. Sold out on Broadway, Edinburgh and the Sydney Opera House, 360 All Stars combines an urban aesthetic (think BMX bikes, baggy jeans and backward baseball caps) with cirque de soleil-style acrobatics into a show that has been described as a visual feast with a stunning soundtrack. 7:30 pm. $44-$76. See the event page for more.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Wednesday, April 22: This event is meant to benefit the Marathon County Parks and Recreation Foundation, but it’s a fun event in and of itself. The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is part of a larger organization that puts similarly themed festivals on all over the country. Besides showing eight short films themed around the topic of parks and the environment, ranging from a short film about the first female park ranger in Kenya’s Kasigau Corridor to efforts to clean up the Red River to an effort to save the wild rice harvests in Oneida County. Mixed with an evening of drinks and food, the event promises to be an impactful one for those who have an interest in conservation. $30, $50 per couple. 5:30 pm (festival starts at 6 pm). See the event page for more.

Alive Again: A Tribute to Chicago

Saturday, April 25: There’s a particular feeling you get when the horn section of Chicago fires up. (So I was shocked to learn from a recent documentary that at one point a producer wanted to rid the band of the horns!) If you love Chicago, this is the next best thing to seeing the band itself. This tribute act has returned to Wausau several times now and people always love it. Don’t miss this show at the James Veninga Theater at the Center for Civic Engagement. $40, discounts for seniors and students. 7 pm. See the event page for more.

Wetland Walk and Talk

Saturday, April 25: It’s starting to turn into the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside and out in nature. That came just in time for this Mead Wildlife Center event. Wetland Walk and Talk is kind of like an outdoors choose your own adventure. Start out by enjoying some coffee and tea, and watching a short presentation called “What are Wetlands?” — then head out to one of three expert guided tours, focusing on either otters or walleyes on the Big Eau Pleine, or on a general guided tour about wetlands. 10 am. See the event page for more details.

Bottoms up: A Toast to Wisconsin’s Historic Bars and Breweries

Saturday, April 25: I fully admit they had me at breweries — this event features architectural historian Jim Draeger at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum as he goes through the dynamic history of bars and breweries in Wisconsin. Draeger will cover prohibition and its impacts, new techniques in brewing and the evolution of taverns from those carved out of farmhouses to the modern day craft beer movement. 1 pm. See the event page for more.

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In Brief

Electric Avenue, the 80s MTV Experience, 7:30 pm Friday, April 24 at the Grand Theater

Italian Dinner and Jazz, 5:30 pm Friday, April 24 at Willow Springs Garden

Caleb and Emily, and Bacon Taco Night, 9 pm Friday, April 24 at Intermission Bar

Kevin Troestler, 6 pm Friday, April 24 at Bull Falls Brewing Co.

Tailwater, 7 pm Friday, April 24 at The Garage

Hyde, 8 pm Saturday, April 25 at Charlie’s Bar

Bolder, Dalnodar and Noetzel, 7 pm Saturday, April 25 at The Glass Hat

Bock Beer Festival, 3 pm Saturday, April 25 at Uncommon Pints

Tim Tesch, 4 pm Sunday, April 26 at Nevermore on Third

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That plan? Reduce the city’s committees from six to four.

(Technically the press release went out late Sunday night, though likely most of the media got the release on Monday morning.)

From the release:

“The current system with six standing committees has become redundant, inefficient, and unnecessarily burdensome for both city staff and council members,” said Mayor Diny. “After watching and participating in this structure for the last four years, I have concluded it’s time for a change. I am recommending we move to a more streamlined four-committee model.”

Diny suggested the council adopt the new structure at its organizational meeting Tuesday, which is the first meeting for the new city council members.

But Diny isn’t the first local politician to suggest the new structure.

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The first fire call that the Ringle Fire Chief talked about Friday night was from one of his own firefighters. That man’s house had been hit by the tornado.

That firefighter was one of many whose houses were damaged or even destroyed by tornado touchdowns Friday afternoon. Roughly 75 houses were impacted by the storm. The pictures speak for themselves.

The tornado actually tracked through Kronenwetter first, Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb says, before doing most of its damage in Ringle.

Some people were even trapped in their basements, Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman told reporters. Rescue workers were able to get those people to safety without any injuries.

County emergency management crews were assessing the damage Saturday morning. The county has received an overwhelming number of volunteer offers, according to county spokesperson Sarah Severson.

County leaders are asking the public to wait until the damage assessment is complete before showing up to help. The Community Foundation will be setting up a fund to help those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm, Billeb says.

The Wausonian will update this post with information on volunteer opportunities to help with the storm damage, and with information on where people can donate to help those whose houses were damaged or destroyed.

UPDATE: Donna Ambrose of The Neighbors’ Place responded to The Wausonian’s questions after publication. The Wausonian has updated this publication to reflect her comments.

Bill Miller and Dennis DeNuccio were almost in disbelief when they were led to a loading dock area at Northern Valley Industries.

Miller, a retired police officer, yoga teacher and bike mechanic, had started the program a dozen years ago, almost by accident. The program, once housed at The Neighbors’ Place when the non-profit lived on Scott Street, fixed up bikes to give to folks The Neighbors’ Place served. The idea is that those folks could get bikes to help with transportation needs.

The program moved around to several locations, sometimes practically operating out of their garages and even once in the former JCPenney building without heat or running water before the mall was torn down.

So when Sherri Waid, president of Northern Valley Industries, walked Miller and DeNuccio through the yellow-walled factory with work tables and colored bins to the loading dock where the bike program now resides… to say they were pleased is an understatement.

"She takes us to this indoor loading dock area,” Miller recounts. “It's heated. It's got bathrooms all over the place... We thought we’d died and gone to heaven."

That the program is doing good in the community — run by folks who could be spending their twilight years on the golf course but instead are dedicating that time to others — isn’t in question. But the story of how the bike program came to Northern Valley Industries is hardly one without plenty of twists and turns.

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Wausonian subscribers already read this week about Weston’s closure of its first TIF District this week.

While no one exclusively said it, the TIF would likely help cover the costs of hiring new firefighters at the SAFER Fire District. Rib Mountain already approved its share last year.

With Weston’s referendum failing, and the district being closed less than a week later (the resolution to close the district had to be approved by April 15), the timing makes sense.

Yesterday we dove deeper into the issue:

And, with the election over The Wausonian is catching up on its Full Court Press feature, looking at the most notable civil cases of the month:

Plus, The Wausonian’s story about a county supervisor’s second arrest sparked debate about county board members’ conduct:

What else in Wausau?

DA declines to file charges in Diny “ballot” box case: An outside, bi-partisan panel declined to press charges against Mayor Doug Diny at the end of an investigation that stemmed from Diny removing a ballot box from the steps of city hall, an incident The Wausonian first reported. The main reason? Because, the panel ruled, the box in question was a drop box, meant for ballots, bill payments and other city matters, and not exclusively for ballots, which meant the law didn’t apply. The Wausonian dove into the final report in more detail on the Diny Ballot Box controversy’s conclusion.

West side siren fails before Monday storm: Wausau Police Officials say a siren on the city’s west side failed during a test Monday. The failure came right before a wind and hail storm hit the city, with tornadoes spotted in the central Wisconsin area. The siren, located at 72nd Avenue and Stettin Drive, has since been repaired, officials say.

Bus facility feasibility, tracking app approved: The city council, in its last session before new representatives take over, approved a study to see if the city should build a new transit facility. The study will evaluate whether or not the new bus types and potential future expansion could be accommodated by the current facility or whether a new one would be needed. The council also approved a new system that would allow users to track a bus’s location, giving riders an idea of when the bus is coming, or if they’ve already missed it. The feasibility study is expected to cost $47,200 and the tracking system is completely grant-funded.

Police bust suspected Milwaukee drug trafficker: Police arrested a man suspected of trafficking various drugs between Milwaukee and Wausau. Police arrested 52-year-old Larry Campbell of Milwaukee at 5:30 pm Monday following a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Cleveland Avenue. Wausau K9 officer Kaedo indicated drugs in his car, and police say they found meth, fentanyl and marijuana in his car. Police then searched his home and found more drugs. Campbell faces three felony counts of drug possession, plus two misdemeanor charges.

Around the metro

Winter ends, construction season begins on Highway 29/51: Work began April 9 on Highway 51/29 between Fox Glove Road and Bridge Street, according to an update from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Crews will be working on the concrete pavement, curb and gutter, inlets, guardrail, asphalt shoulders, pavement markings and select bridges, the update says, while “reconstructing curb ramps that do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.” The work is expected to take until Oct. 31.

American Asphalt to build expanded facility in Mosinee: American Asphalt is slated to begin work on a 4,800-square-foot addition to its office building in Mosinee, city officials say. The office is located in Mosinee’s business park and the business is the first to have taken up residence there.

Kowalski Road closed after storm: Flooding from Monday night’s storm caused the village of Kronenwetter to close Kowalski Road from Kronenwetter Drive to Tower Road. Water is covering parts of the road, making travel perilous. The road will remain closed until further notice, village officials say.

Firefighters battle blaze at Crystal Finishing, Weston Power Plant: Crews responded to a fire at Crystal Finishing Systems in Mosinee on Friday, WAOW reports. The first was put out in a few hours without significant external damage. Fire crews later that night responded to a fire at the Weston Power Plant, the TV station also reports.

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Entertainment

We usually hear about rock bands going unplugged — but in this case, a string quartet is going plugged. The Dallas String Quartet goes electric, The Q&Z hosts a hard rock set with Sierra Pilot, a business expo, a princess tea party and more this weekend.

Looking for kids/family events? Check out the full listing from The Wausonian’s partner Wausau Mama, who puts together a weekly listing of children/family activities.

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Sports

Baseball: The season hasn’t gotten off to a great start for Wausau area teams — mostly because their first games were postponed. Wausau East lost its first two conference games Monday and Tuesday, and both of Wausau West’s and Everest’s games this week were postponed. So far, Marshfield leads the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 2-0 record.

Softball: The good news is that all Wausau area teams got their games in Tuesday — the bad news is they all lost. D.C. Everest, Wausau West and Wausau East all lost their opening games Tuesday, with the other three teams starting with a 1-0 record.

Girls soccer: D.C. Everest, typically a powerhouse in soccer, lost its opening match to SPASH 4-1 Tuesday, and Wausau East got blanked 6-0 against SPASH. Wausau West’s game was postponed Tuesday.

Boys tennis: Opening matches in the Wisconsin Valley Conference kick off today (Thursday).

Lacrosse: The Wolfpack boys lost 9-8 Thursday, dropping the team to 0-2 in the Bay Valley Conference. On the girls side, the Wolfpack are still 1-0 and haven’t had a game since last week. They’ll host De Pere today.

Email me at brian@thewausonian.com. And as always, thanks for subscribing to The Wausonian! If you haven’t subscribed yet, check out the free and paid options below to help support local journalism:

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We usually hear about rock bands going unplugged — but in this case, a string quartet is going plugged. The Dallas String Quartet goes electric, The Q&Z hosts a hard rock set with Sierra Pilot, a business expo, a princess tea party and more this weekend.

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Dallas String Quartet - Strings Unleashed

Thursday, April 16: OK, so I though of like five different string puns The Dallas String Quartet could have used for the title of its latest show. But I’ll save them for now. The Dallas String Quartet is back and in a reverse of the typical rock band going unplugged, they’re doing the opposite — they’re plugging in. The DSQ will be playing electric violins and violas as they bring you songs by Journey, Bon Jovi, Metallica and more. All with the dynamic stage presence that the Dallas String Quartet is known for. 7:30 pm. $34-$64. See the event page for more (including a bonus pre-concert event).

2026 Business Expo

Thursday, April 16: The Wausome Weekend Guide typically sticks to entertainment-oriented events, but we’re making an exception for the business expo - since it’s pretty much the go-to business expo in central Wisconsin! From noon-5 pm browse various business vendors and learn about the businesses we have in the Wausau area at the Central Wisconsin Expo and Convention Center. And if you’re a business owner yourself, you can get to know other business leaders in the community and make connections at this event by the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. Plus, there’s a mascot parade at 1 pm, bringing a little entertainment value after all. Noon-5 pm. Check out the event page for more.

Wausau Children’s Business Fair

Saturday, April 18: While Thursday is serious adult business, we can’t let the kids miss out on the fun! Here children who have started businesses will be displaying their wares for sale at the Boys and Girls Club of Wausau. Come browse the products these young entrepreneurs created and support the entrepreneurial spirit in today’s young folks. 9 am-noon. Learn more at the event page.

Disney Princess Tea Party

Sat.-Sun., April 18-19: If your kids love Disney, you have two chances this weekend for family Disney fun. Willow Springs Garden will host this Disney Princess Tea Party this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. Have your kid dress up as their favorite prince or princess (parents encouraged to do so as well) and enjoy a lunch, a tea party with Disney-themed snacks, and some crafting after lunch. 11 am-1 pm. $15, $8 for children 11 and under. See the event page for more.

Glass Hat Grand (Re)Opening with Mia Brown

Saturday, April 18: New operators recently announced that they would be taking over running The Glass Hat. And one of the changes it appears they’re making is a renewed emphasis on live music. Celebrating with a grand opening (really a re-opening), The Glass Hat will host Mia Brown and Jordan Miles in the afternoon, and The Foragers in the evening. Brown is a musician from Wausau who signed with Big Timber Entertainment in Nashville, and she’ll be joined by Jordan, a maestro on the keys and bass. Besides that, there will be plenty of snacks and drinks and special guests. 2 pm. See the event page for more.

Pop Evil

Tuesday, April 21: This numetal/hard rock band Pop Evil has been making music since 2001, and they’re now touring on a brand new album called What Remains, the band’s ninth album. This hard-driven yet radio friendly band will be joined by Sierra Pilot, a Canadian hard rock band from Waterloo, Ontario and Kanemar, a hard-rock band from Tampa, Fl. comprised of two members. (If you think two band members can’t rock hard, check out Local H.) The show should serve as a love letter to the genre and fans will want to be at the Q&Z Expo Center for this one. 6 pm. $28.52. See the event page for more.

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In Brief

Josh Berton, 7 pm Friday, April 17 at The Glass Hat

Double Vision, 7 pm Friday, April 17 at El Tequila Salsa

The Cheese Doodles, 7 pm Saturday, April 18 at The Garage

Bradley Sperger, 6 pm Saturday, April 18 at Bull Falls Brewing Co.

Mattea Joy, 4 pm Sunday, April 19 at Nevermore on Third

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The village of Weston held a special meeting Monday evening. The only thing on the agenda: closing TIF District No. 1.

While the village of Kronenwetter canceled its board meeting that evening in response to severe weather, including nearby tornado touchdowns in nearby areas, Weston held firm. Why? The village had until April 15 to officially close the district.

Why the urgency?

Finance Director Jessica Trautman explained that since the district’s closure was last discussed in January, more payments have come in from some of the major projects such as the Weston Avenue road project and more is known about the village’s ability to pay off the more than $10 million in debt in order to close the district.

But the other reason likely has to do with capacity. Weston voters rejected handily a referendum that asked village taxpayers to add $600,000 of levy above levy limits in order to pay for the village’s share of six new firefighters in the SAFER Fire District.

Closing the TIF District puts properties in that district back on the tax rolls at their full capacity. That means money to fund firefighters.

In a sense, it’s Wausau’s firefighter situation in reverse.

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Once per month, The Wausonian digs through the civil court filings in Marathon County to find the most interesting cases. It’s one of those Wausonian features that you only get here.

I’d been keeping up with this feature pretty well. Then election season happened. Featured below are the civil court case filings for February 2026. Before the end of the month, I hope to publish March’s cases as well.

Wisconsin Housing LLC vs City of Wausau

Wisconsin Housing was issued a raze order by the city of Wausau on its property at 511 S Second Avenue on Dec. 29. According to the order, because the costs to repair the property would be more than 50% of its value, the property can’t be repaired to comply with city standards and must be razed. The lawsuit is challenging that assertion and asking for an injunction until the matter can be settled in court.

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The arrest came because Endres is alleged to have entered his wife’s house in violation of a no-contact order a judge imposed on the previous case, which The Wausonian reported last September. (Mistakenly reported that was when the first arrest took place - charges were filed in August. The story has been corrected.)

The Wausonian’s first story seemed to have gone under the radar. Perhaps because it was part of the Weekly Wausonian roundup. But this one got the attention of Supervisor Ann Lemmer and other members of the county board.

Lemmer on Thursday addressed the Marathon County Executive Committee during its agenda item on rules. A new county board is about to be seated following the April election, and they will adopt rules for themselves. Lemmer asked for stronger measures relating to supervisor conduct.

And that sparked debate about the limits of the power of government officials, the presumption of innocence and what the standard should be for supervisor conduct.

The Endres case

As a quick summary, Endres was arrested last summer on charges related to domestic abuse. As The Wausonian discovered, Endres allegedly threw a supplement bottle at his wife during a heated dispute.

Endres on March 21 was arrested again, this time for allegedly showing up to his former home where his wife and child lived and gaining entry. He allegedly refused to move his vehicle, ignoring officers who told him his wife and child would be trapped in case of an emergency, and allegedly told officers multiple times that he was both a county board supervisor and a member of the county’s public safety committee. (The officer said in the report that he wasn’t sure that Endres was attempting to dissuade them from arresting him, but noted that it seemed odd, according to the report.)

So far, The Wausonian is the only media outlet to report on either of the arrests.

To date, no charges related to the new arrest have been filed against Endres. District Attorney Kyle Mayo told The Wausonian that due to a conflict of interest, the Wood County District Attorney will be weighing the charging decision.

The first arrest seemed to go largely unnoticed. But this new one sparked outrage among some supervisors and led to a new proposal for supervisor conduct and how the board should treat it.

A new proposal

Lemmer brought up five points in her proposal to the board Thursday:

• Domestic violence zero-tolerance: The board should formally affirm support for domestic violence victims and establish a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior among its members.

• Code of ethics: A formal code should be established that clearly defines “conduct unbecoming of a supervisor” to serve as a trigger for further action.

• Formal censure process: The rules should outline specific, objective reasons for bringing a censure forward, including clear actions and timeframes.

• Provisional suspension of committee privileges: The board chair would be granted authority to immediately suspend a supervisor’s committee privileges and voting rights if they are facing criminal charges that directly conflict with the work of that committee. (Lemmer gave an example that if she were charged with embezzlement, for instance, she ought to be removed from the Finance Committee.)

Lemmer also questioned why the issue was never brought before the board so that the board could have discussed the matter.

Innocent until proven guilty?

The proposal sparked debate ranging from the balance of power of county leaders to the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

Marathon County Board member Stacy Morache argely agreed with Lemmer, but brought up the principle of innocent until proven guilty and questioned how that would apply to this situation. Board Member Jean Maszk suggested any action involving supervisor removal ought to wait until the case is resolved. As of yet, no charging decision on the second arrest has been made; Endres is slated to head to trial on the first case stemming from the alleged domestic situation in June, with a plea hearing scheduled next week.

But, Maszk said, she would have been ok with committee removal. Endres has not participated in the committee since the time of the first arrest last year, she told the board. (Maszk is the chair of the Public Safety Committee.)

Board member Jennifer Aarrestad questioned whether the county might incur any liability if it acted prior to any conviction. Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard told the committee that the board has the right to censure (it essentially involved a closed session trial-like process), but that staff would need to confer with corporation counsel on how that intersects with a legal proceeding.

Wausau, for instance, moved forward with an ethics process against Mayor Doug Diny despite a legal process also underway. The legal process did complicate the ethics board process since many witnesses felt they couldn’t testify to the ethics board without compromising the investigation.

And Marathon County Vice Chair Chris Dickinson didn’t care for the idea of giving the board chair the power to suspend members from committees; and he expressed skepticism about third party investigations.

The committee took no actions on the proposal Thursday, but instead Lemmer was directed to work with the county attorney and administrator to refine the proposal, which would likely come before the new board’s organizational committee.

Board member Matt Bootz agreed that a process is needed. He said that right now there doesn’t seem to be a process in order to deal with a situation such as Endres’, when a board member is arrested. “When something serious like this happens there needs to be something done, but our hands are kind of tied right now the way things are right now,” Bootz said. But Bootz called for a cleared process to be set forth, keeping track of all applicable laws.

Lemmer called for action on her proposal sooner rather than later so that the process is spelled out clearly, with clear triggers that county board members and government officials can rely on. “Without those, then it’s the wild west.”

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The Wausonian was the first to report that Mayor Doug Diny removed a ballot box from the steps of Wausau city hall on a Sunday in 2024. The box was intended to collect absentee ballots eventually, though at the time it was locked and not secured to the ground, as it was awaiting installation by city workers on Monday.

This week, a year and a half after The Wausonian broke the news, a state investigation into the incident has concluded it doesn’t have probable cause to press charges.

That comes on the heels of a relatively toothless ethics board decision against the mayor, declaring that he had violated the city’s ethics policies but essentially telling him not to do it again.

The decision hinges on the fact that the state largely didn’t consider it a ballot box at all, but a drop box. And the report details a rejection of a recommended charge from the now-former district attorney Theresa Wetzsteon on the initial search warrant.

Many news outlets reported on the decision but few dived into the details of the report, which is much more lengthy than the short press release the Fond du Lac County DA just released.

We’ll get into those details and explain why prosecutors ultimately choose not to bring a case.

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Correction: Only one incumbent on the Marathon County Board was defeated Tuesday. Also, the board will see eight new members, one more than we previously stated. The post has been corrected.

Tuesday’s election had some surprises, but perhaps none bigger than the ousting of the Wausau City Council President.

Lisa Rasmussen, who served on the city council since 2008, lost to political newcomer Matt Hoenecke 417-387. You can read about new Wausau City Council Member Matt Hoenecke here.

Rasmussen was one of two incumbents to lose Tuesday: By contrast, the newest city council member Aaron Griner lost to Andrew Wiskowski 254-230. Kristin Slonski and Bruce Trueblood also joined the council as challengers, gaining wins in open seats. Griner was appointed to the spot last year to replace Gary Gisselman, who died while in office.

Rasmussen told The Wausonian she was not surprised by the result, citing known and unknown political actors working behind the scenes, and that she’s proud of her service to the city and is looking forward to having time for other things.

Hoenecke told The Wausonian that he was grateful for the trust the residents of District 7 placed in him, and that he didn’t take the responsibility lightly. “I’m ready to work alongside the rest of the council to tackle the issues impacting all of us: our growing debt, ineffective efforts for affordable housing, attracting employers who pay a living wage, and finding a way to stabilize water rates.”

Referendum mix

Wausau residents narrowly approved a referendum that allows them to increase the tax levy by $1.4 million to fund the 12 firefighters the city hired several years ago (as grants covering those costs run out). But Weston voters rejected a similar measure that would have increased the tax levy to fund the village’s portion of paying for new firefighters at SAFER Fire District, which Weston shares with Rib Mountain. Weston Administrator Jami Gebert told The Wausonian that the village board and the SAFER board will now discuss the next steps forward in the wake of the referendum’s failure.

Marathon County Board

One incumbents on the Marathon County Board was defeated by a challenger Tuesday. Sarah Watson (who also serves on city council) defeated Kim Ungerer in District 8. Overall, the county board will see eight new members. Those include Katie Rosenberg, who recently served as Wausau Mayor until 2024. Rosenberg defeated Dane Suleski 733-393 in District 1. In other news, a Marathon County Board member was arrested for the second time since he was appointed.

Wausau School Board

Yauo Yang, a pastor, former educator and Iraq War veteran, garnered the most votes Tuesday in the race for one of four seats on the Wausau School Board. Yang earned 8,231 votes. Lance Trollop, an incumbent on the board for 15 years, garnered 7,709 votes. Incumbents Cory Sillars and Charles Burger also made the cut and will retain their board seats.

See the county’s full election results here.

What else in Wausau?

Wausau leaders will hold a second Cleveland Avenue listening session: After plenty of debate, Wausau’s Economic Development Committee decided to hold a second meeting about the future of the Cleveland Avenue site. Residents at the previous public input session told the city that they wanted to see active outdoor recreation, natural areas, grocery stores, and community/senior centers as the next use at the site via surveys handed out at the meeting. The city will now hold a second meeting in order to further educate the public about the feasibility of the options they favored, potential funding sources and to collect further feedback. The city has decided that no matter what goes there, it won’t be an industrial use.

Ruby’s Pantry closing: Ruby’s Pantry is closing its doors. According to a post on social media, Ruby Pantry’s Minnesota headquarters told New Hope Church that it would no longer be operating any of the pop-up Ruby Pantry locations. Ruby’s Pantry in eight years distributed more than 1.5 million pounds of food to people in Wausau who needed it.

Traffic stop leads to meth seizure: A traffic stop on Monday led to the seizure of nearly two pounds of meth and two arrests, Wausau Police Department officials say. Police arrested Lamont Allen and Sadie Good in connection with the seizure. According to online court records, Allen and Good both face charges of possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell, and Allen also faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed weapon and bail jumping. Their car was stopped after the department’s community resource officers observed unusual behavior, and a police drug dog smelled drugs in the vehicle.

Man facing 10th OWI charge: A Schofield man is facing his 10th charge of drunken driving, according to online court records. Marathon County prosecutors charged Scott Newcomer with his 10th offense or more of operating while intoxicated, along with tampering with an ignition lock and operating while revoked, online court records show. Newcomer is currently being held at the Marathon County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond, court records show.

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Around the metro

UWSP campus proposals deadline pushed to May: Marathon County officials pushed the deadline for submitting proposals for new uses for the soon-to-be former UWSP-Wausau campus to April. Marathon County Deputy Administrator Chris Holman told the county’s Extension, Education and Economic Development Committee last week that the new deadline is April 9 to allow proposers more time to review utility data. That means proposals will likely be reviewed in May, with a potential decision on the new uses coming in June. Marathon County is looking for new uses for the facility after UWSP-Wausau announced last year that it would be moving out of the campus and co-locating with Northcentral Technical College.

Weston Farmers Market moves, Rib Mountain starts market: The Weston Farmers Market is moving to Kennedy Park this year, Weston officials say. The market was previously held at the corner of Camp Phillips Road and Schofield Avenue. And Rib Mountain announced it will be holding a market this year for the first time. The Rib Mountain market will be held on Fridays from 8 am-1 pm starting May 1 at the village’s municipal center.

Amazon delivery partner closes: A delivery partner for the local Amazon distribution contractor is closing up shop, putting local delivery drivers out of work, one worker told The Wausonian. Blue Thunder Logistics is closing up shop, putting potentially 100 employees out of work. No WARN notice appears on the state’s website for mass layoffs. WAOW also had the story from other workers. The employee told The Wausonian some people would be hired on by a second company that aids with distribution at the Weston Warehouse.

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Business

KimBob Cafe closed: KimBob’s Cafe, run by the entrepreneur behind Kim’s BBQ Sauce, closed its doors in February, according to posts on the business’s Facebook page. The KimBob Cafe operated in the city’s business incubator on the city’s west side. Kim’s BBQ Sauce will still remain for sale.

Freddy’s Hatley Smokehouse opened last month: Freddy’s Mexican Restaurant closed several years ago after decades in business. Now a new restaurant has taken its place. Freddy’s Hatley Smokehouse opened in the Hatley building in late March, transforming the interior in the process. The new smokehouse features BBQ food such as prime rib, baby back ribs and roasted chicken, along with fish fries.

Entertainment

We wrote about Bull Falls Brewing Co. re-opening with new owners and a slightly different name last year. Now the brewery is holding its first Bockfest this Saturday. Plus a comedian who combines magic in his shows to create a fresh experience, a ballet version of Cinderella, a “no fleas” flea market and more this weekend, all in Your Wausome Weekend Guide!

Looking for kids/family events? Check out the full listing from The Wausonian’s partner Wausau Mama, who puts together a weekly listing of children/family activities.

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Sports

Girls lacrosse: The Wausau Wolfpack defeated Notre Dame Academy 10-7 Tuesday. Wausau is now 1-0 in the Bay Valley Conference.

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We wrote about Bull Falls Brewing Co. re-opening with new owners and a slightly different name last year. Now the brewery is holding its first Bockfest this Saturday. Plus a comedian who combines magic in his shows to create a fresh experience, a ballet version of Cinderella, a “no fleas” flea market and more this weekend, all in Your Wausome Weekend Guide!

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Bull Falls Brewing Bockfest

Saturday, April 11: Fun fact: Although bock beer is a traditional German variety, which is often consumed during Lent there, the first bockfests actually originated in the U.S., including Cincinnati and New Ulm, Minnesota. Carrying on that German-American tradition is Bull Falls Brewing Co., which plans to host its first Bockfest since reopening under new owners. Expect a ceremonial keg tap in the new biergarten, along with food including beer brats, house-smoked pulled pork sandwiches and Karmel Kaisers, live music from Brad Emanuel and a healthy dose of lederhosen most likely. And snack necklaces. I don’t know what that is but you had me at “snack.” 1 pm-6 pm. See the event page for more.

Justin Willman

Saturday, April 12: Justin Willman isn’t just any comedian. Nor is he just any magician. The star of two Netflix shows, Magic for Humans and Magic Prank Show, Willman is bringing his unique blend of magic and comedy to the Grand Theater. Willman has performed everywhere from the Tonight Show to the White House and packs theaters across the country. On Sunday he’ll be packing the Grand with laughs and wonder. 7 pm. $49.50-$59.50. See the event page for more.

World Ballet Company: Cinderella

Thursday, April 9: Cinderella is a timeless tale, but you’ve probably never seen it quite like this. The World Ballet Company’s production of this fairy tale classic features 40 international dancers and more than 150 hand-sewn costumes to create a stunning visual masterpiece of a show. This company has traveled to more than 300 cities to perform their shows, so don’t miss them as they make their way to the Grand Theater. 7 pm. $54-$114. See the event page for more.

Chestnut’s Craft Show and No Fleas Market

Saturday, April 11: I’ve kind of seen it all when it comes to event names, but I have to admit the “No Fleas Market” cracked me up. Stable Hands Equine Therapy does some really cool work in the community. And now they’re hosting this craft show and flea market at the non-profit’s farm west of town. Expect to find hand-crafted items, vintage surprises and all the fun things you can typically expect at a craft show and flea market, while supporting the great cause of equine therapy. 9:30 am-2 pm. $5, children 10 and under free. See the event page for more.

Hop Into Spring

Saturday, April 11: So it’s kind of like we’re reaching the point of having an entire Easter month with all the events around the holiday in Wausau - but hey, for families that just means more opportunities to get the kids out of the house. And this has something for the kids and the adults. Here The Milk Merchant will not only have an egg hunt, but they’ll add a petting zoo on site and a spritz bar with spirits by 45th Parallel Distillery with some mini-bites from Chef Maggie. Plus, other area businesses are getting in on the action too with Shelves of Aeaea offering herbal tea, Katzenbarker with rescue animals to adopt, The Story Cellar with a free coffee and $1 books, and Dime and Dollar sponsoring the eggs. It’s a west-side Wausau River District eggstravaganza! (I know, I said I was done with Easter puns…) 12:45 pm-3 pm. See the event page for more.

Book of Eastbay book signing

Saturday, April 11: Eastbay is one of Wausau’s biggest success stories, and as the brand wound down recently, one of its biggest heartbreaks. Art Juedes and Rick Gering just published a book on their time at Eastbay called the Book of Eastbay… actually scratch that. It’s technically not out until April 14, according to Amazon! Come meet the authors, get the book and have it signed at this book signing at Janke Book Store, which has been in the Wausau community in one form or another for more than 100 years. 1-3 pm. See Janke Book Store’s Facebook page for more info and updates.

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The Yawpers w Graham Parsons

Friday, May 1: Lamplight Sessions shows are starting to sell out again, which means you need to get your tickets early if you want to see their small, intimate shows features some of the top indie groups in the country. The latest is The Yawpers, which is a departure from the country/bluegrass bands that often come to Lamplight. The Yawpers are more like a straight-up rock band, done in the modern style with carefully curated sounds and textures. The announcement for the show is written in PR speak, shedding light on the creative humor the band employs on stage and in its music videos. Joining The Yawpers is Graham Parsons, the frontman of The Go Rounds, a great indie rock band that has appeared on the Jam in the Van series. 7 pm. $38. See the event page for more.

In Brief

Damn Tall Buildings, 7:30 pm Friday, April 10 at the Grand Theater

I am, He Said… Celebrating Neil Diamond, 7:30 pm Saturday, April 11 at the Grand Theater

Caleb and Emily, 8 pm Saturday, April 11 at The Glass Hat

Black Label Trio, 3 pm Saturday, April 11 at Reservoir Dog Saloon

Jack Squat, 7 pm Saturday, April 11 at The Garage

2026 Mystery Bus Tour, Saturday, April 11 at Arrow Tap Tavern, Marathon

Through Crimson, 9 pm Saturday, April 11 at Intermission Bar

Jake Ramsey, 4 pm Sunday, April 12 at Nevermore on Third

WDEZ Hodag Pick-off, noon Sunday, April 12 at Dale’s Weston Lanes

Shades of Hunks, 7 pm Sunday, April 12 at Night School

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