A flurry of resolutions | Weekly Wausau news
A flurry of resolutions | Weekly Wausau news
The Wausonian, Aug. 12, 2021
If anything, it was a week for political resolutions:
Wausau’s City Council passed its version of the A Community For All resolution, called We Are Wausau. The decision came in what was a meeting so long they needed to take a break in between, and after more than an hour of public comment.
At the same meeting the Environmental Justice resolution was sent back to a Committee of a Whole to include more citizen and stakeholder comment, and to pick it apart a little further. That came after Chamber President Dave Eckmann said the resolution would have a chilling effect on businesses and that no regulatory agency was asking for it, and after the bill’s proponent Tom Kilian said taking environmental advice from the Chamber was like taking drug rehabilitation advice from a crack dealer.
And last week, Marathon County’s Public Safety Committee entertained a resolution declaring Marathon County a Constitutional Sanctuary county. That would make it illegal to pass an ordinance, resolution or regulation not in compliance with the U.S. Constitution (which is already the case).
And today (Thursday) a county committee will consider A/B versions of the A Community For All resolution. That same committee rejected an earlier version of the resolution, prompting the New York Times to write a story slamming Wausau.
Paid Wausonian subscribers last week read a long story about the various political resolutions and how local politics got wrapped up in national issues. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today to support local journalism. For every new paid subscriber this month, I will donate $5 to the Humane Society.
What else this week?
Marathon County Public Library Officials released a report detailing the allegations against Library director Ralph Illick and other library staff members. Illick resigned last May as the library board investigated. The Wausonian will have a full report later in the week. Illick was accused of fostering a toxic work environment at the library.
Former North Central Health Care CEO Michael Loy took a job with a private equity firm before his resignation was announced, according to a press release. Loy is now the Managing Director of Geared Equity in Kronenwetter. The Wausonian is still waiting for the report a county committee approved detailing the findings of a personnel investigation Loy was involved in. Loy was placed on administrative leave in late May, and nothing has been said publicly about why.
A Wausau teacher was arrested after a child pornography investigation led officers to execute a search warrant at his Wausau home. Kristofor Edwards had been a teacher at Maine Elementary since 2015, and school officials said there hasn’t been a complaint against him in that time. Police officials say Edwards was cooperative, that he was the sole target of the investigation and that they don’t believe any local children were involved.
Entertainment
It’s hard to describe exactly what Paddle Quest is — it’s part canoeing competition, part adventure and role-playing game, all in real-time on the waters around Stevens Point. The nearly 20-year-old contest is so interesting and unique that Rolling Stone wrote a story about it a few years ago, including referencing the “cannon-firing mayor of Stevens Point.” It’s also got its own board game. If you like being on the water and want to put a team together with some of your adventure-seeking friends, Paddlequest is for you. Saturday is the actual contest but there is also a live band Friday night and a pancake breakfast and the Alliance Games on Sunday. Check out the event page on Create Portage County for more info.
You always know when you’ve been to a Unity show — the Wisconsin-based reggae star will leave you in a groove. You can’t see them this year at Concerts on the Square, so what better substitute than checking them out at the Tikki Beach Bar in the Lake DuBay 6 pm Thursday where you can party in the surf and turf and groove along. They’re a fun band and love interacting with the audience, and their stage presence is nearly unmatched in the area. Not to mention, a certain hiking/paddling group on Facebook might have a group paddle you can join that’s heading to the Tiki Bar to watch the show.
It might sound like something just for hobbyists, but the Wausau RC Sportsmen have been doing this event for 55 years now and it’s become a very spectator-friendly event. The all day Saturday event will have food, contests, raffles and an RC airplane show the family can watch together. This year also adds a drone racing course so people can come out and watch, and see what drone racing is all about. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Grounds open at 8 am.
Sports
The Wisconsin Woodchucks wrap up their season this week, with the last home game against the Wisconsin Rapids River Rafters Friday and last away game against the same team on Saturday. The Chucks are two games ahead in the Great Lakes West division of the Northwoods League for the second half of the season, and 1.5 games ahead in the overall season. The Chucks are a shoe-in for the playoffs and have a good chance of earning an automatic playoff berth if they finish the second half of the season in first. As of press time, the Chucks had four total games left this season.
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