Ballot box showdown | The Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of Sept. 26, 2024

The Wausonian broke news Tuesday that Mayor Doug Diny had removed the absentee ballot box from the front of city hall into somewhere out of the public eye on Sunday. Diny cited security concerns in response to media inquiries, and even included a photo of him moving the box to those asking about the removal.

The Wausonian’s story went viral. You can see it below:

Since then, the story got crazier. Protestors organized a rally outside city hall and residents and city council members sparred with the mayor over the removal. You can see video here:

As explained in our story Tuesday, those ballot boxes are the purview of municipal clerks, who have sole custody over such boxes. That likely makes the mayor’s actions illegal.

Late on Wednesday City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde issued a statement saying that the ballot box had been delivered but was locked and not yet being used. City staff were to secure it on Monday morning, but when staff arrived the box had been removed.

Bernarde in a statement late Wednesday says she has referred the matter to the Marathon County District Attorney and the Wisconsin Elections Commission for investigation.

What else in Wausau?

Westside Battery affordable housing breaks ground: An affordable housing project broke ground on Wednesday. The Westside Commons will see 56 units of affordable housing on the former Westside Battery site, which has been owned by the city since 2016. But Gorman and Company, which is building the site, also handled the renovations of The Landmark building, which after becoming officially Wausau affordable housing became much more expensive than prior to the renovations. One resident told The Wausonian that his rent increased $200 after the renovations.

City installed defib devices downtown: City leaders last week installed AED devices downtown on the 400 Block last week. The automated defibrillators can be used in case of a cardiac emergency and are automated with voice instructions to make them easy to use. They’re the first such devices publicly available in the city.

District settles with former student who alleged harassment: The parents of a former Wausau East student who alleged a band teacher had harassed him reached a settlement with the district. Under the settlement, the district agreed to enter a “enter compliance monitoring by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on a stipulated corrective action plan.” The student accused Wausau East Band Teacher Rob Perkins of harassing him, though the actual investigation document showed it’s complicated.

Around the metro

Bangstad backs off: The Wausonian reported last week that Kirk Bangstad and Minocqua Brewing Co was being sued by Ope! Brewing Co. in West Allis over a trademark dispute (MBC released a beer called Ope, which Ope! says violates its trademark). The brewery announced recently that it would be backing off selling the beer under the name Ope, though it would still sell the beer under a different name.

An e-bike crash: Marathon County Sheriff’s Office officials say a woman has died from her injury in an e-bike crash in the town of Texas. More strangely, it was a one-vehicle crash and little has been released about the crash’s circumstance. A 54-year-old woman died in the crash one day after it happened, officials say.

Business

Elk’s Lodge celebrating 100 years: The Wausau Elk’s Lodge is celebrating 100 years in existence this week. They’re holding a new ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.

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Entertainment

Thursday, Sept. 26: Patio season is almost over! It’s great to find out about one of their patio shows in time to actually write about it. And this will be a good one. Dig Deep, as I’ve mentioned many times before, is not your typical bluegrass band. They look like some hard-rocking metal guys, and they move around the stage like them too. But these guys are bluegrass, through and through, and they’re always worth a listen. So there’s Dig Deep at 5 pm, but later you can test your strength with a stein hoisting competition. Sounds easy - until you’ve held that stein until your arm feels like it’s going to fall off! Happy hour 2-5 pm, Dig Deep 5 pm. See the event page for more.

Friday, Sept. 27: The Allen Brothers are one of the top cover bands in the central Wisconsin area. Named for brothers Bob and Brandon Allen, who are joined by their bass player Wade Kaiser, they really know how to get a crowd going and have a lot of fun. And as The Garage has started to work its way up the charts as a premier music venue, this ought to make one fun show! 7 pm. See the event page for more.

Sunday, Sept. 29: It’s decorative gourd season, and that means that there are plenty of corn mazes, harvest fests and other fall festivities. Willow Springs Garden will host its own Harvest Fest this Sunday, and it’s full of fun for the kids and adults alike, including a craft section, bounce house, face painting, and live music. There will be a breakfast from 8-11 am, a charcoal chicken dinner plus wagon rides plus old-fashioned oat threshing. And of course, you can’t miss the corn maze, which will be open for the fest. 9 am-6 pm. See the event page for more.

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

Sports

Football: D.C. Everest continues to trample over the competition, harkening back to the Wayne Stephenhagen days. The Evergreens beat Marshfield 36-25 Friday, leaving them standing atop the Wisconsin Valley Conference/Big Rivers Conference at 3-0. Wausau West beat Wisconsin Rapids 21-6 to remain 2-1, close behind the Evergreens.

Volleyball: D.C. Everest won two of its matches — one against SPASH and one against Wausau East — to remain the top Wausau area team in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Evergreens are 4-1, second only to undefeated Marshfield.

Boys soccer: Wausau West and D.C. Everest are tied in the Wisconsin Valley Conference at 1-1 after The Warriors beat Merrill 9-1 Tuesday.

Girls tennis: Wausau West continues to dominate girls tennis, with a 5-0 record in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.

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