Community paramedic program is saving money, time | Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of Aug. 21, 2025
Wausau developed a new community paramedic program to better help patients who were utilizing the city’s EMS program a lot.
After eight months, it’s making an impact.
Community Paramedic Matt Kozlowski estimates that in the first eight months, the program has saved over $200,000 collectively, in saved emergency medical services and in emergency room visits for patients.
Kozlowski works with patients who were using the city’s EMS services a lot, as well as high-risk patients. What he found is startling: 65% of the people he checked on had mistakes in their medications.
That’s everything from errors at the hospital or pharmacy to patient errors or changes getting lost in the shuffle.
Kozlowski spends time looking through their medications, checking their diet and explaining the impacts certain foods might have, and answering questions.
In one instance, Kozlowski found that a patient had 23 prescribed medications and nine of them were incorrect. That included medications he was supposed to have stopped after leaving the hospital but was still taking, and a blood thinner he was taking that his doctor didn’t know about.
That patient went from 10 EMS trips before Kozlowski’s intervention to none afterward.
The program has led to a 65% reduction in 911 calls and saved 83 hours of emergency room visits - a collective $212,000 saved between the two, saving both the city and patients money.
This week the village of Weston punted on a fire fee decision to next month. Meanwhile, we found out the truth about a referendum the board passed and then ignored, related to funding fire service:
Weston could decide on its fire fee today
The village of Weston today could decide on the implementation of a fire fee for Weston residents.
A program that helped low-level civil cases stay out of the court system is quietly saving money - both for the government and the people who participate. Now it’s looking to expand.
Another program quietly preventing homelessness
The Wausonian and other media outlets have for some time reported on the various efforts to help house the unhoused.
What else in Wausau?
Special prosecutor assigned to Diny criminal investigation: A special prosecutor has been assigned to the investigation into Mayor Doug Diny’s removal of a ballot box nearly one year ago. District Attorney Kyle Mayo announced that Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney will handle the case. The announcement is the first public-facing movement the case has seen since Diny confirmed his house and office had been raided by the state’s Department of Justice. Meanwhile, the ethics case against Diny is expected to conclude with a hearing on Sept. 5.
Foundry on Third expected to open Nov. 1: The Foundry on Third building, the first project in the former Wausau Center mall site, is now expected to open Nov. 1, say officials with WOZ, which is leading the overall mall site redevelopment. Developer T. Wall Enterprises got an extension for the project recently through the end of the year, but it appears the building is now on track for a Nov. 1 opening, bringing 153 units to downtown Wausau. A leasing office has been set up and officials are giving tours to prospective residential and commercial tenants.
Around the metro
County adjusting hours, holidays to retain workforce: Marathon County is having trouble retaining employees — and now county leaders have taken steps to change that. The county HR, Finance and Property Committee approved an incentive package for employees that would cost between $3.4 and $4.2 million to make county wages competitive, and approved adding an extra holiday (bringing it to 10 paid holidays from nine) and summer hours for public-facing county departments that are a half day on Friday. That allows county employees to catch up on work without disruptions.
Mosinee fire chief under investigation: The Mosinee Fire Chief is under investigation, Channel 7 is reporting. The chief was placed on administrative leave after the Mosinee Fire Commission met in closed session to discuss the matter Monday night. Officials have not given a reason for the investigation.
Dilapidated house in Rib Mountain demoed: The old house on Rib Mountain drive that is slated for development has been demolished, the developer confirmed to The Wausonian. Developers Tyler Tate and Dr. Stephen Lewellis are working on transforming the challenging property into a small commercial building with two residential units on a second floor. As The Wausonian reported earlier, the property is difficult to develop because of its size with a small stream running right through the middle of it. Rib Mountain’s board gave the final approval for the property’s zoning this week, Community Development Director Jared Grande confirmed, clearing the path for construction at the site.
Business
Intercity State Bank and One Community Bank have merged: Intercity State Bank and One Community Bank merged as of the first of the month, sources from Intercity State Bank say. The two banks were already close and partnered on several projects together, according to a press release from Intercity State Bank. Intercity customers will not be affected by the move, bank officials say.
Chipotle opened Wednesday, plus updates on 7 Brews and Chick-Fil-A: Popular Mexican fast casual chain Chipotle opened its doors on Rib Mountain Drive on Wednesday. Chick-Fil-A is also supposed to open this fall, but Community Development Director Jared Grande told The Wausonian they are now expecting a January 2026 opening. And another business on the north side of the Chipotle lot, 7 Brews, is expected to open this fall. The business is a coffee and energy drink business with numerous locations, Grande says.
Raising Cane’s expects to start construction next year - but Fazoli’s disagrees: Raising Cane’s told Rib Mountain officials that they plan to start construction in the building currently occupied by Fazoli’s in spring. But that’s news to Fazoli’s. Grande told The Wausonian that staff from Fazoli’s reached out confused because they didn’t know anything about the chicken franchise taking over their spot. Fazoli’s staff said their lease is through 2027.
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Entertainment
The Wausau area saw its first concerts off the square - in other words, held in Weston. But there is plenty more left, including The Righteous Brothers, the last Night Market of the season, and an Old-Fashioned downtown tour, plenty of live music and so much more this weekend.
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
Running: Gabe Sandoval of St. Paul won the Wausau Marathon this weekend. Sandoval finished with a time of 2:49:55. Kyle Bennwitz of Verona took second and Jonathan Buscher of Madison took third. On the women’s side, Amber Jarmusz of Minneapolis took first with a time of 3:15:16. Andrea Olson of St. Paul took second and Rachel Dryer of Richfield, Minn. took third. Chase Kraimer was the fastest Wausau area athlete, finishing 14th overall. See the full results here.
Football: High school non-conference matchups begin this week. D.C. Everest heads to Rice Lake Thursday, and Wausau West hosts Superior. Games begin at 7 pm. After two weeks of Thursday night games, conference play begins on Friday, Sept. 5.
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Your story on paramedics is a tragic story of how broken our "health care" system has become. EHR has not done what is was touted to do for efficiency and accuracy. I know someone who has been on opioids for 20 yrs. That should result in malpractice/losing your license. A paramedic outperforms the "system". MAHA isn't just a saying. It is necessary to survive the future. RFK Jr. has fought for this for decades. He knows our children deserve better than chronic health problems. Your health is your most important asset. We need to teach our children where authentic health comes from - within. Then learn what true health requires and rejects. It takes discipline and knowledge that is accessible to all of us at this time.