Humane change | The Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of May 23, 2024

City leaders this week heard a proposal that would replace the current humane officer with a team of part-time community service officers.

That came after Everest Metro dropped its contract with the city, dropping $16,880 from the program. The change made city staff relook at the situation and they’re now recommending a model common in many other Wisconsin cities, in which part-time community service officers earning a higher-than-usual wage would take on animal control training.

But City Humane Officer Ashlee Bishop told the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee that she plays a critical role in dealing with animal situations in the city and having her knowledge on staff is important.

Lisa Rasmussen countered, saying it would make more sense to have part-time staff who could cover more times of the day and evening. Many of the animal calls are in the evening, for instance, leaving Bishop to follow up the next day.

The Wausonian plans to dig into this more in a coming story.

Subscribers this week read about the mystery of the Riverside Fire Chief missing arrest details:

And the first in our investigative series on declining student behavior:

What else in Wausau?

K9 officer makes drug bust: Police responded to a fight on the city’s east side Monday. The suspect, Edward Jackson III, fled on foot according to police reports but police ultimately caught up with him. Police dog Astor sniffed drugs in the car, police say, and officers seized 366 grams of mushrooms, 190 grams of marijuana, 105 grams of MDMA, 261 fentanyl pills and a firearm. Jackson faces multiple drug dealing charges, according to police records.

Grand Avenue affordable housing project set to happen after all: At least one affordable housing project slated for development is now expected to open in 2026. Developer Commonwealth received $32.5 million in state and federal tax credits, allowing it to build several projects including a multi-unit affordable housing unit at 700 Grand Avenue. The site had been a Vino Latte location, and more recently had been a community garden and orchard.

Another RiverLife try: City leaders recently released a “request for interest,” something new the city is trying in order to attract development to areas such as the RiverLife area. This RFI is seeking some kind of idea for the area south of the current RiverLife apartments, the only project to be developed in the flagship in its ten years of existence. Development staff say they want to try this because full proposals are expensive and time-consuming, and this way it might attract more interested parties who could refine their proposals with city assistance.

NFL legend and Wausau native dies: NFL Hall of Famer Jim Otto died last week at age 86. Otto grew up in Wausau and played for Wausau High School (before there was an East and West). He then played for the University of Miami before ultimately joining the Raiders, where he went 210 consecutive games without missing a single one due to injury. Otto remained active with the Raiders, even moving to Las Vegas with the team in 2020.

Around the metro

Riverside Fire District Chief records still missing: Riverside Fire District’s Fire Chief was arrested last week. As of today, there is still no court record. Theresa Wetzsteon told The Wausonian that his case should be filed around the time of his May 30 appearance. See the full story here.

Business

Have you heard The Wausau Business Show?: The radio show on Bull Falls Radio is making quite a splash with the show hosted by Ryan Gallagher and Paul Grinsel of Rocket Industrial. The mix of interviews, news and other wacky hijinx (including leading a Red Lobster bus to Green Bay to visit Red Lobster). Check it out on Bull Falls Radio or your favorite podcast platform.

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Entertainment

Saturday, May 25: Really, just about any time of the year is a good one to take a hike on Rib Mountain. But this one is extra special as the wildflowers are really starting to pop up! This hike will follow the quarry-side trails that leave from Grouse Lane. Expect about 1 1/2 hours of hiking, and make sure to bring bug and tick repellant. Some of these trails are a bit steep and will give you a good workout, so be prepared! 10 am. Keep an eye on Friends of Rib Mountain on Facebook for updates on the event based on the weather.

Saturday, May 25: There’s something about a parade — they go back to a different time when seeing your ordinary, sleepy downtown street turn into a flurry of excitement and procession would have been highly anticipated. Now we have Netflix and UFC and other forms of thrilling entertainment, but there’s something visceral about parades that still draw us in. And there’s no better reason than to attend to honor all of those who fell in battle to preserve our freedoms. We owe those soldiers a lot, and the parade honors that. The Memorial Day Parade starts at 11 am at Trinity Lutheran Church and traverses down Stewart Avenue to Opportunity Inc.

Sunday, May 26: If reptiles, amphibians and even spiders are your thing, then this Scaled-Up Reptile show is where you want to be. The show features some of the top breeders, keepers and educators in the space, along with plenty of vendors with everything from crickets for feeding to cages and artwork. This is your one-stop reptile shop! 11 am-3 pm, $5; children 5 and under, free. Special VIP ticket at $14 for entrance at 10 am.  www.scaledupexpos.com

Long-range

Friday, May 31: Jenny Don’t has a really interesting background. She had gained some fame as a punk singer in Portland when she started a side project, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, an old-school, rockabilly-style country band. It’s in her blood though — Don’t’s Uncle wrote the rockabilly classic Black Cadillac, which Don’t sometimes covers. The side project took off and now Jenny Don’t and the Spurs is the main project, touring the country and appearing in music videos on YouTube. The band will be joined by Minneapolis country-folk act Pit Stop, which ranges from country swing to Sheryl Crow-style folk-pop. $38. 7 pm. Check out the event page for more information.

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

Boys basketball: Wausau East temporarily took the lead from D.C. Everest in the Wisconsin Valley Conference last week, but a Friday 3-2, 8-inning nailbiting win by D.C. Everest put the two teams tied heading into the end of the conference season. Both teams are tied at 6-4 and in second place. East and Everest each have a game Wednesday and today (Thursday) to close out the conference season so second place is still up for grabs. (Neither team could catch first-place SPASH, at 10-0.)

Softball: D.C. Everest finished as the top Wausau-area team in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Evergreens went 10-2 to finish the season, only one game behind SPASH at 11-1. The tournament kicked off Tuesday. Wausau West has been eliminated by Menomonie 10-2; East played Wisconsin Rapids Wednesday and Everest played Eau Claire Memorial.

Boys tennis: D.C. Everest took first place at the Wisconsin Valley Conference meet, which traditionally caps off the conference season. Wausau West took fourth and Wausau East took fifth. Everest’s No. 1 singles player Ted Kitchell won his first match in team play in sectionals.

Girls soccer: D.C. Everest is still undefeated at 7-0 as the Evergreens lead the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Evergreens continue in pool play today against Wausau West to close out the conference season.

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