Identification complication | The Weekly Wausonian
Identification complication | The Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of May 2, 2024
Difficult news is often best delivered on a Friday afternoon, when people are in a good mood because the weekend is up ahead.
But that didn’t work so well for the folks at Monk Botanical Gardens, which announced via Facebook that they were changing the name to Wausau Botanic Gardens (yes, without the -al in Botanical).
That resulted in a petition with more than 5,000 signatures as of Wednesday, letters to the editor including from Monk descendants and plenty of angry comments on social media that hasn’t died down much as of press time.
You can read in more detail here:
And subscribers this week read our Hold My Beer feature, which includes a break down of the local tavern calls Wausau Police respond to for the last month:
What else in Wausau?
Not guilty plea in death of cold case murderer: Taylor Sanchez, who is accused of killing Cindy Schulz-Juedes in the cell they shared, pleaded not guilty to the charges last month. Authorities arrested Schulz-Juedes in 2019 on charges of killing her husband Ken Juedes in 2006. She was convicted of the murder in 2021 after taking the stand to testify on her own behalf. Schulz-Juedes’ case was featured in several national television shows, including A&E’s Taking the Stand (your Wausonian editor is included in the show).
School safety threat averted: Wausau Police and the Wausau School District investigated from parents after some of them sent the district emails detailing potential threats to Horace Mann. Authorities say they found no actual threats to safety and school continued as usual.
Rising property values: Wausonian’s property values are expected to rise sharply following a revaluation of the city’s property, according to a press release from the city. Residential property values will increase 50% on average, according to the assessor’s report, and commercial property values will rise 20% on average. Mayor Doug Diny says he intends to work with the city council on lowering the mill rate for next year (basically the simple formula that determines how much a property owner pays based on their property value), which should offset the rise in values.
Around the metro
New police department becomes official: The brand new Mountain Bay Metropolitan Police Department, made up of the Everest Metro and Rothschild police departments, officially kicked off May 1, with former Rothschild Police Chief Jeremy Hunt as its first chief. Administrators for Weston and Rothschild say there are still things to address, such as getting new graphics on the squad cars. Freelance writer Devon Welsh has the whole scoop in this piece for The Wausonian.
Meth bust: The Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force recently announced the seizure of 5.75 pounds of methamphetamines and a kilogram of cocaine in addition to $44,000 in cash and two firearms. The seizures came from two search warrants executed in the Marshfield area with help from Marshfield PD.
Business
Beer expansion: No, that’s not describing me on Friday night — Point Brewery just completed a $1.1 million expansion at what is the oldest continuously running brewery in the state. (And third oldest in the nation.) That includes a new tap room, sampling room and gift shop.
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Entertainment
Saturday, May 4: I mean, you gotta love a band with a song called “Honky Tonkin Rib Mountain Shakedown” right? Feed the Dog is a local bluegrass act with a touch of blues influence that gives a little bit of a different feel than you would ordinarily hear in this genre. I love when groups transcend their genre and Feed the Dog does just that, making for a great listen. Adding to them is the Kevin Troestler Trio. Troestler’s style of country does well by the genre and could be categorized as outlaw country. Their hard-driving style reminds me a little of Rattlesnake Milk, and that’s a good thing. This is a show that will be well worth getting down to Whitewater Music Hall for. 8 pm. $15. See the event page for more.
Saturday, May 4: There are a whole lot of Saturday events this weekend! I try to spread them out, but I had to include this one since it’s a memorial ride for my late friend and mentor Pat Peckham, former City Pages reporter and news editor, and city council member. This ride through the Southeast Side neighborhood (his former home and my current one) will visit several historical landmarks. Pat was among those in attendance at a similar ride I hosted in 2016. Ride meets in the parking lot of John Marshall Elementary School at 1 pm. See the event page for more information.
Saturday, May 4: I don’t know what to tell you - it seems like everything good is on Saturday this week! This one is a great one for the littles though: A kids Star Wars Dance Party. The new children’s singer/entertaining Tunes for Tots is back at Timekeeper with another session for the little ones in your family, with a special Star Wars-themed dance party and scavenger hunt. For those not initiated, May 4 is an unofficial Star Wars holiday because “May fourth” sounds like “May the force be with you.” Also includes a themed Star Wars buffet. Check out the event page for more details, schedule and pricing.
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
Baseball: Wausau East now leads Wausau area teams in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The 4-2 Lumberjacks are in second place behind 5-0 SPASH. That’s after Wausau East won a tight 6-5, 11-inning game against Merrill Tuesday.
Softball: D.C. Everest is on top of Wausau area teams in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The 6-2 Evergreens are in second place behind SPASH, which is undefeated at 8-0. Everest beat Wausau West 10-0 Tuesday, only needing five innings to send the 3-5 Warriors packing.
Girls Soccer: D.C. Everest sits at the top of the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 3-0-1 record. That tie came on Tuesday after the Evergreens split a 1-1 game with Marshfield.
Boys tennis: D.C. Everest holds the top spot in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 3-0 record. That’s after the Evergreens blanked Wisconsin Rapids 7-0 (four singles, three doubles matches) on Tuesday.
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