John Marshall is now officially historic | The Weekly Wausonian
John Marshall is now officially historic | The Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of Nov. 17, 2022
John Marshall Elementary School is now officially historic.
The city council Monday voted 10-1 to name the school a historic landmark, following a process that dragged on for nearly a year.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission in January voted to declare the century-old school a historic landmark. The plan commission paused out of concern from the Wausau School District. District leaders told the city they worried about how it might hamper future plans to reimagine their school structure as populations decline and school disparity grows.
The city council last month voted to delay the decision for a month to gather more info. A public input session held after that decision rehashed much of the same info but really didn’t provide anything new.
Readers this week saw these two stories:
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What else in Wausau?
Skywalk-er: The first apartment building proposed for the former mall site apparently will have a skywalk. The skywalk appears in plans developer T. Wall Enterprises submitted to the city. City Planner Brad Lenz says the city will need to work out a detailed agreement with T. Wall since the skywalk traverses city right of way. It will cross the not-yet built Jackson Street expansion, according to building plans.
Let it snow: Granite Peak last week started making snow ahead of its opening next week. Lower temperatures helped the operation make snow continuously over the weekend and early this week mother nature provided a little help as well.
Power meter hacker: Police have recommended criminal damage to property charges against a 44-year-old man they say damaged a power meter with what appears to be a machete. Video shows the man entering the property, hacking at the power meter with the weapon and then trying to tamper with it. Police say he doesn’t speak and doesn’t write any language, and might have mental health challenges.
Around the metro
Mayoral challenge: Marathon County Solid Waste Director Meleesa Johnson is planning to challenge current Mayor Mike Wiza. Johnson announced her campaign last week. She’s currently the city council president in Stevens Point. Johnson seemed to lob a volley at Wiza, saying current leadership in the city is stagnant and holding the city back.
Business
Revival: The Hiawatha Restaurant, which ran for nearly 50 years and closed in September, looks like it has new owners. The information came out of the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee, which voted to give Hiawatha an extension on its liquor license. Typically a business surrenders its liquor license after 30 days of being closed, but Hiawatha’s owner told city leaders he has a buyer for the business.
Entertainment
Friday, Nov. 18: Did you know comedy is alive and well in Wausau? Koo Coo’s Comedy Nest closed as a venue but now hosts live shows at Bantr in Rothschild (Cedar Creek area). Headlining this upcoming show is Tommy Thompson (not the former governor, but the comedian!), along with a few other standups who will make you split your sides with laughter. Tickets are less expensive in advance than at the door, so check out the event page to get all the information.
Saturday, Nov. 19: The Last Revel is one of those bigger names in music that keeps making its way to Wausau. This time at the spacious and good vibes locale of Whitewater Music Hall. This Midwestern bluegrass act will be joined by Joseph Huber for a night of mandolin picking and fiddling to an upbeat tempo. All can be enjoyed with one of Whitewater’s beer (brewed on-site) or a fancy cocktail by Jeff Dixon of Night Tribe Cocktail fame. See the event page for more details.
Tuesday, Nov. 22: One of the odder bits of trivia is that during World War I, on Christmas Day, there was a ceasefire and all soldiers put down their weapons, picked up soccer balls and played games and exchanged gifts all day. It’s a remarkable display of humanity in an otherwise atrocious part of world history, and the new musical All is Calm tells that tale at the Grand Theater. Tickets start at $35. 7:30 pm. See the event page for more details.
Sports
Semi-pro hockey: The Wausau Cyclones lost a pair of games this past weekend to the Peoria Mustangs. The Mustangs defeated the Cyclones at home 5-2 and 5-0 on home ice Friday and Saturday. The Cyclones are now 4-9-3, and will take on the Oregon Tradesmen in Oregon.
Break coming
Just want to give readers a heads up that I am traveling to a conference in Dubai the week after Thanksgiving, so there will either not be a Weekly Wausonian that week, or a very truncated one. And The Wausonian always takes off the week of Christmas, since not much news happens that week typically.
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