Kronenwetter mining permit under review | Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of
Kronenwetter leaders hit the pause button this week on a conditional use permit for a proposed mine in the village.
The Village Board Monday voted to table any action on the resolution to grant the permit until the city’s attorney could review the process by which the conditional use permit for the mine to make sure everything was done correctly from a legal perspective.
Kronenwetter’s board in January approved the controversial conditional use permit for a mine north of Maple Ridge Road and east of Highway 39 despite outrage from residents about the potential for noise, pollution, traffic and property value depreciation due to the mine’s operation.
President Dan Joling told the board that the bill could be large for the review, since there were a lot of documents and materials involved. But board member Ken Charneski replied that the cost of a lawsuit could be much higher.
Since the permit is already approved, it’s unclear what the process would be if something legally incorrect is found by the village’s attorney.
The Wausonian dug a little deeper and found some police tavern calls that weren’t on the regular report. Read about them in our latest Wausau Tavern Report:
Four election complaints were filed against then-Kronenwetter clerk Bobbi Jo Birk LaBarge in 2024. The WEC ruled on those complaints this month, and the results might surprise you:
What else in Wausau?
City searching for new clerk: The city of Wausau is now searching for a new city clerk. Kaitlyn Bernarde tendered her resignation this week, telling city staff that she would stay on through the April elections. Bernarde became embroiled in the controversy about the city’s absentee ballot box. The Wausonian first broke the story that Mayor Doug Diny had removed the ballot box from the steps of city hall in 2024 against the clerk’s wishes, sparking a state investigation and an ethics board process that spanned most of 2025.
City could be close to hiring a new transit director: The city of Wausau is close to hiring a new transit director, a role the city has had trouble maintaining in recent years. The city’s Transit Commission learned last week that the city has two finalists for the position, and could make a decision on one of them any day now. The seat has had two occupants who came and went since long-time director Greg Seubert retired at the start of 2023. That included Arran Hersey, who resigned in August after he was cited for drunken driving downtown, a story The Wausonian broke.
City approves HUD grant for non-profits despite fairness concerns: City leaders approved awarding a Housing and Urban Development grant to two area non-profits to provide education to Hispanic and Hmong residents about the city’s lead service line replacement program. But that came amidst concerns about whether the process was fair. Tony Gonzalez of the American-Hispanic Association of Marathon County told the council the process wasn’t fair because only three weeks were allotted to submit proposals and those weeks included the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The council rejected a plan to send the item back to committee and ultimately approved awarding the grant to HOLA and New Beginnings. City Council President Lisa Rasmussen said several other entities had responded besides HOLA and New Beginnings, which were awarded the HUD grant.
Man arrested at John Marshall Elementary School: Wausau School District officials say a man was arrested after entering the grounds at John Marshall Elementary School Tuesday. According to an email sent to parents from Principal Andy Reiche, a man wandered the school grounds before students arrived and spoke to a staff member before leaving. Seeming suspicious in his behavior, the staff member called police, who later arrested him on an outstanding warrant.
Around the metro
County sets administrator’s priorities: The Marathon County Board set five priorities for the county administrator to focus on in 2026. The priorities, ranked in order of priority, are: Redeveloping the UWSP Wausau campus, relocating the highway department, evaluating county employee health care, centralizing and integrating finance operations, and data reporting and overseeing the forensic science center. The county recently released a request for proposals for new uses for the UWSP Wausau campus, which will be vacated this year.
Kronenwetter closing District 3: The village of Kronenwetter Monday approved closing one of its TIF Districts. The closure would put roughly $8,300 back on the tax rolls every year, plus the village’s 21% cut of the nearly $200,000 surplus the district has. The closure would mean shutting down the district eight years early, the village’s finance director John Jacobs told the board.
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Business
Former Freddy’s location in Hatley to become smokehouse — with the same name: A new smokehouse is planning to open in the former Freddy’s Mexican and More location in Hatley. Called Freddy’s Hatley Smokehouse, the restaurant took over the building on 408 State Street in Hatley and is slated to open in March. The restaurant appears to share ownership with Longshots Pearson Smokehouse northeast of Antigo, which serves prime rib, baby back ribs, broasted chicken and smoked sausage.
Entertainment
Left Lane Cruiser used to be a staple of the Wausau music scene - and now the Fort Wayne, Ind. band is making its way to Nervermore on Third.
And that’s just one of the many events in Your Wausome Weekend Guide!
Looking for kids/family events? Check out the full listing from The Wausonian’s partner Wausau Mama, who puts together a weekly listing of children/family activities.
Sports
Boys basketball: D.C. Everest will take on SPASH today (Thursday) to battle for sole possession of the Wisconsin Valley Conference title. The Evergreens defeated Wausau East 88-70 Friday to retain the top spot in the conference. With SPASH one game behind, the Evergreens will retain the title either way, but a SPASH win today would leave both teams tied for the title. The game will be at D.C. Everest at 7:15 pm.
Girls basketball: D.C. Everest won its last game of the season to finish tied for second in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Evergreens beat Wausau East 61-35 Thursday to improve to second place, finishing the season tied with Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield. The Evergreens will take on DePere Friday in the first round of WIAA playoffs. Wausau West was eliminated in the early rounds of playoffs Tuesday after losing to Eau Claire North 59-50, and Wausau East was eliminated by Lakeland 70-51.
Boys hockey: Wausau West managed to beat SPASH in the regular season, something it has struggled with in recent years. But the Warriors weren’t able to repeat that feat Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the Panthers. The loss means all Wausau area teams have been eliminated from the WIAA playoffs.
Girls hockey: The Central Wisconsin Storm finished the regular season tied for the conference title, but lost their first playoff game after earning a first-round bye. The Storm lost to Northland Pines 4-3 in overtime Tuesday. The result comes as a surprise as the Storm beat the 2-6 Northland Pines in both regular season matchups.
Curling: A team from Wausau took second place in the Master’s division of the U.S. Senior Men’s Curling Association national championship held at the Wausau Curling Club last weekend. The Wausau-based Sirianni Rink — team members including Steve Sirianni, Joel DeKoning, Eugene Geurink and Harley Davison — lost to the Devore Rink from Duluth, Minn. 4-3 in the final match. The championships is one of the biggest curling tournaments in the country with 74 teams and 314 curlers.
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