Let’s start with the good news — Marathon County’s new mat-based refrigeration system seems to be working perfectly and the county has ice at its two rinks, right on schedule.
The bad news? The future of the ice rinks is a little more murky.
Parks Director Jamie Polley presented the results of a feasibility study that shows several options for the ice arena going forward. They range from building a brand new facility ($54 million) all the way to the county no longer operating an ice arena at all.
Polley explained having year-round ice would allow the county to bring in almost as much revenue as it is expending, up to 96%.
Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard explained that the county typically partners with user groups. “If you’re in, we’re in,” Lance explained, detailing how the county put $3 million into the warm water therapy pool while advocates raised the remaining $3 million + to build the new facility.
But $54 million is a lot of money. (Other options included building a new year-round sheet at the current facility ($34 million), patching up the existing facility ($7 million) or the county simply exiting the “ice business” altogether.
With youth hockey, high school and a professional hockey teams using the facility, that last option is unlikely given the strong hockey community the area has, one county supervisor expressed.
Is Wausau’s “missing middle” getting too expensive? We look at that and the misnomer of “affordable housing” in our latest:
The "middle" is getting expensive
A new proposal for apartments downtown aims toward the “missing middle” — somewhere between so-called affordable housing and luxury apartments.
It turns out there is another wrinkle in the Stanley Pophal case (the financial advisor recently indicted on fraud accusations). Read those and the rest of our civil court cases in our Full Court Press feature:
A new wrinkle in the Stanley Pophal case | Full Court Press
Yep, you’re right. I am WAY behind on these stories. (Thanks Diny ethics case!) But we’re back with one today and boy do we have a doozy.
What else in Wausau?
Diny announces PFAS settlement: Wausau has received $2.86 million in a settlement of a lawsuit the city joined against manufacturers of PFAS chemicals. That funding, added to an earlier payment bringing the total to $2.92 million, will go toward paying back debt incurred by installing the city’s PFAS filter, Mayor Doug Diny said in a press release. That idea will go before the city’s Water Works Commission and the city council, Diny said in a release.
Bridge Street Mission meets fundraising goal, outreach coordinator says: Bridge Street Mission has reached its funding goals to build a new shelter that will serve Wausau’s homeless population, according to the city’s outreach coordinator. Tracy Durante told the Public Health and Safety Committee this week that Bridge Street reached its goal and that they would be talking timing of opening the following day. Bridge Street Mission Director Craig Vincent confirmed the fundraising goal being met to The Wausonian.
Around the metro
County memorializes former supervisors Grunenwald, Day: The Marathon County Board recognized two past supervisors who died recently. Ken Day died on Sept. 16 at 78. Laverne Grunenwald died on Sept. 30 at 87. The board held a moment of silence for each.
Sheriff’s deputies disarm man with knife: Deputies from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office disarmed a man with a knife, but not before that man harmed himself with it. Deputies were called at 10:09 am Wednesday (Oct. 15) to a residence in the 186200 block of Comet Road in the town of Franzen for a welfare check, officials say. Deputies encountered the man who then armed himself with a knife, police reports say. Deputies were able to de-escalate the situation, they say, but during the encounter he harmed himself with the knife. Officials say deputies performed life-saving measures on the man before he was taken to the hospital where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries. Because force was involved, officials say, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating.
County names new head attorney: County leaders announced the departure of corporation counsel Michael Puerner. A new lawyer has now been named in his place. Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard named Brian Desmond to the corporation counsel role. Desmond practiced law for counties for 20 years, including most recently as the corporation counsel in Sauk County.
Deputies searching for suspect in Rib Mountain robbery: Deputies are still looking for help in identifying a suspect who robbed a convenience store in Rib Mountain in early October. Officials say a suspect entered Rib Mountain Liquor and Tobacco around 8:30 pm Oct. 5 and stole a bank bag full of cash. A store employee attempted to stop the suspect, but was unsuccessful and a glass case was smashed in the scuffle. More details of the suspect’s appearance can be found at this link.
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Business
Sourdough and Co. opening next month in old Subway spot: Sourdough and Co., a chain based in Nevada, is slated to open next month in the former Subway location at the corner where Grand Avenue turns into Sixth Street, across from the courthouse.
Entertainment
Looking for Halloween events? They’re starting already, with plenty kid and adult fun. Plus candlelight concerts, a Diwali celebration, opera and more this weekend in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
Sports
Football: D.C. Everest had one more game to get through en route to a perfect conference season. Mission accomplished. The Evergreens defeated Eau Claire Memorial 43-7, earning the conference title with a 6-0 record. Wausau West finished third with a still-solid record of 4-2. D.C. Everest will head to Brookfield East Friday in the first round of playoffs. Wausau West will take on Arrowhead at Arrowhead’s stadium.
Volleyball: D.C. Everest defeated Wausau East in three games, and Wausau West lost a four-game battle to Marshfield, leading to the Evergreens taking the No. 3 spot in the conference to end the season. The Warriors finished fourth. The Evergreens will host Eau Claire North to start the playoffs today (Thursday) and the Warriors will head to Eau Claire Memorial. Wausau East will head to Chippewa Falls.
Boys Soccer: The Evergreens managed to play the entire conference season without a loss - but they did have a couple of ties. The latest came against SPASH, a 2-2 tie to finish out the conference season. That left D.C. Everest with the conference title, heading into the playoffs. Wausau East finished fourth and Wausau West finished fifth in the conference. The Evergreens already sent Appleton West packing 5-1 in the first round of playoffs. Wausau East defeated Menomonie 2-0 in its first round of playoffs in Division 2.
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