The mobile home question | Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of Jan. 29, 2026

Jan 29, 2026

Leaders in Schofield are thinking about what could come next for the former Northern Housing Community mobile home park site.

The mobile home park was shuttered after failing numerous health inspections and multiple owners, including the latest who promised to clean up the conditions at the park but ultimately let it falter.

County officials cleaned up the park and sold it to Schofield last year. But now that it is empty, leaders are wondering what could go there.

The city’s Finance/Economic Redevelopment Committee this week held a discussion on the possibility of the site being a tiny home village. They heard a presentation from InDoors, a new non-profit working on building a tiny home village with services to help people transition out of homelessness; from Habitat for Humanity for slightly larger, more permanent small houses and from a city council member on what a tiny home village could look like.

That’s only one category of the possibilities, Schofield leaders say. The city will also study apartments and potentially retail and apartments on the site. And either way, officials say, there will be a trail along the riverbank.

What’s Wausau like after dark? Find out in our monthly Wausau Tavern Report:

And The Wausonian wanted to check up on how rural broadband was going - only to learn the task force the county formed might be disbanding:

What else in Wausau?

Ethics board names new chair: The Wausau Ethics Board has new leadership as a number of new appointees have joined the city body. The board voted Thomas Garver as the new chair, and former chair Calvin Dexter as Vice Chair. The move comes as the city council rejected a set of changes that would have allowed Ethics Board members themselves to file complaints to be investigated.

Senior living apartments planned for Graebel building: City officials confirmed a new seven-story senior housing project is slated for the property currently occupied by the Graebel Van Lines building on Grant and Third streets. The Plan Commission next month will hear a zoning proposal for the project which, according to other media reports, will see 70 apartments and a 24-unit assisted living facility. That places the facility near the YMCA, with the senior-focused The Landing community center.

Around the metro

County Board weighs ICE lawsuit: The Marathon County Board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss a lawsuit involving the county sheriff. The board took no action on the Voces de la Frontera vs Geber et al suit, which names as a co-defendant Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb. The suit alleges he and other sheriffs were unlawful in complying with ICE detainer requests. The Wausonian last year unearthed a similar lawsuit filed in Marathon County Court around a specific ICE detainer request.

County board approves supporting talent relocation grant: The County Board Tuesday approved providing a letter of support to the Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership in its bid for a talent relocation grant. The grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation could fund up to $500,000 to help attract out-of-state talent. The grant requires a 20% match, which GWPP leaders say would be funded through foundations and other in-kind donations.

Kennedy Park update: Two new grants contributed a total of $15,000 for the renovations at Kennedy Park, according to Weston officials. The fund currently has $55,000 in it and officials say Merrill Iron Steel committed another $30,000 to the project. An upcoming wiffle ball event aims to raise more money for the renovations. The total raised for the renovations so far is believed to be around $600,000.

Rapids woman arrested on suspicion of 8th OWI: A Wisconsin Rapids woman was arrested near Mosinee on suspicion of her 8th OWI Tuesday. Jail records show 61-year-old Georgia Ring is being held in Marathon County Jail awaiting her initial appearance after state troopers arrested her on Highway 39 near Locker Road. According to the criminal complaint, a State Trooper pulled her over after clocking her at speeds of roughly 85 miles per hour.

Business

Nichole’s Boutique sold: Nichole’s Boutique, a long-time staple of the downtown business district, announced its last day open is Jan. 31. The business and building sold, according to the store’s social media post. “If this boutique has ever made you feel more like yourself, I hope you’ll come in one last time,” the owner wrote on Facebook.

Marathon County hasn’t had a major layoff in more than a year: According to reports from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Marathon County hasn’t seen a major layoff since before 2025. Companies expecting layoffs are required to file a WARN notice with the state. The closest was Wood County’s Prince Corporation in Marshfield, which filed a WARN notice with the department in December, indicating an expected 80 jobs affected.

Entertainment

Reverend Meantooth has a hard-driving, Delta Blues style that appeals to multiple generations. But that’s only some of the events this week that include everything from gardening conferences to outdoor events.

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.

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Sports

Boys and girls basketball: All games involving Wausau area teams were postponed due to sub-zero weather on Friday. D.C. Everest remains the top area girls team in second place with a 4-2 record, and The Evergreen boys are also second at 3-1 (tied with SPASH).

Boys hockey: Wausau West remains neck and neck with SPASH after a blistering 12-1 win over Wausau East Tuesday. West and SPASH have the same number of points, but SPASH is undefeated at 6-0, while the Warriors have a 6-1 record.

Girls hockey: The Storm remain in second place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 4-2 conference record after a long break. The Storm haven’t had a game on their schedule since Jan. 19. They’ll take on Hayward on Friday.

Junior league hockey: The Wausau Cyclones are on a three-game winning streak after dominating a series against the Wisconsin Woodsmen last weekend. The Cyclones dropped them 5-2, 9-2 and 3-2. That bumped the Cyclones into second place in the Central Division of the NA3HL.

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