The Weekly Wausonian, June 24, 2021

A freedom from religion group is accusing the Wausau School District of supporting a religious organization by allowing a school to be used in a presentation, alleging a violation of church and state.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation accused the district of essentially subsidizing a presentation by Every Black Life Matters speaker Kevin McGary. McGary’s speech at a Marathon County Board meeting that month caused Kurt Gibbs to apologize to the mayor when McGary said she wanted to exterminate black people.

FFRF says the “subsidy” amounts to roughly $970 because it was placed in the incorrect event tier.

The district responded that it treated the event similar to how it has treated other like events that require little from the district. Custodial services were accidentally waived and Superintendent Keith Hilts says that the district charged the group after the fact.

---

Want this newsletter in your inbox every Thursday? Go ahead and subscribe. It’s free! Or considered a paid subscription to see all the Wausonian content. Paid subscribers last week read about the $3.9 million operating shortfall at North Central Health Care. Don’t forget to tell your friends!

---

What else in Wausau?

• Elizabeth Brodek will be the city’s new Community Development Director. The city confirmed that she will start on Aug. 11 and Brodek spoke with The Wausonian about her plans for the position. Check out that full story coming Friday. “I’m really looking forward to coming back to a place I love, and to people I love,” Brodek says. Brodek served as the Wausau River District Director before working in Eau Claire and Milwaukee.

• An investigation report of certain library personnel and the library’s culture is due to back to the Library Board July 18. Board President Sharon Hunter announced that following another closed session Monday. And interim director Leah Giordano spoke about plans to improve culture at the library, and has implemented some of them already. Applicants are coming in for the director’s job and interviews could start the first week of July. Former director Ralph Illick resigned last month and two other employees are on unpaid leave amidst allegations of a toxic work culture.

• A new fireworks-themed event is being planned for Wausau. Wausau Events announced the new Family Fireworks Fest at the Wausau Airport Sept. 24-25. The event will feature kids games, local food vendors, a 5k run and live music before hosting what promises to be the largest fireworks display in the Wausau area. Wausau Events Dierctor Alissandra Aderhodlt says the event will use fireworks obtained for a 2019 event that never happened.

Around the metro

• Wausau approved a new contract with the Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Weston could soon too, sending a similar contract to its tourism commission to discuss. Municipalities pulled out of their contracts with the CVB after Wausau’s mayor accused Dick Barrett of withholding room tax dollars from Expedia meant for Wausau. Barrett retired earlier this year.

• The Weston municipal center will break ground on July 13. The new building will be located on Camp Phillips, north of Ross Avenue. The current building was constructed in 1956, and the new building promises to be more efficient and will allow for a growing municipality.

Entertainment

• Ironbull will host a Float the River event starting at 10 am Saturday. The float will start at Gilbert Park and continue down the Wisconsin River to the Wausau on the Water restaurant and entertainment center. Cost is $25 for adults, $10 for children, and you can purchase an additional tube for $10. Go float! See the event page for more info.

• Bluegrass band Buffalo Galaxy will take the biergarten stage 7 pm Friday at Whitewater Music Hall. “Elements of bluegrass, country, jam and jazz coalesce and Buffalo Galaxy burns bright in the bluegrass universe!” according to Whitewater’s promo for the event. The Food Lab will be on site providing their food truck cuisine and enjoy a craft beer made by the Whitewater brewmaster. $5 cover.

• Did you know there is a new pizza on the farm experience? (Er, orchard?) Rock Ridge Orchard will host a Pizza in the Orchard starting at 4 pm today (Thursday) at its orchard in Edgar. Pizza is served from 4-8:30 pm and music by Jordan Blanchard will be from 6-10 pm. This is their third pizza in the orchard event and The Wausonian will clearly need to investigate and taste test the pizza. Hey, it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. See the event page for more.

Sports

• D.C. Everest Baseball went deep into the WIAA tournament before falling to Eau Claire Memorial Monday. The Evergreens narrowly defeated Wausau East, Marshfield and SPASH before falling to the Old Abes 10-0 in the sectional final.

• Newman Catholic Boys Golf took fifth place at the WIAA Division 3 State Golf Tournament. The Cardinals scored a team 708, 49 strokes higher than the leader, Kohler.

• D.C. Everest girls track has 15 qualifiers for the state track and field meet this weekend. Thirteen of those are individual events, and two are relays. The meet takes place from June 24 to June 26. Watch live on wiaa.tv.

---

Thanks for reading The Wausonian! If you see any errors or have a tip, please send to keepitwausome@gmail.com. Thanks again for for reading!