Metro Ride bus strikes child | Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of May 7, 2026
A Metro Ride bus struck a child in a traffic crash Monday, Wausau Police officials say.
The crash happened at the intersection of South 12th Avenue and Callon Street shortly before 7:30 am Monday, according to police officials. Police say the child was exiting a vehicle during school drop-off and ran into the roadway, where the bus struck the child.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene and provided care to the child, who was later taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Because Metro Ride is a city service, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office officials are handling the investigation.
The Wausonian as of Wednesday afternoon was the only outlet to report on the fallout from the Kronenwetter administrator investigation, which while clearing the administrator, resulted in the firing of the community development director and the resignation of one of Kronenwetter’s board members:
Plus, a dispute over collectible cards led to a lawsuit, one of the many civil court cases The Wausonian wrote about in our monthly Full Court Press feature.
What else in Wausau?
Lead service line replacement ordinance could return: Funding to replace lead service lines from people’s homes to the main line could be reduced in Wausau starting in 2027, officials say. And that could lead to the city enacting an ordinance that would mandate homeowners replace their lead lines. The city’s lead service line replacement program has seen 98% compliance without the ordinance so far because the lines are paid for through a combination of grants and loans. But the grant funding could be reduced in future years and that could lead to homeowners needing to pay something toward the replacement, unless general obligation debt helps cover the costs. The city plans to hold a committee of the whole in order to discuss long-term strategy, including the possibility of an ordinance.
Around the metro
Major drug bust wraps with sentencing: The last of 14 defendants in a drug ring prosecution was sentenced in March — and that includes one of two ringleaders who was from Wausau. Shelby Gutch, 31 of Neillsville, entered a diversion program in March, completing the case, the Western District U.S. Attorney’s office announced this week. The defendants also includes Quo Vadis Lewis, 41 of Wausau, one of two ringleaders of the drug ring. Lewis was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison following his conviction for possession with intent to sell 500 grams of meth, 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. Defendants were primarily in the Wausau and central Wisconsin areas, aside from one ringleader based in Chicago. See the full list of defendants and their sentences here.
Riverside Elementary students return after tornado: Riverside Elementary students returned to school for the first time since a tornado struck Ringle on April 17. Officials kept students from the school even when it was safe to return, school officials explained at a Town of Ringle meeting, because they were concerned about the impact of seeing the damage the tornado brought to parts of the town. Students officially returned to class Monday.
DNR monitoring Marathon County manure spill: DNR officials are monitoring a manure spill in northwestern Marathon County. The spill originated from Deercreek Holsteins outside of Athens, but officials don’t yet know the volume of the manure spilled. The spill was the result of a faulty valve that allowed manure to spill into a nearby tributary to Black Creek. Containment measures are in place and the farm is actively working on cleaning the spill, DNR officials say.
Sponsored by
Business
2510 property sold: The property that once housed 2510 Restaurant has been sold, according to state real estate records. The property at 2510 Stewart sold for $1.65 million, according to the real estate transaction listing. The building sold to BYRD LLC, a company whose registered agent is developer Roland Lokre. 2510 Restaurant closed its doors last month after having been in business since 1985 (and a Mr. Steak franchise before since the 1970s).
Entertainment
This week the stars of the musical Hairspray are back with a show that made its way from Broadway to the Grand Theater. Plus former Wausau band Left Lane Cruiser prepares to rock Nevermore on Third, the 52nd Annual Children’s Festival hits Marathon Park, and more this weekend.
Sports
Baseball: D.C. Everest remains the top Wisconsin Valley Conference team but it dropped to third place after a 4-2 loss to Wausau West Tuesday. The Evergreens at 3-2 trail SPASH (5-1) and Marshfield (6-2).
Softball: D.C. Everest improved to 3-2 with a 6-inning, 16-6 win over Wausau West Tuesday. The Evergreens are now in third place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Marshfield and SPASH are tied for first in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with 6-1 records.
Girls soccer: Wausau West shut out crosstown rivals Wausau East with a 6-0 win Tuesday to edge into second place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Warriors have a 2-0-1 record, giving them one more point than third place D.C. Everest at 2-2.
Boys tennis: D.C. Everest is now tied for second after dropping a shutout against SPASH last week. The Evergreens lost 7-0 Thursday to the Panthers, who are now alone in the top spot in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Lacrosse: The Wausau Wild boys lacrosse lost 15-1 to Neenah Tuesday at home. The Wild are currently 1-4 in the Bay Valley Conference. The Central Wisconsin Wolfpack girls defeated Wauwatosa 7-6 Saturday. The Wolfpack are currently 3-0 in the Bay Valley Conference.
Email me at brian@thewausonian.com. And as always, thanks for subscribing to The Wausonian! If you haven’t subscribed yet, check out the free and paid options below to help support local journalism and stay on top of Wausau news:
Interested in a group subscription? Keep your employees or management team informed with a group subscription with The Wausonian. Don’t let your team be left in the dark! Interested in 25 employees or more? Email me at brian@thewausonian.com for rates.