The end of D.C. Everest Junior High? | The Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of July 23, 2026

D.C. Everest School District, like many districts in the state, has seen declining enrollment.

And that means it’s now looking at the realities of its existing building infrastructure, just as Wausau did several years ago.

The most likely scenario? The junior high gets the chopping block.

That’s one of three options — but also the preferred option — presented to the Weston Village Board Monday. The 75-year-old building needs a lot of work, and would cost from $80 to $100 million to repair or replace.

With declining enrollment, D.C.E. Superintendent Casey Nye told the board that decommissioning the junior high building and shifting eighth grade to middle school and ninth grade to the high school makes the most sense. The school would keep the stadium and gym portions, and renovate the facility for athletics.

The plan would reduce staffing, and be accomplished by attrition and staff placements to avoid layoffs.

The district plans to put out a survey in the fall as its next step.

Subscribers this week read our quarterly Getting Real with Real Estate feature, looking at the rise of Marathon County home prices:

And our feature on what has happened with the Rib Mountain State Park Master Plan, and why there might not be much progress for awhile:

What else in Wausau?

Survey shows support for air show, but negative impacts: A survey about Wings Over Wausau showed a majority of residents support the event, but also highlighted concerns and areas for improved communication. District 1 City Council Member Carol Lukens sought the survey after controversy around noise and disruption in the southeast side neighborhood surfaced the weekend of the event. While 83% of the nearly 400 people who responded said they support the event, the survey also highlighted concerns about noise, especially the fighter jets. Lukens forwarded suggestions to the event organizers, which included getting better heads up about jet flyby times, including training runs; involving city and neighborhood leadership in planning; reviewing parking and traffic; and better trash management. Lukens told The Wausonian she didn’t receive a response from organizers about the survey and her suggestions.

Assisted living facility planned for former Graebel building: Demolition began this month on the former Graebel Van Lines building downtown. A senior housing facility is planned to go in its place. The city’s plan commission held a public hearing for an assisted living facility that will go next to the senior housing complex. No one from the public spoke about the project, which would add 25 beds next to the 70-unit senior housing facility called Grant Place. Construction on Grant Place is expected to start in early to mid-August, with work on the assisted living facility to start later in the fall. The Plan Commission will take up whether or not to approve a conditional use permit for the assisted living facility next month.

Riverlife Apartments sold: The first complete apartment project in the city’s flagship development area, Riverlife Apartments, sold earlier this month, according to real estate records. The apartments were developed by Bob Ohde, Mitch Viegut and Fernando Riveron. The property sold for $14.9 million to VT Riverlife LLC, registered to Venkata Thota of Mequon. Earlier city records estimated the cost at roughly $8 million, with an initial assessed value of just under $11 million.

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Around the metro

Weston approves fixing leaking pool as costs add up: The village of Weston approved the next step in repairing its leaking aquatic center, but that came amid growing concerns about how much the pool has been costing. The village has already spent $100,000 on pool repairs this year, and an assessment in 2017 projected the center to cost $1-$2 million in future repairs. A new facility, however, would likely cost $20 million. The board approved $12,000 to contract with Neumann Aquatics to find the leak in a supply pipe to the aquatic center’s play structure.

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Business

Story Cellar now open in downtown location: The Story Cellar recently moved into its downtown Wausau location. The used and new bookstore previously operated on Callon Street on the city’s near west side. The store opened on Thursday, just in time for the second Wausau Night Market of the year.

Copper Kettle given 60-day extension for Whiskey River revamp: The city’s Public Safety Committee granted a 60-day extension to the new Copper Kettle Steakhouse. The new steakhouse is going into the former Whiskey River location. The new business’ owner, Bob Lamovec, told the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee that construction was delayed because all the liens and taxes connected to the previous business needed to be settled. Although the business applied for a 90-day extension, Lamovec said he didn’t need that much time and ultimately the committee granted a 60-day extension.

Entertainment

Blues Fest is some weekends away, but you can get a preview as Blues Fest veteran Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys take the stage at Cheek’s. Plus, the infamous Paddle Pub Crawl, local jazz legend Janet Planet, Christmas in July and more in Your Wausome Weekend Guide!

Sports

College baseball: The Wausau Woodchucks blasted past the Duluth Huskies 13-3 Tuesday as the Woodchucks have won six of their last seven games. The Chucks are second only to the Lakeshore Chinooks, with a 12-6 record in the Great Lakes North division of the Northwoods League. They played the Chinooks again late Wednesday.

College softball: The Wausau Ignite beat the Madison Night Mares 12-6 on the road Monday and have won three of their last four games, continuing a turnaround from a slow start to their season. The Ignite now have a winning record at 18-16, half a game behind the Grand Forks Spitfires, but 10 games out of first place.

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