Weekly Wausonian | Patient dies in ambulance crash
Weekly Wausonian | Patient dies in ambulance crash
Wausau news for Nov. 4, 2021
A 72-year-old man is dead following an ambulance crash on Scott Street downtown last week.
The man died after the Riverside Fire District Ambulance he was being transported in crashed at the intersection of Scott and First streets. The ambulance driver was cited for failing to observe a stop light. Although ambulances are allowed to run red lights and exceed speed limits in an emergency, they must still do so in a way that doesn’t endanger others, Wausau Police Chief Ben Bliven told The Wausonian.
Others involved in the crash sustained injuries, but none were life-threatening, police say. The crash is still under investigation.
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What else in Wausau?
The Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau hired a new director. Tim White will take over the embattled organization, which came under fire after Wausau leaders alleged director Dick Barrett kept money from Expedia meant for the city. Numerous municipalities dropped as a result. White will be rebuilding the organization, which hasn’t had a director since January, including the renovation of a new facility off the highway and adding staff.
The city’s Public Health and Safety Committee Monday revoked the liquor license of Sixth Street Pub . The pub hadn’t been open substantially since August of 2020, due to the owner’s health issues and trouble finding employees. The city council still needs to make the final decision.
A former teacher at Maine Elementary pleaded not guilty last week to charges of possession of child pornography. Kristopher Edwards faces 20 counts of possession of child porn following a task force investigation. Edwards was the sole target of the investigation and, according to police, no local children were involved.
Although candidates can’t start circulating nomination papers until Dec. 1, one candidate has already announced a run for Wausau School Board. Wausau West grad Kayley McColley, 21, is running for the board next year. McColley already started fundraising, citing the three conservative new school board members who raised collectively $30,000 in their successful races in what became a contentious race.
Around the metro
A Marathon County jury last week found Cindy Schulz-Juedes guilty of murdering her husband in the town of Hull in 2006. Schulz-Juedes was arrested in 2019 following a cold case investigation. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set, according to court records.
A man was arrested in Merrill after spraying deputies with pepper spray and fleeing in a high-speed pursuit. A deputy pulled the man over in Tomahawk. The man sprayed him and fled, running over several tire deflation devices before coming to a stop in a yard in Merrill. He sprayed another deputy while being arrested.
Business
Taste of Jamaica opened in the cafe at UWSP—Wausau. So far people are really liking it. Check out their Facebook page for more details.
Patina Coffeehouse has new owners, and a new name. The business will now be called Tucknee Coffee Co.
Entertainment
If you have never been to the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, you’re missing out on a place that’s put Wausau on the national art scene map. Seriously, WMOCA has appeared in national magazines and newspapers and some big name artists have already come to town. Starting today is WMOCA’s Annual National Juried Exhibit, in its fifth year of celebrating competing art from around the country. The gallery is open noon-5 pm, Tues.—Sat.
Windsor Drive is probably the most famous band from Wausau right now - and they’re back for a show at Whitewater Music Hall starting 7 pm Friday. They got their start in 2006, have played with multiple big names, headlined tours in Japan and played on the Vans Warped Tour. They took a break but launched a comeback in 2019 with a new album - so come see them in Whitewater Music Hall’s indoor music venue as one of its first indoor shows in some time. $10, 21+ only. See the music hall’s event page for more details.
If you’re looking for something to do with the kiddos this weekend, check out Fall Family Festival in Mosinee. Check out the festival Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, with lunch between 11-1 pm. Bounce houses, face painting and other kid activities will keep the little tikes active. See the Fall Festival Facebook page for all the details.
Sports
D.C. Everest Volleyball’s post-season run has come to an end. The Evergreens lost to River Falls last week, dropping in three sets to end the match. River Falls went on to become the Sectional 1 champion.
Wausau East Track Coach and assistant football coach Mark Ekiss was named Coach of the Week by the Green Bay Packers last week. Ekiss told WAOW that he thought it was a scam when he first got the call, but the team honored him for his work on and off the field.
On the pod
This week, yours truly was a podcast guest instead of a podcast host! Actually I also appeared on an episode of the Rebel Entrepreneur podcast but that hasn’t come out yet. Check out my conversation on local journalism with author Chris Gerboth!
Thanks for reading The Wausonian! As always, if you got a hot tip for The Wausonian or a correction to point out, let me know at keepitwausome@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!