Red margin | The Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of Nov. 7, 2024

Pat Snyder won his fifth term in office Tuesday, defeating challenger Yee Leng Xiong with 53% of the vote.

The margin was closer than any of Snyder’s previous wins for the office after the state maps were redrawn. Snyder himself had to move to remain in the 85th Assembly District, as the new maps drew him into another district.

Xiong spent nearly as much money as Snyder through the September reporting period, a Wausonian dive into campaign finance found.

Snyder’s win came on the backdrop of a national election night that largely went Republicans’ way, though Tammy Baldwin seems to have hung on to her Senate seat against challenger Eric Hovde. And Democrats gained three seats in the state senate.

And Republicans for local office walked into their offices uncontested, though some faced primary challenges. Kim Trueblood defeated Toshia Ronallo in August on her way to being re-elected to county clerk Tuesday. And Treasurer Connie Beyersdorf defeated challenger Jen Seliger in August before winning uncontested Tuesday.

Jennifer Lemmer was elected to the Register of Deeds Office and Kyle Mayo will be the new District Attorney, as current DA Theresa Wetzsteon elected not to run for office this term.

Subscribers this week read our Wausau Tavern Report, Hold my Beer:

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What else in Wausau?

DOJ election monitoring: The US Department of Justice announced Monday it would be monitoring elections in Wausau, as well as the towns of Lawrence and Thornapple. The DOJ didn’t say why it was monitoring elections in those areas, and the DOJ didn’t include contact for anyone who could answer follow-up questions.

Around the metro

Deputy scam: Marathon County Sheriff’s Office officials are warning of a scam in which people are pretending to be… Marathon County deputies. Callers in the scam say the victim owes money and could be arrested if they don’t immediately pay. The Sheriff warns that no one from their office will call and make that demand, especially demanding immediate payment under the threat of arrest.

Kronenwetter legal bills skyrocket: Legal bills have skyrocketed in the village, with totals reaching $120,000. And the village’s finance director resigned, at least the third person since 2020 to do so as department head turnover continues in the village. Read more in our look at what’s going on in Kronenwetter news.

Weston man who fired gun in domestic incident headed to prison: A Weston man who fired a gun during a domestic incident is headed to federal prison. A Western Federal District judge sentenced Shawn Hignite, 50, to three years of federal prison and three years of supervision. Hignite denied firing a gun when police were called to his Weston home in January, but after police during a search warrant found a loaded gun in his house and a spent shell casing in the backyard, prosecutors say, he admitted to shooting the gun. Hignite has already been convicted of a felony and thus was not allowed to own a gun.

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Entertainment

Friday, Nov. 8: Charlie Parr has been making his way to Wausau for some time now, and when he does, it’s always a big treat. Usually armed with his resonator guitar and a raspy, powerful voice, Parr looks like he emerged from a tent somewhere and then blows you away with his mastery of the bluegrass/folk genre. Remarkably, he’s never played Whitewater Music Hall before - but Friday that will change. Joined by Stovepipe Stephens, Parr will undoubtedly put on a performance you won’t soon forget. $20. 21+ Check out the event page for more.

Saturday, Nov. 9: I admit, I am shocked there are still tickets available to this. Put on by Evolutions in Design’s Randy Verhasselt, there are exactly 1,111 (get it, 11-11?) tickets to this big themed party where people dress up, there is music from Boogie and the YoYo’z, Miami’s Scott King and Underground DJs not to mention the now-famous balloon drop. The Grand becomes a giant dance party! It’s without a doubt the hottest party of the year, this year the theme is A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, and it’s the first time I have written about it because there are actually still tickets available. For now, at least. $57. Check out the event page here.

Sat.-Sun Nov. 9-10: Many of you out there are likely thinking of Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and New Year’s isn’t even on your radar yet. But for you Hmong readers out there know, the new year is right around the corner! This weekend is the Hmong New Year’s Celebration, with plenty of music, Hmong traditional dances, crafts and more, all celebrating the rich Hmong culture. This is an event to honor Hmong ancestors and honor the traditional harvest. But it’s also a heck of a good time. $5 each day. Children under 5 years old and under and seniors 65 and over are free. Check out the event page for more.

Looking for kids/family events? Check out the family-oriented listing from The Wausonian’s partner Wausau Mama, who puts together a weekly listing of children/family activities.

Sports

Football: D.C. Everest defeated Madison Memorial 45-24 Friday to advance to the next round of the WIAA playoffs. The Evergreens on Friday will take on No. 1-seeded Waunakee, which defeated Wausau West in the first round. A win over Waunakee and the winner of Bay Port vs. Marquette would qualify the Evergreens for the state tournament.

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