City Pages | 040220 | We have community spread

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April 2–9, 2020

“WE HAVE COMMUNITY

SPREAD

AND PEOPLE NEED TO ASSUME IT’S EVERYWHERE” Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Marathon County include a Mount View Care nursing home employee, just days after stricter rules close playgrounds and other outdoor facilities by B.C. Kowalski Three additional people in Marathon County tested positive for the coronavirus in a single day, on Wednesday, bringing the total confirmed number of cases in the county to seven.

An employee of a county run nursing home in Wausau is among those who a few days earlier had tested positive for COVID-19, or the coronavirus. North

Central Health Care officials confirmed that case, announced Sunday, was an employee of its Mount View Care Center located in the city’s southeast side. That employee was the second confirmed case in the county, as officials continue to increase measures to slow the spread, including closing all playgrounds and moving some polling places for the April 7 election. continues on 2

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According to NCHC, the employee was asymptomatic when they came to work on March 22, but developed symptoms while working that day’s shift. The employee notified management of the symptoms and was immediately sent home to quarantine. NCHC officials learned Saturday, March 28 that the employee had tested positive for COVID-19.

NCHC has taken precautions as other medical facilities are, says Jessica Meadows, communications director for NCHC. All employees go through a screening questionnaire each day and have their temperature checked. Those whose temperature tests over 100° are immediately sent home.

That’s put a strain on staff working as more and more employees are sent home out of precaution. And appointments are being handled over telemedicine — even for people who don’t have internet access, NCHC will direct them to a room at their facility where they can meet online with a doctor.

NCHC CEO Michael Loy said in a press teleconference that NCHC employees still on site are all wearing facemasks, and residents at the home must wear masks when leaving their rooms. Many of the facility’s patients have dementia and that can add a challenge too, Loy says. “But it’s important to not let fear grab ahold of us.

This too shall pass.”

When that case was detected over the weekend, Marathon County Health Department’s Coronavirus Public Information

◄ “This is not confined to one municipality,” says Judy Burrows of the Marathon County Health Department

Officer Judy Burrows said it indicated community spread — meaning the source of the infection is unknown. In the following days, as the number of cases rose to seven, Burrows has been more definitive. The health department is not saying where the infected persons live or work (except in the case of the NCHC employee) because that could be a means of identifying someone in a small community, Burrows says.

“This is not confined to one municipality. We have community spread and people need to assume it’s everywhere and do what they can to protect themselves from coming into contact with COVID-19,” Burrow says.

As of April 1, there were 1,550 confirmed cases statewide, and 24 deaths.

Portage County last week reported its first confirmed case. Lincoln County, as of Wednesday, had no reported cases.

Mielke for Mayor Means:

Measured Mature Proven

Wisconsin’s Safer-at-Home emergency order to slow the spread of the coronavirus was expanded last week to include some outdoor activities.

That resulted in playgrounds closing in the Wausau area starting Thursday.

Wausau-Marathon County Parks workers put up signs closing the playgrounds on Thursday, says Assistant Director of Operations Greg Friex. Workers also put up signs on all the tennis and pickleball courts, and disc golf courses.

Though the playground equipment is off limits, Friex says parks remain open. And plenty of people have been using them.

“I’ve never seen so many people out and about,” Friex says. “They want to be out.”

Wausau’s Riverlife Park playground has been one of the biggest challenges, Friex says, with so many entrances to it — they recently put up signs everywhere they could think of. At other playgrounds, such as at Alexander Airport Park, only one sign could be found and a person could easily miss it.

“It’s our job to inform people [about the closures],” Friex says. “As far as enforcement, that’s up to someone higher up.”

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April 2–9, 2020

METRO BRiEFS

by B.C. Kowalski

Police investigating coronavirus-related harassment

Hmong residents reporting incidents ranging from personal aggression to objects thrown at their cars and homes The Wausau Police Department and

Marathon County Sheriff’s Office are looking into claims that Hmong residents are being harassed and discriminated against because of the coronavirus.

Sheriff Scott Parks says his office is investigating at least one instance of criminal-level discrimination and learning of others. “The people you are targeting have nothing to do with this crisis and are suffering through the various restrictions as much as you are,” Parks wrote in a lengthy post to his Facebook page. “In fact, they are suffering even more as they live in the added fear they will be attacked for no other reason than their culture.”

The incidents are believed to stem from the increasingly heard slang term “China virus,” which President Donald Trump has used repeatedly, but has defended as not being racist because “It comes from China, that’s why. It comes from China,” Trump said in a mid-March White House news briefing.

Hmong American Center Executive Director Yee Leng Xiong tells City Pages that his office in Wausau has received numerous reports of harassment toward people of Southeast Asian descent since the coronavirus pandemic set in— ranging from micro-aggressions to people throwing things at cars and homes.

Xiong says the center is advising people to report the incidents to local law enforcement. But often those types of incidents are hard to prove; to his knowledge no one in Marathon County has been charged with a hate crime to date.

Election campaigning just isn’t the same

Wausau Mayoral challenge Katie Rosenberg says she has had to bring her campaign almost completely digital. She’s got stacks of fliers she expected to hand out — now they’re of little use. Going door to door to meet voters, a crucial part of any campaign, is now impossible with social distancing measures in place.

Last week, Rosenberg was writing campaign chalk messages on sidewalks, one of the few things she could do to remind voters of the April 7 election.

Rosenberg received some criticism for announcing her candidacy so early last year, but in retrospect that’s looking like a good move. “I’ve been knocking on doors since October — I’m glad I started early.”

For incumbent Mayor Robert Mielke, there hasn’t been a lot of campaigning going on, mainly because he and city hall have been so focused on dealing with

the coronavirus pandemic and the city’s response to it. Mielke says Sunday was his first day off in about three weeks, because city officials have been working weekends to develop their coronavirus emergency planning. “There are things right now that are a little more important than trying to win an election,” Mielke says.

In the 7th Congressional District race — a May 12 special election to fill the seat vacated by Sean Duffy — Democratic candidate Trica Zunker of Wausau has been holding virtual fundraisers, virtual roundtables, and Facebook Live town halls. One she held on Monday night, for instance, featured a chat to talk about issues surrounding COVID-19 (the illness caused by the novel coronavirus).

Prior to the Safer-at-Home shutdown, she’d put thousands of miles on her car reaching voters across the sprawling district covering northern Wisconsin. “People have been showing up energized for this campaign since the start and they continue to show up energized online,” Zunker says.

Republican candidate Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst tells City Pages he most likes meeting with voters face to face, but has switched to doing what he can via phone, radio and online. A Facebook Live town hall is planned soon, he says. “Our grassroots volunteers have also been great

stepping up, making phone calls, sending post cards,” Tiffany said in a statement.

Mielke says he was disappointed the governor and Wisconsin Elections Commission didn’t take steps to postpone the April elections. Since the Congressional special election is May 12, it would have made some sense to hold the local and statewide April elections on that day too.

See page 5 for more information about the Tuesday, April 7 elections, including early/absentee voting.

County projected to lose more than $1 million in sales tax

A data analytics firm projects Marathon County will lose more than $1 million in sales tax revenue as the result of the coronavirus shutdown. Forward Analytics out of Madison projects that $1 million as a conservative estimate. A protracted estimate puts the number at $1.5 million.

The analysis looked at each county in Wisconsin, and put Marathon County — which charges 0.5% —in the top ten sales tax revenue loss. Lincoln is projected to lose $187,048 to $285,000, and Portage County losing $576,000 to $865,000 this year.

Spirits and sanitizer

Timekeeper Distillery switches to making hand-sanitzer during the coronavirus emergency, and can’t keep up with demand Like most establishments that serve alochol, Timekeeper Distillery in Wausau closed last week in response to the coronavirus social distancing emergency. But owner Dan Weber is still busy. His distilling equipment that once turned out whiskies, bourbons, gins and vodkas is now cranking out hand sanitizer.

Distilleries are uniquely equipped to make liquid sanitizer, since it’s essentially an alcohol, which distilleries are licensed to make and blend, Weber says.

Normally there are extra federal licensing requirements to make the substance, but sanitizer is in short supply as the entire country deals with the coronavirus pandemic. The federal government relaxed rules so that distilleries could start making the product to address the high demand.

Great Northern Distillery in Plover is also making hand sanitizer, as have most others. According to the Wisconsin Distillers Guild, roughly 75% of the state’s 30 distilleries have switched to making hand-sanitizer.

Weber says it now takes about a week to complete a batch of hand sanitizer, but he hopes to keep tweaking the process to get that down to about three or four days. The distillery, located in the historic train depot on Grant Street, currently is producing about 150 gallons per week; at peak, Weber hopes to reach closer to 40-50 gallons per day.

Timekeeper has seen so many requests for hand sanitizer that Weber is currently backordered. He’s

been selling mostly to local operations like manufacturers, nursing homes and trucking businesses.

They’re bottling the product in all different sizes, from 12-ounce bottles a truck driver might keep in his or her cab, to five gallon containers for a business with its own dispensers.

Hand sanitizer isn’t the only way Timekeeper has been keeping itself in business. Its liquors and batch cocktails are still sold in stores and they’ve been selling bottles through driveup service on some Fridays and Saturdays. Timekeeper has a pretty extensive inventory, Weber says, but eventually they will run out since the distillery has completely switched over to hand sanitizer.

But the switch has helped Timekeeper maintain some business during the shutdown and the drive up sales at least help staff get some hours during the shutdown. “That’s a really hard conversation to have with 10-14 people, letting them know unfortunately, temporarily their services wouldn’t be required,” Weber says. “As soon as we can open we will bring everyone back on board.”

Timekeeper announces its Friday and Saturday pickups on its Facebook page. In the meantime, Weber looks forward to getting back to distilling those gins, vodkas, bourbons and whiskies. “I think once we’re back in business, we will back away from the sanitizers,” Weber says.

April 2–9, 2020

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CANDiDATE PROFiLES

by B.C. Kowalski

More local races for the April 7 election This week we profile the races and candidates for Wausau School Board, Rib Mountain Town Board, and Weston Village Board

Wausau School Board

Rib Mountain Town Board

School district boards are obviously focused on education, but also represent a significant portion of your local property tax bill, and school board members represent a large number of constituents crossing municipal boundaries. The nine at-large members of the Wausau School District represent taxpayers in the city of Wausau, town of Rib Mountain, and several other surrounding communities. For the April 7 election, voters will choose the top three of four candidates to fill the three seats up for election this year.

Current board member Jeff Leigh, whose term is up this year, is not seeking re-election.

There’s guaranteed to be at least one new face on the board this spring.

Two seats on the five-person board are up for election, but even the two challengers are familiar to many: Dan Fiorenza, who many know from his years with the Wausau-Marathon County Parks and Recreation and speed skating club; and John Happli, who once served on the town’s fire department. They will take on incumbent Gerry Klein, who works as the city-county IT executive.

KA LO, CONSUMER RESOURCE SPECIALIST Lo, 37, is a Marathon County Board member and became interested in running for school board after learning about low enrollments in the secondary schools and wanting to strengthen the relationship between the district and those schools. Her top issues are improving teacher/staff morale, ensuring that diversity and inclusion remain a priority, and educating taxpayers about where their money is being spent and what the district is doing. She also wants to improve communication. Lo is known for not mincing words, and wants to use her voice to advocate for evidence based policy.

LEE WEBSTER (incumbent), FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Webster is seeking his second term. He touts the district’s fiscally responsibility and is passionate about its work on a strategic plan. His top priorities are working around the current coronavirus pandemic, addressing students’ mental health needs, and recruiting/ retaining the best teachers. Webster didn’t agree with how the district handled changes to its human growth and development curriculum (known colloquially as sex ed); while he liked many of the changes, he wanted schools to promote the advantages of marriage. Webster touts his experience as a social worker and his belief in traditional values as reasons to vote for him.

LANCE TROLLOP (incumbent), ATTORNEY Trollop, 44, has served nine years on the board (he’s seeking a fourth term), currently as treasurer and serving as board president in the past. He first ran for office in 2011 because he believes in public service and strong public education. Trollop resisted naming top priorities because so many issues are important, but says that attracting and retaining high quality teachers, student behavior (there has been improvement but more work is needed, Trollop says), and exploring another referendum while still keeping a flat tax rate, are high priorities. He says the board has done things he disagreed with, but declines to list specifics, saying most decisions comes from plenty of discussion and compromise. Trollop touts his experience as a main reason to re-elect him.

CODY NIKOLAI, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON Nikolai, 46, says he’s running because he believes that maintaining a great education system is the best way Wausau will continue being a great community people want to live in and move to. His top priorities are maintaining great teachers, developing jobready curriculum, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. Nikolai praised the current school board as hard working but says a recent decision to pass the human growth and development curriculum was rushed through without listening to legitimate concerns. Nikolai grew up in Marathon County, lives in Wausau and wants to make the city a better place.

DANIEL FIORENZA, RETIRED PARKS MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR Fiorenza, 55, knows government, through in his former jobs with the city/ county Parks and Recreation Department, and volunteer work. Fiorenza’s top priorities are maintaining responsible spending, sound planning for the town’s future, and managing its natural resources for future generations. Fiorenza didn’t cite anything with the past board that he disagreed with. He cites his 29-year experience leading initiatives to improve government efficiencies and takes pride in being a good steward of public dollars.

JOHN HAPPLI, SELF-EMPLOYED Happli, 54, has always been interested in town politics and says everyone should do their part for the town. He lists his top priorities as the ski hill expansion, the economic impact of stores closing on Rib Mountain Drive, and public safety. In town government, Happli says that though closed session meetings sometime are necessary, there have been too many in the past year. He feels residents deserve to be informed. Happli says he wants to bring change and a fresh perspective to the board.

GERARD KLEIN (incumbent), IT EXECUTIVE Klein, 55, wants to help continue the town’s work to keep taxes low, with good residential and commercial growth, and quality shopping, trails, parks and low crime. Klein’s top priorities are maintaining a good balance of road repair versus helping to fund new growth; working with developers on bringing in new single family development; and attracting and retaining excellent staff, which the town currently has Klein says. He says current town board members have very similar visions and he didn’t disagree with much the board has done. He cites his professional leadership, budgeting and management background as reasons voters should choose him. continues on 6

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April 2–9, 2020

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APRiL 7 ELECTiON

by B.C. Kowalski

Pandemic voting The April 7 elections are still on (as of this printing), but early/absentee voting face challenges The coronavirus pandemic is having a big impact on elections. Turnout might not be one of them.

Already, as of last Friday afternoon, some 7,600 people had voted in the city of Wausau via absentee ballot and early voting, according to data provided by city clerk Leslie Kremer. Of those, 4,995 were for the April ballot (which includes elections for mayor and city council), and another 3,625 for the May 12 special election for the 7th Congressional District seat.

Kremer says that early/absentee voting is trending higher than usual for a spring election. The nearly 5,000 Wausau voters for the April ballot is nearly half the total voter turnout in Wausau’s last mayoral election, in 2016.

Numbers of absentee ballots are high in Weston as well. The village has received 1,700 absentee ballots so far.

The coronavirus shutdown and social distancing rules are affecting polling locations and poll workers too. Wausau has lost roughly half its usual complement of 90 poll workers, Kremer says.

And Wausau recently had to relocated three polling places. Voters in District 3 and 10 will go to the Marathon Park MultiPurpose building instead of East Gate Hall.

District 6 voters will go to the same MultiPurpose building instead of Wausau East High School. Voters in District 7 and 8 will use St. Mark’s Lutheran Church instead of Wausau West High School.

All other locations will remain the same, city officials say, though more changes could become necessary.

All of the village of Weston’s voting locations were moved to Dale’s Weston Lanes. Two of its four polling places —

Greenheck Field House and Key to Life — are closed because of the coronavirus, says Village Clerk Sherry Weinkauf.

Many other area communities are in need of poll workers, according to Marathon County Clerk Kim Trueblood.

Rothschild, Elderon, Guenther, Hull, town of Marathon, Ringle and Kronenwetter are all looking for help. “Compared to some counties, we’re really in good shape and we’ll continue to be if we can keep this information before the public,” Trueblood wrote in an email.

Voters can still vote early in person until Friday at their municipal clerk’s office, and have until Thursday, April 2 to request an absentee ballot be sent to them.

But even in-person early voting can be challenging because of limited public hours. Wausau City Hall is open for early voting 11 am–1 pm. In Weston, those wanting to vote in person are advised to ring the doorbell at the village hall.

Entry is limited to four voters at a time.

Other municipalities’ early voting hours may vary; check with your local clerk.

For other information, go to myvote.wis.gov.

Meanwhile on the state level, WisPolitics.com reports that Gov. Tony Evers is recommending a federal judge order Wisconsin to conduct the April 7 ballot largely by mail while moving back deadlines for voters to request absentee ballots, as well as for clerks to receive and process them. The Elections Commission said Tuesday that nearly 60% of Wisconsin municipalities are short poll workers. And 111 jurisdictions say they don’t have enough staff for even one polling place.

Please vote for Wausau’s future on April 7!

Vote Katie Rosenberg.

If you elect me I will focus on: • Robust economic development criteria • Partnership development to find economies of scale • Comprehensive infrastructure & facilities planning • Retiring debt • Diversity, inclusion, & belonging strategy • Evidence-based decision making • Resiliency & continuity planning

Paid for by Rosenberg for Wausau, Cindy Zriny Treasurer

Katie Rosenberg:

www.RosenbergForWausau.com Katie Rosenberg:

PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL ARTS!

PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL ARTS! RosenbergForWausau.com Paid for by Rosenberg for Wausau, Cindy Zriny Treasurer

Help Lives Here RosenbergForWausau.com Paid for by Rosenberg for Wausau, Cindy Zriny Treasurer

From the Attorney’s Desk

by Jason Krautkramer, J.D.

ECKERT & KRAUTKRAMER, LLC 325 N. 1st Ave., Suite 1 • Wausau, WI 715-842-0907 • jason@eckertlawllc.com

Business Considerations Due to COVID-19 Here are some tips and strategies to help your business navigate these challenging times.

The CDC recommends exploring creating policies, such as flexible worksites (e.g., telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), to increase the physical distance between employees and others.

Review your contracts to determine the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted either party’s ability to complete tasks, whether the contract has provisions that address potential delays, and how a party may terminate or require performance of the contract. This likely involves the common force majeure provision.

Small businesses that need financial assistance may be eligible for small business loans with interest rates as low as 3.75 percent. You should also consider ways to increase income, decrease costs, and explore other revenue streams to offset potential losses.

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One thing has not changed amidst the Covid-19 pandemic....

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Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

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This isn’t the record-setting contest of two years ago, when nine people ran for three seats, prompting a primary contest. But the trend of contested races continues as one political newcomer joins the fray, as well as one former board member who recently served by appointment on the Marathon County Board. For the April 7 election, Weston voters will choose three winners from the five contestants.

The Camp Phillips Centre project is a hot topic among candidates, as well as the proposed baseball complex. Both were scrapped by the village board this year. And newcomers will join a board that saw the resignation of its previous village administrator, Daniel Guild, who originally was suspended for 30 days for reasons not made public, though a poor performance report was included in a records release. At least one candidate questioned that lack of transparency.

MARK F. MALONEY (incumbent) HOOSHANG ZEYGHAMI (incumbent), ENGINEER DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SALES, RUSS DAZeyghami wants to use his experience as VIS WHOLESALE/CRAZY FRESH PRODUCE Maloney, 60, ran two years ago on a coan engineer involved in village projects campaign with current village president to serve the community. His top prioriWally Spark, and Maloney enjoys finding ties are maintaining services while dealing with rising operation costs; keeping solutions based on common sense. His streets clean and improving water quality; top priorities are affordable housing, improving infrastructure and facilities, and and updating the village’s infrastructure. fostering more shared services with other Zeyghami says he would have liked the municipalities. Maloney says the board has Camp Phillips project handled differentimproved significantly in the past two years ly—namely, all the wetland issues taken and is no longer blindly following its admincare of before a developer was brought in (the wetlands permits still hadn’t been istrator—an issue he and Sparks ran on.

He says the village is more engaged with its obtained, five years after project plantaxpayers and is working with the business ning began). Zeyghami says he was the community more effectively. Maloney touts tie-breaking vote to keep Weston from his conservative fiscal approach and ability participating in uniform addressing, and touts his three years of experience as a vilto bridge opposing opinions. lage board member.

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LOREN WHITE RETIRED EVEREST METRO DEPUTY CHIEF, WESTON FIRE ADMINISTRATIVE CHIEF AND EMT Although a challenger this time, White, 68, has served on the village board before, until losing his seat in 2018. White wants to establish an elected officials handbook for the village and to focus on economic development. His top priorities are maintaining infrastructure and public safety services, fostering economic growth, and finding development for the land Weston bought for the baseball complex that was ultimately scrapped. White thought the purchase of a site for a new municipal center was hasty, and that the board should have looked at sites the village already owns. White touts his government experience, including four terms on the board and a recent term on the Marathon County Board.

YEE LENG XIONG (incumbent), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HMONG AMERICAN CENTER Xiong, 25, who also serves on the D.C. Everest School Board and the Marathon County Board, says he wants to continue serving the community he lives in. He wants to work more closely with other municipalities on shared services; to continue fostering growth in the Camp Phillips Centre as the retail portion was recently scrapped; and to look more closely at crime and mental health challenges. In the past he questioned why the board spent as much time as it has focusing on micro-managing operations when it should focus on policy. He applauds recent moves toward transparency, such as live-streaming meetings through public access. Xiong touts his stance on transparency, listening to constituents and ability to get things done.

STEVEN CRONIN, OWNER OF EVEREST PARTY RENTALS Cronin, 28, first became interested in running because of the lack of progress and cooperation on the Camp Phillips Centre project, which has since been scrapped. His top priorities are responding to the village’s continued growth; seeing some good come out of the Camp Phillips Centre project (there still could be individual projects); and public safety, including righting the ship at SAFER Fire District, which he says is struggling with finances and staffing. Cronin says he disagreed with the way the situation was handled with the former village administrator, especially the lack of transparency. He touts his experience as a small business owner and wants to see the community he lives and raises a family in prosper.

North Central Health Care is still here for YOU! North Central Health Care’s Crisis Center remains open 24/7 and will help assess your situation and ensure you receive the support, counseling and resources that you need. No one should have to manage a crisis alone...ever.

While our Outpatient Services Clinics have temporarily suspended Group Services, we remain open and are keeping all appointments as scheduled. We have begun providing TeleHealth for your mental health, substance abuse and psychiatry needs. You can conduct your appointment from the comfort of your own home.

If you choose to come into the office, additional health care screenings have been implemented for the health and safety of you and our staff.

There is hope. We are confident.

NCHC Crisis and Emergency Services are available to people of ALL AGES, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone and walk-in. No appointment needed.

24-Hour Crisis & Suicide Prevention Hotline 1.800.799.0122 or 715.845.4326 24-Hour Crisis Center – 1100 Lake View Drive, Wausau

www.norcen.org

Serving Marathon, Lincoln and Langlade Counties

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April 2–9, 2020

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outdoor & recreation

HIGH LIGHTS compiled by Kayla Zastrow

One thing we can still do while preventing the coronavirus pandemic is go outside.

With extreme caution. Under the statewide safer-at-home rules, some outdoor activities are prohibited until the emergency order ends on April 24. Here’s a list of outdoor do’s and don’ts.

Parks & Boating

Youth baseball/softball

Outdoor activity is deemed essential in the safer-at-home order. If you want to get out of the house, head to a local park or trail to walk, bike or hike. And all entry fees have been waived to Wisconsin state parks, trails and forests. Which means you don’t need a state park sticker to drive up to Rib Mountain State Park. That said, park offices, visitor centers, and non-essential building are closed. And at any kind of park (including school grounds), most structural amenities are closed and off-limits—playground equipment, skateboard parks, tennis and pickleball courts, and disc golf courses. But, Marathon County Park boat launches are open. The ones at Bluegill, DC Everest, Lisa’s Landing and Big Eau Pleine Reservoir and Big Eau Pleine parks now have docks in. $6 daily pass, $30 annual sticker. For details call 715-261-1550. While visiting parks and trails, remember to remain six feet apart from other people.

Individuals may not engage in team or contact sports such as basketball, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, football, etc. This means that local sports, such as Wausau Area Youth Baseball & Fastpitch Softball, must make adjustments to their spring/summer schedules. Under the guidance from the international league, local youth baseball and softball are advised to suspend activities until May 11. Luckily, the dates only impose issues with tryouts and practices, not yet interfere with initial game schedules. According to a Facebook post, the Wausau area leagues intend to be flexible in scheduling, including starting the season later and running longer into the summer, if needed.

“Let Wisconsin Golf”

One of Wausau’s best outdoor places for a walk is now closed, even though it remained open in the beginning of this shutdown. Monk Gardens saw a contamination issue with the gate handle that everyone touches to access the garden, as well as some of the buildings and structures.

This is the time when golf courses are gearing up for their season. However, golf is not allowed under the safer-at-home order and courses have been directed to close or not open for now.

Other states under similar social distancing orders have been tackling the idea of allowing golf courses to operate. Ohio deemed golf courses could be open as long as golfers adhere to social distancing guidelines. Minnesota and Michigan have closed courses.

Wisconsin golfers are unhappy with the decision and have created a “Let Wisconsin Golf” petition on change.org that has 59,000 signatures as of Wednesday. The petition offers a solution: Allow golfing, keep clubhouses closed, electronic payment only, no golf carts allowed, and no touching flag sticks.

Monk Botanical Gardens now closed

Want to head up north? Just don’t The tourist-heavy counties of Door, Vilas, Oneida, Ashland, Sawyer and Bayfield all are urging people to not head to their cabins or second homes up north. In a travel advisory, Vilas County cites its limited healthcare infrastructure, such as few ICU beds, and a high population of older year-round residents they want to keep healthy.

Authorized and paid for by candidate April 2–9, 2020

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Take Out Mexican Taco Station

Help wanted

for established & professional lawn care and painting company.

For more details call Ken 715.370.1665 days, 715.355.4504 after 6 pm.

Patti Hoerter, FIC , RICP® Financial Associate 2004 County Rd U (Next to Sound World) Wausau, WI 54401 715-571-2171 27193 R3-14

BALLROOM DANCING

Michael J. Haight, AAMS® Financial Advisor

214 Grand Avenue, Wausau, WI 54403 715-848-8080 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

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Claire Smith REALTOR

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Call or email to run your card here!

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Retail Wine & Gift Shoppe • Specialty Cheeses Featuring Woodland Trail Winery

3708 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau

On-line Classes for Home and Office Yoga & Mind-Body Practices with Local Teachers You Trust www.5koshasyoga.com/yoga/class-schedule/ • 715.298.1954 • office@5koshasyoga.com

Online Counseling

In the convenience of your home or office • Over 4 years of experience in telehealth • Confidential and secure/HIPAA compliant platform • Real-time meetings with your counselor

Freshen cold weather bedding and musty basement material Get it all done at once!

Large Load Machines Softened Water • Clean Facility

*Most insurance plans now accepting online counseling

Laundry Room SELF-SERVICE LAUNDROMAT laundryroomwausau.com Wausau 715.842.9500 • Plover 715.544.6144

wibehavioralhealth.com

1419 Neupert Ave, Schofield Across from Kwik Trip off Bus. Hwy. 51

Accepting Debit/Credit Cards

Managing Covid-19 Anxiety For You

For Kids

-Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage -Connect with calls/ text/ internet -Plan for daily stress relief -Practice self-care -Focus on your mental health

-Reassure them that they’re safe -Let them talk about their worries -Share your own coping skills -Limit news exposure -Create routine & structure

For Quarantine/Isolation Keep in contact with loved ones via social media/texts/phone Create daily self-care routine • Stay busy: games, books, movies Focus on new relaxation techniques

Luxury Apartments Available for Leasing

Northwoods

Electronics Recycling has been temporarily suspended.

We’ll reopen at a future date for e-cycling.

Our Help Closet medical lending program is available by appointment only. Please call ahead.

Proceeds support local nonprofit

For more information visit N A MINOR T H WOODS.ORG 715.432.0180

Your STATE CERTIFIED electronics recycler

National Alliance on Mental Illness

1106 Fifth St., Wausau • 715-843-5985 • goodnewswi.com

NAMI.NORTHWOODS@GMAIL.COM

Now Offering Carryout & Curb Side Delivery Welcome home! Enjoy luxury living at The Reserve, a resort-inspired golf course community with beautiful residences and exceptional amenities. Contact our concierge today to schedule a tour of our spacious living accommodations!

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April 2 - 9, 2020

thereservewausau.com

319 4th St. | Wausau | (715) 574-8179

& Monday-Friday 11AM-3PM