Theatre workshop offered for youth

Stevens Point–Budding actors and actresses will take the stage in a workshop offered by the Continuing Education Arts and Culture Outreach program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“Kidstage: Haiti Mon Amour” will be offered the Saturdays of November 13 and 20 from
9 a.m. to noon, with a performance on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. The workshop costs $39 and is open to youth ages 6 and up.

Kids will prepare their performance of an adaptation of the children’s book, “Haiti Mon Amour,” while learning basic theater terms, expressing their emotions to the audience through their body language, studying their lines and positions and most of all, having fun performing.

Instructor Kristin Martell, author of “Haiti Mon Amour,” is the classroom facilitator for the UWSP Foreign Language Department. She holds degrees in French and Russian.

To register or for more information, contact UWSP Continuing Education at 715-346-3838 or 800-898-9472 or go online to http://www.uwsp.edu/conted/aco.

UWSP Fire Crew and Wisconsin DNR train new class of firefighters this fall

Stevens Point–The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Fire Crew, with the help of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will conduct outdoor fire training for 72 UWSP students on Saturday, Oct. 30, on state land east of the town of Plover off County Road R.

The outdoor session is part of the requirements for a five-day Wildland Firefighter course that trains students in all aspects of firefighting in a wildland environment including meteorology, fire behavior, firefighter safety, firefighting tactics and equipment such as air tankers, bulldozers and fire engines. The training meets federal standards and will allow students who graduate from the course to work as entry-level wildland firefighters anywhere in the nation. Students participating are enrolled in Forestry 224, a Fire Operation course in the College of Natural Resources.

The outdoor training session will consist of the students extinguishing burning piles of wood, constructing a fire line to contain a fire, measuring weather conditions and using portable radios to transmit that information, using air photos and maps to navigate to find spot fires, and orienting students to the operations of bulldozers, fire engines and pumps.

The UWSP Fire Crew uses live fire as a training aid to increase the students’ understanding of course material. Do not call 911 if you see smoke in the area on this date.

Contact: Jeff Metcalf, fire crew public information officer, jmetc054@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2897.

Portage County unemployment drops to 5.7%

By Brian Kalish

Stevens Point— According to numbers released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on Wednesday, unemployment in Portage County for September 2010 was down by compared with the same month last year.  The unemployment rate fell to 5.7% in Portage  County.  That’s a slight improvement over the August, which saw unemployment in the county at 6.0%.

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman released preliminary September 2010 unemployment rates for Wisconsin cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.  Echoing previous comments printed in DWD press releases about the unemployment rate in Wisconsin, Gassman’s comments for September about the slight improvement in Wisconsin’s unemployment were cautiously optimistic.

“We saw unemployment rates decline in every metro area and nearly every major city and county in September,” Secretary Gassman said. “Wisconsin’s economy continues to show signs of recovery, but we have more work to do to help job seekers across the state find employment.”

The unemployment rate for the state is 7.8%, an improvement over September 2009 when it was 8.8%.

Upcoming UWSP student volunteer events in the community this fall

Stevens Point–Students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point are making a difference through volunteer initiatives through the Student Involvement and Employment Office (SIEO).

According to Shannon Williams, SIEO coordinator, hundreds of students will take part in various fall semester volunteer opportunities.

“We’re gearing up for another great year where students do their part to make Central Wisconsin a better place to live and work,” she said.

Fall events include:

Soda Pop Tab Collection for Ronald McDonald House
October 25 – 29
Tabs collected to provide free housing for families who have a sick child in Marshfield Hospital will be cashed in and donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Marshfield.
Contact Cari, sieococ@uwsp.edu

Intercity Impact
Weekend of October 29 – 31
Nine students have been attending workshops to learn about the root causes of poverty and
homelessness and will be volunteering in Milwaukee with various nonprofit agencies.

Service Saturday – Local Impact
Saturday, October 30, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Volunteers at Operation Bootstrap, Salvation Army Hope Center, or a community garden.

Service Saturday – Happy Mail
Saturday, November 13, 10 a.m. – noon, Upper DeBot Center
Students make cards and other crafts to brighten the day of a child with a serious or terminal illness.

Service Saturday – Build The Future
Saturday, November 20, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Students volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum

For more information about Service Saturdays, visit the Web, http://www.uwsp.edu/centers/sieo/volunteerism Contact: Bonnie at sieovol@uwsp.edu

Toys for Tots and Wooly Tree Drive
November 15 – December 10
New, unwrapped toys collected for Portage County children this holiday season.
Contact Cari, sieococ@uwsp.edu

Tickets available for The BoDeans rock band concert in November

Stevens Point–The BoDeans, a rock ‘n’ roll band from Waukesha, will give an acoustic flavor to their many hits and songs at a performance in Stevens Point on Monday, February 21, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sentry Theater.

The event is sponsored by Centertainment Productions at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Alternative Concert Group. Tickets are now on sale at the UWSP Information and Ticket Center in the Dreyfus University Center or by calling 800-838-3378. Cost is $34, $37, $40, or $43 plus service fees. All seating is reserved.

Since 1983 The BoDeans have performed in much of North America and Europe and remain Wisconsin’s best-known and most revered rock band.

In January 1987, a Rolling Stone reader poll voted the BoDeans the Best New American Band. Their 1993 song, “Closer to Free,” brought them to a much larger audience after it was selected as the theme song to the TV series, “Party of Five,” the song became the group’s biggest pop hit three years after its release. The group’s ninth album, “Mr. Sad Clown,” was released in April.

Safety first on Halloween



Stevens Point–Please remember these Halloween safety tips as children head out to go Trick or Treating on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.:

1. Try to Trick or Treat when it is still light outside.
2. Wear a costume that is easy to walk in, see from, and be seen in.
3. If you must Trick or Treat in the dark, make sure your costume is light in color.
4. Carry a flashlight with you so you can be easily seen.
5. Use reflective tape on your costume to be seen easier.
6. Use make-up instead of a mask.
7. If you are using a mask, make sure it fits properly and eye holes are large.
8. If someone older cannot go with you, Trick or Treat in a group.
9. Cross only at corners. Never cross between parked cars or at mid-block.
10. Tell your family which streets you will be Trick or Treating on.
11. If there are no sidewalks, always walk facing traffic.
12. Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat your treats.

The Stevens Point Police Department hopes that everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

SBDC director recognized for advancing area business

Stevens Point–The director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been recognized for her leadership in assisting about 300 small businesses get started and expand in the area over the last ten years.

Vicki Lobermeier received the 2010 Innovation Champions Award, given by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center, UW-Extension, the Wisconsin Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers. The award recognizes those who advance entrepreneurship in Wisconsin and its positive effects on communities. Lobermeier has worked at the SBDC for 19 years and has been its director for 14 years.

“This award really recognizes the UWSP center’s innovative efforts in serving small businesses in our nine-county service area,” said Lobermeier. “Business starts and growth have resulted and we can show a clear impact.”

Lobermeier likens her work throughout Central Wisconsin to grassroots economic development. She and SBDC counselor Mary Wescott meet individually with business owners and those looking to start a business for one-on-one counseling as well as offering a variety of services, including an Entrepreneurial Training Course, an automated resources phone line, the mapping of customer demographics and competitors through geographic information systems, and a variety of workshops and conferences.

“Economic development is at the heart of it,” said Lobermeier. “Starting businesses one by one jump starts our economy. What I like most about what I do is taking somebody from square one to actually opening up a business and seeing the growth in their knowledge.”

Lobermeier is a past recipient of the Association of Small Business Development Centers State Star Award and the Portage County Business Council’s Friend of Small Business Award. She founded the Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs-Central Chapter and has served as state board member of Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs, Inc. (now the National Association of Business Owners). She holds a bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire and a master’s from UWSP.

The SBDC at UWSP is one of 12 centers and three specialty centers throughout the state that offer no-cost counseling and business training to meet the needs of both beginning and experienced business owners in their area. For more information, call 715-346-3838 or 800-898-9472 or go online to http://www.uwsp.edu/conted/sbdc.

Wind storm historic in strength, will continue to batter area today

Stevens Point— Hurricane-like winds raked the Midwest yesterday and will continue to cause problems in central Wisconsin through today, according to a report from the National Weather Service.  Wind speeds in the Wisconsin Rapids-Stevens Point area gusted to as high as 53 miles per hour yesterday and caused periodic loss of power to residents both in town and in outlying areas.  Wisconsin Public Service is reporting that approximately 46,000 customers are without electricity this morning.  Merrill, Tomahawk, Rhinelander, Wabeno and Miocqua were the hardest-hit areas.

The wind storm is being called one of the most powerful in the history of the region.  Pressure associated with the storm dropped to 28.38 in Superior yesterday, the lowest ever recorded.

The National Weather service says that strong to damaging winds will continue to hit the area with sustained winds of 25-40 miles per hour and gusts up to 60 miles per hour.  A high wind warning remains in effect until this evening.  The winds will continue to have the potential to down tree branches and power lines and make driving high profile vehicles difficult, especially on north-south running roadways.

The winds are expected to die down a bit this evening, but will continue into early Thursday.

Plover woman killed in rollover crash

Plover— On Friday, October 22, Portage County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a one car rollover crash which occurred on US Highway 10 near Deer Road.  A Ford Focus, driven by a 27-year-old female identified as Debbie J. Schmude, drifted onto the left shoulder and into the grassy median where it appeared to have over corrected to the right, causing the vehicle to roll over at least twice before coming to rest.  Schmude, a Plover resident, was ejected onto the median.  She was not wearing a seat belt.

Portage County deputies and emergency medical personnel found the ejected driver initally was conscious but she succumbed to her injuries prior to medical transport.

Neither speed nor alcohol are thought to be factors in the crash.

Learn piano quickly and simply through UWSP

Stevens Point–Learn to play the piano quickly and simply with two workshops offered by the Continuing Education Arts and Culture Outreach program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People” will be offered Wednesday, November 3, from
5:30-9 p.m. In this short course, participants will learn all the chords needed to play any pop song in any style and any key. The cost is $79.

“It is a challenge to learn piano in six hours but I think the class does what it advertised, gives you all the tools to move from non-player to fairly impressive player immediately,” said one student.

“How to Play Music by Ear” will be offered Wednesday, November 17, from 5:30-9 p.m. at a cost of $79. This course is the ideal follow-up to “Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People” and is open to anyone with basic understanding of chords on any instrument. A practical presentation of music theory in everyday language, the course includes predicting chord progressions, how to blend together songs in different keys (modulations), learning from recordings and transposing.

Both classes are taught by Linda Medsker, who has 25 years experience teaching piano. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association and the former president of the Oshkosh Area Music Teachers Association.

To register or for more information, contact UWSP Continuing Education at 715-346-3838 or 800-898-9472 or go online to http://www.uwsp.edu/conted/aco.