Absentee Ballots Available for Nov. 6 Election

Ballots are available for City of Stevens Point residents who wish to vote early for the November 6 General Election.

Voters have two options for voting absentee. The first is to submit a written request/application to receive an absentee ballot through the mail. Requests to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, November 1. The completed ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day, November 6, in order for it to be counted.

The second option is to vote at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall, 1515 Strongs Avenue, between October 22 and November 2.

Stevens Point City Clerk John Moe reminds individuals who have not already registered to vote and those who have either moved or changed their name that they will need to re-register before they will be allowed to vote. Applications for absentee ballots and voter registration are available at the Clerk’s office and here on the City’s web site.

Please note that there are exceptions for military voters and indefinitely confined electors. City of Stevens Point voters can contact the Clerk’s office at 715-346-1569 for more information.

Popular Children’s Lunch Contains Hidden Dangers, Report Warns

Montpelier, VT – Parents may need to be more mindful of how much tuna and other fish their children eat to protect them from adverse brain effects caused by mercury contamination, according to a new report released by the Mercury Policy Project, in addition to public health, consumer and environmental groups today.

“We’ve always known that mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause developmental and health problems,” said Tyson Cook, staff scientist at Clean Wisconsin. “This report highlights the need to carefully monitor our children’s consumption of fish, including in school lunches.”

People are exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. The report, Tuna Surprise, contains the first-ever test results of canned tuna sold to schools and assesses children’s mercury exposure from canned tuna. Wisconsin was one of the 11 states chosen to conduct the testing.

Children who are chronically exposed to mercury could face neurological damage that impairs development, leads to low intelligence and inhibits school performance.

“We have known for years that exposure to mercury can significantly harm the developing brains of unborn children, however, few studies have explored the risks posed to young children,” said Cook. “We urge the Food and Drug Administration to revisit this issue and set new federal consumption guidelines to help parents, school dieticians and others make decisions that protect our children.”

Based on the findings, the report recommends that children consume no more than two servings of light tuna every month and entirely avoid albacore tuna, which contains three times as much mercury as light tuna. Parents who feed their children fresh-caught fish must be especially careful as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lists every inland body of water in Wisconsin under a fish consumption advisory due to mercury contamination.

“Tuna and other fish are nutritious and can play an important role in a healthy diet,” said Cook. “Parents shouldn’t stop feeding their children fish because of this report, but they should carefully monitor their children’s consumption of fish to prevent the dangerous impacts of mercury.”

Clean Wisconsin has worked for over 40 years to reduce mercury pollution.

City to Annex 777 Acres

The Mayor of the City of Stevens Point today announced his intentions to place before the City’s Plan Commission and Common Council an annexation petition that will be forwarded to the State for their review. This petition, which is a direct and unanimous annexation request, involves several parties: Myron Soik and Sons Inc.; Blue Top Farms Inc.; The Mocadlo Family; and James and Delores Zakrzewski. In addition to the annexation request, the Plan Commission on October 1st will also entertain permanent zoning on the land to allow for industrial and manufacturing development. On Monday the 24th, options to purchase parcels or all of the 777 acres will be before the Plan Commission, Finance Committee, and Common Council. The 777 acres just East of Stevens Point is bordered on the West by CTY R, on the South by CTY HH, on the east by Burbank Road, and on the North by the Canadian National Railroad.

This move will allow the City of Stevens Point to proceed with the certification of this site under the State of Wisconsin’s Certified Sites Program administered through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

“This project represents one of the largest annexations in the City’s history,” said Mayor Andrew Halverson. “The 777 acres to the City’s east will lay the groundwork and foundation for potentially thousands of jobs over the next 20 to 30 years,” Halverson added. “This site, which is being targeted to be the largest certified site in the State, will be capable of attracting businesses from around the world.”

“It is time for this City to create partnerships from every angle – landowners, private sector, and the State – to move forward the job creation we all need,” Halverson added.

“The Stevens Point site is exactly what our focus was as we created the certified sites program, and we very much look forward to the submittal,” said Paul F. Jadin WEDC CEO and Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce. “A site of this size would present this State a tremendous opportunity to attract major employers who need a great community and dedicated workforce to succeed,” Jadin added.

Senator Kohl to be in Stevens Point September 26

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s Regional Representative, Bryce Luchterhand, will be in Stevens Point on Wednesday, Sept. 26 to meet with constituents from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Po. Co. Public Library, 1001 Main St., in the Rotary Room. No appointment necessary.

CWES to benefit from UW-Stevens Point Foundation grant

More children will be able to attend summer camps at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES), thanks to grant from the Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Foundation.

The MAC Foundation awarded a three-year grant of $225,000 to the UW-Stevens Point Foundation, specifically to increase the number of children attending CWES summer camps by offering monthly after-school camp programs and supporting the training of future educators and camp leaders.

The grant will provide resources for CWES camp staff to present monthly activities and programming for up to 25 upper-elementary school students in the Amherst, Rosholt and Iola school districts as well as the Portage County Boys and Girls Clubs from September to April. The after-school activities will include programs on pond study, fishing, stars and stories, survival skills, critters at camp, camp crafts and campfire songs and skits. Students who attend a majority of the monthly summer camp related activities will be eligible to apply for partial scholarships for a week of CWES summer camp in 2013.

The MAC Foundation supports environmental education, including camping programs that allow young people to interact with nature and develop a sense of environmental stewardship. Located in Amherst Junction on the shore of Sunset Lake, CWES hosts an average of 7,500 people each year for summer camps, school programs, youth and adult team building and leadership skills programs, youth retreats, church gatherings, family reunions and other events.

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. It’s a good time for you to evaluate your family’s readiness for an emergency situation.

Have you prepared an emergency kit? Do you have food and water to sustain your family for 72 hours? In an emergency, government resources will be taxed. You may need to survive on your own for a while. Visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for guidance on preparing a kit.

Have you made a plan? Do all family members know what to do and where to go in an emergency? Family members may not all be together when an emergency occurs. Plans should be made so that everyone knows how to communicate, how to get to a safe location, where to meet up, etc. FEMA has information on making a plan at http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Are you informed about potential hazards in our area? Do you know what to do before, during, and after an emergency? Learn more at http://www.ready.gov/be-informed.

College Ave. Closed Illinois to Michigan Tues. Sept. 11

The Water Department has closed College Ave. between Illinois Ave & Michigan Ave. to repair to a sanitation lateral. This section of College Ave. will be closed for most of Tuesday, September 11, 2012.

Rep Scott Krug’s Statement in Memory of September, 11 2001

Madison, WI- State Representative Scott Krug released the following statement regarding the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

“Eleven years ago today, our nation’s course was forever changed by the hateful attacks of extremists whose purpose was to destroy our way of life. We were regrettably reminded that freedom isn’t free and that Americans have paid dearly for our liberty.

Together we will never forget the unwavering strength of our county and its ability to overcome loss. We have had great days behind us and will continue towards a greater prosperity because the American spirit will never falter.

Today we also remember the victims and their families whose lives have been altered. May the prayers and remembrance of Americans bring them comfort and peace, along with the knowledge that we have worked to make certain the attacks of 9/11 never happen again.”