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State scores
Found: 2 Days 5 Hours 59 Minutes ago
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Algoma 21, Gibraltar 14Almond-Bancroft 34, Port Edwards 22
Altoona 41, Spencer/Marshfield Columbus......
Future of Merrillan lake, waterfall murky
Found: 2 Days 11 Hours 26 Minutes ago
Jackson County Chronicle - Controversy stemming from a proposed house on Merrillan?s Oakwood Lake has left the future of the village?s dam and scenic waterfall uncertain....
Guitarist toe-taps tunes of hopeArmless guitarist to bring tunes of ...
Found: Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - Tony Melendez is a noted musician who has performed in dozens of countries and continues to travel throughout the world.Most consider Melendez an inspiration, not only because of his music, but because the 46-year-old plays the guitar with his feet while he sings.The musician was born with no arms. Yet he inspires people with his musical talent.The achievement of playing the guitar with his feet is a spectacular sight. Even Pope John Paul II couldn't contain his emotions when Melendez, originally from Nicaragua, played and sang for him in 1987.Melendez and his band, members of Toe Jam music, have been traveling the world since his performance for the pope. In 21 years, Melendez has performed in 40 countries. His goal is to help people open their hearts.Melendez was born without arms because his mother was prescribed the drug thalidomide during her pregnancy. Now the drug is known to cause severe birth defects. As a child, he was taken from Nicaragua to the Los Angeles area to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was 10 when he realized his feet were much more useful. Melendez discarded the arms and continued honing the skill of using his feet for everyday tasks.His father was musical and played the guitar. He didn't take an interest in playing the instrument initially, until he saw someone tune the guitar in a unique way."At that point I was thinking, 'This will really work for me,' " Melendez said via phone while traveling from a gig in Mexico to Illinois."I positioned my left foot on the neck of the guitar and the music just kind of opened up there," he said. "I could pluck and strum the strings."Melendez, who lives in Branson, Mo., with his wife, Lynn, took his talent from the pope to the people, but he doesn't promote himself; it's more by word of mouth, he said."I don't even have a business card that I pass out," he said. "There's some element of hope in the concerts. I can't really describe it. It's motivational speaking kind of - that's what kind of kept this alive."After high school Melendez considered becoming a priest, but papal rules require priests to have an index finger and a thumb. Melendez said playing music for people is his ministry."I think (the concert) could open their hearts, and that's something that can happen because they might see a guy with no arms and they might say, 'If he can do it, so can I,' " Melendez said. "That's why I say it's not just for the disabled. It could be for anyone - any heart that's hurting."Jane Stolp, St. Mary's Catholic Church Praise Team and Spanish Choir director, said she saw Melendez in concert in Plover and in Minnesota, and she wanted to bring him to her church in Altoona."I had been trying to bring him to St. Mary's for the past three years," Stolp said. "(The concert) was just inspirational. It awakened the spiritual growth in me. I think it will help with the spiritual growth in people."Stolp wanted Melendez to perform at St. Mary's during the fall season, specifically Oct. 12 because it's a celebration of Our Lady of the Pillar - a Spanish-Mexican feast day, she said.She expects concert attendees will be amazed and spiritually lifted when they see Melendez perform."It will be wonderful because I know what type of ministry he has, and his music ministry reaches out to young and old," Stolp said.Waters can be reached at 833-9214, 800-236-7077 or alyssa.waters@ecpc.com....
Sparks fly over sales tax talkSparks fly at candidates' forum over ...
Found: 2 Days 13 Hours 16 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - The topic of a possible statewide sales tax increase from 5 percent to 6 percent to help fund education became heated and emotional Thursday night at a forum for area state Assembly candidates.The tension was particularly noticeable between Republican incumbent Rep. Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls and Democratic challenger Kristen Dexter of Eau Claire, candidates in District 68. Dexter, an Altoona school board member for six years, said the education funding system based on property taxes is broken, and she's tried to convey that message to Moulton, but it hasn't gotten across. "Costs have gone completely out of control," Dexter said. "If Terry (Moulton) had done his job, we wouldn't have had this situation of property taxes where seniors are worried about losing their homes, but (legislators) won't do the job. They refuse, refuse to acknowledge this problem."She said she'd consider any option for fixing the problem, including raising the sales tax to draw in an extra $800 million for education.Moulton countered by saying spending increased by 36 percent in the Altoona school district, more than twice the rate of inflation, while Dexter has been on the board. When the district was in a bind, it went to the taxpayers, Moulton said."I don't know if that's the way my opponent is going to govern down in Madison - go to a referendum," he said.Dexter acknowledged she's asked for referendums at the district "because we need to preserve our education, that is No. 1."Moulton said he's all for looking for ways to reform the education funding system, but he doesn't favor increasing taxes on corporations that might send them out of state and leave behind unemployed workers.Raising the sales tax would simply shift the tax from one group to another, he said. Other Republican candidates shared similar answers to Moulton's - they would not be in favor of raising the sales tax. District 93Challenger Darcy Fields, a Republican from Eau Claire, said he could not support a tax increase."Given the economic situation that prevails ... every single function of the government in the next year or two is going to have to tighten its belt, and there are going to be some very tough choices to make," he said. "I'd be open to funding education at its current level and would consider looking at alternatives, but I could not support (a sales tax) alternative."His Democratic opponent, incumbent Rep. Jeff Smith of Eau Claire, said a sales tax increase could provide property tax relief, and he'd be interested in finding alternative ways to support education."We need to start looking out for homeowners and families, and that is to support K-12 education and find alternative ways to ... support public education and take pressure off of homeowners," he said.District 92Dan Hellman of Sparta is fighting to keep a Republican seat in the 92nd Assembly District, where incumbent GOP Rep. Terry Musser of Black River Falls isn't seeking re-election. Hellman said the problem with a statewide sales tax increase is that no one can guarantee property taxes would decrease if the sales tax increased. He said it would take a constitutional amendment that stated property taxes wouldn't support schools, cities or states to guarantee it.His Democratic opponent, Mark Radcliffe of Black River Falls, said the Legislature needs to "look at every single potential way to fix corporate loopholes and exemptions that allow corporations to not pay taxes," and that might help solve the education funding problem.District 69Incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Suder of Abbotsford said, "No way. It's not going to happen," when asked about the sales tax increase. "Constituents don't want it either."Tim Swiggum, a Democrat from Owen who unsuccessfully challenged Suder two years ago, said, "Something has got to give." The state could reduce or underfund schools, but then the schools will just seek funding from taxpayers, Swiggum said.He said he would be willing to consider a sales tax increase proposal.District 67Don Moga, a Republican from Jim Falls, said he's not in favor of increasing taxes, but money would have to be cut from other areas in order to free up more funding for education."We have to look at priorities and shift some money here or there and do what we think is necessary," said Moga. "I wouldn't be in favor of any new taxes,"Incumbent Rep. Jeff Wood of Chetek, an independent who used to be a Republican but left the party a few weeks ago, said he does not favor a tax increase but would be open to looking at how education is funded. "When sales tax went from 4 percent to 5 percent, it didn't buy down property taxes," Wood said. "It wouldn't work again."The local Charter Communications public access channel will replay the forum between now and Nov. 4, Election Day.Banks can be reached at 830-5840, 800-236-7077 or emily.banks@ecpc.com....
Lecker: Its all on the line for Loyal, Owen-Withee
Found: 3 Days 5 Hours 34 Minutes ago
Marshfield News-Herald - The opportunity is there Friday for the Loyal/Granton and Owen-Withee football teams to make a statement in the Cloverwood Conference....
Undefeated Colby riding high in Cloverbelt
Found: 3 Days 5 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Marshfield News-Herald - COLBY -- Entering the season, there was one constant the Colby High School football team could count on -- senior quarterback Jordan Rahm....
Sveum on deck; will he score?
Found: 5 Days 22 Hours 2 Minutes ago
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Flash or substance? Experience or familiarity? ...
Rally For Recovery Held in Altoona
Found: 1 Week 1 Day 1 Hour 14 Minutes ago
WEAU 13 News - A rally celebrates the road to recovery. On Saturday people gathered at the Altoona Park for the first annual Chippewa Valley Rally for Recovery....
Schools wary of loan ratesSchool wary of borrowing costs
Found: 1 Week 1 Day 14 Hours 30 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - CHIPPEWA FALLS - Every fall, Chippewa Falls school district Business Manager Chad Trowbridge prepares to borrow about $5 million."It's for cash-flow purposes to settle out the highs and lows," Trowbridge said. "We don't get our first state aid payment until December."The short-term loan helps the district meet payroll and any other money crunches that arise.This fall the district is set to open bids for the loan at its Oct. 23 board meeting.However, many banks nationwide are experiencing financial difficulties, which led to the $700 billion government bailout deal approved Friday and immediately signed by President Bush.Trowbridge isn't sure how recent banking problems might affect the district's ability to obtain its annual short-term loan."It's possible (it could be a problem)," Trowbridge said. "I am hearing about some difficulties in smaller school districts."In a typical year, seven to 10 banks will bid on a bond for the Chippewa Falls school district. In 2003, the district borrowed money at 1.15 percent. Last year, the interest rate was 3.33 percent, Trowbridge said.The district has a positive bond rating, and that should help ensure some good bids, he said."When bidders look at districts, they want the (tax) levy ability to pay back the bonds," Trowbridge said. "We have a history of solid bids. It's a solid investment for these banks. I'm sure I'll get bids, but they may be higher than in the past."However, Trowbridge wouldn't rule out receiving a lower bid as well, as banks look to more sound investments than a volatile stock market."We could end up with a lower bonding rate too, because consumer confidence is low and they are looking for a solid investment," Trowbridge said.Kathy Dahl, Altoona school district business manager, also is starting the process of preparing the annual borrowing package, which is about $2 million this year - on par with last year's loan."I hope to not have any problems," Dahl said. "I am a little anxious about what's going to happen. It's still an unknown to me."The Altoona board will finalize its bid Oct. 20.Last year, Altoona had only three bids - down from recent years. "It was kind of an unusual year," she said.Cadott school district Superintendent Guy Habeck said his board completed its short-term borrowing package Sept. 15; the $900,000 loan was finalized Tuesday.Habeck was pleased to see the interest rate drop from 3.75 percent in 2007 to 2.47 percent this year."The investors tend to not be concerned because they know school districts don't default on loans," Habeck said. "We are very regulated."Habeck said the district had three bids, and it typically has three or four bids.Vetter can be reached at 723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com....
Cutting-edge dredgersFather-son team dredging area lakes
Found: 1 Week 1 Day 14 Hours 31 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - ALTOONA - When Jerry Stage, 63, retired to Lake Eau Claire, doing some serious fishing was part of his retirement plan.But seven years ago he found he couldn't get his boat to the lake. The load of sand Hay Creek dumped in the lake each spring had filled in the lake in front of his home.Neighbors also were stuck."There were about 50 families that were landlocked. They didn't have very good access at all," Stage said.He began to talk to residents about a project to restore access."We went from house to house. I formed a group of people to help us out, to raise money," he said.He contacted Marlo Orth, chairman of the Eau Claire Lake Association, about completing a dredging project. They learned there were many permits needed."We had a lot of meetings. It took about two and a half years," Stage said.Stage thought the most cost-effective way to get the lake dredged would be to do it himself. For help he enlisted his son, Mike Stage, 41, of Eau Claire, an electrical contractor. They formed a company - J and R Dredging, and removed themselves from the planning process so they could submit a bid."We were pondering building our own dredge, but Waste Research and Reclamation had a used dredge we were able to purchase," he said.The Stages found a hose, line and booster pumps from different places.The lake association hired them, and in 2003-04 they dredged the mouth of Muskrat Creek, Hay Creek and the Eau Claire River near a boat landing on the northeast end of the lake."We had to bid against the other dredgers, and we had to be licensed ... It was quite involved," Jerry Stage said. "All I wanted to do was dredge my area and retire, but it didn't work out that way."But they didn't dissolve after the project. They decided they liked dredge work and being their own bosses. They took another dredging project near Siren, and are now working on their most ambitious project - dredging Lake Altoona. It required getting a loan and buying a bigger dredge."We wanted to provide cost-effective dredging for the lakes in our area. That was our goal," Mike Stage said. "We're just a two-man outfit - I'm the secretary. I'm the maintenance person. I do all the accounts payable. I do the purchasing. I do the bids."Their bid for a large project on Lake Altoona Rehabilitation and Protection District was $1.2 million lower than the next lowest bid, he said."That's what we can offer this lake and other lakes because of low overhead," he said. "My dad and I get along very well. We're very proud of what we do," Mike Stage said.They bid $2.4 million for the original project. The Altoona Lake District has since reduced the scope of the project to $2 million, but they still plan to remove 240,000 cubic yards of sediment.They both like to fish on the Eau Claire River and lakes Altoona and Eau Claire, although their present schedule doesn't leave much time for fishing.Their day starts at 6:30 a.m. and they come in about 6 p.m. They plan to work six days per week into November, when water levels in the lake are lowered, and then resume the project next year.Mike Stage works on the floating dredge while Jerry Stage typically stays on shore to adjust the hose and other on-shore equipment."We anticipate being done by the end of July next year," Mike Stage said.The lake was dredged in 1996-97, but a considerable amount of sediment has returned since then, they said. Most of the sediment is flushed into the lake with high water in the spring, they said.They are working at the delta - or upper end of the lake - now, and said they would work their way upstream and re-dredge a sediment trap near the boat landing on the Eau Claire River.A sediment trap is basically a hole or trough dug into the bed of the river. It intercepts sediment coming down the river before it settles out in the lake. But the sediment trap will only work if it is cleaned out every couple of years, Mike Stage said.The days can get a little long, but people in the area appreciate their work and often stop by to offer encouragement, Jerry Stage said."They're nice people on the lake here. There's quite a few that come by."Dan Koich, a Department of Natural Resources water regulations expert, said the Stages have found ways to do good projects for relatively low costs.Lisa Schuetz, chairwoman of the lake district, said the Stages have done a good job of pointing out all sides of the dredging project to the lake residents."It has been great to work with them. They come forth with a lot of ideas on ways to better improve the project," she said.After the project is finished next year, the district would like to get on a schedule of maintaining it every two years - if they can afford it. The current $2 million project is being paid for entirely by lake district residents, Schuetz said."It's our biggest goal to keep that sediment trap cleaned out ... We don't know that that's going to happen, but that's a vision we'd like to get to some day."Knight can be reached at 830-5835 or joe.knight@ecpc.com....
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