Almond, WI

Happy Tuesday and welcome to the Streetwise Newsletter!. Most recently, I shared that Los Victor's Mexican Food California Style will reopen Thursday at 301 Division St. in Stevens Point. The restaurant had been closed because of a lack of employees, but the owners told me last week they would reopen with a new team Thursday.

Karen Lee Clear, age 83, of Waupaca, WI, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Bethany Home in Waupaca, WI. She was born June 10, 1938 in Clare, MI; daughter of Vernell and Eva (Hodson) Fike. Karen married Carl E. Clear, an army man, and devoted her life to caring for her daughters and moving around the country. She instilled a love of family and travel to her girls. Karen loved her work with her church and her time working with their food bank, REAP Food Pantry. She gave full-time care for her mother and brother when they needed her most. Karen will be dearly missed by all of her loving family and friends.

PORTAGE COUNTY, Wis. (WSAW) - If you have driven in Stevens Point, the sight of three golden retrievers hanging out of the back of a white pickup truck topper might be familiar. Riggs, Gunnar and Champ go everywhere with their owner, Jim Gruba, but a crash put their daily car rides on hold.

Albertson Hall will close after May 20 to prepare for relocation of services and building replacement on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus. Design and planning continue for replacing the 54-year-old Albertson Hall. Relocation of services and resources is underway and will continue through summer for University College, University Library, Archives, student support services and Information Technology, among others.

PLOVER – When Ryan Fox officially took on the role of police chief in February, he had been preparing for the part for months.  Former Police Chief Dan Ault knew last summer he was going to retire as chief and step into the role of village administrator, so he was able to prepare Fox, then...

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Dustin Anderson, an elementary art teacher in the Wisconsin Rapids Public School District, was recognized as a 2023 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony Grant Elementary School on May 13. State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly, along with students and school staff, presented Anderson...

Portage County CREATE announced to its members on Monday that Greg Wright had stepped down from the executive director’s position. In a May 16 email from Bill Schierl, CREATE’s founder and board president, he says that the board is “profoundly grateful for Greg’s vision and past leadership,” but added the organization’s momentum was the result of a communitywide effort.

The Village of Plover is still riding a wave of recognition for a move initiated by its former police chief in 2015.

A Stevens Point-based book publisher helped collect over $30,000 for the Portage Co. Literacy Council. After taking a hiatus due...

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - Maggie Reilly has been named Stevens Point Area High Girls swim coach. Coach Reilly was previously the head girls swim coach for the Stevens Point Area School district Junior High Program. She is currently a teacher at PJ Jacobs in the Stevens Point Area School District.

STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — The UWSP Baseball squad has earned a host seed in the 2022 NCAA Division III Baseball tournament. The Pointers will welcome Lawrence University of Appleton, North Central (IL), and Coe College of Iowa to Zimmermann field this weekend. UWSP was paired with Lawrence in the first round, North Central and Coe will play the other first-round matchup.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — The City of Wisconsin Rapids has filled one high-profile vacancy in its public safety ranks, and leaders will take their time filling a second. Mayor Shane Blaser says the Police and Fire Commission recently approved the hiring of Todd Eckes as their Fire Chief after he served as Deputy Chief under Scott Young. Blaser says the Commission placed a premium on hiring from within, saying the department has developed a good culture and he has faith that Eckes will continue that. He says what’s also important is creating a culture that will make it easy to fill lower-level vacancies with people who can work their way up the ranks.

Marshfield Medical Center-River Region at Stevens Point opened its doors Friday, the latest in a series of changes that adds another hospital for Portage County residents. The hospital is an expansion of the existing Marshfield Clinic Stevens Point Center, which opened in 2013 at 4100 State Hwy. 66. The first floor of the two-story, 55,000-square-foot hospital features emergency services with eight treatment rooms, a trauma room, 12 hospital inpatient beds, a dining area, and a lobby.

Wausau East nipped Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln in WVC Boys Tennis, 4-3. For Wisconsin Rapids, Joey Bohman and Eric Huglen won at #1 doubles, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Carter Swen and James Baldwin won at #2 doubles, 6-1, 6-2. Ryan Pidgeon won at #3 singles, 6-0, 6-2. *************************************************. Know some top athletic...

The soul of Maynard Christensen entered eternal life on Tuesday morning, May 3. He was the oldest of four children born to Jim and Evangeline Christensen. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winneconne, where he grew up. At an early age, Maynard’s father introduced him...

Fifth- through eighth-grade students will perform “Matilda Jr.” at the Chain Exploration Center at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Both performances are free and open to the public. Music Theatre International’s “Matilda Jr.” is a musical based on Roald Dahl’s classic book,...

STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Area Public School Board unanimously approved Joel Burgener as the next leader of Ben Franklin Junior High School following closed session at the May 9 school board meeting. Burgener was chosen from a competitive slate of candidates and brings over 16 years of teaching and educational leadership experience to the position.