Around Town
NO MAIL DELIVERY: Because a National Day of Observance has been declared to honor the death of former President Jimmy Carter, the US Postal Service will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services, and administrative office activity on Thursday, Jan. 9.
LITTERING PROBLEM: Recently observed on Facebook: “I’d love to know who is tossing out budweiser bottles and cans all over town and country roads, guess we need more cops in town … STOP IT!!! Why should we all have to clean up after you?! There has to be at least 40 bottles down J and G.”
Around the County
CHILDBIRTH HEALTHCARE: The Waupaca community continues the fight against the closure of the ThedaCare labor unit. Members of the Save Waupaca Labor and Delivery community group met to create signs for a protest at ThedaCare headquarters later this month. Read the story here.
Around the State
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT: Wisconsin’s budget surplus is about $2 billion smaller than it was last year because less money is coming in from Washington, D.C. and the state is spending more. The State’s long-term debt decreased from $12.3 billion as of June 30, 2023, to $11.6 billion as of June 30, 2024. Read the summary of the report here.
MISSING ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Wisconsin’s election managers are going to look into Madison’s 200 missing absentee ballots found in the days and weeks after Election Day. Madison’s city clerk found 193 ballots in two batches, the first Nov. 12 and the second Dec. 3. Read the story here.
UW-MADISON: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is dead last when it comes to educating Wisconsin residents percentage-wise, with only 45 percent of its student body from the state, even though Wisconsin taxpayers pay the institution the most per enrolled student, Wisconsin Right Now has documented via an open records request.
Photo Story
NEW YEAR’S HIKE – 75 people walked along the Skunk-Foster State Natural Area Ice Age Trail segment in Scandinavia and learned something new from hike leaders. The Portage-Waupaca County IAT group has exciting things planned for 2025 and appreciate your support of this wonderful trail. Photo courtesy The Portage-Waupaca County IAT