Around Town
THIRSTY PERCH GETS LICENSE: Sherri Miller of the Thirsty Perch in Iola received a liquor license from the Village of Iola on Tuesday, July 14. Steve has been removed from the LLC but remains the property owner, according to a Facebook post from the establishment. The bar/restaurant will feature Spark Spark Bang from 7-11 p.m.
MELUM MASONRY RECOGNITION: Iola’s Melum Masonry has been named Best Home Repair & Remodel Company in the Community Choice Awards for Portage County. This makes it two years in a row being named tops in the category. Congratulations!
Business Hours
CRYSTAL CAFE: New hours are Monday and Tuesday, closed; Wednesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Friday fish fry will be served until 2:30 p.m.
Job Opportunities
THIRSTY PERCH: The Iola bar/restaurant is hiring part-time bartenders and servers with flexible hours. Apply in person.
BANDS WANTED: The Thirsty Perch is now scheduling bands for Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon. Rock, country, blues, acoustic, classic hits — no punk.
Around the County
PUBLIC NOTICE BEWARE OF SCAMMERS: Foundations For Living is urging residents to help wisely as summer heat strains local families and scam activity increases. The agency recommends asking anyone seeking help whether they have called 211, the free, confidential, 24/7 helpline that connects people with local services, and whether they have followed referrals. Foundations For Living says it cannot provide outreach at street corners or public locations; assistance requests should be made directly during office hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
PANHANDLING ALERT: A Consumer First Alert out of Waupaca, where the police department is warning about organized panhandling rings using young children to get your cash. Officers say they were called to a business Monday after reports of adults asking for money with a small child. (Source: WBAY)
MARION CHILD CARE SHORTAGE WORSENS. Marion families face limited options after the City Council voted 4-1 with one abstention Monday to deny a conditional use permit for Marion Daycare expansion. The center sought to increase capacity from 30 to 45 children at a Water Street home. (Source: WBAY)
NEW LONDON SCHOOL UPDATES POLICY. The New London Board of Education approved changes to the district wellness policy, advising against using food as student incentives and asking parents not to send birthday treats. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
WAUPACA COUNTY PROJECTS DEFICIT. Waupaca County officials project a $1.2 million operating budget shortfall for 2027, potentially leading to job cuts and reduced services. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
NEW ATV/UTV SAFETY RULES IN EFFECT. Sweeping Wisconsin DNR changes for all-terrain and utility terrain vehicle operators, including stricter requirements, took effect this summer across the region. (Source: Waupaca County Post)
WILDFIRE SMOKE IMPACTS AREA. An air quality advisory remains in effect for northeast Wisconsin, including Waupaca County, due to smoke from fires in Minnesota and Canada. Sensitive groups are urged to limit outdoor activity. (Source: WBAY)
HEAT ADVISORY CONTINUES. Extreme temperatures prompt concerns over pavement buckling on local roads. Drivers in Waupaca and surrounding areas should watch for hazards. (Source: WBAY)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
SNAP BENEFITS: Approximately 689,000 Wisconsin residents receive FoodShare (SNAP) benefits each month, including 170,000 children and 110,000 individuals over age 60. (Source: TrueNorth)
HIGHWAY WORKER STRUCK. An irate driver hit a highway worker in Outagamie County. Authorities are investigating the incident that occurred amid road work. (Source: WBAY)
WAUSAU PD RELOCATION EYED. Wausau police are considering moving into the former UWSP-Wausau building. Discussions focus on potential relocation benefits for department operations. (Source: WSAW)
OPERATION DRY WATER YIELDS ARRESTS. Wisconsin DNR’s boating enforcement effort resulted in 25 arrests, hundreds of citations and warnings, and one life saved over the holiday period. (Source: WBAY)
Today in History
Here are 10 notable moments from Today in History:
1945 — SCIENTISTS successfully detonated the world’s first atomic bomb in the Trinity test near Alamogordo, New Mexico, ushering in the nuclear age under the Manhattan Project.
1969 — APOLLO 11 launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on the first crewed mission to land on the moon.
1979 — SADDAM HUSSEIN took power as president of Iraq, beginning a rule marked by wars and internal repression that lasted until 2003.
1999 — JOHN F. KENNEDY JR., his wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren Bessette died when their plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
622 — MUHAMMAD and his followers began the Hijra migration from Mecca to Medina, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.
1779 — AMERICAN FORCES under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne captured the British fort at Stony Point, New York, in a daring midnight bayonet attack during the Revolutionary War.
1861 — UNION TROOPS began marching toward what would become the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the Civil War.
1958 — THE COASTERS'”Yakety Yak” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, dominating summer airwaves with its humorous take on teenage chores.
1935 — THE FIRST parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City, revolutionizing urban parking management and municipal revenue.
2008 — PIXAR released the animated film “WALL-E,” which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earned critical acclaim for its environmental themes.
