State Cross Country Meet WI Rapids Fall Yard Waste Collection and more local and state news

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – The State Cross Country Meet happens on Saturday, November 2nd in Wisconsin Rapids. This will be the 112th running of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Cross Country Championships and the 50th Annual Girls Cross Country Championships. It’s at Ridges Golf Course beginning at Noon on Saturday. The girls and the boys will both run a 5-thousand meter course. The girls will race first with Division 3 starting at noon, Division 2 at 12:40, and Division 1 at 1:20. The boys Division 3 will start at 2, Division 2 at 2:35 and Division 1 at 3:10. The awards ceremony will be held at the Ridges Golf Course beginning 15 minutes after the start of the final race. You can purchase tickets at the WIAA website.

Jackie Carattini Memorial

A friend of our station and of many in our listening area passed away unexpectedly last weekend. Jackie Carattini of Mosinee and Associate Professor in Human Development and Relationships Educator for UW-Extension of Wood County died on Sunday, October 27th. Jackie was a regular guest on Mid-Day Magazine. Jackie’s children, family, friends, co-workers, and all who knew her are grieving her loss. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11AM on Tuesday, November 5th at St. Paul Catholic Church in Mosinee. Burial will take place at St. Paul Cemetery. The visitation will be on Monday, November 4th from 4 to 7. Beste Funeral Home in Mosinee is assisting the family with arrangements.

WI Rapids Fall Yard Waste Collection

Friday is the last day to get on the list for Fall Yard Waste Collection in Wisconsin Rapids. Place your yard waste and leaves in paper yard waste bags and place them on the curb. No plastic will be accepted. Bags will be picked up during the week of November 4-8. Call the City Garage to be placed on the list for pickup before 2PM on Friday, November 1st. That number is 715-421-8218. You can also sign up here. Compost sites are still open and waste can be taken there. 

As of October 28th East Side Compost Site new hours:

Monday and Wednesday – 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Saturday – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

As of October 29th West Side Compost Site new hours:

Tuesday and Thursday – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. 

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

Saturday – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

El Cafe Storytime

All area kids are invited to storytime at El Cafe at a new time. It’s today, Friday at 4PM. Kathy McGrath will have storytime in Port Edwards at El Cafe at 4 today. The kids will get a raffle ticket and a chance to win Mr. Hedgehog and a book to take home with them.

Zor Shriners Feztival of Trees

The Zor Shriners Feztival of Trees and More event dates have been announced. The decorated indoor forest will open on November 29th and continue until December 8th. This 10-day holiday extravaganza is hosted at the Wisconsin Rapids Masonic Center. Admission and parking are free and donations of non-perishable food items are welcome. Raffle tickets are available for a chance to win a beautiful sponsored tree including presents. The raffle will be held on December 8th at 4 PM.

Stevens Point StormReady

Stevens Point is recognized by the National Weather Service as a StormReady community. They’ve acknowledged the city’s commitment to preparing for severe weather events to ensure the safety of residents. To earn the recognition, Stevens Point has demonstrated a proactive approach by establishing a comprehensive emergency management plan, conducting community training programs, and enhancing their communication systems. You can find out more about becoming a StormReady community here.

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

The weather is changing and that means it’s time for fall home maintenance. The Better Business Bureau is reminding us of important tips to prepare your home before winter weather arrives. Like clean your gutters. Inspect your roof. Test your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. Check your windows and doors for air leakage. Organize your garage and store patio furniture and other outdoor items inside. You can visit the BBB website for more home maintenance tips.

3rd Congressional District Race

The most expensive political race in western Wisconsin’s history is the battle for the 3rd District congressional seat held by first-term Republican Derrick Van Orden. Nearly 12 million dollars has been spent on the race, which is the most ever for the district and is also the most expensive competition for a Congressional seat in Wisconsin this year. Van Orden has raised over 6 point 6 million dollars so far, while Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke has raked in over 5 point 3 million dollars as of October 16th. The election is on Tuesday. Van Orden defeated Wisconsin state Senator Brad Pfaff in 2022, when the two candidates combined to raise over 8 million dollars. -By: Jimmie Kaska

Robert Kennedy Jr. Remains on Ballot

Ballots across Wisconsin will include someone who is not longer running. RFK will stay.  The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s emergency appeal to have his name removed from the presidential ballots in Wisconsin and Michigan.  Kennedy, who suspended his campaign in august and now supports Donald Trump, argues that forcing him to remain on the ballot violates his first amendment rights and could mislead voters. With early voting already underway in both battleground states, election officials maintain that it’s too late to make changes to the ballots. -By: Stuart J. Wattles.

Wisconsin is Purple

The latest Marquette poll has Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in a dead heat here in the Badger State. It shows Kamala Harris with 50% of the vote… and Donald Trump with 49%. Plus, that’s all within the margin of error… so it’s kind of a wash. 

When people are allowed to remain undecided in those surveys… it’s 48% Harris, and 47% Trump. 

Poll director Charles Franklin came on the Maggie Daun show… says that small portion of voters who are still undecided… hold a lot of power. 

“I think that 5% is worth noting because that’s a lot bigger than the one point separating the two candidates and how those people make up their minds over the next six days who to vote for, or if to vote. That’s easily enough to sway this race.”

They interviewed more than 800 likely voters across Wisconsin. It’s the last Marquette poll before the election. -By: Savanna Tomei-Olson

Doctors are Concerned About Access to Healthcare

Physicians from across Wisconsin gathered virtually on Halloween. They shared why reproductive health care policies of the Wisconsin Legislature, led by Republicans in both chambers, are frightening to them. Dr. Melissa Hidde is a family physician in Green Bay. She said, “This Halloween, physicians across Wisconsin are concerned less about our patient’s blood sugar levels and more about the direction of healthcare and access to abortion in our state.” 

Dr. Hidde said that Republicans leave important bills for dead, like expanding BadgerCare and instead focus on putting lives at risk by trying to restrict abortion access. She states, “The stakes this Halloween and this election are real and Legislative Republican’s track record on healthcare in our state is scary.” 

Dr. Jennifer Mackinnon trains medical students and she says students aren’t choosing Wisconsin after they complete their degree. Dr. Mackinnon said students are witnessing the fallout of the 1849 abortion ban while they learn medicine in the badger state.  “A woman being forced to give birth to twins that instantly were going to pass away when they were born and she had to carry full term pregnancy. So this is happening and our trainees, including medical students, residents are choosing not to come to Wisconsin because of our lack of action.”

Dr. Mackinnon said she’s concerned because Republican leaders refuse to take action to protect the health of moms and families.
You can see the entire recording of the call with Wisconsin Doctors here with the Committee to Protect Health Care.