Source: Canva
Nov 11, 2024, 10:21 AM CST
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – The Veterans Day Spaghetti Dinner at VFW Post #2534 was a delicious success Sunday night. Post Commander Shawn Plante said more people attended than in previous years. He said, “We’re seeing a little bit higher head count which is not a bad thing.”
They do this dinner every year on the Sunday near Veterans Day. The Buckley Baldwin Post was filled with people on Sunday night enjoying the company of their neighbors, chatting with new friends, and enjoying delicious food. When asked how the dinner was going, Shawn said, “It is going excellent. The seats have been full and so are the tummies as everyone walks out the door.”
There are Veterans Day ceremonies on Monday throughout the City of Wisconsin Rapids. The South Wood County Allied Veterans Council is holding their annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park at 11 AM. The Wood County Legacy Society will hold their Legacy Stone Dedication Ceremony at Assumption High School at 1PM.
Veterans Day is observed on November 11th in the US and several other countries. It is a day to thank and honor all Veterans who served honorably in the military.
Each year on Veterans Day, the nation unites to honor the brave men and women who have selflessly served their country. Aspirus Health has paired up with Veterans Homes all across the midwest to support the health and well being of those who served. Aspirus Lake View President Greg Ruberg said, “Our veterans have sacrificed a lot. They sacrifice time away from their families, sometimes their life in terms of fighting for our country.”
Aspirus Health also offers veterans nationally recognized comfort and hospice care through the We Honor Veterans program, and eligible veterans can receive urgent care and walk in care clinics that are fully covered in Upper Michigan and parts of Wisconsin.
Ruberg said, “Our thought process is it’s one small gesture that we can do to show our appreciation for what they’ve given to our country. So again, we’re honored to be a part of that. We’re very grateful that we can continue supporting that.” -By: Brittney Merlot
Veterans Day is a day to not only honor Veterans, but also acknowledge the difficulties they face after service. PTSD, Suicide, Mental Health, all of these are issues facing the veteran population this Veterans Day. Tim Cody with the Fox Valley Veterans Council said homelessness is also a primary concern. Cody said, “We find them, hopefully, before they’re homeless. Our real goal is to try to keep them in their place for two to three months so that they can straighten their life out. Get a direction to go and keep them where they are,” He also shared that statistically, in Wisconsin, there are more homeless veterans than “regular citizens” -By: Lisa Hale
Lane closures continue on the Jackson Street Bridge in Wisconsin Rapids. One lane will be closed between 1st Street North and 2nd Avenue North for the Bridge Lighting Project. Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the westbound lane to access 1st Street North and Baker Street. Westbound traffic is detoured onto 1st Street North, then onto Market Street, then 3rd Street South, and onto the East Riverview Expressway. They expect to finish the project by Friday, November 15th.
The West Grand Avenue Kwik Trip may have their pumps open again soon. The entire gas pump area has been under construction with the installation of new gas pumps for both regular unleaded gasoline and diesel. The fencing may come down as soon as this week and the pumps will be back up and running.
There’s a Family Fun – Create Lab at McMillan Library on Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM. If you bring your creative talents, McMillian will provide the craft and art materials. It’s family fun in the All-Purpose Room on November 12th from 6 to 7 PM.
The 3rd Annual Caregiver Roadmap Resource Event takes place on Tuesday, November 12th at the ADRC in Stevens Point. It’s from 9 to 3:30 on Tuesday. You’ll need to register by calling 715-346-1401.
The Mid-State Technical College campus in Stevens Point now has a new name. The ribbon cutting took place last Thursday for the Stevens Point Downtown Campus. This event also kicks off the beginning of a year-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of the move to downtown. The move not only allowed the campus more space, but also promoted community engagement. The new name helps differentiate the downtown campus from the new AMETA Center campus location.
Average gas prices continue to fall, dropping 3.4 cents over the last week. The average across the state today is $2.81 per gallon. This is 25 and a half cents lower than a month ago and over 28 cents lower than this time last year. Officials at GasBuddy say the average in the US is the lowest since 2021 at $2.95 per gallon. This was anticipated in GasBuddy official’s annual Fuel Outlook from December of 2023. Prices have been dropping for 4 consecutive weeks as seasonal demand weakens. Elections have come and gone, but gas prices have stayed the course. Officials say prices could continue to drop as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Prices in central Wisconsin today range from $2.59 to $2.75 per gallon.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the special burning permit requirement for 13 Wisconsin counties has been lifted as of Saturday. The rescinding of this Special Fire Order applies to the following 13 extensive DNR protection area counties outside incorporated cities and villages: All of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara counties and portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant and Iowa counties.
A Special Fire Order allows the DNR to suspend burning when fire danger is elevated. Due to prolonged drought conditions, the original permit reinstatement went into effect on Oct. 15. According to the National Weather Service, moderate-to-severe drought conditions impacted Wisconsin in late summer and fall. Recent soaking rain events combined with cooler weather across the state have decreased the overall fire danger across the state, allowing the DNR to cancel the Special Fire Order. Traditionally, DNR burn permits are required in extensive protection areas from January 1 through May 31, anytime the ground is not snow-covered.
Despite the improved conditions, the public is still encouraged to exercise caution when having any kind of fire, as the fire danger changes daily, and it’s important to check with local fire officials before conducting any outdoor burning. You can check the current fire danger here.
We’re in the middle of a mental health crisis among young people. Often trauma can be linked to mental health struggles. New numbers show a majority of kids are experiencing trauma by the time they’re 18. New CDC data shows three out of every four high school students nationwide say they’ve experienced at least one adverse childhood event. That can include experiencing homelessness, abuse, and parental separation. Research shows these experiences, abbreviated as ACEs, can alter a child’s brain chemistry and produce a prolonged, sometimes lifelong, toxic stress response.
Licensed Psychologist Joe Barigone said, “We’re seeing some of the same kinds of patterns, that increased sense of loneliness, isolation in our youth, increased levels of suicidal ideation, exposure to violence, exposure to other adverse childhood experiences.”
Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems as an adult, as well as chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Childhood trauma costs states. According to the National Governors Association, adults with ACEs can lead to billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity.The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has its Trauma Sensitive Schools initiative which helps educators support kids who have had these experiences. By: Savanna Tomei-Olson
