City Pages | 031926 | Coronavirus info czar

T h e Wau s au A r ea N ew s & Ente r t ain m e nt We e k l y

Coronavirus shuts down Wausau, nation

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March 19–26, 2020

Coronavirus bills

6 Learn about the people running for city council

8 What’s been canceled because of the Coronavirus

12 A local restaurant owner talks about the Coronavirus closures

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C O R O N AV I R U S INFO CZAR

Judy Burrows is the point person when local people have questions about handling COVID-19 warnings, mandates and data

PUBLiSHER’S NOTE COVID-19: Our commitment to you in an uncertain time

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Dear Reader, The coronavirus epidemic has caught everyone’s attention worldwide. The questions that everyone seems to be asking are, how serious is this situation? Will it affect me, my family and friends, my community, or my job? Is the massive panic we are seeing world-wide an over-reaction? How concerned should I be?

The truthful answer is that nobody knows.

In parts of China and Italy, the illness spread so quickly that a huge spike in seriously ill patients overwhelmed the medical system.

Simply put, there weren’t enough ventilators to go around, and some people died that might have lived with sufficient medical care.

Obviously this isn’t China, and this isn’t Italy. Do we have anything to worry about? Again, we don’t know. But as of the moment I first started writing this, there were eight confirmed COVID-19 cases identified in Wisconsin. Only a few days later that number is now 106 (as of Wednesday, March 18). And that number probably will grow.

Our commitment to you is to communicate as much as we know, as soon as possible. We will do it objectively, carefully paying attention to known facts and avoiding hysteria. When we are aware of government actions taken to reduce the risk, we will tell you. And if we hear of government advice grounded in good medical science, we will pass it on.

We are Americans. As a people we are smart and resourceful. We know how to adapt to tough times. This may or may not be one of those times that test our grit. But if it is, we will come through it—together.

Patrick Wood, Publisher

EDiTOR’S NOTE Closures and a very strange Big Guide this week Please vote for Wausau’s future on April 7!

Vote Katie Rosenberg.

If you elect me I will focus on: • Robust economic development criteria • Partnership development to find economies of scale • Comprehensive infrastructure & facilities planning • Retiring debt • Diversity, inclusion, & belonging strategy • Evidence-based decision making • Resiliency & continuity planning

Paid for by Rosenberg for Wausau, Cindy Zriny Treasurer

Katie Rosenberg:

www.RosenbergForWausau.com Katie Rosenberg:

2PROUD CiTY PAGESSUPPORTER March 19– 26, 2020

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LOCAL ARTS! PROUD SUPPORTER OF

We always say that City Pages tells you what’s happening around town.

And then suddenly we were tasked with telling you what’s not happening on the arts and entertainment side. Every normal issue of City Pages contains more than three full pages worth of event listings around the Wausau and central Wisconsin area. This week, literally nothing was happening. Not even movie times or art gallery hours.

But we understand that in this time of coronavirus social distancing (also known as a kind of lockdown, right?) what you’d like to know is the status of all the things that are closed, rescheduled, and maybe a little bit about what is still open. I foresee this strange bit of “non-events to cover” to continue for the next few weeks. And of course, our news coverage will continue as always, though I predict that, too, will slow down some.

Although you can’t some see us in person — our office and the entire building we’re in is closed to the public— we are all still at work, so please stay in touch as you normally would.

THE STAFF

THE STUFF

THE SCENE by B.C. Kowalski

Publisher Patrick J. Wood, publisher@mmclocal.com

PUBLiSHER’S NOTE ............................................. 2

Managing Editor Tammy Stezenski, tammy@thecitypages.com

Coronavirus info

News Reporter/Photographer B.C. Kowalski, brian@thecitypages.com

Failing to act

METRO BRiEFS ..................................................... 4 CAPiTOL EYE . ...................................................... 6 ELECTION FEATURE ............................................ 8

Production Coordinator/ Layout Designer Alex Eichten, alex@thecitypages.com

A changing council

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General Manager / Big Guide Boss Kayla Zastrow, bigguide@thecitypages.com

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Advertising Executives Lisa Lanier, lisa.lanier@thecitypages.com Elizabeth Mammano, elizabeth.mammano@thecitypages.com Sales & Marketing Manager Anna Moua, anna.moua@thecitypages.com

Outdoor venues, E-books, Virtual Museums + more...

FiLM + ON SCREEN .......................................... 14 Lost Girls, Emma + other on demand titles to stream

THE BUZZ ........................................................... 15 Closing impacts

Classified Executive Linda Weltzin, advertising@thecitypages.com Contributing Writers Gina Cornell, Dan Hudak, Peter Weinschenk, Steven Walters, MaryAnn Johanson, WisPolitics.com staff

Although Marathon County libraries closed as did other buildings to slow the spread of COVID-19, wi-fi will remain on at all branch locations 24/7 and at its downtown branch during business hours.

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METRO BRiEFS

by B.C. Kowalski

Coronavirus info czar Judy Burrows is the point person when local people have questions about handling COVID-19 warnings, mandates and data Public health efforts to curtail the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the closure or cutback of schools, businesses, events and even churches across the Wisconsin and the nation this week. That includes restaurants and bars, which were ordered closed (except for carryout) under an order from Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday, leaving business owners without revenue and many employees without income. Other crucial services such as hospitals and grocery stores, are exempt.

The state mandate on public gatherings could be confusing. People had a lot of questions. And many of those fell to Judy Burrows, who has been designated the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Public Health Information Officer at the Marathon County Health Department. Plenty of people have been calling her seeking answers.

Burrows says the department yesterday took a ton of calls from owners of restaurants and other businesses asking about the governor’s order banning most public gatherings of more than 10 people.

“The order really locked down a lot of businesses, a lot of restaurants closed down,” Burrows says.

About every other call was from employers asking about employee symptoms and how to handle it. The answer: Since without testing it’s hard to discern if an illness is COVID-19 or a flu or cold, best to just go home.

“Good infection control measures are sick employees staying home,” Burrows says.

Burrows stepped into the public information role on March 9, but otherwise works as the health department’s program director for Community Health Improvement. And she has acted as a PIO before, such as for H1N1.

As of Wednesday, there were 106 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. That’s up from 72 on Tuesday, 47 on Monday, and 27 on Saturday, according to the Department of Health Services. The closest confirmed case to the Wausau area is in Wood County, which has one confirmed case. DHS has been providing daily updates at 2 pm.

The county health department will be notified if a confirmed case occurs in Marathon County, Burrows tells City Pages. People are being tested here by area health providers and the swabs are sent to labs for testing, Burrows says. If a case is confirmed by those labs, the state health department and the county health department will be notified.

Should that happen, county health officers will conduct a contact investigation, interviewing everyone the person had contact with to ensure it doesn’t spread.

One local pathologist told City Pages that not enough testing kits are available for labs to keep up with testing.

Social distancing is an important way to slow the spread of the disease, which experts say will be around for months — it’s not something that is going to go away overnight. Covering your mouth when you cough, washing hands and using hand sanitizer are all ways to help limit the spread.

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March 19– 26, 2020

◄ Judy Burrows is the Coronavirus Public Information Officer at the Marathon County Health Department.

Why the shutdowns and crowd limits?

Symptoms are very similar to the flu, Burrows says, and if someone has those symptoms they should call their health care provider first — each provider might have its own protocol for how to test their patients, especially ones who might have the coronavirus.

Evers on Thursday declared a state of emergency because of the communicable disease, and canceled K-12 in person classes over the weekend. On Monday Evers ordered gatherings of 50 or more people prohibited, and on Tuesday upgraded that prohibition to 10 or more, with restaurants and bars ordered to close (restaurants can still offer takeout). The governor also issued an order allowing the DOT to issue relief supply permits for items related to the coronavirus for grocery retailers, and DOT secretary Craig Thompson ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to assist with transporting testing kits. The Wisconsin National Guard was mobilized to help bring 29 Grand Princess cruise ship passengers back to their homes in Wisconsin.

At the local government level, municipal buildings are shutting their doors to the public outside of allowing voting and considering ways in order to hold meetings via teleconferences. Many have been canceled, such as a city of Wausau public information meeting on the sewer and water plant upgrades that was supposed to have been held Wednesday.

Potential impact on April 7 elections, polling places

Municipal clerks in the area say they’ve seen an uptick in the number of absentee ballots as the impacts of the Coronavirus take hold and send people home, and they expect more.

Wausau City Clerk Leslie Kremer says the office has already seen a greater than usual number of absentee ballots. And Clerk Sherry Weinkauf in Weston sent out a release encouraging more voters to take advantage of absentee ballots so they can steer clear of the polls on April 7; as did Marathon County Clerk Kim Trueblood.

In Weston, all four polling places in the village are being moved to Dale’s Weston Lanes, and voters will receive a notification letting them know about the change.

Kremer says city officials haven’t gotten word of any talk about postponing the election, but says they’re concerned about losing poll workers out of concern about the coronavirus.

Although the deadline to register online or by mail to vote was Wednesday, those who are already registered can request an absentee ballot as late as April 2. And those who missed the online or by mail registration deadline can still register at their municipal clerk’s office by April 3, or at the polls on election day, April 7.

The closures and limit on gatherings of 10 or more people have left businesses without revenue and employees without pay, while others are working from home. The streets on what would ordinarily be a busy Wednesday looked more like a lazy Sunday as people stay home.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office called the situation unprecedented. Officers don’t want to cite or arrest small business owners during an already difficult time, according to a recent news release, but also say the Gov. Tony Evers’ orders carry weight. The office will allow business owners time to prepare for the shut down but also say they will cite or arrest if they receive reports of violations.

That matters, because the next two weeks are critical, says Dr. Sarah Sewall, a pathologist at Associates in Pathology in Wausau. She says the next two weeks are a critical window where people should be practicing social distancing.

And when she means social distancing, she means no socializing of any kind and only going out when necessary. And maintaining a bubble of six feet is important.

“We’re in a very crucial period where we can change the trajectory of this disease,” Sewall says. “We need to do it now. The epidemiological studies are so clear, our doubling times are tracking exactly with Italy.” That country is currently on lockdown with only grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores open. “The only tool we have in our tool box is social distancing.”

Sewall, who is also a mother, says parents have been asking about small play dates while their children are at home. She tells them absolutely not.

Social distancing is needed to prevent a surge of people contracting the virus. Doctors are already having ethical conversations around what will happen if that surge hits a critical mass that overtaxes the hospital system, Sewall says. That could mean far more people needing hospital beds than there are actual beds.

Children in day care should wash their hands when they come home, change clothes and get in the shower or bath to prevent the illness from spreading, Sewall told City Pages.

Free lunches for Wausau area students ►

One big and immediate concern surrounding the COVID-19 school closures was that so many students rely on schools for breakfast and lunch. Some local businesses have stepped up to provide food for children who relied on school lunches to eat.

Urban Street Bistro will be setting up at area elementary schools and offering free lunches once per week for the community, starting Thursday at GD Jones Elementary School, with other lunches planned at Stettin, Riverview and Franklin schools.

“It’s just a small gesture to help our community stay strong and healthy, moving forward together,” Urban Street Bistro staff wrote on Facebook.

Other restaurant owners have put out on Facebook that they’re willing to help students or community members who can’t find enough to eat.

To help feed hungry children, local school district, with support from Blessings in a Backpack and numerous community sponsors, will serve grab and go meal bags at various schools in the Wausau and D.C. Everest school district. These meals are available Monday-Friday through April 3 (see graphic for schedule). Children will receive grab-ngo meals plus breakfast for the next day.

Any adult picking up meals must have their child(ren) present in the vehicle. Any child 18 and under is welcome to pick up meals.

Meals cannot be consumed on-site.

And the Boys & Girls Club will hold an afternoon pick-up meal service 4:30-5:30 pm at its building at 1710 N Second Street.

Other aid on the way— The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin has opened a COVID-19 Community Response fund in order to help mitigate local impacts. Marshfield Clinic Health System also announced that it created a COVID-19 Community Support Fund.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced Wednesday $5 million in small business grants to help provide relief for losses suffered during the downturn.

GRAB-AND-GO BAGS OF FOOD — lunch plus breakfast for the next day — for all school age children, offered Monday-Friday through April 3 (including spring break). Pick up in the parking lots of these schools.

10:30 am–12:30 pm at: DC Everest Middle School DC Everest Senior High Evergreen Elementary Hatley Elementary Rothschild Elementary Weston Elementary

11:00 – 11:20 am at: GD Jones Elementary Jefferson Elementary Lincoln Elementary Riverview Elementary Horace Mann Wausau West High

12:05–12:30 pm at: Hawthorn Hills Elementary

Social distancing help for the homeless

Catholic Charities moved its warming shelter to East Gate Hall in Marathon Park, United Way leaders told City Pages.

The shelter opened in the parks building Tuesday night, says Ben Lee of the United Way, as a means of being able to provide the warming shelter while still providing social distancing. At the current shelter, Catholic Charities needed to limit the numbers to only 10 people at a time because that’s all the space allowed in keeping with social distancing rules.

The move is a result of local government and non-profit leaders coming together to find a solution, Lee says. Wausau/Marathon County Parks, Recreation and Forestry quickly agreed and helped facilitate the move when asked if East Gate Hall could be used as a shelter.

“The United Way convened the (meeting of) leaders but it was a group effort with everyone acting together quickly to form a solid plan, and a Plan B just in case,” Lee says. “There’s a saying ‘it takes a village’ — that was the case last night.”

Catholic Charities will operate its shelter until April 30, when the warming shelter would normally close anyway.

Empty shelves at ALDI Saturday night – people are stocking up as cancelations pile up in anticipation of the Coronavirus.

Anticipated week for: Announcement coming soon on Stevens Point police chief

An investigation into the Stevens Point police chief has concluded and an announcement is expected soon, according to Stevens Point officials.

The city’s police and fire commission met in closed session Tuesday about the investigation into the conduct of Martin Skibba, Stevens Point’s Police Chief who was placed on administrative leave earlier this month. According to a press release from the police and fire commission, commission representatives will be meeting with Stevens Point Police Chief Martin Skibba, with an announcement to follow.

Officials have been mum on details of the situation. It’s unclear who placed Skibba on leave since no meeting minutes or agendas indicate that the commission, which has jurisdiction over police department hiring and firing, took any action regarding the chief.

Good week for: Out of home child placements drop

The number of children being placed outside their homes has dropped slightly last year, according to data from Marathon County Department of Social Services.

In 2019, 264 children were removed from their homes and placed in foster care, according to that data. That’s slightly down from 2018, when 279 children were removed, and 2017 when 277 were removed.

The number of out of home placements have been steadily rising since 2011 as the county has seen an increase in the addiction sparked by the opioid crisis, leaving more parents unable to care for their children.

Social Services Director Vicki Tylka says it’s too early to know if the downswing is a trend in the right direction or temporary. It’s hoped that efforts the county has been making, including adding drug courts and the success of the Lakeside Recovery addiction treatment center are having an impact.

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CAPiTOL EYE

by WisPolitics.com staff

Failing to act SENTRYWORLD ■ SUNDAY, APRIL 5 ■ 10AM-4PM

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Johnson, House Republicans fail to embrace Coronavirus aid legislation U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, criticized coronavirus legislation that cleared the House by a large bipartisan majority over the objections of all four Wisconsin Republicans in that chamber.

The bill cleared the House on March 13 by a 363-40 vote as the state’s House delegation split along party lines.

Johnson said he worried about “unintended consequences” in the House bill by mandating small businesses pay sick leave, saying it could drive them further into debt. He said using existing state unemployment funds may be a better way to address the situation.

“I hope the Senate will approach this with a level head and pass a bill that does more good than harm - or, if it won’t, pass nothing at all,” Johnson said.

Gov. Tony Evers sent Johnson and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, a letter urging them to support the bill.

Evers seeks unemployment changes To help workers impacted by the growing coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers has called on lawmakers to immediately repeal a one-week delay in collecting unemployment benefits — something Republicans approved nearly a decade ago.

Evers also ordered bars and restaurants to be closed to in-house patrons as of 5 p.m. yesterday as part of the state’s escalating response to the outbreak. He also issued a new ban on gatherings of 10 or more people after prohibiting groups of 50 or more just the day before.

The Tavern League knocked the order closing bars, saying there would be large swaths of noncompliance because the directive came so late.

Graduation rates rise, with caveat

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March 19– 26, 2020

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We accept Medicare & Medicaid

The good news is a higher percentage of Wisconsin students are finishing high school. The same old news is there continues to be an achievement gap between white students and those of color.

New numbers from the Department of Public Instruction show overall four-year graduation rates rose to 90% for 2018-19, compared to 88.4% in 2014-15. For white, non-Hispanic students, the rate was 93.8%, up from 92.9%. Both black and Hispanic students also showed progress, even though a big gap with their white counterparts remains. Black student graduation rose to 71.3% from 64% and Hispanic students rose to 82.8% from 77.5%. The only category that saw a decrease in rates over the last five years was among Pacific Islanders, which fell to 83.3% from 84.5%.

Ron Johnson

COVID-19 causes cancelations around Wisconsin, and selfquarantines, including Scott Walker The international outbreak of the coronavirus sparks a tidal wave of closings and cancellations, from State Capitol tours to the Wisconsin high school basketball tournaments. While Washington, D.C., falters over the appropriate responses, Gov. Tony Evers declares a public health emergency.

He also signs an executive order authorizing DHS to take the necessary measures to help prevent and respond to the virus.

In two different announcements, schools are closed and gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. State funds are also authorized to help local health departments with costs related to quarantine and isolation. The order also authorizes the Wisconsin adjutant general to activate the National Guard to assist in the state’s response and directs the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection to enforce prohibitions on price gouging during an emergency.

New cases in Wisconsin are being announced each day and people taking steps to self-quarantine. That includes former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who has been in self-quarantine for the last two weeks after coming in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 at last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference.

A Walker spokesman told WisPolitics.com the former governor is in his Milwaukee home as a precaution and that March 13 was his last day of quarantine. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s office said the Oshkosh Republican was considering selfquarantine after coming into contact with a member of the Spanish parliament who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Karofsky accuses Kelly of being ‘for sale’ ► Dane County Judge Jill Karofsky in a Milwaukee debate accused rival Daniel Kelly of hanging a “for sale” sign on the state Supreme Court, because his conservative donors know their influence has led him to side with them time and again.

Kelly fired back the suggestion was obnoxious, ugly and vile, charging Karofsky has repeatedly lied about him in their race for a 10-year term on the bench.

“My opponent has made the centerpiece of her campaign an ugly slander,” Kelly told a forum hosted by the Milwaukee Bar Association. “The entire rationale for it has been a lie. There is no basis for it.”

But Karofsky pointed to Kelly deciding to house his campaign in the state GOP headquarters as one of several signs that her opponent is beholden to partisan interests. She pledged if elected she would recuse herself from any case involving the state Democratic Party.

“We need to make sure that when folks get to the court, that they know that the decision on the court is being made for one reason and one reason only, and that’s based on what the law is and not based on the money that’s come in during a judicial election,” Karofsky said.

Jill Karofsky

Daniel Kelly

Nursing homes to get mail-in ballots Following Gov. Tony Evers’ declaration of a public health emergency, the Elections Commission unanimously voted to allow nursing homes to receive and send mail-in ballots instead of sending teams of special voting deputies to those facilities.

Commission Administrator Megan Wolfe said at an emergency meeting that statute permits two special voting deputies to visit and collect votes from residents of longterm care facilities. But Evers’ executive order and DHS’ recommendation that only essential personnel visit the facilities does not include the deputies.

The commission also voted to give municipal clerks the option to relocate nursing home polling stations and other facilities where there is a public health concern. State law calls for polling locations to be established 30 days before an election, but that’s already passed. The action means clerks can still find alternate sites as needed.

Ag groups press state senate on farm bills

Obama manager: WI is ‘most important’

Sixteen agriculture groups came together at the Capitol to press senators to take up 14 bills that have been passed by the Assembly.

“Wisconsin farmers have been hit hard by a combination of low commodity prices, trade disruptions and tariffs, as well as extreme weather events throughout the last five years,” said Karen Gefvert, director of governmental relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “The ag groups are asking the Senate to take action that would benefit Wisconsin agriculture.”

Five of the bills are centered around investments in programs and grants for water quality and groundwater protection, issues that Jefferson County beef farmer, Kirsten Jurcek, said go hand-in-hand with farm profitability.

“Saving soil saves us money in the long term,” she said. “Maintaining our rural property values also depends on us having clean water to drink and access to lakes and streams that are fish-able and swim-able.”

The other bills include labeling requirements that would prevent plant-based products from using the term “dairy” and “meat,” investments to exporting dairy and a grant program at DATCP, tax credits on farm buildings, funding for UW-Madison and UWExtension and a wildlife abatement program.

The Senate was due to convene later in March.

Former Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe told a crowd in Madison that Wisconsin is likely to be the most important place in the world over the next seven months.

Speaking at a recent signing of his new book, “A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump,” Plouffe said the Electoral College map puts Wisconsin in an influential position.

“There are people in all parts of the world, every continent, who are going to be looking very closely at what’s happening here,” Plouffe said at the Madison Public Library event.

He emphasized the importance of maximizing voter turnout in Milwaukee and Dane counties to ensure President Trump loses in November.

But in order to do that, Plouffe said, Dems would have to win over voters who are unlikely to be going to the polls wearing Bernie Sanders shirts or with Joe Biden bumper stickers on their trucks.

“We will likely win this election with people who are pretty apathetic about voting and even apathetic about our candidate,” Plouffe said.

March 19– 26, 2020

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ELECTiON: WAUSAU CITY COUNCIL

A CHANGING COUNCIL Nine seats on Wausau City Council are contested for the April 7 election, which could mean nine new faces representing the city

This spring’s elections could see one of the biggest Wausau City Council shifts in some time. With nine contested races on the ballot April 7, there will be at least three new faces on the city council for sure and as many as nine. New council members will face the ongoing issue with Wausau Center, development on Riverlife and addressing the city’s homeless population and transit concerns, among other things. This is who is running and a little about them.

District 1

Southeast neighborhood, west of Grand Ave.

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Pat Peckham, incumbent.

Retired newspaper reporter/editor Peckham, 71, first ran for city council in 2016 after decades of interest in local government and is seeking his third term in office. Peckham says in the short term, while he thinks the city is handling tax incentives (TIF, or Tax Increment Finance, Districts) correctly, he wants to see a discussion about how the city has and will use such incentives in the future. His top priority is encouraging developers to focus on housing aimed at more modest incomes. One thing Peckham says he wishes the council would have done differently is delayed the city street light project to allow time to find more sustainable alternatives. Peckham points to his accessibility to constituents, including prompt returning of emails and phone calls, and regular district 1 meetings, as reasons voters should choose him.

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Christopher Norfleet, challenger.

President for the local advocacy group People for the Power of Love Norfleet, 53, is running because he says citizens, developers and diverse communities don’t have a social infrastructure to represent all. Norfleet wants city leaders to look at decisions through a matrix of transit, housing and wages. He wants to emphasize strong leadership, economic development and quality of life. That includes addressing discrepancies between minority populations. He says the black community is four times more likely to live in poverty in Wausau. Norfleet feels that city leaders offered too much incentives toward the Wausau Center development, and doesn’t think return on investment was taken into consideration enough. Norfleet says if voters want to see a change in city hall, they should vote for him, the first black aldermanic candidate in Wausau’s history.

District 2

Southeast/central side, mostly east of Grand Ave.

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Michael Martens, incumbent. Self-employed owner of online marketing company Martens, first elected to the city council in 2018, is seeking his second term. Martens, 50, sees the top three issues as types of infrastructure: 1) the city needs to make up for all the deferred maintenance it put off; 2) city debt is high, but manageable, citing the city’s plan to pay off 80% of the current debt load within 10 years; 3) affordable housing, now that the city has attracted a lot of market rate housing, Martens wants to see affordable options prioritized through federal, state and local incentives. Martens wants to make sure the character of neighborhoods is maintained. He points to the city missing an opportunity to move two historic homes and the removal of part of the historic wall at Athletic Park.

Martens touts his record on the council and experience as an entrepreneur, along with his dedication to research and engaging his constituents.

District 3

Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee, challenger. Grants and Outcomes Director for Boys and Girls Club of the Wausau Area Rodriguez-Lee, a 28-year-old working parent and grad student, is running because she says she doesn’t see herself represented on the council and wants new ideas and new faces in Wausau government.

She wants to see city debt tackled as a priority, and says developing a strategic plan is a good step toward that. She wants to see a better vetting process to ensure money is being spent wisely, and wants to see better city communication and transparency. And she wants to see Wausau become more welcoming and inclusive of diverse populations. Rodriguez-Lee says she would have sought more environmental testing in the Thomas Street neighborhood, and disagreed with a parking ramp loitering ordinance that she says targeted the homeless. She plans to hold constituent meetings prior to city council meetings where her constituents can voice their concerns.

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Central area along both sides of Wisconsin River, roughly between Chellis Street and Bridge

David Nutting, incumbent. Senior Internal Service Technician, E.O. Johnson Nutting has served for 12 years on the city council and is running again to continue promoting Wausau’s downtown and serving his constituents. Nutting, 62, says his top priority is the restoration of older rentals and single-family homes, especially in working class neighborhoods where some of the housing stock is older. Nutting’s top priorities also include upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which includes bringing it into compliance with new DNR regulations, and the redevelopment of the mall by the Wausau Opportunity Zone group. Nutting said there was nothing he disagreed with in this past term that the council did. Nutting touts his experience and longevity in the area as key factors in why voters should choose him.

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March 19– 26, 2020

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Tom Kilian, challenger.

Owner of Kilian Integrated Marketing Kilian, 41, came into the public light advocating for environmental concerns in the Thomas Street neighborhood and he feels the district needs someone who truly represents their needs and interests. Giving them that representation is one of Kilian’s key priorities, along with changing fiscal policy to represent people and not subsidizing luxury developments while one in four people in Wausau live in poverty. And he wants to see a shift away from a focus on acquiring new residents while neglecting the residents who are already here.

Kilian points to prior councils acting on poorly vetted information, particularly with the Thomas Street redesign, a deal with CBL to move Younkers from one anchor store to another, and the Riverlife Development under Mike Frantz. He says citizen input has been ignored on those issues and he wants to change that.

District 4

East side and East Hill area, roughly south of Bridge Street

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Judith Miller, challenger. Formerly employed in sales, mental health services and finance Miller has been a regular at city meetings for a few years, and she wants to run because she feels the city is planning and spending poorly, and she wants to see more background and vetting done for business developers.

Miller wants to see the city spend more wisely through better planning and tackle uncontrolled and unwarranted debt. She also wants to see better housing options across the board, with options from everyone from young professionals to the homeless population. Miller was particularly critical of a plan to award the former Westside Battery building to Urban Street Bistro, since there was never evidence of the business’ owner having the financing to complete the project. Miller touts her experience in business, working with nonprofits to startups, and with businesses such as AbbyBank and Morgan Stanley.

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Tom Neal, incumbent.

Retired marketing executive Neal, 68, has served six years on the city council and he says he’s proven he’s up to the task of representing the district. Neal says his top priority is economic growth (Neal currently serves as chair of the economic development committee). That means attracting new business investment and new residents to broaden the tax base to lower the tax burden on residents. He also wants the city to focus more on homelessness, addiction and mental health, and also considers the mall’s redevelopment as a priority, which he is glad is in local hands.

Neal says one thing he disagreed with is that he wanted a more scaled down Thomas Street design, but since the council made its decision he abides by it. Neal touts his experience on the council, which he says will also help serve as a guide for new council members.

From the Attorney’s Desk

by Jason Krautkramer, J.D.

ECKERT & KRAUTKRAMER, LLC

District 5 (no incumbent)

325 N. 1st Ave., Suite 1 • Wausau, WI 715-842-0907 • jason@eckertlawllc.com

Near northeast side, both sides of E. Wausau Ave.

James Wadinski, retired police officer Wadinski is running for the seat because he believes he can make sound decisions for the city while being fiscally responsible. He sees the top three issues in the city being the mall’s redevelopment, lowering the city’s debt, and addressing the city’s roads, which he feels the city is neglecting. He points particularly to neighborhood roads such as Jackson and Brown streets as needing attention. Wadinski says it’s the small details in spending that need attention – he points to the First Avenue rebuild and whether the city really needs 72 street lights within six blocks of reconstructed street. A community needs to spend money on services for its residents, Wadinski says, but Wausau needs to focus on how to provide those residents while being fiscally sound.

Wadinski is a lifelong city resident, and has lived in the district for 30 years.

Joel Lewis, community organizer, home care worker and participant-hired worker Lewis, 38, says retiring alderman Gary Gisselman did a great job for 12 years and he wants to continue that service. Lewis says there has been a lack of strategic planning, both in terms of cost and who the city is doing business with. He says the city needs to do a better job of taking its constituents’ concerns seriously, and that residents need to be represented better — he points to a council member reading a biblical passage in response to a request for a permit for a pride parade and the bullying allegations from council member Mary Thao as evidence the council needs more members who are sensitive to diversity. Lewis was a county board member for two terms and is no stranger to local politics. He touts his good relationship with some council members as well as many active members of the community as reasons voters should choose him. continues on 10

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from 9

District 7

Membership Campaign Underway

Miss Myra and the Moonshiners

Oct. 12

Slip back in time to old New Orleans with Miss Myra and her Moonshiners. Myra and the 4-piece band will stomp through favorite Dixieland tunes, sashay with old pops standards, swing with vintage jazz and maybe fly with a bit of Gypsy jazz.

Janoska Ensemble

Nov. 13

This Vienna-based quartet of 2 violins, piano and bass is the personification of virtuosity, blending standards of the classical repertoire with revelatory jazz influences and a bit of Beatles.

Feb. 2

Will Martin

A charming, young New Zealand-based crooner/pianist will transport you back to the best of Broadway, the Swing era, your favorite pop standards and a bit of Rock’n Roll too!

Kassia Ensemble

March 4

A rare combination of string quartet (2 violins, viola and cello) and trumpet offers a program of classical favorites, with an interesting and classy sound.

April 12

Remember When Rock Was Young (Elton John Tribute

Craig A. Meyer celebrates the character, costumes and charisma of the famed pianist/ singer in Remember When Rock Was Young -The Elton John Tribute. A dazzling performance transporting the audience back to their favorite memories of the music and times of Elton John.

Veritas

Admission to performances is by SEASON MEMBERSHIP ONLY: ADULTS $50.00 • STUDENTS $18.00 • FAMILY $125.00 Order by May 31st and get an early bird discount!

ADULTS $45.00 • STUDENTS $18.00 • FAMILY $105.00 Membership includes reciprocal concerts with Antigo & Medford For information & to join contact Meagan, Membership Chair (715)252-6295 Email: MerrillConcerts@gmail.com or Web: MerrillConcerts.org MACA memberships make great gifts!

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March 19– 26, 2020

Tracy Wheatley, challenger.

Teacher and waitress Wheatley, 26, grew up in Wausau and returned after living in other cities in the state.

She wants to bring her experience and voice to the city council to help advocate for Wausau to become more inclusive and diverse. Other priorities include developing more affordable housing to help lift people out of poverty and developing a plan for parking next winter.

Wheatley says she didn’t agree with the city’s parking ramp loitering ordinance passed last year; while she wants the ramps to be safe for residents, she felt many of the complaints were for offenses already enforceable and feels it was targeted at homeless people. She instead would have liked to see more done to help homeless people so they didn’t have to stay in the ramps. Wheatley touts her experience serving on the various committees and working with the public that would make her a great council member.

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May 10

The powerful cross-over male vocal quintet Veritas is bridging the gap between classical precision and popular culture with music from Broadway to sacred, pop to classical, and opera to rock n’ roll.

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Lisa Rasmussen, incumbent. Office Manager, State Farm Insurance Rasmussen, 49, has been a city council member since 2008 and council president since 2016. Rasmussen says she’s continued to run because she loves serving people and solving problems. Her top issues are the redevelopment of Wausau Center, addressing homelessness and improving the city’s public transit. On the bus system, Rasmussen sees partnerships with the surrounding communities as the first step; then the city can find the best model and how to fund it. She serves on the city’s homelessness task force and hopes to continue. Rasmussen says she wishes the council would have pulled the plug on failed Riverlife developer Mike Frantz sooner. She touts her responsiveness to residents, her experience having served on every city committee at one point in knowing how to get things done, the revamps of the city’s pools, support of the River’s Edge Trail and Monk Gardens projects.

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2020-2021 Concert Series

Northwest side, around Merrill Ave.

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MERRILL AREA CONCERT ASSOCIATION

District 8

Near west side, west of Merrill Ave., and around West High School

Linda Lawrence, currently appointed to the seat. Retired, and former mayor Lawrence, 71, served as the city’s mayor from 1998 to 2004. Lawrence was recently tapped for the District 8 seat after former alderman Karen Kellbach resigned. Before becoming mayor, Lawrence represented this district on the council, and says she sought the seat again because she enjoys problem solving for her neighbors and believes she is effective at evaluating legislative choices.

She lists managing surface water, making smart investments for the city and the redevelopment of Wausau Center as her top issues, with smart investments as No. 1.

Lawrence says she didn’t agree with the foot print for the Thomas Street redesign, as she doesn’t think the traffic warranted the level of expenditure. Lawrence touts her experience in city government, her hard work and fiscal responsibility, as well as her preparedness, as reasons to vote for her in April.

Sarah Watson, challenger.

Economics instructor Watson, 40, has called Wausau home for the past 16 years, but has some interesting experience as a graduate teaching assistant at UW-Milwaukee, and for Chicago Partners as a research analyst, where she was the personal contact for families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Watson says she wants the opportunity to give back. As her top priorities she cites job creation, ensuring good roads and making sure public safety have the tools they need to keep residents safe. She says projects such as Riverlife are lofty but she would like to focus on projects that are fiscally responsible and benefit everyone, not just a small group of residents. Watson touts her background and knowledge in economics and society, and her ability to make her neighbors feel heard and represented as reasons to vote for her in April.

District 11 (no incumbent)

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Town of

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3 miles east of Wausau on Hwy 29, Exit 117 (South Hwy J)

To You

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Patrick Bacher, mental health professional at North Central Health Care Bacher, 52, ran for this seat in 2018 and since has stayed involved in following local government, and wants the chance to represent the people of his district. He says the things he’s heard his constituents are most concerned about are the quality of their neighborhoods, the homeless population, and the conditions of our roads, among others. He is also pushing for better diversity and inclusion, citing the United Way’s Life Report calling for improvement in that area. Making Wausau more welcoming and inclusive will foster growth and collaboration, he says. Bacher says Riverlife was a misstep and that better vetting and more financial consideration would have helped. Other issues important to him are bringing more living wage jobs and retaining young professionals. Bacher touts himself as a listener and an advocate.

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Debra Ryan, retired accountant and grants manager Ryan first started coming to city meetings to advocate for a traffic concern in her west side neighborhood and since then has been a regular at meetings. She’s been outspoken on topics including a recycling plant project that ultimately never happened, and seeking additional financial information about Riverlife developer Mike Frantz, who failed to deliver on the project. Ryan says the top three issues in the city are the recent doubling of city debt, questionable tax incentive usage and poor fiduciary oversight by the current council.

Ryan says she wants to use her accounting experience to help the city’s finances, including a moratorium on tax incentive usage, and develop policies to limit its use in the future.

She cites the Westside Battery project as an example where the city should have done better vetting — she wants to see that improved across all city projects.

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West side, around Marathon Park, John Muir Middle School; also area around Aspirus Wausau Hospital campus

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Bill Anderson Town of

Town Town ofof

Wittenberg Wittenberg Wittenberg

4PM ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020

ppresents: re es se en nt ts s: : p r

District 10 (no incumbent)

Southwest side, north and south of Thomas Street

Louis Larson, semi-retired Larson, 66, is running because he says city hall has lost its way and is spending too much on downtown and Riverlife while ignoring other neighborhoods. He feels millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on incompetent decisions and projects that don’t benefit residents. Larson says his top priorities are getting the city’s deficit spending under control, looking at more sensible options for the new sewer and water plants, and getting the city to take environmental contamination more seriously. Larson highlights Thomas Street as an example of something he disagreed with this past city council on — he feels more could have been done to narrow the road and impact less of the neighborhood. Larson says his opponent has been on the city council before and played a part in the predicaments the city faces today, he says. Putting residents first will be his priority.

Sherry Abitz, retired US Air Force Abitz, 63, has served on the city council before, and she hopes to bring that experience to the city council again. Her top priorities are finding solutions for the Wausau Center mall, including citizen input; working with other nearby communities to come up with an outside-the-box solution to the troubled public transit system; and to come up with a solution to address the homeless population in Wausau. On that latter point, as a veteran herself she wants to see the local VA and other veterans organizations come to the table and work with the city on the issue. Abitz says the past council gave far too much leeway to Mike Frantz in his foibles with the Riverlife Project; the city should have worked with a local developer much sooner, she says.

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At At tHe tHe

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March 19– 26, 2020

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11

Foolhouse

BIG GUIDE

Now performs Sat. 11/21.

Granite Peak

The largest list of art, dance, lectures, kids’ stuff, movie schedules, music, theater, sports, workshops and many other activities in your community.

Woodson Art Museum Programs and galleries closed until further notice, please check for updates at lywam.org or on Facebook

Monk Gardens Public programs canceled until further notice, but the gardens will remain open for public use.

Details at 715-261-6309 and on Facebook.

Wausau Conservatory of Music Classes and programs suspended. Anticipated reopening date is Mon. 4/6. Details at wausauconservatory.org

UW-Stevens Point campuses and programs Regularly planned events canceled at all three campuses thru May 24, the end of the academic semester. This includes public programs such as planetarium shows, Treehaven events, Schmeeckle Reserve nature programs, theater & music performances and more. Details at uwsp.edu.

Center for the Visual Arts Classes and galleries closed until further notice.

Details at cvawausau.org and on Facebook Wausau Contemporary Museum of Art Closed until further notice. Details at wmoca.org Woodson YMCA All facilities closed thru Sun. 4/5, including the Landing Senior Activity Center. Licensed child care centers will remain open. Details on Facebook or woodsonymca.com Boys and Girls Club of the Wausau Area All three sites closed. For up to date meal and program options check bgclub.com and on Facebook.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program All site services suspended until further notice. 715-298-5734 Marathon County Public Library All library locations closed until Monday 4/6, tentatively. Patrons can still contact the reference desk for assistance at 715-261-7230, ref@mcpl.us or thru online chat. Details at mcpl.us and on Facebook.

TB Scott Library (Merrill) Closed until further notice. Due dates will be extended and no fines will be assessed.

Details on Facebook EgoCon The annual gaming convention with trivia, vendors fun for fans of Doctor Who, fantasy, sci-fi, more originally scheduled for Saturday 3/28 has been postponed. Organizers are looking to set a new date in the fall. Details on Facebook Colossal Fossils Museum The downtown museum is closed until further notice. Check for updates on Facebook.

Wausau Children’s Museum Museum in Wausau Center Mall closed through Monday 4/6. Details on Facebook Grand Theater The Grand has suspended all public performances and events thru 4/3. Tickets will be valid for rescheduled dates as they are announced. Contact them directly for details at 715-842-0988. Also check for updates on Facebook.

Greenheck Field House Greenheck Field House closed thru Monday 4/6 and all scheduled events and classes are canceled. Use of fitness facility and childcare will be unavailable. Details on Facebook.

Wildwood Zoo (Marshfield) Marshfield zoo closed until further notice.

Details on Facebook Never Forgotten Honor Flight The Monday 4/20 flight is postponed, details on Facebook.

International Wisconsin Ginseng Festival The festival scheduled for Fri.-Sun. 9/18-20 is postponed until 2022. Details on Facebook Boys & Girls Club of Portage County Taste of Wine & Cheese Fundraiser scheduled for Fri. 4/3 postponed, new date TBD. Details on Facebook.

LAUNCH Leadership Conference This local, annual event scheduled for Tuesday 4/7 is postponed, new date TBD. Details on Facebook.

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March 19– 26, 2020

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, most all local events and programs are being canceled at the recommendation of the Marathon County Health Department, state of Wisconsin, and federal guidelines. Here’s a list of big events and venues we know are canceled or postponed so far, plus details on reopening plans. This page is also updated online at thecitypages.com as we receive more information.

rescheduled events Many local events have been canceled, but some are already rescheduled. Here’s what we know so far. The newly scheduled dates are indicated in bold: Donnie Baker · Sat. 4/11, Q&Z Expo Center, Ringle. Stand-up comedy. 6-11 pm. $25. On Facebook. (Rescheduled from Sat. 3/21)

Michael Perry Live

Small Business Week · Mon.-Fri. 5/11-15, Wausau area. Presented by Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. New tentative rescheduled date.

(Originally scheduled for Mon.-Fri. 4/13-17).

Wausauchamber.com: Small Business of the Year Awards · Tues. 5/12, Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, Rothschild.

Recognizes finalists and announces winners. 8-9 am. $40. Pre-registration required: wausauchamber.com Business Expo · Thurs. 5/14, Central Wis. Convention + Expo Center, Rothschild. Business tradeshow.

Open to public 10 am-5 pm. Business card or $10 Small Business of the Year Recognition Ceremony · Fri. 5/15, Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, Rothschild. Hear each recipient’s story and how it led to their successes. $40. Pre-registration required: wausauchamber.com Michael Perry Live: Sneezing Cows and Love Songs · Tues. 5/5, Lucille Tack Center, Spencer.

Author, humorist and musician presents stories and songs drawn from working class background, accidental book & songwriting career, and life on the road. 7 pm. $25. Lucilletackcenter.com.

(Rescheduled from Thurs. 3/19) John Bolton: Populism, National Security, and US Foreign Policy in Uncertain Times · Tues. 6/9, UW Center for Civic Engagement, Wausau. Hear former national security adviser speak. 7-8:30 pm. Free tickets available 5/18: wipps.org/johnboltonwausau.

(Rescheduled from Mon. 4/6)

John Bolton

Bock Fest and Never Forgotten Honor Flight 5K · Sat. 6/13, Bull Falls Brewery, Wausau. Participants registered for the originally scheduled Sat. 3/21 run will be guaranteed a spot to run on the new date. Race begins at noon followed

by Bock Fest at 1 pm with food, live music and beers. Details at bullfallsbrewery.com and on Facebook The Fab Four · Mon. 8/17, Grand Theater, Wausau. Uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles classics with spot-on costumes and authentic equipment. 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $35. Grandtheater.org. (Rescheduled from Tues. 4/21) The Secret Sisters · Wed. 8/19, Grand Theater, Wausau. Blend of southern gospel, bluegrass, barbershop and swing influences with a contemporary, poetic twist by Grammy-nominated folk duo. 7:30 pm. grandtheater.org. (Rescheduled from Fri. 4/3) Retro Trivia 2020 · Fri.-Sun. 10/23-25. 54 hours of trivia and music on UWSP’s student-run radio station, WWSP 90FM. Kicks off 4 pm Fri. with questions 6 pm-midnight Sun. Details: 90fmtrivia.org. (Rescheduled from Fri.-Sun. 4/17-19) Fool House · Sat. 11/21, Granite Peak Ski Area, Wausau. 90s dance party. 7 pm. skigranitepeak.com.

(Rescheduled from 3/21)

arts & entertainment

HIGH LIGHTS compiled by Kayla Zastrow

Monk Gardens

With public and private gatherings limited to 10 people in a single room or confined space (some businesses and stores are exempt), it’s safe to assume most all events and A&E venues we typically list in the Big Guide are canceled through April 6, possibly later. Here are things you can still do while practicing social distancing to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.

COURTESY OF MONK GARDENS FACEBOOK/PHOTO BY STEPHANIE KOHLI

▲ GET OUTSIDE

While programs and classes have been canceled even at many outdoor locations, those places like Monk Botanical Gardens and UWSP’s Schmeeckle Reserve are still open for public use. At both these park-like areas you’ll find trails to walk, ponds to linger near, and even outdoor artful attractions. As of Wednesday, March 18, Granite Peak Ski Area announced is remains open for skiing through April 12 (conditions and COVID-19 operations permitting), with large outdoor patios to relax on. Going outside is a great way to stay healthy with some fresh air, sunshine, exercise, while still maintaining social distance.

Monk Gardens is located on the north end of First Avenue in Wausau. monkgardens.org, 715-261-6309.

Schmeeckle Reserve is located on Northpoint Drive in Stevens Point. See uwsp. edu, 715-346-4992. Find even more to see less than two miles away, at the Stevens Point Sculpture Park, within Zenoff Park.

Granite Peak Ski Area is open during the day only thru April 12. The chalets are closed for food and beverage sales (open for bathroom access only). Night time skiing has been discontinued and will be closing at 5 pm daily. Details at skigranitepeak.com.

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VISIT A VIRTUAL MUSEUM

Many famous museums like the Guggenheim in New York, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and more can be toured virtually from the comfort of your couch. Head to artsandculture.google.com to step inside these must-see museums around the world.

FYI: MANY STORES AND RESTAURANTS REMAIN OPEN ON LIMITED BASIS

Though all Wisconsin bars and restaurants are closed for in-house dining, many are still offering takeout service. And the state ban on confined-space gatherings has several exemptions for places like grocery stores, clinics, governmental buildings, etc. On the retail side, the mandate and coronavirus caution has affected places differently. Locally in the Wausau area, large retailers remain open as of this writing, some with limited hours such as Home Depot, Target, Kohl’s, Target and Best Buy. But shopping centers such as Wausau Center Mall and Third Street Lifestyle Center in downtown Wausau are closed. Meanwhile, many small locally owned retailers remain open, presumably because they can manage social distancing and customer traffic. For example, as of Wednesday, March 18, Janke Book Store in downtown Wausau, and Jim Kryshak Jewelers in Rib Mountain remain open, but The Local has temporarily closed its downtown and Weston stores. Note: Public health experts advise everyone to limit visits to any public places and to exercise social distancing.

Marathon County Public Library branches may be closed, but patrons can access thousands of free e-books and audiobooks using the Overdrive and Libby apps. These free apps work on most PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and e-readers. All you need is a current Marathon Co. Public Library card to get started. Find more information at mcpl.us.

WORKOUT

You can still get a good workout in without ever leaving the comfort of your house and you don’t even need a treadmill or weights. You can find many fun workout videos online—Blogilates and POPSUGAR fitness are my favorites, find them on YouTube. Even a local fitness/yoga studio, Croi Croga in Wausau, will attempt to stream one to two fitness classes daily, starting Sunday, March 22. Like them on Facebook to join them for a free online, live class.

March 19– 26, 2020

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FILM

+ ON SCREEN

Amy Ryan, center, in the Netflix

original movie Lost Girls.

ased in theaters is now available through video

Anya Taylor-Joy in Emma, which was just rele

Serial-killer thriller with a welcome spin New Netflix movie places focus on forgotten victims Lost Girls out of 5| 95 min. |R Reviewed by MaryAnn Johanson It seems churlish to say such a thing about a clearly very necessary film, but Netflix’s Lost Girls isn’t terribly engaging. That’s a problem, because the way to bring in the audience that needs to see it most is to be as gripping as possible. A spoonful of sugar, and all that. I hate feeling this way— that a movie about something so serious should be “entertaining” — but I do want folks to see it and stick with it long enough to actually hear what it has to say.

On paper, Lost Girls sounds electrifying.

This first narrative feature from documentarian Liz Garbus (twice nominated for an Oscar, most recently for 2015’s What Happened, Miss Simone?) — offers exactly the sort of twist on a familiar story I would expect from a filmmaker like Garbus, who has long been a champion for the girls and women society misunderstands and overlooks. Movies about murdered prostitutes and serial killers who prey on women are so ubiquitous as to be banal, and these stories tend to be about the cops or lawyers investigating the crimes to which they have fallen victim, and not about the women themselves.

But Garbus puts the focus where it belongs, and where it should always have been: on the victimized women. This part

of the story is true: In 2010, a 20-something woman named Shannen Gilbert went missing while working as a prostitute, and police did nothing about it until her mother, Mari, raised holy hell.

As Mari, Amy Ryan (another Oscar nominee here, for her astonishing performance in 2008’s Gone Baby Gone) is her typical badass steely character, who is forced to conduct her own investigation into Shannen’s (very briefly, Sarah Wisser) disappearance. Mari makes an absolute pain the ass of herself with the local cops (Gabriel Byrne and Dean Winters) on Long Island’s South Shore until they agree to take Shannen’s disappearance seriously. And once these men who don’t think one more missing hooker is a big deal start looking into it, they find evidence of lots more crimes against women, to the point where they can no longer ignore any of them.

Soon the sisters, mothers, and friends of other missing prostitutes are joining up to crusade on behalf of their loved ones. And Lost Girls becomes a sort of elegy for not only sex workers who often suffer so dearly and invisibly in our culture, but also women like Mari: struggling as a single mother working multiple jobs just to get by, and often accepting money from Shannen to help with her other, younger daughters, Sherre (Thomasin McKenzie) and Sarra (Oona Laurence). Sarra

has mental health issues, as Mari does herself.

Mari can’t seem to get any real help for her daughter, and the ways Mari herself has often coped — as by letting her girls be taken into foster care when she wasn’t able to care for them — often bring her in for criticism. As if she wasn’t and isn’t constantly doing the best she can in impossible circumstances with little to no assistance or respite.

All that said, there’s something rote and even trite about Michael Werwie’s script.

(It’s based on a nonfiction book by Robert Kolker, which is in turn based on his 2011 New York magazine article “A Serial Killer in Common.” (You can read that online at nymag.com, though it isn’t as up to date as the book and the film.) Ryan’s fierce central performance and Garbus’s profound empathy cannot quite overcome the fact that Lost Girls never delves into why its girls and women are so lost, except to skim the obvious clichés about working-class women, the lack of decent mental-health care and a strong social safety net, and what drives desperate women to dangerous sex work in modern America.

Ryan’s Mari — and the real Mari Gilbert, who went on to advocate for other women like her daughter — is a terrific voice for all the women our society is all too happy to forget.

But Lost Girls seems not to quite understand why such advocacy is needed.

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March 19– 26, 2020

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Some current theatrical releases now on-demand in unprecedented move by film industry Movie theaters are among the mandated closures of most public places and private “mass” gatherings that went into effect March 17 in Wisconsin and earlier in other places around the U.S. But the movie industry already was grinding to a halt over concerns about spreading the coronavirus. Marcus Theatres had implemented social distancing seating (half capacity), for example, and production ceased for most new movies.

At this point, there will be no new wide releases in U.S. cinemas until at least April 10. Which means you’ll have to wait for anticipated new films like A Quiet Place Part II, which was supposed to come out this weekend but now is expected for May 15.

But you can still access three current theatrical releases. On Monday, Universal Studios announced that The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Emma will be available for video on demand on Friday, March 20. Find all three on VOD services through Comcast, Sky, Apple and Amazon for a 48-hour rental at $19.99. The animated movie Trolls World Tour, scheduled for theaters on April 10, will also be on VOD the same day. (by Kayla Zastrow and Tammy Stezenski)

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THE BUZZ

by B.C. Kowalski

Closing impacts

WOW Family Entertainment Center is one of several local restaurants opting to close for now because of the Coronavirus.

Luxury Apartments Available for Leasing

Welcome home! Enjoy luxury living at The Reserve, a resort-inspired golf course community with beautiful residences and exceptional amenities. Contact our concierge today to schedule a tour of our spacious living accommodations!

Reaction to COVID-19, known as the

Coronavirus, started slow but the impacts steadily increased, crashing the stock market, canceling events and limiting places of business as local, state and national government took steps to curtail the pandemic.

Most all public places and places of business are either limiting hours or closing in response to public gathering mandates.

Especially for locally owned bars and restaurants, shutting down this week and perhaps for two or three weeks longer, has been a hard pill to swallow, leaving them without revenue source and their employees without work or a paycheck. While some restaurants are trying to stay open with takeout orders, other owners completely closed their business for the time being. One of them is Evan Greenwood, owner of WOW Family Entertainment Center in Wausau. The following is an edited Q&A with Greenwood.

How difficult was the decision to close?

(WOW announced Monday night that it would close, telling employees beforehand.)

For about three to five days before we closed we definitely knew it was a possibility this could escalate quickly with how much the government might intervene.

We’re fine with complying, but you think about the physical and financial well-being of your staff and patrons, and the ethics of whether you should stay open or not. You don’t know who is exposed and then they could go infect someone who is high risk, and that person could get very sick. Those were the things I took into account.

Did you think the Coronavirus would have this impact?

I don’t think anyone knew what to think. I still think a lot of people don’t know what the widespread and long-term effects will be. You need to take it one day at a time. I don’t think we’re at the tip of the iceberg yet, it will get worse before it gets better.

Join us for an open happy hour from

▲ WOW owner Evan Greenwood, pictured here in a 2018 photo, spoke with City Pages (via telephone) about how the COVID-19 closure will impact his business and staff.

How worried are you for your business and others in the community?

We’re not operating, we’re not selling our product and services, we have no money coming in. People I have worked for told me to always keep money for worst-case scenarios, and I’m sure other operators in town are just as shrewd. I’m worried about my coworkers and staff. Maybe they have kids, maybe some are living paycheck to paycheck? I’m most worried about them.

Did you consider doing takeout?

We’re trying to minimize the risk of exposure, so no carryout. We want to make sure everyone is safe.

How are you handling things with your employees?

They’re concerned and nervous, and maybe a little scared right now. I’ve made myself available 24/7, they can call me. We have quite a few employees, 70 plus, and I told anyone who works for us to file for unemployment now. We pay for unemployment insurance for situations like this, so people can get some assistance.

Hopefully they can make it work and pay their bills. One thing we’re doing for staff is any food that is going to perish, we’re giving to our staff in the next two weeks, focusing on the ones who have children.

How could local, state or national government help?

I think the government owes it to the people to give some relief in this. I was hoping banks would freeze principal payments on small business loans. It takes tremendous risk to start your own business, and you need to pay the bank back. That’s a big chunk of your expenses.

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One of the most important things crisis care can provide…

Hope.

An mental or behavioral health emergency can come in any form, at any time, at any age. Where can you turn for support and hope? Here. North Central Health Care will help assess your situation and ensure you receive the support, counseling and resources you need. No one should have to manage a crisis alone.

There is hope. We are confident.

NCHC Crisis and Emergency Services are available to people of ALL AGES, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone and walk-in. No appointment needed.

24-Hour Crisis & Suicide Prevention Hotline 1.800.799.0122 or 715.845.4326 24-Hour Crisis Center – 1100 Lake View Drive, Wausau

www.norcen.org

Serving Marathon, Lincoln and Langlade Counties March 19– 26, 2020

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For more details call Ken 715.370.1665 days, 715.355.4504 after 6 pm.

We have temporarily closed our tasting room, but we still have spirits for sale at Trig’s, Townline Meat Market, County Market, and Lamb’s.

Buy a bottle now and bring your receipt in when we are open for a free cocktail!

Also, if there is a recipe you love, message us on Facebook and we can help you craft it!

Now taking bag league reservations.

6 week leagues, Tuesday nights, free entry, and discounted drinks for members.

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BUSINESS FOR SALE BY OWNER

Marathon County Historical Society

Profitable established pet-related business in Central Wisconsin with a loyal customer base

Closed until further notice As a precaution for our community Programs and tours also suspended

Willing to Train & Mentor Steady, consistent income stream Highly desirable location Excellent growth potential

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March 19– 26, 2020

over 30 years of marketing experience

We’ll reopen at a future date for e-cycling.

Our Help Closet medical lending program is available by appointment only. Please call ahead.

Lisa Lanier

Proceeds support local nonprofit

Senior Advertising Executive

Your STATE CERTIFIED electronics recycler

715.845.5171

lisa.lanier@thecitypages.com

1106 Fifth St., Wausau • 715-843-5985 • goodnewswi.com

On-line Classes for Home and Office Yoga & Mind-Body Practices with Local Teachers You Trust www.5koshasyoga.com/yoga/class-schedule/ • 715.298.1954 • office@5koshasyoga.com Hand-crafted Wines | Organic, Farm-raised Chicken & Pork No added corn, antibiotics or GMOs

Visit MCHS when we reopen!

FREE WINE TASTINGS

Selling due to owner having another business venture.

Bring all offers and make a healthy lifestyle change!

715.297.4231

Electronics Recycling has been temporarily suspended.

Call for availability

WINTER WINE AVAILABLE At Sunset Hollow Ranch

Spring Fling! *rescheduled - Sat., April 25th | 1-4pm $15 preregistration required 410 McIndoe St., Wausau • 715-842-5750 marathoncountyhistory.org

SELECT WINE AVAILABLE at Dave's County Market in Merrill

Summer Kick Off - May 16th | 4-8pm

Live Music On New Patio • Free Wine Tasting • Bonfire

Taste Farm-To-Table Appetizers, Specialty Cheeses, NEW Sunset Hollow Ranch Bistro Pizza Wine Pairing, and more! all organic ingredients with crust from Hometown Bakery Live Music!

W3193 Pine River Rd., Merrill | 715-216-4136 | sunsethollowranch.com