The Nuts & Bolts of Portage County

Category: Job Skills

  • Mid-State to offer free local welding certificate this summer

    Mid-State to offer free local welding certificate this summer

    The Mid-State Technical College Fuse Your Future summer training program will be offered June 7 – 29 on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. Twelve seats are available for the free training, thanks to full tuition sponsorship by the Central Wisconsin Metal Manufacturers Alliance (CWIMA).

    Fuse Your Future is available to interested high school and college students as well as those currently employed or interested in the field of welding. Students will complete courses in welding print reading and gas tungsten arc welding. Upon completion of these courses, they will earn the Fuse Your Future: Welding local certificate and three Mid-State Welding program credits.

    “Mid-State has hosted the Fuse Your Future summer training program in previous years, but this will be the first year students are able to earn a local certificate upon completion of the program,” said Mid-State Dean of Applied Technology Ryan Kawski. “We are grateful to have continued partnership with CWIMA. CWIMA’s funding of early training experiences like Fuse Your Future is a great way to assist people on the path to a successful career.”

    The deadline to apply is Friday, May 26. Learn more about Fuse Your Future at mstc.edu/fuse-your-future.

  • Paramedic students progress at Mid-State

    Paramedic students progress at Mid-State

    Our Paramedic students have been very busy with the first month of the second semester.

    The students learned to interpret 12-Lead EKGs, treat a variety of medical disease processes across 11 body systems, and started trauma care. The students have also started riding with ambulance services to apply their skills.

    The 17 students are now less than 90 days from their National Registry exams.

    Interested in learning more? Contact Rick Anderson at 715-422-5473 or rick.anderson@mstc.edu

  • Ellis Construction welcomes teen workers

    Ellis Construction welcomes teen workers

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    Employment vacancies in the skilled trades sector are one of the hardest to fill, and it’s changing the way businesses seek out their employees—often, to the worker’s benefit.

    It’s a reality that Ellis Construction is already addressing.

    ”We’ve had to utilize a very comprehensive approach when it comes to recruitment,” said Andrew Halverson, vice president of Ellis. “We’re ‘farming’ rather than ‘hunting’ employees.”

    Halverson said the company regularly visits local high schools to discuss the benefits of working in the skilled trades—jobs requiring specialized training in carpentry, masonry, electrician, and other skills often requiring on-the-job training and vocational education—but often do not require a bachelor’s degree. The Student Learner Program was created by the state in 2017 to address a worker shortage and allows qualifying students as young as 16 to work in jobs typically off-limits to someone so young.

    “They get right in there, doing a lot of the same work as a traditional employee,” Halverson said. “Their experience is often the same as a full-time worker, with a heavy emphasis on safety and mentorship.”

    Halverson said that Ellis most recently transitioned seven youth apprentices to adult apprentices, with two additional youth apprentices on staff, and plans to hire two or three more in 2023. The company’s first youth apprentice to adult apprentice candidate is scheduled to complete his adult apprenticeship this autumn, age the age of 21.

    Ellis’ general starting wage range is $16-$18 per hour for beginning general laborers and youth apprentices. When the company’s adult apprentices complete their course work, in-class and after-hours related, and on-the-job training and hours, they will be making a wage in the mid-to-upper $30s per hour.

    To apply for the program go to https://elliswi.com.

  • Help wanted

    Help wanted

    • Bill’s Pizza Shop is looking for kitchen help. Stop in and apply in person. 1101 Main St., Stevens Point.
    • Hardee’s hiring, numerous positions, apply at 3132 Church St., Stevens Point.
    • The Point/Plover Metro Wire is hiring summer interns for marketing and news reporting. Age 16+ and have reliable transportation. Contact brandi@spmetrowire.com.
    • SCS STUDENT PROGRAMS
      S.C. Swiderski is dedicated to giving students and young adults opportunities to expand upon their career interests and professional goals. This important investment in students that shapes the future workforce. Therefore, we are committed to providing a valuable experience for our associates. The programs include mentoring by managers, visits to multiple apartment and construction sites and interactions with all areas of the company for a comprehensive learning experience. Programs can be tailored to each individual’s school requirements and experience goals. Associates can return to the program for multiple years for a progressive learning experience. View our “BLOG” to see more information about our past associates – including their experiences!

    STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

    SCS Pathways Program
    Internships – Marketing, Development, Project Coordination, etc.
    Youth Apprenticeships
    General Laborers
    Turnover Specialists
    Groundskeepers

    https://www.scswiderski.com/pathway-program

    • Skyward Internships
      At Skyward, we offer a variety of internship opportunities for college students, along with full-time
      opportunities upon graduation and beyond. Interns at Skyward are viewed as true members of the teams they are a part of, and often perform the same duties as full-time employees.Below are some of the common positions that we have available at most times. Learn more at
      skyward.com/working-for-skyward.

      Internship Opportunities for College Students:

      Customer Success: Interns in this position work hands-on with customers to help shape their Skyward experience.
      Software Engineer: Software engineer interns receive real work experience and training just like full-time employees, building and implementing new applications that our K-12 district community will use.
      Internal IT Engineer: Internal IT engineer interns provide professional and superior user support, equipment and/or software implementation, and software usage consulting to ensure the highest level of user satisfaction.

      Full-Time Opportunities:

      Customer Success Representative: These individuals work in a fast-paced environment one-on-one with customers, while collaborating with their team to provide training and solutions for our customers, going beyond a typical customer service/call center position.
      Software Engineer: This role provides a collaborative environment with the opportunity for software engineers to work directly with quality specialists, product owners, UX designers, and actual customers to develop and implement the best product possible for the K-12 district
      community.
      Sales Account Executive: In this role, individuals engage with school district leaders to promote our award-winning software. Through managing assigned territory and developing ongoing, profitable relationships with customers, our sales account executives continually maintain a professional image of the company.

  • Mid-State, partners celebrate first grads of culinary program

    Mid-State, partners celebrate first grads of culinary program

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    Mid-State Technical College and supporting partners recognized the achievements of the school’s first students to complete its new Culinary Foundations certificate program.

    The school held a recognition ceremony at the Wisconsin Rapids Campus Gourmet Café on Feb. 15. Five students were joined by their family and friends in the celebration: Max Bell, Jared Craig, Angela Kolb, Tawnya Penyak, and Michael Tennessen.

    All five students completed the program in the fall 2022 term with no out-of-pocket tuition costs. Tuition for all was provided by Visit Rome WI through their State of Wisconsin Destination Marketing Organizations Grant Award, with additional student support was provided by the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (NCWWDB) and Forward Service Corporation to assist with transportation, paid culinary internships and job placement.

    Dr. Missy Skurzewski-Servant, dean of Business & Information Technology, said she was “proud” of the students’ accomplishments.

    “Mid-State is also thankful for the partnerships we continue to strengthen with district businesses who are eager to support student learning and help us grow the pipeline of culinarians in central Wisconsin,” she added.

    Mid-State launched the Culinary Foundations certificate in fall 2022 due to an increase in demand for cooks and chefs in the central Wisconsin community. The program includes the Servsafe Manager Industry Certification, and the 11 credits earned will apply toward Mid-State’s Culinary Arts associate degree for students who choose to continue their education.

    “The Visit Rome organization recognizes that a vibrant workforce is vital for tourism to thrive in the Rome area, and Mid-State’s Culinary Foundations program helps to address one of our area’s top workforce challenges,” said Lisa Kubis, executive director of Visit Rome WI.

    “Our food service establishments are confronted with employee shortages not uncommon throughout the state and even the country, and we understand the importance of investing in programs that will help area businesses and organizations find qualified workers to fill those gaps and ensure a healthy regional economy,” Kubis added.

    Beyond its financial support of this first group of completers, Visit Rome WI Board Treasurer Will Beckstrom also announced at the event a commitment of $100K in 2023 to continue workforce development efforts in the community.

    According to Elsa Duranceau, Worker Advancement Initiative Grant coordinator for NCWWDB, tourism in the north central region was hit hard by the pandemic.

    “Business owners in the industry are challenged to bring back their resorts, hotels and restaurants to pre-pandemic levels, and some establishments closed completely due to losing their workforce,” Duranceau said. “The mission of the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board is to cultivate a skilled and competitive workforce that meets the demands of employers in the region, and we are grateful to the State Department of Workforce Development for allowing us the opportunity to serve the career seekers and employers in the tourism industry with the Worker Advancement Initiative grant, a project funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.”

    The WAI’s subsidized employment and skills training opportunities with local employers have been vital to helping the NCWWDB achieve its mission, allowing the organization to provide incentives for attending and completing training, among other support services for individuals, said Duranceau. These “extra” supportive services provide a bit of financial relief for students and have not always been possible through the traditional employment and training programs offered by NCWWDB.

    Duranceau notes that the pandemic has brought opportunities along with the obvious difficulties. “We haven’t had this type of flexibility under our typical workforce development programs in the past, and we are taking the opportunity to make the greatest positive impact that we can in our communities,” she said.

    Mid-State’s Culinary Foundations certificate can be completed in one semester. All of the current certificate holders plan to continue in the Culinary Arts associate in applied science program.

    For more information on Mid-State’s certificate and degree programs go to mstc.edu/programs.

  • Young couple cement futures with careers in police, fire

    Young couple cement futures with careers in police, fire

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    Joey Gemza, III, and his fiancé, Morgan Gruna, are the future of local emergency services.

    Gemza, 25, is a SPASH graduate who now works as a full-time firefighter/paramedic at the Stevens Point Fire Department. Gruna, 23, graduated from Rosholt High School. She began her career as a full-time police officer at UW-Stevens Point Police and Security Services in September.

    The two shared with Nuts & Bolts why they chose their professions, and why they enjoy their work.

    Q: What inspired you to go into your field?
    Gruna: “Jokingly, I always say that the amount of Scooby-Doo that I watched as a kid really drove me to
    and prepared me for a career in law enforcement. I’ve always been really into problem-solving
    and helping people come up with solutions to issues they may be having. I felt that this career
    would allow me to do both.”
    Gemza: “My dad is a firefighter/paramedic and I thought he had the coolest job in the world. I remember as a kid, coming to see him at work and getting to play in the firetruck.”

    Q: When did you begin your schooling, and how long did it take?
    Gruna: “I started some college classes in my junior year of high school. The college general course classes I took were honestly easier than some high school classes and counted as credit for high school and college. There were some really helpful programs that paid for the college classes that I would’ve had to pay for anyways after high school. I did the EMT program at Northcentral Technical College that lasted for one semester, Forensic Science Associate’s Degree Program at Fox Valley Technical College for two years, and then completed the Law Enforcement 720-hour academy at Midstate Technical College that lasted 1 semester. After all was said and done, I was done with college before my friends who went into a four-year college.”
    Gemza: “I began my schooling in 2015 at Fox Valley Technical College for firefighting, which took two
    years. Then I did the paramedic program at Midstate Technical College for one year. All together, it only took me three years.”

    Q: Before going to tech school, did you try any Explorer programs, job shadowing, internships, etc., related to firefighting/paramedic/law enforcement? If so, how did it help you?
    Gruna: “I knew I had to get my name out there, so I started volunteering at the Stevens Point Police Department as an auxiliary officer and eventually began working as a community service officer
    there as well. I also did a ride-along with a few different departments that I had an interest in working
    for to see how their departments functioned. I spent time doing a short internship for a detective bureau, which was extremely interesting. I also held a job as a Mental Health Technician, which is a huge part of Law Enforcement. All of the things I did to prepare me for the field were very eye-opening and just validated my interest.”
    Gemza: “Yes, I was an Explorer Scout at Stevens Point Fire Department and was on the Rosholt Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. I did my EMT Basic ride-alongs with Stevens Point. I did my firefighting internship with Oshkosh Fire Department and I did my paramedic internship with Stevens Point. It helped me figure out if I could do the job with the trauma we see.”

    Q: What, specifically, do you like most about your job?
    Gruna: “The adrenaline rush when going to a call is like no other. The feeling of thinking, ‘Alright, this is
    what we trained for, we know what to do, let’s go help someone,’ is so exciting to me. Calls don’t always end the way we want them to, but knowing that I put my all into it and did all that I could is very fulfilling to me.”
    Gemza: “I like that it’s not the same thing every day and I get to meet new people on calls.”

    Q: What, specifically, do you dislike about your job?
    Gruna: “There are a lot of different opinions about law enforcement, and that is fine. I always tell people
    that everyone is free to have their own opinions, but not everyone has to agree with them. I always allow people to voice their opinions to me and I commend them for having the voice and confidence to express their opinions. It is hard for me to see people be afraid or hesitant around me when they have not had the chance to meet me and understand that I have the best intentions as an officer.”
    Gemza: “It can be hard when we lose a patient.”

    Q: What advice do you have for today’s teenagers who may be interested in your line of work?
    Gruna: “It can be a lot of hard work to get in the field and work in the field, but it is so rewarding! I love
    going home after every shift knowing that I was able to help people (and sometimes even animals) in some way or another. A lot of times, people call for law enforcement assistance when they are at their lowest and/or need help in some way or another. I love the fact that I am able to be the person they look to for guidance or to make them feel safe.”
    Gemza: “Do it. I only went to school for three years and am making more money than some people who went to school at a four-year university.”

    Q: What’s it like running into your fiancé on calls? Are there pros/cons to having a life partner who is also in the emergency services field?
    Gruna: “It is honestly so weird! We act almost like we don’t know each other. When we are working, we
    are partners, but in a professional manner. If we are both called to a scene, it’s usually a more serious situation where someone is in need of medical help or there is some other type of emergency that needs to be dealt with professionally. However, it is extremely helpful to have someone to come home to that can relate and/or understand how stressful, emotional, educational, or even satisfying a call can be. I always have my amazing family to lean on, but there are some things that I’m unable to tell them and/or are hard for them to completely understand, without having the experience in the field. However, there is a con to both being on the same call sometimes and it’s that we can make fun of each other for silly mistakes we made on the call.”
    Gemza: “I love running into her on calls. It’s great having a partner in this type of field because she understands the stress of the job. A con would be seeing her disrespected by people because she’s a cop. Everyone loves a firefighter, though.”

    • To learn more about Fire Explorer Program at SPFD, contact Lt. Shane Westphal at (715) 344-1833.
    • For more information on careers in local police and fire departments, go to https://www.mstc.edu.
  • Flushing the hydrants: What are they doing?

    Flushing the hydrants: What are they doing?

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    An employee of the Plover Public Works Department will flush the village’s 1,040 hydrants twice a year—each spring and each fall.

    The flushing cleans out the mains and removes any sediment that may cause discolored water. Residents can experience some discolored water during these times, but it’s typically harmless.

    Plover’s public works employees maintain 95 miles of water mains, two water storage facilities, and three wells. The village serves over 4,000 customers and has the capacity to store 1.5 million gallons of water, according to its website.

    Though the village was only incorporated in 1971, the Plover water system has been in existence since 1989. Like other municipalities, the village monitors its water supply for harmful bacteria, lead and copper, volatile organics, pesticides, and other items that require monitoring by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agency. Fluoride is also added to the water for the prevention of tooth decay.

    The Village of Plover has in recent years experienced a lot of growth, and according to the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Demographic Services Center, the village saw the largest population increase in Portage Co. since the 2010 U.S. Census.

    According to data collected in the 2020 U.S. Census, Plover saw a 14 percent increase in population. The village grew by about 1,700 residents for a total population of about 13,600 people. The number of voting-age residents in the village also increased from 1,310 to 1,369.

    The village abuts the Village of Whiting and Stevens Point to the north, and by the Town of Plover to the south. Each has its own municipal government.

    The village is run by an elected board, with two trustees from each of the three wards in the village. The Board typically meets twice each month and meeting agendas can be found on the village’s website.

    Leadership duties are split between an elected village president and an administrator hired by the Village Board. Tom Davies is the current village president. Former Plover Police Chief Dan Ault is the village’s administrator.

  • The history of the Portage Co. landfill

    The history of the Portage Co. landfill

    By Amanda Haffele

    Did you know Portage County has a closed landfill?

    It all began in the early 1970s when municipalities and the county wanted to pool resources, close dumps, and stop the burning of trash. A feasibility study found the towns of Buena Vista and Stockton to have the most suitable lands and geography to host a landfill.

    After some time, lots of studies, meetings, and debate, it was determined that Stockton would be the best location to host a landfill. This was due to its proximity to the population center with easy road access for larger vehicles.

    Fast forward to 1980, and a final feasibility study was performed to find the exact spot within the Town of Stockton that would host the landfill. This 84-page report, with 169 pages of appendices, takes into account surface water, private and public wells, groundwater flow and depth, soil types and percolation rates, bedrock, neighbors, past and present land use, and other geological features, zoning, financial responsibility, and transportation aspects.

    With the feasibility report, the county was ready to go to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ask for approval to build a sanitary landfill on an 80-acre parcel. In 1981, the county started construction of a sanitary landfill rather than a dump.

    Believe it or not, there is a difference between the two. A dump is, basically, an open hole in the ground where trash was buried or burned and where animals often swarm. Typically, dumps were not regulated nor did they have any environmental protection. A sanitary landfill, however, is a well-engineered and maintained structure, serving multiple purposes.

    Construction

    While the hole is being dug, surveyors (either on the ground or above using drones) will take measurements of the slope of each side wall to make sure they are at the exact grade needed. The bottom of the landfill is then layered in order of compacted clay, HDPE (#2 plastic) geomembrane liner, fabric, then drainage rock.

    Pipes are placed within the drainage rock to collect leachate. Leachate is a liquid generated when water or other liquids seep down through the trash. It must be collected, tested, and treated at a water treatment facility or it can be recirculated back into the trash to increase decomposition. After garbage is placed in the landfill, more piping is installed to collect gasses which are produced as the garbage decomposes.

    Fences and natural barriers such as coniferous trees surround landfills. Not only do they catch windblown litter, but they also limit access. Natural barriers also help to reduce noise as well as provide an aesthetic view versus an open cell being filled with garbage.

    Site operation

    The Portage County landfill is divided into three main sections called cells. Our industry has cleverly named the cell that is being filled the “active cell.” Large movable fences are set up around the active cell to reduce litter. After each load of garbage is dropped off, a large machine will drive over the top to help compact it.

    At the end of each working day, the landfill operator must cover the garbage with at least six inches of topsoil known as daily cover. Shingles, shredded car fluff, foundry sand, or broken glass may also be used as daily cover. Daily cover reduces landfill odor, prevents litter, and deters wildlife.

    The most prevalent wildlife around an active landfill is birds like gulls and vultures. Therefore, landfills cannot be placed within a 2-mile radius of an airport.

    Once a cell reaches capacity, it must be capped and monitored. Capped cells must meet the slope requirements, and be covered with compacted clay, HDPE geomembrane liner, rooting zone soil, topsoil, and native grasses to limit erosion.

    Closed landfills

    Prior to opening in 1982, the county had to prove to WisDNR that it could finically support the closure of a landfill. The county had to set aside and invest money before the landfill could open. Therefore, all post-closure activities are already “paid for” through this investment account.

    The Portage County landfill was officially closed in January 2009. Once a landfill is completely closed it must be monitored for 40 years to make sure it is stable, not leaking, or causing any issues. Trained County employees monitor the landfill’s gas, leachate levels, and groundwater via onsite wells and private offsite wells. We also do visual monitoring to make sure nothing compromises the integrity of the cap or the gas pipes. Examples of compromises include animal holes or dens, any sagging or unnatural low areas, bare spots, and woody vegetation growth.

    Some closed landfills are turned into recreation areas such as soccer fields (as done in the city of Wausau), baseball fields, or dog runs, some even house solar fields. While others, like ours, are left as a home for wildlife (such as turkeys that cling to their nests and jumped off last second, scaring you half to death, when you walk by to water sample).

    If you’ve never been to a landfill, I highly recommend taking a tour of the Marathon Co. landfill, located in Ringle, or Waste Management’s Cranberry Creek Landfill in Wisconsin Rapids. You’ll walk away with a whole new appreciation for trash disposal.

    Amanda Haffele is the Portage County Solid Waste Director and she works at the Material Recovery Facility, 600 Moore Rd., in the Plover Industrial Park. It can be reached at 715.346.1931 or www.co.portage.wi.us/department/solidwaste.