The Nuts & Bolts of Portage County

Category: Top Stories

  • Mid-State’s ‘Metal Mania’ free summer training program is now offered as a local certificate

    Mid-State’s ‘Metal Mania’ free summer training program is now offered as a local certificate

    For the first time since its start in 2018, Mid-State’s Metal Mania summer training program will be offered as a five-credit local certificate starting in June. The Metal Mania: Turning Machines certificate is fully sponsored by the Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship and will run June 12 – July 26.

    The 10 available seats for the free training are open to high school and college students as well as those interested in the field of machining. Learners will complete courses in machine shop safety, manual turning machines, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathes setup and operation. Upon completion of the Metal Mania courses, participants will earn the Metal Mania: Turning Machines local certificate and five Mid-State Precision Machining Technician program credits.

    “The Metal Mania: Turning Machines certificate is a great opportunity to get started in our Precision Machining Technician technical diploma program at no cost to students,” said Mid-State Dean of Applied Technology Ryan Kawski. “We are thankful for our partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation. This partnership will help reduce financial barriers for students interested in a career in precision machining.”

    The deadline to apply is Friday, May 26. Learn more about Metal Mania at mstc.edu/metal-mania.

  • First State Bank offers scholarships to high school seniors

    First State Bank offers scholarships to high school seniors

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    First State Bank invites local high school seniors to apply for one of ten $1,000 scholarships being offered in 2023 to help with their post-secondary education.

    Applicants must be attending a high school located in a community where First State Bank has a branch location, or either the applicant or their parent(s) must be a First State Bank customer.

    Applicants also must be enrolling with an accredited college, university, or technical school on a full-time basis for the term immediately following graduation from high school.

    “It is inspiring to learn about the various careers our applicants are pursuing and how they plan to positively impact their field or trade,” said vice president of marketing, Brenda Hansen. “Through our scholarship program, we hope to give our recipients better opportunity to focus their energy on attaining career goals and returning to our communities to keep our area workforces strong.”

    The bank is accepting applications through Friday, March 31.

    Scholarship application forms and further details are available on the bank’s website at bankfirststate.com/scholarships.html.

  • Column: A brief history of paper

    Column: A brief history of paper

    By Amanda Haffele

    Before paper was invented, wood, bamboo, stones, papyrus and even silk were all used to capture history.

    Bamboo and stones were heavy, and silk and papyrus were too expensive for everyday use. In ancient Egypt, scribes spent years learning their craft and weren’t allowed to use papyrus for their lessons until they had mastered the basics of writing. Instead they had to practice on wood or ostraca (pottery shards).

    Cai Lun, sometimes spelt T’sai Lun, was inducted into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in 2009 for inventing paper in 105 AD. He was a servant from the Chinese imperial court during the Hans Dynasty.

    Lun created the first modern paper by using bark of trees, hemp waste, old rags, and fish nets. Due to Lun’s position within the imperial court, he was able to create a widespread adoption of paper that dramatically changed society.

    Even with the widespread adoption of paper, it was still difficult and time consuming to make. Because of this, papermaking was an artisan craft and didn’t spread to Asia until the early 600s and into the Middle East until the mid-700s. Europeans weren’t documented making paper until the 12th century.

    Papermaking didn’t reach the United States until 1690, when William Rittenhouse emigrated from Holland and opened the Rittenhouse Paper Mill in what is now Philadelphia. Previous to this, all paper was imported from Europe.

    Papermaking stayed virtually the same until Louis Nicolas Robert, invented a wire paper machine in 1797. Prior to this invention, paper was made one sheet at a time by dipping a rectangular frame or mold with a wire screen bottom into a vat of pulp. The frame could not be reused until the previous sheet of paper was removed.

    Robert’s wire paper machine made continuous, long lengths of paper that were manually hung on cables or rolls. The French Government granted Robert a patent two years later. Robert sold his revolutionary design to an Englishman who had the financial resources to manufacture the machine.

    About 1,600 years after Cai Lun’s invention, paper was still being made using rags and plant fibers. In the mid 1700s, French entomologist and writer Rene Reaumur observed wasps feeding from wood to make their nests. Based on this observation, he wrote an article suggesting paper could be made from trees.

    One hundred years later, 25-year-old Friedrich Gottlob Keller took Reaumur’s suggestion literally, and built a machine that could extract the fibers from wood.

    Lacking the financial resources to make this machine commercially, Keller sold his design and patent in 1845 to German papermaker, Heinrich Voelter. Voelter partnered with Johann Voith to redesign Keller’s machine to improve factory output.

    Voith saw a need to create higher quality wood pulp, and therefore invented a new process for refining wood splinters. His innovation revolutionized the paper making industry by creating a high quality wood pulp for paper products.

    The first commercial groundwood pulp machine was on U.S. soil in 1867. The New York Times was the seventh U.S. newspaper to switch from using rags and plant fiber paper to wood-based paper. By the end of the 1800s, there were only a small handful of newspaper companies that hadn’t switch over to wood based paper.

    Humans have used “recycled content” in paper since the beginning of time. Used rags and wood chips or shavings are some of the first recycled items. In ancient Japan, the people generally treated recycled paper as being more precious than new and the recycled paper was often used in paintings and poetry.

    In 12th Century Japan, it was recorded of an emperor’s wife that after he died, she recycled all the poems and letters she received from him and wrote a sutra on the recycled paper to wish peace upon his soul. But it wasn’t until the 21st century that recycled paper and cardboard were used as feed stock to make new paper and cardboard as we know it today.

    Keep that paper feedstock coming. Make sure paper and cardboard are free of oily residue, is larger than a credit card in size (sorry, no shredded paper), and contains minimal amounts of paint, glitter, glue, stickers, etc.

    As a reminder, cartons or aseptic packaging is not recyclable in our area. Toss cartons into the trash.

    Last but not least, if you find yourself in Appleton, make sure to visit the Atlas Science Center, formally the Paper Discovery Center. This museum houses the paper International Hall of Fame and reams of paper science information.

    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.

  • 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.

  • UW-Stevens Point’s planetarium offers shows in March

    UW-Stevens Point’s planetarium offers shows in March

    Nuts & Bolts Staff

    From the sun to dark matter, discover the secrets of the universe at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Allen F. Blocher Planetarium.

    Planetarium shows are offered at 2 p.m. Sundays. The educational shows are free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. Shows in February and March include:

    • Feb. 26: “The Dark Matter Mystery: Exploring a Cosmic Secret,” Go on a quest to find the building blocks of the universe.
    • March 5: “Europe to the Stars,” Look through the most powerful ground-based telescopes in the world.
    • March 12: “Seeing! A Photon’s Journey Across Space, Time and Mind,” Follow a tiny proton as it travels across the vast expanse of space.

    Planetarium seating is first come, first served for up to 55 people. Groups of eight or more may schedule a special showing of any planetarium program by calling 715-346-2208 or completing an online request form. There is a cost of $35 per group for these presentations.

    The Arthur J. Pejsa Observatory telescope is open for free, public viewings from 8:30-10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday evenings. Viewings will be held only if the skies are clear and the temperature is above 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

    The planetarium and observatory are located on the second and fourth floors of the UW-Stevens Point Science Building at 2001 Fourth Ave. in Stevens Point. Parking is available in Lot D behind the building and is free in all university lots after 7 p.m. and on weekends.

    Learn more at www.uwsp.edu/smcpa/blocher-planetarium.

  • Why do prescriptions take longer than a milkshake?

    Why do prescriptions take longer than a milkshake?

    Courtesy of Aspirus Health

    There are several reasons why prescription medications may take longer to fill than some people expect.

    When a prescription is requested, it is not sent directly to the pharmacy to fill automatically. There is a process that the pharmacists must go through before your prescription is ready for pick-up.

    “The process of filling a prescription is much more complex and time-consuming than simply making a milkshake,” said Andrea Modlin a resident pharmacist for Aspirus. “We understand that it can be frustrating to have to wait when you’re sick and just want to get your medication as quickly as possible, but these steps are necessary to ensure that our patients receive medications that will be safe and effective. This process can take some time, especially if we run into any complications.”

    To understand why there may be delays at a pharmacy, it’s helpful to know the pharmacy’s general workflow:

    • Data entry: When the pharmacy receives a prescription, the pharmacist first enters the information into the computer system with appropriate directions for use. They must verify the prescription to ensure that it has been properly written – this includes checking for drug interactions and allergies, correct dosing, and correct medication for the patient. This includes checking the safety of the prescribed dosage, as well as for potential drug interactions and allergies. Pharmacists may need to verify additional information to ensure that medication is safe and accurate for each patient by contacting the doctor’s office.
    • Billing: The pharmacist will identify the patient’s correct insurance plan and billing information. Sometimes, there may be issues with the patient’s insurance that need to be resolved before the prescription can be filled. The pharmacy team may need to work with your doctor’s office to find an alternative medication.
    • Stock check: The pharmacist will check to make sure the prescribed medications are available at the pharmacy. If the medication is not in stock, it may need to be ordered from the manufacturer or a wholesaler, which can take additional time.
    • Medication preparation: The pharmacist must prepare the medication by counting out the appropriate number of pills or measuring the correct amount of liquid. This step is crucial in ensuring that the patient receives the correct dosage.
    • Labeling and verification: The pharmacist must carefully label the medication and then verify that all the information on the bottle is accurate.
    • Patient instructions: The pharmacist must provide the patient with instructions on how to take it. They may be counseled on the phone or at the counter during pick-up. This is important for ensuring that the patient understands how to safely use the medication and knows what to expect.
    • Busy pharmacy: The pharmacist is helping multiple patients and providers every day. They are fielding prescription fill questions, assisting providers with medication questions, and facing drug shortage issues. If the pharmacy is busy with many other customers, it may take longer for the pharmacist to complete the process of filling the prescription.

    Aspirus Health is committed to ensuring that every patient receives the highest quality care and that their medications are prepared and dispensed safely. Reach out to your provider or pharmacist with any questions regarding your medications. Find your local Aspirus pharmacy at www.aspirus.org/find-a-location.

  • 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.

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