A warm, welcoming lobby to the Youth Behavioral Health Hospital at North Central Health Care in Wausau.

North Central Health Care (NCHC) Youth Behavioral Health Hospital for Ages 13–17 Now Open

North Central Health Care’s Youth Behavioral Health Hospital is now open and accepting patients. Located on the NCHC Wausau Campus and available to youth and families in Marathon, Lincoln, and Langlade Counties, the Youth Hospital is the first step in life-changing care and inpatient treatment for young people between the ages of 13 and 17 years who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

All patients admitted to the Youth Hospital must be referred through the NCHC Crisis Center, and the average length of stay is approximately 5-7 days. This is the only County-affiliated, inpatient psychiatric hospital in the State of Wisconsin.

Learn what may qualify as a crisis situation needing treatment, view photos and download a brochure of the new hospital, and more. (Click the title for details . . .)

Meet Jason Hake :: Marathon County’s New Deputy Administrator

In July, Marathon County started the recruitment process for the new Deputy County Administrator and selected Jason Hake to fill this administrative role, with an October 22, 2020, start date.

Learn a bit about his roots, family, work experience, and interests, as well as the expectations for his role. (Click the title for details…)

Jonathan Fisher :: Crunching Numbers, Going Solar, & Helping Others

Although he has only 5 years under his belt as a Marathon County resident, Jonathan Fisher has already ingrained himself into the community. He’s serving his first term on the Marathon County Board of Supervisors, representing District 38, and is active with several organizations.

Fisher, who works in finance and accounting, spoke with Wisconsin Central Time NEWS to share a bit more about himself, his passion for service, and his priorities for moving Marathon County forward. (Click the title for details…)

The 2021 Budget :: A Plan to Maintain Our Public Services & Address Long-Term Financial Challenges — All While Cutting the Tax Rate

Each November, Marathon County adopts its annual budget, which influences the work and priorities of over 700 County Government employees and elected officials. The proposed 2021 Budget includes directives such as: allocating $250,000 for use on broadband expansion projects; taking a “system-budgeting” approach that encourages cooperative decision making among our justice system departments to help meet their growing needs; setting aside funds to participate in the UniverCity Year program to receive assistance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison on 25 County projects; and much more.

The public budget hearing is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at the Marathon County Courthouse in the Assembly Room.

After reviewing the proposed 2021 Budget, members of the public are invited to participate in the budget meeting and have their opinions heard either in person or — new this year due to the pandemic — via telephone while live-streaming the meeting online. (Click the title for details…)

Marathon Park Indoor Ice Arenas Get a Multipurpose Facelift

Watching Wausau RiverWolves hockey games and renting private ice time are a few of the ways the public can see and appreciate recent renovations (totaling $332,735) completed at Marathon Park’s indoor ice arenas — including updates to the flooring, dasher boards, and tempered glass, as well as the refrigeration and sound systems.

Learn the effect the pandemic is having on high school and youth hockey programs at the arenas, as well as on public figure skating, and get suggestions for other outdoor winter activities (often modified due to COVID-19 precautions) that the Wausau/Marathon County PRF Department supports in the full article. (Click the title for details.)

New Assistant Director of Community Services Marcus Aumann to Enhance Public-Private Partnerships, Outdoor Offerings, & More for Parks Department

Marcus Aumann joined the Wausau & Marathon County Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department in May 2020 as the Assistant Director of Community Services (ADCS).

Social distancing has kept him from meeting people in the community in traditional ways, so we’re bringing him to YOU!

Learn how Marcus will help increase tourism, boost local economies, and enhance outdoor programs and services. (Click the title for details.)

Marathon County Historical Society & Public Library Team Up for Virtual Events

The Marathon County Historical Society and Marathon County Public Library are partnering on a series of virtual programs this fall.

Tune in via Zoom or Facebook for a look at local, state, and national history on topics like: Marathon County Schools, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Death & Dying, and more. BONUS: Programs are archived on YouTube if you can’t attend the live events. (Click the title for details…)

21 Winners Declared for the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin’s “Wear a Mask” Contest/Campaign

In July, the ADRC-CW launched a “Wear a Mask” contest and campaign to promote wearing masks. Our goal was to support the region’s most vulnerable populations in reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

All 21 contestants who sent in a picture and slogan were featured on a billboard located within the county in which he or she lived. See some of the selected slogans and contestant photos (including one of former County Administrator Brad Karger) in the full article. (Click the title for details.)

Supervisor Rebecca Buch :: Faith, Family, & Forty Years in Marathon County

Coming from a missionary family who modeled the art of giving throughout a lifetime, Marathon County Board Supervisor Rebecca Buch has a natural desire to serve her community.

Supervisor Buch shares her globe-travelling stories, her views on the local Pride and the No Place for Hate resolutions, her love for Marathon County, and more in the full article. (Click the title for details…)

President_Trump_Visits_Central_Wisconsin_Airport

President Trump’s Visit Proves Central Wisconsin Airport’s Motto Is True :: “It’s Easier From Here”

Presidential events using airports are nothing new, but Presidential events being held at airports are an emerging trend.

With less than a week to prepare — and being told the date would be moved up one day earlier than originally planned — staff at CWA in Mosinee set to work hosting a campaign rally for President Donald J. Trump under pandemic conditions.

See photos of the official planes and get the behind-the-scenes scoop on hosting a local event of this magnitude. (Click the title for the full story…)