City Times Staff

Plover Police Chief Dan Ault (left) and Portage Co. Sheriff Mike Lukas (right) strap themselves into a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk on Wednesday at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport.

The two, along with Chief Deputy Dan Kontos, Mayor Mike Wiza, School Board Member Barb Portzen and various district staff, were taken in two of the army helicopters — courtesy of the 160th Aviation Unit in Madison — to Volk Field for a tour of the Ford McCoy Challenge Academy.

The group was taking an informational tour of the barracks and program, which continues to take in local students who meet certain requirements.

Peter Blum, deputy director of admissions and recruitment for the academy, said the program offer military-style dorm living for kids who need redirection.

“They can come to Fort McCoy, live with us for a full semester,” Blum said. “And that’s really the key thing: take them out of their current environment, put them in a healthy environment, march them to school and get them back into building character — decision-making; self-discipline; and habits.”

For more information on the Challenge Academy, click here.